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Heather Johnson
Chris and Heather
My name
is Heather Johnson and I am a stay-at-home mom, doula and childbirth
educator. Drew, my oldest, is five years old, Ashlyn is three and
one is on the way…three weeks (plus or minus) until we meet baby
Johnson! I have been married for nine years to my wonderful husband,
Chris.
Seven and a half years ago, I was invited by my best friend from
college to attend her first daughter’s birth. I was amazed at the
whole birth process. A little over a year later, she invited me back
to her second daughter’s birth. It was incredible. Not long after
did I get pregnant with my first. I am an information gatherer and
pregnancy and birth really piqued my interest, however, I was not
familiar with what a doula was. I delivered my first two at the
midwifery center at DePaul. I had great experiences, but after the
second one came away thinking that I would really like to have a
home birth if the Lord allowed me to have another child. Three years
ago I heard about Charis through my sister-in-law who had a friend
that was in the Charis program. I was fascinated and wanted to know
more, but didn’t feel like the time was right to start since I had
an infant at that time. A year later, I heard about a Charis
information meeting and I went. I went home from the meeting excited
about what I had heard and my husband and I prayed about it. Shortly
thereafter, I began the doula and childbirth course. I finished the
course about a year later and finished up with my last birth not
long after that.
The neat thing about it all is that many years ago, God gave me a
passion for women, and at the time thought that years down the road
I would like to work with young women. However, God gave me another
passion…birth, which has led into me being able to work with women!
I love how He weaves things together, things that we could have
never imagined or orchestrated on our own. What an awesome God we
serve!
Drew and Ashlyn
Here Beary, Beary, Beary
~by Elizabeth Lugmayer~
Several months
ago I was babysitting for a family of 5, (children ages 2-12).
The characters in this particular story involve the two older boys,
Scott (11) and Andrew (12).
Scott wanted to venture into the forest located next to
the house, but Andrew did not wish to go. So we struck a deal.
Andrew would stay at the house with the girls who were napping and I
would go with Scott into the forest to explore.
It was amazing! Once we passed though a dark canopy
into the forest it seemed to come alive. We saw flowers and fallen
trees, found a river and even bear tracks. After arriving back
at the house, we shared with Andrew our tall tales and exploits.
Sure enough, he wanted to go too. So I stayed with the girls while
they headed into the forest and reminded them to make noise so the
bear wouldn't get them (enter rolling eyes and death gags and sighs
from Andrew).
About fifteen minutes later both boys vaulted out of
the forest and ran across the yard to the back porch. Scott
animatedly recounted their near death experience while Andrew
concentrated on breathing to calm his shaking limbs.
Scott began, "About two hundred feet into the
forest I head a noise. I turned around and told Andrew that I
thought I heard a bear. Andrew rolled his eyes and began to call
out, "Here Bearry, Bearry, Bearry!" Within seconds a big black
bear's head poked out of a bush right next to Andrew and made a
fearsome noise. We turned around and began to run. In fact
while we were running we were nearly trampled by a deer who was also
running from the bear. We hid in a tree until the bear went away.
Then we came home."
Though he now has a healthy appreciation for nature,
and black bears especially, Andrew will still jump if you come up
behind him and whisper,
"Here Bearry, Bearry, Bearry"
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Herbal Sun Tea
Cool down with delicious,
thirst-quenching herbal sun tea. Follow a few simple steps to enjoy
a variety of refreshing flavors that are perfect for front porch
sipping. Solar tea has never tasted so good.
Fresh organic herbs produce healthier, more refreshing teas, so pick
your ingredients straight from the garden or buy from a local
grower. All you need to make solar tea is a quart canning jar (good
for preserving the herbs’ fragrant oils and properties), water,
coarsely cut herbs of choice and sunshine.
To start, toss a half cup to 1 cup of fresh herbs into the canning
jar. With practice, adjust this amount to suit your taste and the
plants’ nature. If you are using dried herbs, one table spoon equals
one cup of fresh herbs. Add water, a lid and a few shakes.
Place the jar where it will receive full sunlight outside. If
possible, give the mixture a couple more shakes throughout the day.
You will learn how long to brew certain teas for the desired taste.
As the sun goes down, the tea should appear rich and translucent in
color. While still warm, shake the mixture, strain the contents and
use the plant material for mulch. Pour fresh tea on ice and enjoy.
The following combinations are from THE HERBAL TEA GARDEN:
PLANNING, PLANTING, HARVESTING & BREWING by Marietta Marshall Marcin.
Alfalfa leaf with lemon verbena or red
clover blossoms
Chamomile with hibiscus flowers
Elderflowers with peppermint or yarrow
Fenugreek with alfalfa or mint
Hibiscus flowers with rose hips
Marigold petals with mint
Peppermint with spearmint
Rosemary with hibiscus flowers
Strawberry leaves with woodruff
Yarrow with peppermint
To explore more garden flavors, try these creative summer medleys:
July Evening Tea
Lemon Balm and Lemon Verbena leaves
A dozen fresh lavender flower heads
Chamomile Flowers
Lemon Blend Tea
Mix fresh lemon balm and lemon verbena leaves.
Add grated lemon peel (about 1 tablespoon per cup of lemon herbs).
Optional lemon herbs may be added, such as Lemon-scented geranium
leaves and lemon thyme.
Add some calendula petals for color.
Orange Mint Tea
Use a citrus-flavored mint, such as orange bergamot, or any mint
herb.
Add grated lemon and orange rind, cloves, cinnamon, and calendula
petals.
Choose your own favorite tasty herbs to make sun tea. You can
find most herbs dried in your local health food store. They
seasonally carry fresh cut herbs as well. Explore your own
backyard and plant your desired herbs to use. Herbs are
resilient and very easy to grow. They can be grown in
pots on your window sill as well. Slices of lemon, oranges or
other fruit is a lovely addition to your brewed and chilled herb sun
tea.
Have a good recipe? Share it here!
anyway
People are unreasonable, illogical, and
self-centered.
Love them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and true
enemies.
Succeed anyway.
The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Be good anyway.
Honesty and frankness will make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.
People need help but may attack you if you try to help them.
Help them anyway.
In the final analysis, it is between you and God.
It was never between you and them anyway.
From a sign on the wall of Shishu Bhavan, a children's home in
Calcutta
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