Such a "thankful" week...

This has really been a great week.  Starting off the week with a wonderful dinner at one of my favorite places, that also was Ken's favorite.  Doug and Susie and I had tried to plan this dinner out for a long time, but it's tough to arrange schedules these days!  So, in honor of Ken's birthday (which was in May) we finally got to celebrate at Uncle Bubs.  

It is not exactly close for us, but it is surely worth the drive!  If you live in the Chicago area, or ever visit, a stop at Uncle Bubs is sure to please the Barbeque lovers.  Doug and I were discussing how we found this place, and I am pretty sure it was DOUG that had eaten here and recommended it to us.  Ken and I had eaten there just before the Covid shut down and we never made it back before Ken died.  I came home with enough food for the next few days as well as a bottle of Barbeque Sauce!  

Then, this week marked the first day of school for all the grands!  

I was actually at Gwen and Tim's and experienced their start of homeschool.  Anna is in fourth grade, Zeke is in 7th grade, Ellie is a High School freshman (gasp) and Lia went to her first "in person" class at college on this day (double gasp- although she took college classes on line all last year) Lia is "technically" a Senior this year, most of her time will be spent doing college classes.  Its so amazing to watch the learning and growth happen, often outside of "books".  I love how I have gotten to walk along side of these kids and see them each move into their giftings.  

Grace's first day of First Grade was on Thursday.  I can hardly believe that she is a first grader!  She is pretty sure that she wants to be a teacher when she grows up, which is no surprise to me.  She loves learning, loves reading and loves school!  

So, here it is, actually late summer, but it FEELS like fall.  Even when the temps last week actually hit 100 degrees, fall still seems right around the corner.  That's what happens with back to school.  This weekend was one of those glorious times when the air was cool (70's) and there was a pleasant breeze.  I spent a great deal of time just sitting outside, enjoying the coolness.  When I came back inside to make myself a rather late "brunch" (it was after 10:30am) this happened....

I actually had a "double yoked" egg!  I don't remember the last time that this has happened!  While I have recently been purchasing "free range" eggs, I was still surprised.  My mom always said that a double yoke egg was a sign of goodness and a reminder to be doubly thankful whenever you had the surprise of a double yoke egg.  As I ate my eggs, there was quite a bit of reflection on all my blessings.  My family, my grandchildren, great weather, good food, a comfortable home, ability to go whenever and wherever I choose. great friends, and so much more.  II reflected on the recent blessing of adding family through my DNA discovery. I am so thankful that I am just at the beginning of a new adventure as I learn more about my paternal relatives.  Also, this week, I had the opportunity to gather with several different groups of friends and spend time in fellowship and prayer.  For sure, a week full of "double blessings".  

Today in church there was a challenge to actively be using your gifts in service to the church, your community, and the world.   There were three stirring testimonies that certainly made you consider how the Holy Spirit might be nudging you to step out of your comfort zone into a place of service.  This message, coming after a very thankful week, hit the mark.  I will be considering with much more diligence, in what ways I can be serving and I won't be nearly as likely to use that "comfort zone" as an excuse to say no!   One of the best parts of watching the grandkids begin a new school year is seeing them grow into the destiny that Jesus planned for them before they were born.  While they may think that are preparing for supply chain management, fashion design, builder or engineer, leaders, teachers or truck drivers, there is so much more ahead for them as they walk with Jesus.  Yes, they may end up doing some of those jobs, but they also may not. Whatever their professions end up to be, that master plan of Jesus will find fulfilment.  So, with a challenge excepted, I will be seeking to fulfill my own destiny through serving!   This season is a good time to consider for yourself, ways that you could move our of your comfort zone and follow that gentle nudge of the Spirit into something new.  Let me know what you decide to do!  And I will keep you up to date in future blogs.

Jesus, it is easy to think that we are not needed or we have already done enough.  Help us to understand that we all have things to share and ways that we can serve.  Holy Spirit, remind us to pray and support all the children and parents and teachers as the new school year begins.  Give us gentle reminders of ways that we can show your love to those around us.  Thank you for double blessings and weeks of thanksgiving.  Amen

It was kind of a "dance" weekend for me!

 Friday was one of those extra special days for me.  I got to accompany Lia and Gwen to a Ballet Specialty store for a fitting for new Pointe Shoes! 

This is actually Lia's third pair of Pointe Shoes, but it is still amazing to see!  The first pair were purchased in 2020 and I remember how nervous Lia was that she would never get "off the barre".  Here she is with much more confidence, three years later!  

After making the final decision about the exact feel and fit, the purchase was completed.  I was a bit sad when Lia said, "Take a picture of my last time getting Pointe Shoes."  I know that she is 17 and doesn't think (at this time) that she will continue to dance.  But considering all the hours and hours she has spent in practice since 2009, it is hard to believe.

 One of my first, very favorite books (when I was in second grade) was called "On Your Toes, Susie" and I had almost memorized that book.  I was surprised to see that it is still available!

I always dreamed about dancing and especially dancing on pointe.  I never had any ballet training and Gwen was much more interested in gymnastics than ballet.  When Lia first started dance, I never imagined I would see her on Pointe!  I am sure that Lia might not be happy with me sharing the following pictures, but for this grandma, these are things that I will never forget....

These pictures are from 2009 when Lia started Ballet at Dance Connection in Grayslake, Illinois.  The teacher in the blue shirt in the last picture, is the owner of the studio, Ms Bridget Blake!  And she is still one of Lia's teacher today!  I wonder if she imagined that the little girl in the pink leotard who she led across the floor, would still be dancing 14 years later!  

Yes, Dance Connection is certainly a big part of the life at the Johnson household.  Not only Lia, but also Ellie and Anna dance every week.  This year was another first for us.  Lia, Ellie and Anna all danced in the annual Grayslake Parade as a part of the Spotlight group from Dance Connection.  

This was Anna's first year, dancing in the parade and she was very nervous!  I was so glad that I got to the parade this year.  I'm not sure why, but I have missed the pervious parades.  This is also the first time that all three girls have been in the same dance production.  Anna is so happy to have a chance to dance with Lia and Ellie!  

This is Ellie!

Here is Anna!

And this is Lia!

Given my past few months, I have been thinking a lot about my childhood and various memories.  I was always reading and I know that it was an escape for me.  I could imagine myself in different circumstances and in amazing places, having adventures.  I don't think I realized just how much the books that I read and loved, have influenced my life.  This is just one example!  I loved the Little House on the Prairie books and here I am, writing a book that starts on the Prairie in the late 1800's.  

What an excellent reminder for us all that our dreams may not be realized in exactly the way that we thought!  I never became a pointe dancer.  Gwen didn't do ballet.  Yet here is Lia, dancing on toe!  My dream has become a reality in my life, just not how I expected.  When I was little, I imagined living on a lake, having a house right on the water.  This was birthed out of many happy days spent at our vacation lake cabin on Lake Maud.  While I don't live on a lake, Gwen and Tim do! I have spent many happy days at their home, enjoying their lake front property.  Again, not exactly how I thought my dream would be realized, but I am sure enjoying what it is!  

I love how Jesus knows the desires of our hearts and brings those to us, sometimes in unexpected ways and much differently than we thought we wanted.  After a weekend like this, I am more convinced that Jesus knew my heart as a little girl of seven.  And this weekend, I realized just how special it is that my dream about dancing has come to pass.  I bet that if you actually looked at some of those dreams and desires from your childhood, you also would find ways that Jesus has brought them into your life, that were not exactly like you thought.  What a joy it is to know that, no matter how long it might take, Jesus will bring us exactly what we need and desire!  Even when those things include that very unexpected plot twist!  

Jesus, thank you for children and grandchildren.  What a joy it is to see children learning and growing.  Holy Spirit, help us to see with new eyes, the ways that long forgotten dreams and desires have been met for us.  Jesus, thank you for knowing our hearts and giving us exactly what we need, when we need it.  Thank you for pictures that help us preserve our memories.  Amen

 

Where do I go from here?

As promised, I am going to be sharing a couple of photos of my biological paternal line.  It has been so good to have photos - faces with names.  I would not have this except for the kindness and welcoming of Mike Hedlund, my first cousin.  Getting to know a bit about Mike and his family (now my family) has been such a joy.  I am fully aware that Jesus has opened this door for me.  So many others, who have unexpected DNA results, spend years (and often thousands of dollars) to get information on their ancestors.  My experience of having closure on this subject after only a couple of months, is unique.  I am so thankful for the open doors and the available internet that allowed me to connect and then receive so much information without waiting weeks for mail to arrive.

This picture is my biological dad Don Hedlund - seated in the chair.  Behind him is my half brother Tom on the left and then my half brother's son Scott on the right.  Both my father and half brother are now dead, and I don't have any contact information for my half nephew.  But, it is so good to actually have this three generation picture.  

These are my paternal grandparents David and Gladys Hedlund.  They lived in the Duluth, Minnesota area all of their lives.  I don't have many details about them, but again, so thankful for this picture.

This picture is my great grandparents, Anders and Lydia Hedlund.  They emigrated from Sweden and settled in the Duluth, Minnesota region.  

Without my contact with my cousin Mike, I would not have these photos.  I am so thankful.  The most interesting thing about this "unexpected plot twist" is that my genetic ethnicity is very close to what I had expected to find.   The fact that my biological dad was also Swedish and his mother was German made my genetic ethnicity so similar to my EXPECTED results.   Without the advancement of DNA science and the ability to sort maternal/paternal DNA, I might never have made this discovery.  

It has been a bit of a whirl since finding out this information.  But the great measure of peace that has flooded my soul and spirit has made this experience much less frightening and more exciting.  There are still so many unanswered questions, but I am okay with that.  The hardest part for me, right now, is that I have really not had much contact with my extended family.  I have so many cousins (now not my cousins) on my "dads" side, and I have not really had contact with them. My closest family (siblings) have said that this doesn't change anything for them.  But I wonder exactly what the extended family think.  I am the youngest of all the cousins on my "dad's side.  And most of the cousins really didn't know me at all, given the wide age spacing. But I am interested in their thoughts on this!  

So now, where do I go from here?  I firmly believe that Jesus has brought revelation of this information for a reason.  I have been writing a book about the Spiritual Heritage of my family, and this is really a key piece of the story.  I do not know (and never will) the actual events that resulted in my birth, but I know that Jesus has a plan and purpose for me, that includes the people shown above.  My book will now have a couple of extra chapters.  When I began my book, I was writing about my mother's parents.  So much of their story is unknown.  Based on that, the story that unfolded is "fiction based on fact".  I had thought that as I continued writing about my own parents, I would be telling a totally factual story.  However, with this discovery, even that portion will be "fiction based on fact."  I am confident that the words that I put on the page will be exactly what Jesus wants me to share.  And so, I continue to write.  

Jesus, thank you that what is revealed, can be healed.  Thank you for the gift of connection to Mike and his family.  Holy Spirit, help us to be sensitive to those around us who might be dealing with very big issues.  Give us courage to reach out and help others who are walking thought difficult revelations.  Thank you for your great love for us that brings peace even during hard times.  Amen