tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49660787074890818302024-02-20T02:53:23.854-05:00 JoStoryJohanna Hylandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09370537238705403684noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966078707489081830.post-24413715963591964792014-06-04T23:18:00.003-04:002014-06-04T23:18:51.157-04:00"I can do hard!""I can do hard!" said Emma.
Emma.
My great niece.
My niece - Natalie's daughter.
My 3 year old backseat comic and commentator.
Most Mondays I pick up Emma and her 5 year old brother Lincoln. Emma usually goes to my mom's house to play girl stuff with her and Lincoln hangs out with me for a few hours. The 15 minute car ride to and from Grandma Marshmallow's house (their nick name for Great Johanna Hylandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09370537238705403684noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966078707489081830.post-50029950511298921402014-05-21T21:51:00.001-04:002014-05-21T21:51:18.052-04:00"He got on the bus!""He got on the bus!" said Sandy Short
Sandy.
My favorite & only sister-in-law.
My brother, Dale's wonderful wife.
My newly married niece, Lindsey's sweet mom.
...and Travis' new mom-in-law.
32 years ago I had the opportunity to live with Dale and Sandy - the year before my wedding. I was still living at home when my dad took a job in Florida which left me homeless. Looking back, I now Johanna Hylandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09370537238705403684noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966078707489081830.post-11137814179779206432014-03-16T21:40:00.001-04:002014-03-16T21:40:35.168-04:00"Detour!" "Detour!" said Johanna
Johanna.
That would me.
Blogger/writer for my JoStory blog.
Soon to be writer for a new adventure ahead.
Blogging was going well until I ran into a detour last month.
What do you do when you come to a detour?
Do you follow the signs and trust they will get you to your destination?
Do you try to plan ahead and stay away from the detour - take another route or just Johanna Hylandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09370537238705403684noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966078707489081830.post-24210784112534170962014-01-06T14:36:00.001-05:002014-03-19T13:41:22.358-04:00"Be still!"
"Be still!" said Winter Storm 'Polar Vortex' 2014
Winter Storm 'Polar Vortex' 2014.
2-3 ft of snow so far.
-30 below plus temps.
Kalamazoo is snowed in big time.
My favorite day is snow day.
Because a good winter storm always says, "Be Still!"
Be still ...empty shelves cleared of groceries.
Be still ...closed schools, churches and businesses.
Be still ...cancelled events andJohanna Hylandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09370537238705403684noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966078707489081830.post-10906615405684928932013-12-30T10:10:00.001-05:002013-12-31T23:04:47.109-05:00"Let's hang out a little longer!"
"Let's hang out a little longer!" said the Christmas Stockings.
Christmas Stockings.
A family tradition.
A family keepsake.
Filled with surprises of fun, sweets and love.
It is 359 days until Christmas! It is time to put away, take down and pack up Christmas... so in 300 or so days we can get it all out again....or is it?
We do the same things every Christmas. It can take weeks and Johanna Hylandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09370537238705403684noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966078707489081830.post-39910970425217752972013-12-09T10:05:00.000-05:002013-12-09T16:31:54.309-05:00"Here I am!" said Grief.
"Here I am!" said Grief.
Grief.
It brings heartache.
It is often unexpected.
...and it always brings comfort.
Our community has been touched deeply by grief this past week. A friend's two youngest children died on impact when their car slid off an icy road. Another teen committed suicide. A area teacher was killed in a car accident. Tragedy all around. Many hearts are heavy in grief. Johanna Hylandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09370537238705403684noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966078707489081830.post-25798604468052347922013-12-02T12:13:00.000-05:002016-10-22T21:26:58.809-04:00"What does the hat say?"
"What does the hat say?" at Ruth Short's 80th birthday tea party.
A Vintage 1933 Tea Party.
For a special vintage 80 year old - Ruth Short.
Full of vintage memories.
...And vintage party hats.
Every year my mom faithfully polishes a family heirloom silver tea service that sits on my buffet. We never use it. She just polishes it and polishes it and polishes it...year after year after yearJohanna Hylandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09370537238705403684noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966078707489081830.post-7309172717910970802013-11-25T10:16:00.000-05:002013-12-02T10:30:31.003-05:00"Gobble Gobble Flush"
"Gobble Gobble Flush", says the Turkey Toilet.
Turkey Toilet.
My newest Thanksgiving decoration.
My most visited bathroom.
My new thankful place.
Catalogs...lots of them are filling my mailbox. They go right from the mailbox to the trash. As I was throwing away a pile of them, one dropped and opened to something I had never seen before. A Thanksgiving toilet seat and tank set cover. That Johanna Hylandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09370537238705403684noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966078707489081830.post-31816951609741220052013-11-18T11:30:00.000-05:002013-11-25T09:57:36.265-05:00"A shot in the arm...""A shot in the arm...," says Sugar.
Sugar.
My once very unwanted pet.
My 7 year old fluffy puffy Ragdoll cat.
My BFF (Best Fluffy Feline).
Sugar aka: Fluffy, Puffy, Precious, Sweetie, Friendly, Fluffa, Fluf-e-Nuf, Nuffy, Shooggie-Booggie, Boog, Shug...need I go on? She is definitely a rag-DOLL. But not so much when she arrived at our house 7 years ago.
Sugar was a surprise birthday gift to Johanna Hylandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09370537238705403684noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966078707489081830.post-7826961858192416482013-11-11T10:36:00.001-05:002013-11-11T17:14:47.207-05:00"Don't Floss..."
"Don't Floss...", says my dentist.
Dr. John Sinclair Jr.
My mouth's best friend.
My always there tooth expert.
My smile maker.
As a dental hygienist, I always preach and endorse flossing at every opportunity. I never thought I would hear those words. "Don't floss..." from my dentist!
I have made it over 50 years without any major dental work. I have prided myself in my nice smile Johanna Hylandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09370537238705403684noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966078707489081830.post-89966502326588398672013-11-04T06:30:00.000-05:002013-11-11T16:22:42.852-05:00"Having flowers is like having babies!""Having flowers is like having babies!" said Granny (Ruth Hayes)
Granny.
My Grandmother.
My mom - Ruth Short's mother.
My 'make you think and smile with her many wise words' grandma.
My mom loves to garden and so did her mom. Me...not so much. Gardening is just work to me. So it was a good deal when my parents moved into a condo without a yard to take care of...my mom began digging in my yardJohanna Hylandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09370537238705403684noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966078707489081830.post-88307554613105425572013-10-28T06:30:00.000-04:002013-11-11T16:23:20.716-05:00"Are you working hard or hardly working?""Are you working hard or hardly working?" says Bill.
Bill.
My 81 year old father.
My kids' grandpa and great grandpa to my nieces' kids.
My model of how to play and have fun in life dad.
He is 81 and still playing. He loves to play. He knows how to make life fun because he knows how to play in life...all of life. Music, games, sports, puzzles and words are his favorite toys. He is Johanna Hylandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09370537238705403684noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966078707489081830.post-39467623777233729082013-10-21T07:38:00.000-04:002013-11-11T16:23:56.284-05:00"It's a no wagging day!"
"It's a no wagging day!" says Jewel.
Jewel.
My almost 15 year old Brittany Spaniel friend. (105 in human years!)
My husband's great bird hunting pointer dog.
My miracle dog. (She beat cancer 3x's and has outlived most Brittanys.)
I never wanted a dog.
I never grew up with a dog.
And I never thought I would love a dog.
To me dogs were just dogs...until I met Jewel. Johanna Hylandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09370537238705403684noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966078707489081830.post-17861004162724191482013-10-14T06:30:00.000-04:002013-11-11T16:24:35.136-05:00"Stay steady on!"
"Stay steady on!" said Sara (Perry)
Sara.
My best of friends.
My spiritual mentor and colleague.
My fun loving sister in Christ.
I met Sara in 1998 at BSF (Bible Study Fellowship). Sara passed away in 2008 from leukemia. In those 10 short years we became the best of friends.
Sara had a way of making the best of any situation...often by pointing out God in it.
She had a smile Johanna Hylandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09370537238705403684noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966078707489081830.post-16435129899831459092013-10-07T06:30:00.000-04:002013-11-11T16:25:23.263-05:00"This ride never ends.""This ride never ends," says Stephanie.
Stephanie.
My favorite fun little sister.
My wise friend.
My 'loves to share her grand kids with me' sister.
Stephanie had the next shift of watching her grand kids - Lincoln and Emma.
(Check out previous post for the 1st shift story.)
http://johannahyland.blogspot.com/2013/10/its-super-late-notice-but.html
We had made plans to do something funJohanna Hylandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09370537238705403684noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966078707489081830.post-76633385608004621032013-10-01T19:23:00.000-04:002013-11-11T16:25:53.305-05:00"It's super late notice but...""It's super late notice but..." says Natalie.
Natalie.
My very easy going niece.
My sister Stephanie's daughter.
My my great nephews and niece's mom - (Lincoln 5, Emma 3, Judah 6 mos.)
Way before it even started...my past weekend was full of many fun things to do. I had it all planned out so it all would fit.
Friday was booked solid.
I had promised Eric dinner for a well done job interview. IJohanna Hylandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09370537238705403684noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966078707489081830.post-15983809830721227692013-09-24T14:35:00.000-04:002013-11-11T16:27:06.300-05:00"Purple is memorable.""Purple is memorable," says CC. (Cecilia)
CC (Cecilia).
My son Eric's fun loving wife.
My favorite daughter-in-law.
My creative encouraging newest family member.
Eric and CC were married August 4, 2012.
Their 1st year of marriage hasJohanna Hylandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09370537238705403684noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966078707489081830.post-59514672634622439372013-09-17T11:59:00.002-04:002013-11-11T16:27:27.218-05:00"I'll take that!" "I'll take that!" says Cassidy.
Cassidy.
My determined 18 year old daughter.
My favorite youngest child.
My horseback riding champion.
I stalled for years to put this kid on a real horse. When she was 3 she began asking for horses. I tried every idea to satisfy her horse requests. Stuffed horses, rocking horses, plastic horse play sets, the American Girl Doll horse, horse sheets and Johanna Hylandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09370537238705403684noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966078707489081830.post-42411486020361187802013-09-02T07:03:00.001-04:002013-11-11T16:27:49.594-05:00"The doors lock at 3."
"The doors lock at 3," says Eric.
Eric.
My first born.
My favorite son.
My for real black belt Ninja.
26 years ago I knew this kid would be a Ninja by just how he kicked and rolled nonstop in my pregnant tummy. By 4 years old, he was an avid fan of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles...all the way down to his underwear. Every stick became a sword and we could always count on his dramatic Johanna Hylandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09370537238705403684noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966078707489081830.post-39978766308277132342013-08-25T23:59:00.001-04:002013-11-11T16:28:10.219-05:00"Wow! Check out those new scratches!"
"Wow! Check out those new scratches!" says Kristen.
Kristen.
My very observant 21 year old daughter.
My favorite middle child.
My midnight greeter.
It was after midnight. I didn't expect anyone to be up when I returned home from an amazingly fun and amazingly challenging week of kayaking in NW Michigan with 7 of my Happy Yakker friends.
As I began to unhitch my kayak trailer, the Johanna Hylandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09370537238705403684noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966078707489081830.post-16580927604732124432013-08-05T08:46:00.000-04:002013-11-11T16:28:57.427-05:00"But...It was your turn to watch her!""But...it was your turn to watch her!" says Chris.
Chris.
My Uncle.
My Dad's brother-in-law.
My weekend blessing and entertainment.
It wasn't just another ordinary weekend in Kalamazoo. Uncle Chris and Aunt Ella stopped by on their way back to Baltimore from a road trip out West. We do not get to see them too often but they are the kind of family that just fits right into our crazy family like Johanna Hylandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09370537238705403684noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966078707489081830.post-11404706883783785552013-07-31T12:54:00.000-04:002013-11-11T16:29:20.474-05:00"Assembly + 1 dad required!""It should say assembly plus 1 dad required!" says Lynn.
Lynn.
My best half.
My husband for 30 years.
My faithful assembly guy.
Over those 30 years Lynn has assembled, put together, constructed, fixed, handcrafted and given new life to so many things from:
assembling baby cribs, underground sprinkler systems and a 200+ piece grill (no instructions included)
putting together trikes, bikes, Johanna Hylandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09370537238705403684noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966078707489081830.post-62564372784718868962013-07-17T07:50:00.001-04:002013-11-11T16:29:50.710-05:00"It was 96 until I ate that apple pie."
"It was 96 until I ate that apple pie," says Ruth.
Ruth.
My 'getting ready to be 80' mom.
My great model of a giving heart.
My reason to be in a heart surgery waiting room today.
Those of you that know her would agree...my mom has a very generous heart that's quite unique and very one-of-a-kind. All she loves to do, she will do with all her heart for you. From soup and fried chicken to Johanna Hylandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09370537238705403684noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966078707489081830.post-79476261651307506402013-07-10T23:12:00.000-04:002013-11-11T16:30:19.685-05:00"This is a no knocking house.""This is a no knocking house," says Lincoln.
He is almost 5 years old but tucked inside his well chosen words are years and years of life.
Lincoln.
My great nephew.
My niece - Natalie's son.
My Monday morning play date.
Usually each Monday I pick up Lincoln and his 3 year old sister Emma. Emma goes to my parent's house where she does girly stuff with my mom. While Johanna Hylandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09370537238705403684noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966078707489081830.post-76374823437915469892013-07-05T23:02:00.000-04:002013-07-05T23:58:25.192-04:00Halfway & In Between - The BEST Place to be!Kalamazoo, MI.
Never thought I would live here. It really is in between and halfway to Detroit and Chicago. That's where I am...in between and halfway in life. As a parent, I have two kids in college and another recently married...but I am not to that grandparent half-yet. I have retired from many years of Dental Hygiene and being a Bible Study Teacher/Leader. Just celebrated Johanna Hylandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09370537238705403684noreply@blogger.com4