This last year has been overflowing
with changes around our house. We have lived in Montana for an entire year now
and we are here to stay! Winter lasted a super long time but the sun finally
came to stay around May. Our summer was filled with outdoor adventures like
canoeing, hiking, camping and biking. We have made a lot of new friends with
young families like us but we still miss our friends from many places that we
have lived these last 7 years. We moved to our own apartment in Lolo in
September that has lots of space and is walking distance to the Elementary
School. Now that we are starting to make roots here in the banana belt of
Montana we are learning about purchasing a home. So if anyone wants to come
visit us the door is open and food is served!
Jeff started the year working hard as a hospital security guard and
going to Paramedic classes. He enjoyed skiing on his days off and having the
days to spend with the boys. He had a lot of firefighter interviews all around
the western US and was put on a few hiring lists. Jeff did well in the Montana
Fire Consortium in June and filled out a lot of applications again. In July the
City of Missoula's Fire Department offered Jeff a job as a Firefighter and he
started work right away. He has a 1-year probation period, got a CDL license and
he is still working on his Paramedic.
Johanna has been holding down the fort wrangling the boys and
getting accustomed to the area. In August she traveled with the boys alone to
the Oregon coast for a family reunion for her mom's family. She likes to work
out and do all kinds of art. Refinishing furniture is also a new creative
outlet for her and has even sold a couple pieces. She is now an Independent
Distributor for a company called Choffy that sells brewed chocolate that is delicious
and healthy. She hopes that in the next year she can focus on attaining her
Bachelor’s degree again.
Calder finished
kindergarten and has made a lot of new friends. He did really well in swimming
lessons and next year he will be able to swim all by himself. He also did
soccer this year with a company called Soccer Tots and learned a lot of skills.
After we moved, we decided that another year of kindergarten (and growing) was
best so he will be in 1st grade next year. His teachers report that
Calder is smart, amicable, cooperative, super coordinated and has the best
handwriting and drawing skills they've seen in years!
Phaelen turned 3 in August and is growing up so fast. He talks a lot
more and is understandable to most people, has a goofy sense of humor, likes
playing with other kids and is already good with legos. Since he likes to do as
many things as his older brother, Phaelen also participated in Soccer Tots, is
starting to draw a lot more and is potty trained. He loves to be involved and
help out with anything in the kitchen or handyman work.
We
know that this new chapter in our lives is just beginning and we couldn't have
done it without the love and support from our friends and family. We know that
God has put us here at this time and we will try and make the best of it!
Jeff, Johanna, Calder &
Phaelen
The Johnson Pack
