Johnson Christmas Letter 2010

Happy Holidays

2010 started out with a suggestion about living overseas. We took the suggestion seriously and with an overwhelming feeling of peace, decided it was for us. With our decision made, we thought we’d better let the ARMY know. To our amazement, one Radiology spot was open in Heidelberg for June 2010, and within two weeks we had orders to move. We spent the rest of January through May trying to sell our home in a bad market (finally renting days before we moved) and used all our free time to enjoy our dear friends and favorite things about home sweet home in Georgia. In May we shipped our van and almost everything else we own to Germany, finished school and flew to Utah for family reunions with both families before heading overseas for 3 years. We’ve been in germany for 6 months now and feel so lucky to be here. We live in a little village south of Heidelberg called Sankt Leon in a four level duplex on a cobblestone street with a backyard just a little bigger than our trampoline… and we love it.

Chris

…was happy to leave his Chief Radiologist responsibilities back in Georgia but was given the same duties here with a smaller clinic as well as additional responsibilities over the Lab and Pharmacy as well. He enjoyed coaching Ryan and Katie‘s undefeated soccer team this fall, loves driving on the autobahn with his Audi, going on family vacations, and enjoys watching live BYU football games in the middle of the night through his sling box.

Lisa

…had no idea how much she would love German food, or how beautiful Germany is. She happily enjoys the views of the quaint towns with church, steeples and fields filled with wildflowers or corn stocks, wherever she goes. She enjoys being in the Relief Society for a change and loves to Skype her family, take pictures and record extraordinary vacations, all while trying to manage the chaos of normal life .

Ryan

…12 years old, loves everything about Germany. He loves the ward, his school, his classes, his teachers, the scout program, going to young men’s, learning German, our house, and everything else. He loves soccer, soccer, practice, soccer games, and having his dad as the coach. He’s always ready to watch movies or play games with Katie, Chris and I …especially Settlers or Bang.

Katie

…10 years old, thinks the best part of living in Germany, is being so close to Paris. She loved everything about our Paris trip in October, and now her favorite food is crepes. She loves soccer, drawing, thinking of activities for the girls, cooking, playing piano, and taking care of the boys. She and Ryan team babysit at home now and she does an excellent job.

Emily

…almost 8 years old, loves our house, because it has four floors because her bedroom that she shares with Katie and Megan takes up the whole top floor. She loves, riding her bike, playing soccer, picking berries, playing piano and can’t wait to be baptized at the end of the month.

Megan

… f5 years old, loves all day, kindergarten, riding her bike without training, wheels, learning, piano songs from her sisters, reading, writing, and drawing, she loves to play anything Katie dreams up, especially ‘pretend school’, and playing with her American girl dolls.

Luke

… 3 years old, loves playing trains with Matthew, going to Music-makers with mom and Matthew, and going on walks to the park. He’s growing up fast and loves to be a ‘big boy’. He hates feeling sad and constantly asks us to find his happy face.

Matthew

…18 months, follows Luke’s every move they are inseparable. Matthew loves being spoiled by the whole family, loves balls, dogs, and trucks, and has enjoyed his first few weeks of nursery . Included in his recent vocabulary is the word know which he growls with a very low voice, which makes his family laugh and worry for his terrible twos.

Wishing your family a season centered on our savior and much joy in the new year.

Love the Johnsons.