Welcome to our blog! As the Johnson family is expanding, we decided it would be great to start a blog so that our family and friends can keep up with us and our little one. Since the baby isn't due until May 13th, you won't see too much action on the blog before then. But we did think it a good opportunity to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and give a quick update as we didn't send out cards this year.
2009 was a year full of new adventures for us. Kate found herself in the perfect career near the end of last year. She is working for a nonprofit called FRIENDS FIRST where she travels around to schools speaking to high school and middle school students about making healthy choices and avoiding high risk behaviors, like drugs, alcohol, and premarital sex. She gets to use her skills as a teacher and her amazing wit and humor (Kate's words) to reach kids. She also runs an after-school mentoring program where high school students are trained to mentor middle school students about the same topics. Kate has found her niche and loves her job. Matt is still plugging away at National Geographic, creating the Trails Illustrated topo maps. How do they keep coming up with places to map? He also loves his job. Matt has also been expanding his side business, Journey Maps and Design. He recently created a historic trail map for Georgetown, CO. Matt's also looking forward to volunteering with Save Our Youth, a mentoring program for troubled youth, in the new year.
After searching for what felt like years for the perfect home in our cute, little mountain town of Evergreen, we faced reality and began searching "down the hill" where things are a bit more affordable. In July, we moved into a lovely home in Littleton, not far from Denver nor Evergreen. Now Matt is the commuter, which we'd both prefer. We found a great church down here that we really like, too.
In August, just before Kate's 28th birthday, we found out we were pregnant! Since then, we've survived a very "gaggy" first trimester. Matt recently said he was "so glad to have his wife back." Aliens must have taken over my body for those few months. We're both amused by my rapidly expanding belly.
Finally, Christmas is coming a little early for us when, on Wednesday, we find out the sex of the baby! We will post an update on here with the news and the newest pic of our little boy or girl. We'll be traveling to North Carolina to spend Christmas with Matt's family and are excited to have a little vacation and time together.
May your Christmas be filled with the blessings of family and friends and may the New Year bring you peace and joy.
