Sallie’s side of our extended family at Thanksgiving in Portland: Kurt, Kailie, Destiny (Kyle’s girlfriend), Kyle, Doug & Wendy Irwin (Sallie’s Sister), Shea , Dick & Virginia Norman (Sallie’s mom), Bret & Sallie, Leah (niece) & Jon (Sallie’s brother)

A Johnson Christmas

Big Year, Big Changes Sold our home of 10 years, empty nest, Kailie to Cal Poly, Bret back in ministry

December, 2013

“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your

servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles

and for glory to your people Israel.” The child’s father and mother

marveled at what was said about him.” Luke 2:29-33

Simeon’s Prayer over

Jesus at his birth

Our kids are on the i r own! Merry Christmas to all our friends and family! We hope it is a joyous season for you and yours. 2013 was a BIG year for our whole family. Lots of changes and transitions this year to tell you about. Probably our biggest event of the year was moving out of our 5 bedroom, 3800 sq. ft home and downsizing. Whew! What a job that was….but thank God we were able to not take a financial or credit hit in this weird market. Next big news was Kailie getting accepted to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (early admission no less) into their architecture program. She loves it. It’s exciting for all of us. Cal Poly is like “college heaven” (Bret’s words). Next big thing was Bret’s return to pastoral ministry. In the Spring, the founding Pastor of the church we were attending asked Bret if he would take over the church as they were leaving to take a ministry assignment in Texas. Wow. OK, big change. (Cont on p. 2)

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Redwood Chapel Reunion

A big thrill this year was the 60th anniversary of Redwood Chapel

Community Church, the church we served at from 1989-2000. It was great to see friends young and uh,

more mature (!). As a special part of their anniversary celebration

Redwood brought together the folks who lead and were involved in our ministry to students in the 1990’s.

Looking back this was a very special era where many young people

caught the fire of life in Jesus and really began to make a difference. Over 100 of these students, their

spouses and LOTS of their children came together in October to

celebrate what God had done in those years and in their lives.

Vacations & Travel Bret was asked to lead a wedding in Mexico in November for his long-time friend Israel Casillas. Held on the beach in Zihuatenango/Ixtapa, it was a chance to mix ministry and vacation together. We love Mexico and this little coastal area was a blast. Great food, sunny, warm (even hot!) weather, skin diving, friends, relaxing. It was great. Although Bret did leave his new iPhone in the taxi on the way to the airport. :-\

Keeping up with our kids puts us in California quite often and up in Reno/Tahoe too.

So Bret is the Interim Lead Pastor of New Community Church until sometime in 2014. It has been good for him to lead again and speak most Sundays. The church has responded graciously to the transition. Kyle started off this school year teaching Jr. High students at the charter school he has been at for only a year. In October they asked if he would transition to high school immediately. Whoa! So Kyle is now teaching high school (including two AP classes) and taking the challenges in stride. Kurt, bless his heart had a tough year of leading recreation all summer at Hume Lake Christian Camp and is now working in Mountain Safety at Heavenly Valley Ski Resort in Lake Tahoe. Ha Ha! We all want to have Kurt’s life! Sallie continues to be in demand at St. Rose Hospital as the Charge Nurse in the Post-Partum Unit (Moms & new babies). Sallie also started leading women’s Bible study at church this fall (she LOVES this). Sallie has also been asked to speak at the church’s women’s retreat this coming spring. We are in a good season of seeing our kids grown up and doing well. We are grateful for a smaller home (and one level!) and more time to pursue some things as a married couple and ministry family. We are also grateful to our wonderful friends all over the U.S. and the world who mean so much to us. But most of all we are grateful to Almighty God who sent His Beloved, the Lord Jesus Christ on a rescue/redemption mission to save a people for Himself so they can enjoy Him forever. We are so thankful that He opened our eyes to this grace. We truly hope you have a joyous and Merry Christmas season.