Cliff, Amber, Sam & Maggie

Walk Star: Maggie takes some steps forward

2011-04-25T06:36:00.000-05:00

Rock star 2: ENCORE!

2011-03-13T18:12:00.001-05:00

Rock Star 1

2011-03-12T19:31:00.000-06:00

Maggie - Year 1

2011-01-12T08:43:00.001-06:00

Sam - Year 4

2011-01-12T08:43:00.000-06:00

Year One: One Incredible Infant

2010-12-30T13:53:00.002-06:00

Many of you might recall our mockumentary/True Hollywood Story of Sam's first year (for those who don't: http://clamber.blogspot.com/2008/01/year-one-true-hollywood-sthttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifory_04.html). Well, it's just about time to celebrate lovely Maggie's first year, Johnson style. Here's to one great year under our belts and many more to come:

Family Camping Trip

2010-09-04T15:56:00.000-05:00

Highlights included Sam's insatiable giggle when handed a roasted marshmallow, a very windy hike up the dune, story time around the camp fire and Maggie's ability to sleep in (even in a tent). Good times were had by all.

Maggie's Baptism

2010-07-05T20:12:00.000-05:00

Sam's First Dance

2010-06-30T23:00:00.001-05:00

Sam opted for the shirtless with sombrero and mustache look at his first school dance. It's not a decision I would have made, but I appreciate the boldness. I still find it funny that the 3 year olds at our daycare were taught actual steps, but why settle for writing or counting, right?

Maggie's First Dance

2010-06-30T23:00:00.000-05:00

That's right folks: Maggie had her first dance at 5 months old...she just wasn't awake for much of it.

Go Fly a Kite

2010-05-16T18:22:00.003-05:00

This weekend our friends Josh & Josi gave Sam a kite. We took advantage of the sunny, windy day today to give it a first outing. It was glorious. I hereby recommend that all Chicagoans skip work tomorrow, buy a kite at the dollar store, and go to the park. You won't regret it.

Just more photos...

2010-04-29T11:19:00.000-05:00

2010: the year of more children

2010-02-24T14:34:00.002-06:00

Maggie's first video

2010-01-20T11:05:00.001-06:00

Here's Maggie's video debut from January 2, 2010.

Magdalene Ellice Johnson

2010-01-02T18:58:00.003-06:00

MAGGIE HAS ARRIVED! Click the thumbnail below for more pics.

Maggie

Year 3

2010-01-01T12:00:00.000-06:00

Sam may have a new little sister, but he had a great 2009 all by himself.

Christmas 2009

2009-12-29T21:08:00.001-06:00

"scary" monster

2009-11-03T23:19:00.002-06:00

Singing Socks

2009-10-13T20:40:00.001-05:00

Sam's sock puppets can really sing the alphabet song. He's working on some marionettes for the next performance, perhaps something along the lines of "La Vie Boheme" with life-size puppets.

Story Time with Sam

2009-10-13T20:37:00.001-05:00

So we asked Sam to read "Where the Wild Things Are" for his baby sister. Not bad for a 2 1/2 year old...next time we're asking him to read from "A Brief History of Time."

Ahem...an announcement

2009-08-17T21:12:00.001-05:00

Allow me to introduce everyone to Sam's little sister. He's a little disappointed that she can't play yet, but other than that they're getting along just fine.

Born To Run

2009-07-28T08:12:00.001-05:00

Don't worry, folks: he's sticking to sidewalks for now.

Summer so far...

2009-07-15T21:02:00.001-05:00

March is over, but...

2009-04-05T20:26:00.002-05:00

Tonga makes waves, headlines

2009-03-19T22:16:00.003-05:00

Once in a (very) great while, our former island home makes the news. Since these moments don't come often, I feel compelled to share. This underwater volcano is located only 6 miles from the coast of Tonga's main island. It's pretty unbelievable video footage, really...this might be the first time since we returned that Tonga is making Chicago seem boring and uneventful.

It's March already?

2009-03-09T20:26:00.002-05:00

We haven't posted here for a while, so here's the brief synopsis: Sam keeps getting older, the weather is slowly getting warmer and the basement is gradually becoming less damp. That's Chicago in February and March. Spring is supposedly only a few weeks away, but our entire family remains skeptical. Looking back, though, things haven't been all that bad. Here are some memories from this spring of 2009...

Chicago Today

2009-01-10T11:29:00.006-06:00

It just keeps snowing today, so we decided to do something about it - namely, construct a sled from an old exersaucer and some twine. Neighborhood kids filled our nearby park and took turns sliding down the big hill. It was a sight to see...until Sam got snow in his boots, that is. Wintertime in the Midwest: it just doesn't get any better than this.

Year Two

2009-01-02T20:26:00.002-06:00

Well, Sam turned two years old today. Below, you'll find our annual video slide show, but you can also check out higher resolution pics at our Picasa gallery or reminisce with last year's video slide show. Here's to the best two years of our lives.

Jumping like a...sailor?

2008-12-29T21:00:00.001-06:00

We should probably be sharing some photos from Christmas or writing about the hope that comes with Advent. But we're opting to share a laugh instead. Be careful watching this one with your family, folks...Sam might seem a bit R-rated in this video.

Johnsons in China: the photos

2008-12-09T08:22:00.003-06:00

If you're looking for higher resolution photos of our vacation with family in Beijing, look no further than our online Picasa album. And if you find yourself missing our video's soundtrack, feel free hum along while you browse.

Johnsons in China

2008-12-08T15:03:00.001-06:00

As you may or may not know, my brother Michael, his wife Patti and their daughter Evy are living in Beijing, China this year. Michael's taking advantage of his sabbatical as a professor to teach at Tsinghua University, Patti's taking Chinese language classes and Evy is going to kindergarten everyday. Even with all that going on, those Johnsons managed to make time for these Johnsons. We just spent two wonderful weeks in Beijing, exploring the city, experiencing the culture and - yes - spending time with family. We were fortunate to have fantastic weather, a child with little to no jet lag and hosts who were more than accommodating. The trip could not have been better, and Beijing could not have been a more compelling place to visit. While we'll be posting some written accounts and higher quality photos soon, this video slideshow offers a brief glimpse at some of our favorite moments (I'd actually recommend going to YouTube and selecting "watch in high quality"). If the soundtrack sounds familiar, it's the song "Beijing Welcomes You" from the 2008 Summer Olympics...Uncle Michael had us all singing that one by the time we left.

Best. Season. Ever.

2008-11-19T22:48:00.002-06:00

Why do we love fall? Let us count the ways...

Yes We Did

2008-11-05T06:31:00.003-06:00

I don't know who you voted for. I don't know how late you stayed up last night. I don't know where you were watching. But I would hope that our new President Elect's words stirred something in each American and inspired every citizen to action far beyond the voting booth. On November 4, 2008 we all stood together at a unique moment in history. And when Barack Obama stepped to that podium in Grant Park, he called this nation to a higher ideal and asked us to help change things for the better...he reminded us of just how far we have come and dared us to dream even farther. In essence, he asked us to stop cynically watching governance from afar and start believing again in a government of the people, by the people and for the people. Perhaps that feels like empty rhetoric to some, but it certainly does not have to be. When my son is 106 years old, he will have seen things I cannot even imagine and he will know a United States of America far different than the one I know now. No matter what comes next, I am hopeful for his country and grateful that the first President he remembers will be someone who represents hope, optimism and the better angels of our nature. I don't know who you voted for or how late you stayed up last night or where you were, but I hope none of us forget this moment,

- Cliff

"What began twenty-one months ago in the depths of winter must not end on this autumn night. This victory alone is not the change we seek it is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were. It cannot happen without you.

'So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism; of service and responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves, but each other. Let us remember that if this financial crisis taught us anything, its that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers in this country, we rise or fall as one nation; as one people.

'Let us resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long. Let us remember that it was a man from this state who first carried the banner of the Republican Party to the White House (note: referring to Civil War president Abe Lincoln) a party founded on the values of self-reliance, individual liberty, and national unity. Those are values we all share, and while the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress. As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, 'We are not enemies, but friends ... though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection.' And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your President too.

'And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of our world our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand. To those who would tear this world down we will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security we support you. And to all those who have wondered if Americas beacon still burns as bright tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity, and unyielding hope.

'For that is the true genius of America that America can change. Our union can be perfected. And what we have already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.

'This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations. But one that's on my mind tonight is about a woman who cast her ballot in Atlanta. Shes a lot like the millions of others who stood in line to make their voice heard in this election except for one thing Ann Nixon Cooper is 106 years old.

'She was born just a generation past slavery; a time when there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky; when someone like her couldn't vote for two reasons because she was a woman and because of the color of her skin.

'And tonight, I think about all that shes seen throughout her century in America the heartache and the hope; the struggle and the progress; the times we were told that we cant, and the people who pressed on with that American creed: Yes we can.

'At a time when women's voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot. Yes we can.

'When there was despair in the dust bowl and depression across the land, she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a New Deal, new jobs and a new sense of common purpose. Yes we can.

'When the bombs fell on our harbor and tyranny threatened the world, she was there to witness a generation rise to greatness and a democracy was saved. Yes we can.

'She was there for the buses in Montgomery, the hoses in Birmingham, a bridge in Selma, and a preacher from Atlanta who told a people that 'We Shall Overcome.' Yes we can.

A man touched down on the moon, a wall came down in Berlin, a world was connected by our own science and imagination. And this year, in this election, she touched her finger to a screen, and cast her vote, because after 106 years in America, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows how America can change. Yes we can.

'America, we have come so far. We have seen so much. But there is so much more to do. So tonight, let us ask ourselves if our children should live to see the next century; if my daughters should be so lucky to live as long as Ann Nixon Cooper, what change will they see? What progress will we have made?

'This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment. This is our time to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth that out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism, and doubt, and those who tell us that we cant, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people:

'Yes we Can. Thank you, God bless you, and may God Bless the United States of America."

- Barack Obama, November 4, 2008

Count on it

2008-11-03T21:48:00.001-06:00

What can we say? Sam's a prodigy.

Photos of Tanzania

2008-11-02T14:45:00.000-06:00

7 more days...

2008-10-28T21:55:00.002-05:00

You might not have noticed, but there's a Presidential election happening. Our family's preferences are well-documented...as you might remember, Sam endorsed Obama before the primary season even started. That's why the campaign keeps sending him e-mails about donating (and ACORN keeps attempting to register him to vote). At any rate, people far older and more experienced than Sam have lined up on different sides of this election. Reasonable minds can disagree, after all. As a person of faith, I often find myself discussing this election within the context of morality and faith. That's not an easy or straightforward conversation, obviously. I don't agree fully with any political candidate in this race or any other race. That's the problem with a two party system that assumes all people who are pro-life also support gun rights and pre-emptive war, that all people who support health care reform are in favor of protectionist pro-union policies. There is no party that perfectly matches me nor is there one party that perfectly matches my faith, but Jim Wallis recently posted this essay on his faith priorities for this year's election and I think it reflects a genuine desire to consider justice, mercy and humility as we enter the polls. I hope that's something everyone can aspire to. Happy reading (and voting):

My Personal 'Faith Priorities' for this Election

In 2004, several conservative Catholic bishops and a few megachurch pastors like Rick Warren issued their list of "non-negotiables," which were intended to be a voter guide for their followers. All of them were relatively the same list of issues: abortion, gay marriage, stem cell research, etc. None of them even included the word "poverty," only one example of the missing issues which are found quite clearly in the Bible. All of them were also relatively the same as official Republican Party Web sites of "non-negotiables." The political connections and commitments of the religious non-negotiable writers were quite clear. I want to suggest a different approach this year and share my personal list of "faith priorities" that will guide me in making the imperfect choices that always confront us in any election year — and suggest that each of you come up with your own list of "faith" or "moral" priorities for this election year and take them into the voting booth with you.

After the last election, I wrote a book titled God’s Politics. I was criticized by some for presuming to speak for God, but that wasn’t the point. I was trying to explore what issues might be closest to the heart of God and how they may be quite different from what many strident religious voices were then saying. I was also saying that "God’s Politics" will often turn our partisan politics upside down, transcend our ideological categories of Left and Right, and challenge the core values and priorities of our political culture. I was also trying to say that there is certainly no easy jump from God’s politics to either the Republicans or Democrats. God is neither. In any election we face imperfect choices, but our choices should reflect the things we believe God cares about if we are people of faith, and our own moral sensibilities if we are not people of faith. Therefore, people of faith, and all of us, should be "values voters" but vote all our values, not just a few that can be easily manipulated for the benefit of one party or another.

In 2008, the kingdom of God is not on the ballot in any of the 50 states as far as I can see. So we can’t vote for that this year. But there are important choices in this year’s election — very important choices — which will dramatically impact what many in the religious community and outside of it call "the common good," and the outcome could be very important, perhaps even more so than in many recent electoral contests. I am in no position to tell anyone what is "non-negotiable," and neither is any bishop or megachurch pastor, but let me tell you the "faith priorities" and values I will be voting on this year:

1. With more than 2,000 verses in the Bible about how we treat the poor and oppressed, I will examine the record, plans, policies, and promises made by the candidates on what they will do to overcome the scandal of extreme global poverty and the shame of such unnecessary domestic poverty in the richest nation in the world. Such a central theme of the Bible simply cannot be ignored at election time, as too many Christians have done for years. And any solution to the economic crisis that simply bails out the rich, and even the middle class, but ignores those at the bottom should simply be unacceptable to people of faith.

2. From the biblical prophets to Jesus, there is, at least, a biblical presumption against war and the hope of beating our swords into instruments of peace. So I will choose the candidates who will be least likely to lead us into more disastrous wars and find better ways to resolve the inevitable conflicts in the world and make us all safer. I will choose the candidates who seem to best understand that our security depends upon other people’s security (everyone having "their own vine and fig tree, so no one can make them afraid," as the prophets say) more than upon how high we can build walls or a stockpile of weapons. Christians should never expect a pacifist president, but we can insist on one who views military force only as a very last resort, when all other diplomatic and economic measures have failed, and never as a preferred or habitual response to conflict.

3. "Choosing life" is a constant biblical theme, so I will choose candidates who have the most consistent ethic of life, addressing all the threats to human life and dignity that we face — not just one. Thirty-thousand children dying globally each day of preventable hunger and disease is a life issue. The genocide in Darfur is a life issue. Health care is a life issue. War is a life issue. The death penalty is a life issue. And on abortion, I will choose candidates who have the best chance to pursue the practical and proven policies which could dramatically reduce the number of abortions in America and therefore save precious unborn lives, rather than those who simply repeat the polarized legal debates and "pro-choice" and "pro-life" mantras from either side.

4. God’s fragile creation is clearly under assault, and I will choose the candidates who will likely be most faithful in our care of the environment. In particular, I will choose the candidates who will most clearly take on the growing threat of climate change, and who have the strongest commitment to the conversion of our economy and way of life to a cleaner, safer, and more renewable energy future. And that choice could accomplish other key moral priorities like the redemption of a dangerous foreign policy built on Middle East oil dependence, and the great prospects of job creation and economic renewal from a new "green" economy built on more spiritual values of conservation, stewardship, sustainability, respect, responsibility, co-dependence, modesty, and even humility.

5. Every human being is made in the image of God, so I will choose the candidates who are most likely to protect human rights and human dignity. Sexual and economic slavery is on the rise around the world, and an end to human trafficking must become a top priority. As many religious leaders have now said, torture is completely morally unacceptable, under any circumstances, and I will choose the candidates who are most committed to reversing American policy on the treatment of prisoners. And I will choose the candidates who understand that the immigration system is totally broken and needs comprehensive reform, but must be changed in ways that are compassionate, fair, just, and consistent with the biblical command to "welcome the stranger."

6. Healthy families are the foundation of our community life, and nothing is more important than how we are raising up the next generation. As the father of two young boys, I am deeply concerned about the values our leaders model in the midst of the cultural degeneracy assaulting our children. Which candidates will best exemplify and articulate strong family values, using the White House and other offices as bully pulpits to speak of sexual restraint and integrity, marital fidelity, strong parenting, and putting family values over economic values? And I will choose the candidates who promise to really deal with the enormous economic and cultural pressures that have made parenting such a "countercultural activity" in America today, rather than those who merely scapegoat gay people for the serious problems of heterosexual family breakdown.

That is my list of personal "faith priorities" for the election year of 2008, but they are not "non-negotiables" for anyone else. It’s time for each of us to make up our own list in these next 12 days. Make your list and send this on to your friends and family members, inviting them to do the same thing.

From Chicago to Kissongo...and back again

2008-10-19T14:10:00.006-05:00

A couple years back our Pastor visited a small community in Tanzania named Kissongo and discovered that their school desperately needed teacher housing. Attracting quality teachers to rural school districts is difficult in Eastern Africa (and America, for that matter), so small communities like Kissongo rely on offering teachers decent on-campus housing. When Pastor Laura shared stories from that trip, our church overwhelmingly responded, sponsoring 80 kids from that community through World Vision and in the process paying for new housing at the school. As a result of our two communities crossing paths, LaSalle Street Church just sent a small team of folks to visit Tanzania and bring back some real encounters with our brothers and sisters in East Africa. Amber's a part of the team, so Sam and I have been flying solo since Wednesday. There have been some rought spots, but we're managing just fine on a steady schedule of pizza, football and Elmo. That may be overstating things, actually...there's some Thai food too. Anyway, Amber's been sending an update e-mail once a day, so here are some news flashes from Kissongo:

- There is no shame in publicly picking your nose in Tanzania - even while giving a speech. At least, that's Amber's assessment after this took place three times during their first day there.

- Everyone asks them about Obama. They've even seen several bumperstickers. So, clearly, Tanzania would not vote red. Of course - given the latest polling number - fewer and fewer states here would vote red either.

- Cold showers remain every bit as unpleasant as they were during our time in Tonga. It's good to try this practice every couple years, just in case anything has changed.

- The team met our church's sponsored children. The Masai people tend towards being strong and silent, so this visit consisted of much more bubble-blowing, soccer playing and singing than actual conversation. This reminds me of Tonga...but eating would have to be added to the list.

- The team attended church today. Multiple congregations gathered in a mud-and-dung hut for services. The music was lively, as there were choirs from the Catholic, Lutheran, and Pentecostal churches. Which is definitely a difference from America. Catholics, Lutherans and Pentecostals wouldn't gather together here very often, even if there was a mud-and-dung hut large enough to contain them all.

- Amber has been named and wardrobed as Masai. Since she's not sending pictures, it's hard to say whether this involved neck rings. One can only hope.

You might be wondering what updates Sam and I have from Chicago. Well...the fall petting zoo at our local park had some pretty scary goats, pumpkins look a lot like basketballs, cookies are even better before they're baked and the Bears won today. See? We keep ourselves pretty busy.

Chips and Salsa, part 2

2008-09-27T08:36:00.001-05:00

Chips and Salsa, part 1

2008-09-27T08:35:00.003-05:00

New Season

2008-09-27T08:29:00.003-05:00

At some point along the way this became a photo and video blog, huh? It really wasn't a deliberate choice...more just a reflection of life getting busier by the day. And the fall won't change that much: work schedules, international travel and church obligations are increasing rather than decreasing. Plus, now we have to make weekly time for football. At any rate, forgive our lack of words. For a while, the images will have to speak for themselves.

"You woke me up!"

2008-09-04T21:38:00.001-05:00

Who needs a vaction anyway?

2008-09-04T21:21:00.005-05:00

We spent Labor Day in Chicago. And it couldn't have been much more fun.

New King in Town

2008-08-13T11:29:00.002-05:00

On August 1st, the Kingdom of Tonga (our former home) crowned its newest ruler, King George Tupou V. When we were volunteers in Tonga, King Tupou V was known as "The Crown Prince." Actually, around our home, he was referred to in...um...less honorable terms. :) He's promising to cede most powers over to a Prime Minister and a newly elected Parliament. We can only hope...but we also cannot help ourselves from being skeptical. Regardless, these photos are amazing:

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2008/08/the_new_king_of_tonga.html

Mmmmmmmm

2008-08-13T06:26:00.003-05:00

Mom made blueberry pancakes last Saturday. After the first bite or two, the fork was just slowing me down. Sometimes you just gotta eat with your hands, you know?

- Sam

Summertime

2008-07-27T07:02:00.000-05:00

Could it get any better than this?

Unbelief

2008-07-26T21:07:00.000-05:00

There’s a story in Scripture that seems particularly relevant for me lately. A man brought Jesus his demon-possessed son and pled, “If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” Jesus responded, “If you can? Everything is possible for him who believes.” Maybe the guy realized his poor phrasing. Or maybe he just recognized his own skepticism. Perhaps he was just extremely desperate for help. Regardless, the man exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief.” Well, that’s me this week. The world seems just a little darker and more hopeless. Part of that stems from watching “The Dark Knight” in IMAX on Monday, but part of it stems from something much deeper. And at this point I’m struggling to still believe that everything will be okay. No, I am not referring to the housing crisis. Or the escalating difficulties with Iran. Not global warming either. It’s the Chicago Cubs that have brought me once again to the precipice of utter hopelessness. You might think I’m overstating things, but that just means you aren’t a Cubs fan. A Cubs fan would understand what I’m talking about here…because every Cubs fan encounters desperate moments (typically, those moments involve the team being down a run in the ninth with a man in scoring position and two outs) when the only words that come to mind are, “I do believe….just help me overcome my unbelief!”

I mean, it’s been one hundred years now since the Cubs last won a World Series. So our penchant for fatalism and despair is pretty easily understood: We’ve had a rough century (or 31 years in my case). But we do believe. We believe. Every. Single. April. That belief then lasts somewhere between one and six months. It’s the kind of belief that comes and goes, really; we all believe after drinking lots of Old Style and seeing a walk-off homerun, but unbelief creeps in at pretty regular intervals through pretty much any season. Unbelief sounds kinda like this: “Yeah. But it won’t last.” Or “I haven’t felt this good since…well…2003. Remember how that ended? (sigh) Damn, that sucked.”

But then something happened in this hundredth anniversary season. Unbelief disappeared for the entire first half of the season. The Cubs won 14 straight games at Wrigley Field. They had the best record in Major League Baseball. They had recently swept the cross town rival White Sox. Seven Cubs were headed to the All-Star Game. All was right with the world; fate was on our side; nothing could stop us from winning a World Series for the first time in 100 years. Nothing, that is, except being the Cubs. So you have to forgive me my cynicism this week. I do know the Cubs are in first place, and I get that every season involves rough stretches, and I know we’ll start producing runs again soon, and I recognize that we’ve got a pretty talented team here. But I feel some unbelief coming on. The ninth inning rallies are happening less frequently. The division lead keeps getting smaller. The early season exuberance has slowly transformed into our traditionally tepid and apologetic hope against hope…the kind of hope that’s only willing to reveal itself when other Cubs fans are around. Because God forbid you confess to being a Cubs fan around someone from Boston. Or even someone from the South Side. They waited for decades on end too, but their waits are over…and so is any shred of compassion or decency. Thus, we North Siders struggle quietly with the possibility that this might not be our year after all. It’s a nagging cynicism that eats away at our insides.

That’s why I relate so much to that Bible story I mentioned earlier. That guy’s son was possessed by demons, but my baseball team is cursed by goats. Life ain’t easy for people like us. All you can do is grab an Old Style and remind yourself that first place on July 26^th is pretty damn good. Oh, and avoid talking to anyone from Boston.

- Cliff

Funky

2008-07-17T21:25:00.001-05:00

At long last, video evidence of Sam's dancing prowess. He started off attempting to clap in rhythm. Really, it was all downhill from there.

The Grateful Cowboy

2008-07-17T21:24:00.001-05:00

Every time a Johnson grandkid turns one, PaPa Elmer constructs a rocking horse...yup, custom made just for that child. Pretty special stuff. At first, Sam wasn't so sure about riding a horse, but he's definitely come around lately. Here's to you, partner.

FAME

2008-07-03T20:36:00.002-05:00

My old friend Jared Pike is famous. Maybe you haven't heard of him yet, but 370,000 YouTube users sure have. Jared posted this precious internet gem a few months back in honor of his cousin's birthday...and now he's gone viral. I mean that in a positive sense of course. Enjoy (and feel free to share with others).

- Cliff

Cooksey, Samuel Cooksey

2008-06-14T15:35:00.004-05:00

My Uncle Patrick got married last weekend. So I broke out my tux, grabbed a sippy cup of milk and made that party happen. Bloomington, Illinois will never be the same. Check me out!

- Sam

ps - Dad may post some video of me doing the chicken dance later. I totally rocked it.

Doorway

2008-05-28T22:58:00.001-05:00

Seriously, we could do this ALL DAY.

Springtime in Chicago

2008-05-17T20:24:00.001-05:00

The warmer it gets, the bigger Sam smiles.

Picasa

Clifton Johnson: Deputy Commissioner of Civil Marriage

2008-04-29T22:09:00.001-05:00

Thanks to the state of California, I have now officiated a wedding. Our friends Aaron and Mindy were wed in Los Angeles over the weekend, and California allows anybody to complete paperwork, pay a small fee and swear in as a Deputy Commissioner of Civil Marriage for a day. So now I am not only obligated to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States (I was a Peace Corps volunteer, after all), but I am also required to protect and defend the Constitution of the state of California. And really, between me and Schwarzenegger, I doubt anyone will threaten that state anytime soon. At any rate, I don't think I botched up Aaron and Mindy's special day too much. Check out the photos from our lovely family weekend in Los Angeles.

- Cliff

http://picasaweb.google.com/clifton.t.johnson/California

Walk the line

2008-04-01T21:25:00.001-05:00

FINALLY! This isn't an April Fool's prank...we actually have video evidence that Samuel Cooksey Johnson can walk.

Easter

2008-03-23T22:57:00.003-05:00

I get how Halloween involves dressing in costumes and getting candy. I'm still a little uncertain about how celebrating Jesus' resurrection also involves dressing in costumes and getting candy. Maybe I'll get the whole thing better next year. For this Easter, just dressing up for church was an adventure in itself.

- Sam

I can't prove it, but...

2008-03-07T19:28:00.004-06:00

Sam took his first steps during the Super Bowl. It was a good day: the hated Patriots lost and Sam started walking. Hard to say which development our household enjoyed more. Okay, it's easy to say which our household enjoyed more, but Sam's walking was still a really big deal. At any rate, we've been waiting to post this announcement ever since. Surely, we would be able to videotape our son walking soon enough, we thought. There are two things working against us on this front. First off, Sam gets really excited whenever the video camera comes out, meaning he stops whatever he's doing and starts frantically attempting to touch the shiny electronic device. Secondly, while Sam is capable of walking, it's really not his preference at this point. His preference is for things that are easier, quicker and sweeter. Which explains his penchant for walking...and eating lots of pineapple. So while we have no video evidence, please believe us: Our son can walk. And the Patriots really did lose. Both seem too good to be true, I know.

- Cliff

Young Love

2008-03-03T12:16:00.003-06:00

For the last year, Sam has spent his weekdays with a smart young hottie named Christine, the daughter of Sam's babysitter, Emily. Christine is about to become a big sister, and so Emily's last day of Sam-sitting was last week. Here's some shots of the young sweethearts together.

- Amber

The Onion...by Cliff

2008-02-09T07:42:00.001-06:00

When Mitt Romney suspended his campaign earlier this week, he gave a speech that was so ludicrous, so asinine, so unbelievable that I thought The Onion had started speech-writing. And that gave me an idea. So I wrote a news article. Believe it or not, the Romney quotes are real...everything else is a tad bit exaggerated.

Democrats form coalition of cowardice

Yesterday afternoon in a speech to the Conservative Political Action Conference, Mitt Romney suspended his presidential campaign.

“Today we are a nation at war.” Romney said, “And Barack and Hillary have made their intentions clear regarding Iraq and the war on terror: They would retreat, declare defeat…Frankly, in this time of war, I simply cannot let my campaign be a part of aiding a surrender to terror.” Mr. Romney’s decision to accept defeat in his campaign while denying defeat in Iraq was widely praised by conservative pundits. Some applauded Romney’s selfless departure from the race and many more were simply relieved that the former Massachusetts governor could now stop wasting his money and their time.

For their part, the Democratic candidates spent much of Thursday afternoon offering responses to Romney’s assertions about their patriotism.

Barack Obama held a town hall meeting to address Romney’s accusations. “Mitt Romney stated today that I had made my intentions clear regarding Iraq and the war on terror. Perhaps I have not been clear enough. I am not only in favor of diplomacy, but I also have every intention of retreating, declaring defeat and bowing down to the fanatical terrorists in Iraq and throughout the world. That is my dream for these United States of America. In fact, today I will release a plan for converting the White House into a golden domed mosque, complete with signs in Arabic proclaiming America’s identity as the Great Satan. We have waited long enough for a leader with the courage to retreat. Our time has come. We are the cowardice that we have been waiting for. Allah akhbar. Yes we can.” The crowds in Nebraska cheered raucously as Obama completed his inspirational speech, chanting “Yes. We. Can…Yes. We. Can.”

Hillary Rodham Clinton frantically scheduled a press conference, attempting to establish her credentials as a fearful traitor in her own right. “My opponent talks of surrendering. Well, I have been surrendering for 35 years, and I believe I represent the kind of experience this country needs as it begins ceding territories to terrorists throughout the world. It’s fine and good to talk about changing the White House, but the question is who’s most prepared to yield to foreign threats from day one. I am that candidate.” Senator Clinton then started to cry.

When asked about her comments, Clinton responded, “A lot of people have been under the impression that we simply disagree with conservatives. I believe they have missed the point: we are cowardly traitors and they are brave warriors for democracy. As the primary season draws to a close, we need to highlight those differences. Without getting personal, of course.”

Despite Romney’s accusations, voters continue clamoring for change. When asked about the Democratic candidates’ newly announced surrender initiatives, many voters applauded, as citizens appear inexplicably eager to vote for traitors and donate to weak-willed liberals. An AP Poll asked likely voters for their thoughts regarding Obama’s White House Mosque plan. While 16 percent of voters stated they always knew Obama was a Muslim extremist, 62 percent thought cowardice deserved a try given how poorly eight years of imperialistic patriotism had turned out. Interestingly, the other 22 percent assumed the quotes were manufactured by Bill Clinton. No matter their opinions, voters were universally in favor of Romney’s withdrawal. Chicago-area voter Joseph Gruber commented, “I don’t mind retreating, so long as we won’t have to listen to him anymore.”

A Lenten Meditation from Cliff

2008-02-07T19:41:00.000-06:00

I shared my first post-college apartment with six recovering drug addicts and a roommate whose naiveté was matched only by my own inexperience. Emmaus Ministries recruited us both to live in community and serve as staff members for a newly opened residential recovery home: Emmaus House. Our compensation was room, board, medical insurance, a CTA card and $20 a week. At first, it seemed like we had very little to offer. Neither of us could draw from our experiences living on the streets. We lacked clinical training. And the apartment that was supposed to provide shelter and hope and transformation struck us as meager at best. The carpet was worn and threadbare. Our off-white walls were completely bare. Bunk beds had been constructed, but the bedrooms lacked any semblance of privacy. The only furniture was donated, and the only full bathroom still seemed dirty after hours of scrubbing and scouring. HGTV could have spent an entire season on that single apartment. We had come together to offer a home to men who desperately needed someplace warm, inviting, and safe. Looking around that battered first floor flat in Uptown, I feared that our little community would seem woefully inadequate to future housemates.

What I failed to realize then was that our apartment was something special. Our guests slept on clean mattresses beside dressers and night stands. We ate dinner around a small table, but we broke bread together as family. My roommate and I were staff members, but we were also community members and our tiny hovel of a room was the smallest in the apartment. When my housemates walked in the front door after a long day of meetings and job interviews, they did not notice the carpet…or walls…or furniture. Music played in the family room. Smells wafted from the tiny kitchen. Laughter echoed from the front porch where our guys smoked together. I cannot deny that we had very little to offer those men, but I came to realize that a home was more than a physical place. Home meant being more than a statistic. Home meant having housemates that wept with you. Home meant shelter from not only rain but from the constant weariness of the streets.

Finding my way home involves fairly little struggle: I have a loving family, a double income household and every demographic advantage imaginable. Living at Emmaus House taught me that sometimes finding the way home is a lifelong struggle against all odds where one day offers respite and the next day another setback. Each and every man who called that apartment home was simply stopping through along a much longer journey. But for a while, at least, they knew a home whose chief attribute was not skylights or wall hangings but grace. Our little house hosted many residents and screaming matches and heartbreaks and lessons. But two years later (yes, my roommate and I stayed around for two years) I knew that we had provided a place where weary travelers could find their way home. And when you have been homeless, the color of the walls means far less than knowing someone will leave a light on for you. Every single night.

- Clifton Johnson

A Lenten Meditation from Amber

2008-02-07T19:39:00.000-06:00

One should not take one’s theology from the pages of Women’s Health magazine. In general, this is a good (and perhaps obvious) rule to live by. Strange, then, how an article from this magazine has given me a new look at Lent.

When we face temptation, we tend to avoid admitting we’re tempted, said an article in the magazine. We look the other way. We say, I don’t really need that. Sometimes we try the sour grapes approach: I’m sure it’s not as good as it looks. What we rarely do, when faced with a temptation, is look at it dead-on and say, I want it. I really want it. And I will not have it.

Women’s Health may have been talking about avoiding chocolate cake, but for me this observation was pure theology. It reminded me that giving something up at Lent should not just be about the act of making a sacrifice: it’s also about the act of identifying that which tempts us. What I had been missing in my Lenten sacrifice was the admission of my temptations.

When I first began to observe Lent, I was careful in the selection of what I would give up, making sure I chose something that would really pinch - something that, on a daily, sometimes hourly basis, required me to examine some aspect of my life. The choice felt solemn to me, as it was a way – however small – to know the sacrifice of Christ.

But as I grew more accustomed to the idea of Lent, my motives became more about self-improvement than sacrifice. (Perhaps I’m not the only one who has given up desserts for Lent as a religiously-enforced diet plan.) My choices of what to give up were cheapened because my motives were questionable. When I stopped to think about my motives, I found that my choices seemed unbearably deficient compared to the sacrifice of Christ.

Women’s Health reminded me that a sacrifice is as much about facing temptation as it is about going without. Desires are strongest when the possibility of fulfilling them is tangibly close. Knowing what tempts us tells us a lot about our spiritual state and the unmet needs in our lives. The Devil tempted Christ with food, safety and power: Christ faced these temptations and sacrificed immediate gratification.

This year, my Lenten commitment is to give up every unnecessary purchase. Sure, it will be a sacrifice to go without the occasional vanilla latte, but I think I’ll feel a greater pinch in the grocery store aisles as I hold a carton of ice cream and attempt to determine if it qualifies as a necessary item. Will I redefine “necessary” to make the ice cream permissible? I think facing my temptations will reveal a lot about my relationship to money, and about how I spend money to comfort myself or show love to others.

My sacrifices will still be petty compared to those of Christ, but that comparison is unfair. What I can ask of myself is an unflinching honesty to face the pinch of Lent – both the temptation and the sacrifice – and emerge stronger 40 days later.

– Amber Johnson

And the winner is...

2008-01-24T22:17:00.001-06:00

We're pleased to announce that Sam's favorite birthday gift this year is a card that plays the Superman theme. Thanks to all of you who submitted entries/presents; we regret that everyone cannot be recognized via YouTube video clip. Still, you should watch this video if you want to see pure glee captured on film (er...DV).

Year One: True Hollywood Story

2008-01-04T09:14:00.001-06:00

Sam is so mature after one year that he is completely comfortable with videos that mock him and actually appreciates those videos being posted online.

Year One: Slideshow

2008-01-04T09:13:00.001-06:00

Why watch this video? Because you obviously have not seen enough Sam photos this year.

Barack Obama's Iowa Caucus Victory Speech

2008-01-04T09:09:00.001-06:00

"Because I'm tired of it: year after year after year after year having to choose between the lesser of who cares. Of trying to get myself excited about a candidate who can speak in complete sentences. Of setting the bar so low, I can hardly bear to look at it. They say a good man can't get elected President. I don't believe that. Do you?" - Leo McGarry, The West Wing

"Winter is AWESOME!"

2007-12-16T17:10:00.000-06:00

I get to play in snow...and dad gets to shovel it. Nice.

Where did November go?

2007-12-01T12:00:00.000-06:00

Thirty days of November, zero posts at the clamber blog. We know, we know: you're very disappointed in us. Allow us to update you on the last month or so.

Sam grew a foot. Okay, not quite, but he hasn't exactly gotten smaller either. It's not really possible to lose weight when you're shoveling macaroni and cheese into your mouth with two hands. Our son has grown rather fond of grown-up food and quite averse to being fed with a spoon by his parents. He wants whatever we're eating He wants it now. He wants it placed on his tray so that he can grab it himself. Thankfully, the boy has started picking up sign language. Meaning that instead of insistently banging his tray to demand food from our plates, he now insistently gesticulates with his hands demanding food from our plates. That's manners, everybody.
Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf declared a period of emergency rule, and the constitution temporarily suspended. This did not go over well with Pakistanis, and there was some violence. If you recall, President Bush has been temporarily suspending the constitution here for several years. Of course, good Americans know that criticizing the President during a time of war would be incredibly unpatriotic. We're trying to explain this distinction to our child, but he's understandably confused.
The Bears' season officially ended. What's that you say? They have three games left still? Well, our house likes to think of the season as officially over. We're all moving on.
Meanwhile, our household is having a much harder time moving on from the writers strike in Hollywood. No one at 3540 W. Pierce has watched "The Daily Show" or "Colbert Report" in quite some time. Amber occasionally suffers convulsions and foaming at the mouth as a result. Sam does this too, but - let's be honest - that's nothing new.
Speaking of Sam, he celebrated his first Thanksgiving. He took a nap after dinner, but that really had nothing to do with excessive eating or tryptophan.
[Insert jokes about the NASCAR championship here.]
Amber turned...well...Amber celebrated her thirt...I mean...she had a birthday. Nevermind the actual age. We celebrated by visiting our dear friends Kate and Evan in Washington D.C. We all served in Peace Corps together in Tonga, but there are some differences with our gatherings these days. Let's see: better food, TV, fewer bugs, no half-day church services, less pigs gathering outside our back door. That's a good summary of why visits are more fun now.
The Evil Empire (New England Patriots) remains undefeated. This is what Dylan Thomas spoke of when he wrote "Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light." We tried to explain to Sam that sometimes evil people win, but he's struggling with that whole concept. We recommended the Book of Job, but he's struggling with that as well.
Obama took the lead in Iowa polls of likely voters in January's caucus. Sam was encouraged to hear that good people have a chance at winning also.
Ohio State is going to the National Championship game, but we're trying not to get excited about it. (Please refer to last year's National Championship game.)
If anyone says "Good job" to anyone at any time in any context, Sam WILL hear them and he WILL begin clapping his hands. He is very enthusiastic about clapping, so you've been officially warned.
The Republicans had a YouTube Presidential debate. Here's a handy dandy summary. Tancredo is confused. Huckabee is articulate and funny...until you read his views on public policy. Romney does not answer questions. Guiliani was once a very successful mayor in New York; everything was perfect there, a complete Utopia that the entire country can now share. Thompson is very old, and he often grunts unintelligibly (somehow this has allowed him to pick up much younger women). McCain makes a good deal of sense, but he seems rather tired of enduring politics for this long. Who can blame him, really? Ron Paul is leading a revolution, but it's a very small revolution so you might not have heard about it yet. Hunter scares me a great deal, but I haven't decided whether it's his beady eyes or his fascination with rifles. So there you have it: If Clinton wins the nomination, one of these men will be President. Obama, anyone?
Strangely, Sam did not clap during Bears games or the Republican Presidential debate. He did applaud Cheerios, however. For those keeping track at home, that's Cheerios: 1, pathetic Bears losses and old white guys: 0. Fair enough.
It snowed. Samuel responded to this turn of events with wide-eyed awe, and we were reminded of how we should view life that way more often. Then we remembered that "The Daily Show" wouldn't be on no matter how positive we tried to be. Life sucks sometimes.

- Cliff

Dear Mr. Lovie

2007-10-28T15:24:00.000-05:00

Dear Mr. Lovie,

My dad got me really excited about watching the Bears this year. He took me to training camp and said your team was extra good last year. I didn't really remember cause I was pretty young. Anyway, watching the Bears hasn't been much fun at all. He gets upset and I don't think you've really addressed the problems in run defense, offensive line play or quarterback consistency. Even a ten month old can see things aren't going well. Anyway, I'd really appreciate if you could fix it during your week off. Because I don't like seeing my daddy get so unhappy for 3 hours a week. Maybe you should call that Jim Tressel guy...that Ohio State team seems to know what they're doing.

Thanks.
Sam "Cooksey" Johnson

ps - Your commercials for Comcast are kinda dumb.

Crawlin' Down a Dream

2007-10-24T21:03:00.001-05:00

Don't believe that Sam's crawling? Well, here's video evidence.

Grand Prize Announcement

2007-10-22T09:22:00.000-05:00

Sam Cooksey Johnson has shocked the world, his parents and himself yet again. At his nine month appointment Sam weighed in at just over 24 pounds and just over 32 inches long. Despite all appearances, Sam should now be described as "tall" rather than "chunky," a point he has emphasized with all his peers. While Sam remains in the 90th percentile for weight, he is simply off the charts for length; what can we say, he takes after his very tall mother. At any rate, the boy remains big. More importantly, the boy remains happy.

Contact www.clamber.blogspot.com to claim your prizes.

Legends of fall, fall 2007 that is

2007-10-08T14:26:00.000-05:00

It's been a busy season in Chicago: Bears, Cubs, and crawling...oh my. Check out some pics from this fall, via slideshow or over at our web album.

Peace,
Cliff, Amber and Sam

So much can change in 10 days ...

2007-10-01T17:06:00.000-05:00

Friends ... I am here to tell you I am a new man. (Or, at least a more fully developed baby.) Less than 10 days ago, I was a one-toothed non-verbal urchin who had barely mastered rolling over. Now, I am proud to proclaim, I'm a four-toothed crawler who can pull himself up on the couch, and who knows how to get what he wants by saying "Dada" while looking at that tall guy who hangs around the house. (In case you were wondering, saying "Mama" while looking at that brown haired chick is also pretty effective for getting myself picked up and cuddled.)

Sure, I've got a few wounds from developing these new skills. I ate a leaf (which went in much easier than it came out, if you know what I mean). And twice I've slammed my fingers in drawers I crawled to when Mom wasn't looking. Plus so far, those teeth really aren't worth the pain. But despite all this, I'd say it's been a pretty good few weeks. (As long as I don't think about the Bears.)

My nine month check-up is next week, so I'm putting a survey question on this blog. Everyone with the right answer wins ... continued free access to this blog. (I'm sure you'll agree that's a real value, considering the blog features so many cute photos of me.) Enough for now ... I've got mischief to crawl toward.

- Sam

I am so grown up.

2007-09-05T22:59:00.000-05:00

So I got my first tooth a couple weeks ago. Pretty impressive, huh? One day I'm all gums and the next day I'm perfectly capable of chewing something...something really small...and soft enough that one tooth can get the job done...one tooth that's not really fully out yet. Still, we're all very excited (oh admit it, you're excited too). And I remember seeing mom and dad do this thing with a brush trying to keep their mouths clean; it seemed a little odd at the time, but I figured I've joined the club now. The way I see it, I'm way better at oral hygiene than they are. I mean, it's pretty impossible to miss teeth when there's only one.

- Sam

Wow.

2007-08-20T11:50:00.000-05:00

So some things change and some things don't. This August, we again have high hopes for the Bears and we have again purchased some miniature Bears gear for our son...that hasn't changed. However, our seven and a half month old son...well, he's changed more than a little. When I stumbled across these two photos of our little Bears fan (one from JANUARY 14, 2007 and one from AUGUST 11, 2007), I just had to document the amazing changes since January. Sam has gone from 8 pounds to 25 pounds, from bald to mohawked, from baby to boy. All these changes are overwhelming, but thankfully the Bears remain our anchor.

There goes the secret identity.

2007-08-13T20:29:00.000-05:00

Saving the world can really tire a baby out, you know.

Baby X-Games 2007

2007-08-13T08:41:00.000-05:00

"I don't need a life jacket! I'm very buoyant."

40 days and counting

2007-07-31T10:09:00.001-05:00

Every year around this time, something strange happens. I find myself smiling more often and daydreaming about fall Sundays and reading the sports section more avidly and buying magazines I might previously have ignored. There are only 40 more days until the Bears open their 2007 season and defend their NFC Championship crown. So when Amber, Sam and myself found ourselves driving right past the Bears training camp on our way back from vacationing in Memphis...well, we had no choice but to go watch practice, right? And hence began what I hope will be a long-standing tradition of visiting Bears training camp and getting an up-close view of the Monsters of the Midway.

- Cliff

A busy month

2007-07-31T09:49:00.001-05:00

Sam has certainly kept himself busy during the month of July: eating vegetables for the first time, greeting visitors from all over the country, meeting with family everywhere from Ogden Dunes to Memphis, visiting the National Civil Rights Museum, traveling to his first Chicago Bears training camp...whew. Being seven months old can really tire a boy out. Enjoy this collage of the month's many activities and memories.

Ladies Love Sam

2007-07-23T20:34:00.000-05:00

Sam is a hit with the ladies - they can't resist his curly mohawk (see photo essay below), his winsome smile, and the giant globs of slobbers he leaves all over their shoulders. Here's some shots of Sam with his favorite girlfriends.

Photo 1: Sam's oldest admirer is Great Great Grandma Tate - 97 this week! Here Sam celebrates her birthday, along with his Great Grandma Cooksey, Grandma Anderson, and Mom.

Photo 2: We've had a house guest for the last few weeks - Bethany Erhardt, professional cellist. One of the perks of her time with us: live lullabies.

Photo 3: Sam's sitter Emily has a 14 month old daughter, Christine. Recently Christine spent an evening with us so Emily and Ben could enjoy a night out. Here we are, playing in our little front yard.

Mohawk: A tribute

2007-07-13T11:06:00.000-05:00

The following Wikipedia excerpt speaks to the origins and significance of mohawks in Amerian society:

"The Mohawk or Mohican is a hairstyle which consists of shaving either side of the head, leaving a strip of noticeably longer hair. Mohawks were a short-lived fad in the mid 1960s. Mohawks became common in youth subcultures in the late 1970s. Throughout the 1980s, they were modified by subcultures within and derived from punk and adopted by various other groups, becoming more diverse in style in the process. Today, mohawks are still associated with the punk subculture, but have become a part of mainstream fashion and are also shared by many other subcultures."

The great thing about Wikipedia is that average users are able to edit/contribute to particular entries. This technology will allow us to clarify that mohawks sometimes occur naturally, no shaving required. In these rare instances, a mohawk-like strip of hair appears on the top of one's head, while the sides of the person's head remain noticeably bare. It's fashion statement , biological marvel and personality reflection all at once. Since only two such instances are documented (Stripe from the movie "Gremlins" and our little wonder Sam), I will need to include photographic evidence on Wikipedia's site. It will obviously be noted that mohawks that are simultaneously natural and and naturally curly should be viewed as symbols of unique spiritual power and status. At any rate, stay tuned to Wikipedia for this graphic evolution of Sam's natural mohawk:

Happy Father's Day

2007-06-17T13:15:00.000-05:00

Like father like son: Sam and Dad enjoy the simpler things on Father's Day 2007.

Love at first bite

2007-06-16T13:15:00.001-05:00

Sam enjoys his first taste of solid food (and his first taste of high chair).

Super Baby

2007-06-11T20:49:00.001-05:00

Fatter than a sumo wrestler. More slobbery than an eager puppy. Able to fill size 4 diapers with a single push. Look up at the photo … it’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s … Super Baby! (And if this photo isn't enough for you, there's plenty more in our Picasa Album).

Uncle Patrick and Miss Stefanie brought Sam this Super Man onesie. It’s adorable, but perhaps the super hero Sam most resembles is the Incredible Hulk – at least both have a problem of outgrowing their clothes too quickly.

- Amber

Used road bike, $225. New spandex bike shorts, $40. Riding 100 miles in one day, priceless.

2007-06-11T20:42:00.000-05:00

Saturday, June 9, was the annual Emmaus Ministries* Endurance Ride. The ride is a 20-mile loop of country roads that bikers ride as often as they are able within the 12-hour time limit. I used my regular excuse – “I can’t, I have to take care of Sam.” – to keep myself off a bike. But excuses couldn’t stop Cliff.

Last year, Cliff rode 60 miles. This was quite an accomplishment, as Cliff’s new hip was just 9 months old, and he was riding a mountain bike built for someone much shorter. This year, Cliff pushed himself even further – literally – completing (drum roll please) … 100 miles! The perfect weather and his new road bike helped, but it was really his determination that got him to his goal. And, as a result, Cliff raised over $1300 for Emmaus.

“Just knowing that Amber – my beautiful, witty, and stunningly intelligent bride – was waiting at the finish line got me through those last difficult miles,” said Cliff.

Okay, he didn’t really say that. But I’m sure I was inspiring to him somehow. Sam did his best to cheer Daddy on too … and since he’s a little too young to use words, he wore his “Daddy’s team” onesie and brought a sign that said, “Go, Daddy, Go!”

*Most of you should remember that Cliff volunteered – full time – at Emmaus Ministries for two years after college. Emmaus helps guys struggling with addictions come off the streets. www.streets.org.

- Amber

Still Standing

2007-06-03T20:47:00.000-05:00

So the strangest thing happened while Sam waited for his bath water the other night: we stopped holding him and he kept standing up. No, really, there's photographic proof below. Stay tuned for many other momentous occasions from Sam's last month of adventures.

(baby) Step of Faith

2007-05-27T13:00:00.000-05:00

On the twenty seventh of May in the year of our Lord two thousand and seven, Samuel Cooksey Johnson was baptized in both water and Spirit at LaSalle Street Church in Chicago, Illinois. Pretty impressive, huh? Well, Frederick Buechner is perhaps the most quoted author in the Johnson household, and the following represent his thoughts on baptism from "Wishful Thinking: A Seeker's ABC":

Baptism consists of getting dunked or sprinkled. Which technique is used matters aboutas much as whether you pray kneeling or standing on your head. Dunking is a better symbol, however. Going under symbolizes the end of everything about your life that is less than human. Coming up again symbolizes the beginning in you of something strange and new and hopeful. You can breathe again.

Question: How about infant baptism? Shouldn't you wait until the child grows up enough to know what's going on?
Answer: If you don't think there is as much of the less-than-human in an infant as there is in anybody else, you have lost touch with reality.

When it comes to the forgiving and transforming love of God, one wonders if the six-week-old screecher knows all that much less than the Archbishop of Canterbury about what's going on.

Sam seemed to know very little of what was going on on May 27, 2007. Still, we believe he received some measure of grace and love...perhaps just enough to begin something strange and new and hopeful within Sam and within our family.

- Cliff

Johnson Family Vacation

2007-05-14T20:30:00.000-05:00

For the first time ever, last week's family vacation involved three participants. In commemoration of this momentous occasion, each family member will offer his/her unique perspective on our days visiting Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon. If these photos aren't enough, you should check out our photo album!

Amber: Las Vegas was more enjoyable for its warm weather than its atmosphere. We had fun seeing the excess of the hotels, watching the fountains at the Bellagio and walking the strip, but everything got pretty old after a couple days. The Grand Canyon was quite the opposite, though. We could have stood at the south rim for weeks and never grown tired of the view. Of course, Sam seemed fairly sleepy no matter where we were.

Cliff: I lost $8 total in Las Vegas. From what I could observe, this amounted to a successful couple of days. I spent much of last week reading a book about some MIT whiz kids who took the Vegas casinos for millions; that book was enough to convince me that I was neither smart enough nor daring enough to play for big stakes. And I kept looking for penny ante poker, but such games were strangely absent. Oh well. The Hoover Dam and Grand Canyon more than made up for any Vegas disappointments. Of course, Sam seemed fairly sleepy no matter where we were.

Sam: Mom and Dad keep going on and on about this Grand Canyon. You know what? It's a big hole in the ground. Period. But Vegas was pretty sweet. We're talking bright shiny lights, lots of pretty ladies, plenty of nobs and levers, and enough pavement for me to cruise in the stroller 24-7. Vegas was totally made for people my age...that's why my parents just don't get it.

Happy Mother's Day

2007-05-13T13:00:00.000-05:00

Here are the thoughts of some 2nd grade school children regarding their mothers:

Why did God make mothers?
1. She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.
2. Mostly to clean the house.
3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.

How did God make mothers?
1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.
2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.
3. God made my Mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.

What ingredients are mothers made of?
1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean.
2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.

Why did God give you your mother and not some other mom?
1. We're related.
2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's moms like me.

What kind of little girl was your mom?
1. My Mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff.
2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.
3. They say she used to be nice.

What did mom need to know about dad before she married him?
1. His last name.
2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer?
3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?

Why did your mom marry your dad?
1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my Mom eats a lot.
2. She got too old to do anything else with him.
3. My grandma says that Mom didn't have her thinking cap on.

Who's the boss at your house?
1. Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a goof ball.
2. Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed.
3. I guess Mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.

What's the difference between moms and dads?
1. Moms work at work and work at home and dads just go to work at work.
2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.
3. Dads are taller & stronger, but moms have all the real power cause that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friend's.
4. Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.

What does your mom do in her spare time?
1. Mothers don't do spare time.
2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.

What would it take to make your mom perfect?
1. On the inside, she's already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.
2. Diet. You know, her hair. I'd diet, maybe blue.

If you could change one thing about your mom, what would it be?
1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid of that.
2. I'd make my mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it and not me.
3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of her head.

Play date #1

2007-04-30T20:40:00.000-05:00

From: samcooksey@yahoo.com
To: cliftonofun@yahoo.com, aminchicago@yahoo.com

Dad & Mom,

I love you both dearly. You know that, right? Good ... then know that I mean this in all Christian love: you guys can be a little boring. So I've decided to take matters into my own little hands.

You are officially invited to a family play date, this Saturday, at 4:30 p.m. You bring the stroller and your wallets, I'll bring the fun.

Love ya,

Sam

Where have the Johnsons been?

2007-04-25T08:57:00.000-05:00

Where have the Johnsons been? Well, the short answer is: the kitchen. Last week I exchanged my keyboard and digital camera for some power tools and ceramic tile. After all, I had been a homeowner for over six months, but I had yet to undertake a large improvement project. And so I embarked on a major rite of passage previously trekked by many 30-something males with little to no expertise in construction. Several discoveries were made during this (very) long weekend. First off, two years living in a developing country did not magically transform me into someone with great aptitude for manual labor. Secondly, when estimating the timeline for replacing your kitchen floor, arrive at a logical prediction (three days) and then multiply times two (six days). Third, when hiring a carpenter to teach you everything about kitchen tile, make certain that he is very kind, very patient, very bearded and very prone to listen to 80s and 90s pop music while working. At any rate, the results of another man's expertise and my own best efforts can be seen below. Our little home is now far friendlier to those who crawl rather than walk...although Sam cannot quite manage either just yet. He did seem to smile whenever he heard a power tool, though; start them young, that's what I say.

Cliff

BEFORE

AFTER

"He nice, the Jesus."

2007-04-09T12:40:00.000-05:00

Over the weekend Amber, Sam and myself celebrated Easter with my parents in the bustling metropolis of Woodburn, Indiana. In commemoration of this momentous occasion, I thought you might appreciate (above) a photo of little Samuel dressed up for church and (below) a hillarious David Sedaris excerpt. Sedaris' essay "Jesus Shaves" describes his very rudimentary French course and the beginner students' attempts to explain Easter using only their limited French vocabulary. Enjoy the reading and enjoy some extra Sam photos by following this link:

http://picasaweb.google.com/clifton.t.johnson/Easter

Cliff

**************************************************************************************************************

The Moroccan student interrupted, shouting, "Excuse me, but what's an Easter?"

It would seem that despite having grown up in a Muslim country, she would have heard it mentioned once or twice, but no. "I mean it," she said. "I have no idea what you people are talking about."

The teacher called on the rest of us to explain.

The Poles led the charge to the best of their ability. "It is," said one, "a party for the little boy of God who call his self Jesus...oh s#*t." She faltered and her fellow country-man came to her aid.

"He call his self Jesus and then he be die one day on two...morsels of...lumber."

The rest of the class jumped in, offering bits of information that would have given the pope an aneurysm.

"He die one day and then he go above of my head to live with your father."

"He weared of himself the long hair and after he die, the first day he come back here for to say hello to the peoples."

"He nice, the Jesus."

"He make the good things, and on the Easter we be sad because somebody makes him dead today."

Part of the problem had to do with vocabulary. Simple nouns such as cross and resurrection were beyond our grasp, let alone such a complicated reflexive phrases as "to give of yourself your only begotten son." Faced with the challenge of explaining the cornerstone of Christianity, we did what any self-respecting group of people might do. We talked about food instead.

"Easter is a party for to eat of the lamb," the Italian nanny explained. "One too may eat of the chocolate."

"And who brings the chocolate?" the teacher asked.

I knew the word, so I raised my hand, saying, "The rabbit of Easter. He bring of the chocolate."

"A rabbit?" The teacher, assuming I'd used the wrong word, positioned her index fingers on top of her head, wriggling them as though they were ears. "You mean one of these? A rabbit rabbit?"

"Well, sure," I said. "He come in the night when one sleep on bed. Which a hand he have a basket and foods."

The teacher sighed and shook her head. As far as she was concerned, I had just explained everything wrong with my country. "No, no," she said. "Here in

France

the chocolate is brought by a big bell that flies in from Rome."

I called for a time-out. "But how do the bell know where you live?"

"Well," she said, "how does a rabbit?"

It was a decent point, but at least a rabbit has eyes.

- David Sedaris, "Me Talk Pretty One Day"

Three month check-up/check-in

2007-03-28T21:42:00.000-05:00

Well, earlier this week our doctor confirmed what we already suspected: our 12 week old son is huge...I mean, he's got his own weather system...I'm not kidding, that boy is like Sputnik...he'll be crying himself to sleep tonight, on his huge pillow.

In all seriousness, Samuel has grown quickly. The boy is now 25 inches long and 16 pounds, 15 ounces. Looking back at photographs from January, we sometimes wonder whether THAT baby and THIS baby are completely different people. Feel free to stroll down memory lane with us: check out some new pictures of our boy and catch up on another month of parenthood, the craziest trip we've ever taken (yes, including Peace Corps Tonga).

http://picasaweb.google.com/clifton.t.johnson

Cliff

When Dad's away...

2007-03-17T10:03:00.000-05:00

As you may or may not know, Cliff's job as a Peace Corps recruiter dictates that he travel to college campuses throughout the midwest. These absences are hard on everyone in our family, so we rely on e-mail to stay in touch. The following is an actual e-mail exchange from earlier this week.

To: cliftonofun@yahoo.com
From: aminchicago@yahoo.com
Subject: Adults do strange things

Dad,

Help me out here - I'm confused. Mom was just holding me and we were in that room in the house where you guys torture me with baths, which you claim are supposed to be relaxing, though I beg to differ. Mom was standing in front of that place where we can see the cute baby - I think you call it a mirror? She was holding me with one arm, and with the other arm she started moving this purple stick in and out of her mouth, and then foam started forming at the edge of her lips. What's up with that? She's okay, right?

You guys do the strangest stuff ... it's really kind of me to put up with it.

Love you,
Sam

PS - Mom says to tell you not to think less of her because she didn't brush her teeth until 11:30. Dad, what are teeth?

***

To: aminchicago@yahoo.com
From: cliftonofun@yahoo.com
Subject: Re: Adults do strange things

Hi Sam,

I'm so glad you wrote with some questions; no matter how busy I am or where I might be, I always have time to answer your questions about life.

First of all, that room you were in is called the "bathroom." It makes sense when you think about it: after all, that is the room where we give you baths.

Secondly, you might have noticed that the pretty lady in the mirror looks just like your mommy. Well, that's because the mirror is a two dimensional reflective surface...there's no one in the mirror, but the mirror can reflect people who stand nearby. What does that mean, Sam? It means the cute baby in the mirror is actually you! Cool, eh?

Third, teeth grow in people's mouths to help us chew food that's harder than milk. You don't need teeth yet, since you pretty much drink every meal. Once you get them, though, and you start grinding up food, you'll notice something: teeth get really dirty. That's why we clean our teeth with brushes, just like the way we clean your body with wash rags. Hopefully, that makes sense.

Tell your mom I don't think less of her, but that I really hope she wasn't still wearing pajamas at 11:30 too.
Dad

An Announcement: From Samuel C. Johnson

2007-03-11T12:48:00.000-05:00

My fellow Americans,

In this time of war and divisive politics, of strained budgets and a burdened middle class, of spit-up and poopy diapers, I have made a decision that will greatly affect the future of my family, my country and my world. The road will not be easy, but the path of hope never is. Never before in my life have I been so convinced that things needed to change...that I could be a part of that change in some small way. And so I, Samuel Cooksey Johnson (a Presidential name, if I do say so myself) will throw my support behind a candidate who just may lead this nation to someplace more unified, more decent, more daring. I cannot technically vote in the 2008 election, but I live in Chicago so anything is possible really. I hereby announce my support for Barack Obama's candidacy for President of these United States.

God bless America.

Sam Johnson here (just checking in).

2007-02-24T14:59:00.000-06:00

Hey all.

So I have been alive for about seven and a half weeks now, and you are apparently very interested in what I do. I say this because - according to my Dad - people actually read this blog pretty regularly; and now that I'm almost two months old, my parents think it's cool if I write on here myself. Please pardon any typos (I still have pretty small hands, you know). So here are this week's updates:

I have started smiling occasionally. This isn't as easy as it sounds. First off, I'm just figuring out how to control the way my lips move. Secondly, it's not like anyone in this house is particularly amusing. It's like, "There goes Dad, acting like a total bozo again." So what?
The parents also seem pretty adamant about me learning to grab things. Dad in particular keeps shoving stuff into my hands and showing me how to hold my grip. Let's be honest here: what's the point of me holding on to objects when I have absolutely no motor control? I mean, seriously. Every time I try to get my hand in my mouth, it ends up hitting my ear or cheek....so why do my parents want me to have extra ammunition in hand? Is the goal for me to have some new hard object to shove into my eye? These people are crazy.
I have to be honest here. I still spend most of the day pooping, sleeping, eating or preparing for one of those activities. Especially now that football season's over. There's just not much else to occupy my time. (Can you believe the Bears didn't run the ball more against the Colts? Hello! Against that questionable Colts run defense, I could have called a better game than that...and I'm seven and a half weeks old.)
Speaking of sleep, I am trying to figure out how to rest for longer stretches. Apparently, you grown-ups can sleep for like 8-10 hours straight?! You gotta be kidding me. At this point, my longest stretch is 6 hours and I woke up STARVING. Sure, I don't have to get up to go to the bathroom, but I really prefer to stay full while I'm sleeping. That's just me, though.
I guess I'm pretty big. I'm basing this on the fact that I can't wear the same clothes anymore and total strangers keep harping on how big I am. The other day, Dad got on the scale without me and then with me. Apparently, I weigh about 14 pounds. But - as I pointed out repeatedly - what kind of a scientific method is this, anyway? I think that bathroom scale adds like 2 pounds at least, and Mom couldn't even read the numbers very accurately. The folks take care of me fine and all, but they cannot be trusted with math.

Well, that's about it for this week. I've included a photo of some time I spent on the floor earlier this week. I pretty much just played with my toy and napped in the sunshine. Good times...feel free to join me sometime.

XOXOXOXO
Sam
(Not Sammy, please. I really prefer people call me Sam...just for the record)

All in a day's work

2007-02-09T13:33:00.001-06:00

Sunshine, hiccups and sneezes...oh my.

4 more weeks...and a few more pounds

2007-02-09T13:09:00.000-06:00

Sam is growing like a weed...and we are doing our best to avoid deluging family and friends with photos. But really, which would you prefer: random writings from us or random pictures of our little guy? That's what we thought. If you'd like to look at Sam's first month in pictures, be sure to check out his month one photo album at:

http://picasaweb.google.com/clifton.t.johnson/SamSFirstMonth

Baths: Not Sam's favorite pastime.

Sleeping? Well, that's more enjoyable.

Notice that his face is getting chubbier.

But there's still plenty to smile about.

Losers? Not in Africa.

2007-02-09T10:36:00.000-06:00

In case you haven't heard, World Vision (Amber's employer) is distributing Chicago Bears Super Bowl championship shirts in Africa. No, that's not a misprint. The NFL prints t-shirts for BOTH Super Bowl participants every year so that players have something to wear post-game and so that merchandise can get sold promptly. Where do the losers' shirts go? Thanks to international humanitarian organizations, the losers' shirts go to Africans who need clothes. That means the Bears are champions in two places: in Africa and in Cliff's twisted alternate reality. :) Check out the article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/04/sports/football/04gear.html?lid=far_away&lpos=alertbox

Coping with football-related grief as a family.

2007-02-05T21:28:00.000-06:00

"Daddy, how could the Bears lose?"

"It's hard, Sam, I know. I know."

Sam says: "One. More. Game. BABY."

2007-01-17T07:06:00.000-06:00

An Introduction to Sam Cooksey Johnson

2007-01-04T22:52:00.001-06:00

Sam meets the world for the very first time: