A Valentine Banquet

This Valentine season we played at a beautiful, in-home Valentine Banquet.

The meal was a fun, multi-course meal, served on the hostess' special dishes from her mother and grandmother.
Pasta salad in heart-shaped glass bowls, Baby Blue Salad with sweet 'n spicy pecans and strawberries, individual pot pies served in cute red crocks, mashed potatoes, stewed apples, pears, and golden raisins, and our choice of 5 different desserts....yum! What a meal.

Each of the ladies received a special Valentines gift from the hostess.
Valentine's Day is a perfect time to remember God's amazing, unfailing love for us and the supreme sacrifice His Son gave as an eternal gift of life to those that ask forgiveness for their sins and believe on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

John 3:16

We're Back!

Sorry about the long wait for a new post ... a lot has been happening around here!

Practice...new music...more practice...work on our soon-to-be-released, brand new CD, etc.!

The photography is done, graphic design work is going well, the mixing is almost finished and the royalties are paid. Hopefully, we have less than one month to wait!

We're excited about this new year and look forward to sharing it with you.

"Serve the LORD with gladness; come before his presence with singing."

Psalm 100:2

Levels are being set in this beautiful church for yet another wonderful morning!
One of our star cellists :)

"For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations."

Psalm 100:5

Four Concerts - a bit of catch-up work!

During the Christmas season, it's easy to fall behind on certain things. Here are a few concerts I intended posting about...but...never...got....around to it. Hmm... I wonder how that happens?

This concert was one we did at our home church on Christmas Day! That was fun. I've never done a concert on my birthday before!

Silas' bell-ringing is always a hit - he's such fun to watch!

Concert #2: Christmas Eve

Above the exit doors, this church had painted "You are now entering the mission field." It was an interesting reminder.

~A beautiful candle-lit service followed the concert. Everyone stood around the perimeter of the large auditorium and sang "Silent Night" and "John 3:16" as the flame of a single candle was passed from person to person until the ring of light in the darkness was complete.
We children walked around until we found a spot in the church to take a "5-teens" picture. Yep, we had 5 teenagers in our house for three-quarters of a year. (Silas, 9, is behind the camera here.)

#3 - Sovereign Grace Church in Dows
We always have a great time here!
Thank you Nela for taking pictures of us at this concert! Beloved Star Photography

A meal ... a huge spread of delectable cookies ... friends ... great conversations ....

A wonderful day!

#4: Temple Baptist Church in Charles City - This church is home to some more amazing people! Fun finger food and fellowship followed the program. All of us enjoyed spending time with friends and also some people from our church who had driven over for the evening.

Stop.

Really think about that quote.

Is it true for you?

A Day in the Life of the Johnson Strings

Our day begins bright and early. We have eaten breakfast together, packed the van, and gotten ready to go! The time is 8:24AM.

We have arrived at our first destination! Unpacking, tuning, and warming up goes quickly.
With the first event behind us, we pack up and now are unpacking at our next location. Four hours and forty-one minutes have elapsed.
We are getting ready to play for the Ravenwood Christmas Open House.


After the concert, our lunch consist of the leftovers from the party.
Here we are, packing up once more! Is this starting to sound repetitive?
The time is 3:48.
5:54 After driving and unpacking once again, we begin tuning our instruments here at St. Ansgar Baptist Church.

Next comes testing the mic mix and sound levels at 6:04.


8:36 After a time of food and fellowship, we tear down and pack up.
At 9:00, we are almost ready to depart.
We drive and unpack for the last time today.

As you can see, it is 10:33. Home again, home again only 14 hours and 9 minutes later! What a day.

"And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men"

Colossians 3:23

Two Churches, Two Seasons

Thanksgiving - a season for remembering God's blessings in our lives

"As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving."

Colossians 2:6-7

Christmas - A season of Joy, celebrating Jesus, the light of the world, coming to earth to save us from our sins

Come hear our Christmas program for this year - "Eternal Light"!

"The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"

Psalm 27:1

Merry Christmas!

We were privileged to play at the Veteran's Day Republican function in Grundy County.

Lance Horbach, an Iowa House Representative, gave a tribute to the veterans.
Some of the other speakers included Annette Sweeney from the Iowa House, Bill Dix from the Iowa Senate, Steve King from the U.S House of Representatives, Pat Grassley - an Iowa State Representative, and Charles Grassley - a United States Senator.

After we played our instruments, we got pictures with Pat Grassley, Charles Grassley,
and Lance Horbach. Thanks guys!

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

– 2 Chronicles 7:14

Marion County State Bank put together an evening for their senior patrons and we were the entertainment. Held at the new Christian High School in Pella, we enjoyed playing in their beautiful auditorium. After the concert, everybody ate Dutch Letter ice cream – made locally! It was absolutely delicious. I had no idea there even was such a thing!