Magic Springs wore me out last week. Correction. The heat, combined with my children's nonstop energy, wore me out. The amusement park nestled in the outskirts of Hot Springs, Arkansas is a popular place to take families for summer fun where they can zoom down water slides, swim, splash in freeze zones, play games like bumper cars or catch a ride on numerous pulse-stopping roller coasters. After hours swimming in the hot sun, the older kids wanted to ride a coaster. My friend offered to watch my son play in the kiddie pool while I took one teenager, one preteen,…

Jean size. That dreaded number on the scale. Checking account balances. Facebook friends. Instagram and Twitter followers. Awards and degrees. Points scored by your child at his last game. Job performance evaluations. So many numbers and none of them are good or bad when rattled off in isolation. The only time we have a problem with any of the above is when we are tempted to compare these numbers to the stats of others. Teddy Roosevelt once said, "Comparison is the thief of joy." So true. Not only is comparison a thief, it's also a terrible judge. Speaking for myself,…

"Tara, why can't you look me in the eye?" My friend's question sliced to the quick. We had been chatting for over forty minutes and the topic had drifted from the mundane to more personal waters. Personal makes me uncomfortable. When I know someone is peeling back layers and taking a peek underneath the mask I work so hard to keep fixed in place, the intensity of their stare is too much. I don't want them to see the trembling mess I am. So I take a sudden interest in my shoes. Or the couch cushion. Or the coffee cup…

Several of you have asked me about my recent visit to Fox 16 News in Little Rock, AR. The entire staff was so incredibly warm and welcoming and Pat Walker was a true delight. After learning that so many of you requested to watch the interview, Fox 16 graciously sent me the link. Here's a quick look at life, music, writing and what happens when God changes the plan. Enjoy! http://www.fox16.com/klrt-good-day/monday-motivation-tara-johnson/718574289 Blessings, Tara

Back and forth I went. Kitchen to bedroom, bedroom to living room. Every time I sat down to write, it seemed I heard yet another cry. "Mom! I need you!" "Mom! The dog just peed on the floor!" "Hey, honey, have you seen my socks?" "Momma! I want candy!" Through the chaos of barking dogs, calling children, buzzing dryers and ringing phones, I couldn't suppress the inner voice bearing down on me. You have to get this book finished by the end of summer. You're at the most critical part in the story too. The spiritual crux of the matter.…

I recently read this quote by Allen Arnold and it resonated deeply. "If God is pleased with your latest creation but the world ignores it, how do you feel? The answer reveals who you are creating for." Excellent question. I fall into this trap far too often. I hope people like what I've written. This new blog was a step out of my comfort zone. Will people read it? Will they like it? This doesn't even have to revolve around writing. This could be about any situation. The secret fear is, "Will they approve what I offer? Will they approve…