If you come to St. Louis to visit us and/or spend some time in the area, there are a ton of things to do! Schedule permitting, we may be able to accompany you on some of these adventures or just provide a comfortable place for you to stay while you’re here. If you prefer a little more room/privacy (or we don’t know you!), our apartment complex offers a fully-furnished apartment for rent for a day, week, or whatever you need. Also, be aware that starting in August, we’ll be caregiving our infant grandson Tues-Fri most weeks, so our availability will be more limited during the day.

You won’t be able to do it all, so choose what works best for you depending on your available time, health, interests, kids or no kids, budget, the weather, etc. For those with limited time, here are some things close by (walkable or a short drive from our apartment) …

• Apartment pool (however, guests are not allowed to use the fitness center)
• 24/7 Coffee bar and internet/fireplace room in the apartment lobby
• Excellent, wooded walking/jogging trails – Riparian Trail, Central Park, Monarch Levee Trail, River’s Edge Park Trail, etc. – I’ve done them all!
• Amazing, massive new playground – Central Park
• Fishing – Central Park
• Chesterfield Family YMCA
• Chesterfield Amphitheater – concert venue, some free (looking forward to the ELO Tribute band next month!)
• Chesterfield Family Aquatic Center
• Chesterfield Antique Mall
• St. Louis County Library
• Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, East Coast Pizza, Chick-fil-A, Kaldi’s coffee, Red Lobster, Brick House Tavern, Annie Gunn’s, 54^th Street, Firefly Grill, Syberg’s, GIO Modern + Italian, Buzzetta’s Italian, Sauce on the Side, El Salto Mexican, Mellow Mushroom, French Creperie, Edgewild, Stoney River Steakhouse, Billy G’s, Black Salt & Taj Palace (both Indian), The Old Spaghetti Factory, Siam Thai, Bishop’s Post (best patio in the region), YaYa’s Europ Bistro, MiMi’s Café, The Original Pancake House, Duck Donuts and, if you don’t mind blowing up like a Hezbollah pager… Taco Bell! 
• Marcus Movie Theater… has those horizontal reclining seats that almost put me to sleep two nights ago… during Mission Impossible!
• The Largest Outdoor Shopping Mall in the U.S. – at “The Valley” – Walmart, Old Navy, Golf Galaxy, Target, Dick’s, Kirkland’s, Bath & Body, Michaels, Best Buy, Sam’s, Lowe’s, World Market, Home Depot, etc.… you get the idea. If that’s not enough, we’re 5.9 miles away from the St. Louis Premium Outlets.
• Top Golf
• The Factory – music venue (Everything from Michael W. Smith to David Lee Roth! Upcoming acts include: Little River Band, Boz Scaggs, John Legend, The O’Jays, and if you want to “do a little dance”, K.C. and the Sunshine Band!)
• The District – shopping, restaurants, outdoor big screen TV w/ sporting events
• Main Event indoor playground
• Go Play! indoor playground
• Slick City Action Park – family fun center
• All of the above are walkable or within 2.5 miles of us!

If you are willing and able to branch out farther, there are SO MANY things to see and do! You can Google the ones you’re interested in for hours, prices, parking and other details, so this blog doesn’t turn into a guidebook!

Note: I’m not including the area’s best hiking/running/walking trails as I’m systematically working (hiking/running) my way through the book 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles of St. Louis. That’s a blog for another time. I’m also not going to get into the restaurant scene, other than what’s above/very close to us. Again, that lends itself to a separate blog. However, when in doubt, go to The Hill and get Italian food. Or Pappy’s Smokehouse.

Here, then, are 40 things to do in and around St. Louis… a little something for everyone:

• Gateway Arch National Park – an awe-inspiring spectacle, towering over the Mississippi Riverbank—STL’s #1 tourist attraction. Features a tram ride to the top, the museum of westward expansion, a documentary movie, and beautiful grounds to walk. The park and museum are free.

• Forest Park / St. Louis Zoo – take a leisurely stroll through the 1300-acre park—one of the largest urban parks in the United States. (Nearly 500 acres larger than New York City’s Central Park!) It contains the St. Louis Zoo and its famous polar bear and penguin/puffin exhibits. Both the zoo and park are free, although to save on parking, you’ll want to park at the Turtle Playground across the street (and let your kids play on the giant turtle statues). You can also rent a paddle boat, kayak, paddleboard, or canoe and enjoy Post-Dispatch Lake and Forest Park by water. Be sure to paddle up and stop at The Boathouse for lunch. 

• Sports Galore! – We’ll start at Busch Stadium with our very own St. Louis Cardinals! Go Cards! If hockey is more your thing, we’ve got the St. Louis Blues! If you prefer soccer, we’ve got the St. Louis CITY SC! We’ve also got the St. Louis Battlehawks (UFL), the World Wide Technology Raceway (NASCAR, Indy Car, etc.), the St. Louis Ambush (indoor soccer), and the Atlantic 10 conference’s St. Louis University Billikens!

• St. Louis Science Center – With over 750 exhibits in a complex of over 300,000 square feet, it is among the largest of its type in the United States. Check out the OmniMax movies, planetarium, laser light shows, discovery room, life science lab, and more! Free admission, optional fees for movies and such.

• Grant’s Farm – one of the most popular family activities in St. Louis. Hang out with the retired Budweiser Clydesdales and use a skid steer to clean up behind them. There are also 900 other animals including tortoises, cows, deer, zebras and more. Free admission.

• St. Louis Art Museum – One of the nation’s leading comprehensive art museums. Its collection includes exceptional art from virtually every culture and movement, and its temporary exhibitions range from native art to French landscapes and global textiles to ancient armor. You can view works from Picasso to Van Gogh, and it won’t cost you any “Monet”. 

• The Magic House—St. Louis Children’s Museum – Engage your children with hands-on learning experiences that spark imagination, pique curiosity, enhance creativity and develop problem-solving skills within a place of beauty, wonder, joy and magic. Free Family Night every third Friday of the month from 5-8 p.m.

• City Museum – at this giant playground made from repurposed objects, you can slide down a 10-story spiral slide, sit in the cockpit of an old plane, climb inside a treehouse, crawl through tunnels, and more. Plan on spending a couple of hours here at least to see it all – there are surprises at every turn. 

• Theater and Performing Arts – Need a culture fix? Options include the Fabulous Fox Theater, The Muny (outdoor theater), STAGES St. Louis, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Touhill Performing Arts Center, Kirkwood Performing Arts Center, and the Grand Center Arts District. 

• Riverboat Cruise – take a 2-3 mile ride in a riverboat down the Mighty Mississippi! The tour will tell you about the different bridges you pass under (there are 5 or 6) and the barges on the river along with some other historical facts. 

• Big Muddy Adventures – want to get even closer to the Mighty Mississippi? If so, this world-class St. Louis-based adventure company and professional outfitter will hook you up with its full fleet of canoes and kayaks. Whether you want to do a riverfront adventure in downtown St. Louis, embark on a full moon float to a beautiful, uninhabited river island or add a bike ride along the Katy Trail to your aquatic adventure, river trips with Big Muddy Adventures are always memorable.

• Anheuser Busch Brewery Tour – a deep dive into beer-making, if that’s your thing, and an opportunity to visit the Clydesdales in their state-of-the-art stables. You can also try the toasted ravioli—a St. Louis staple—at the on-site Biergarten Restaurant.

• The Old Courthouse – next to the Arch. Now open to the public after a major renovation. The infamous Dred Scott v. Sanford landmark decision of the Supreme Court was held right here in this very courthouse. Free.

• The Basilica of St. Louis – aka the Old Cathedral – Tour and admire the beauty of the first cathedral built west of the Mississippi River. Free.

• Missouri History Museum – One of the most visited history museums in the nation. Discover the city’s baseball history from the Browns to the Cardinals, see “The Spirit of St. Louis” — sister plane to Lindbergh’s, explore life on the Mississippi River, marvel at the magnitude of the 1904 World’s Fair, learn about the Civil Rights movement, and much more. Admission? Free.

• Missouri Botanical Garden – Enjoy, by walking or taking a tram tour, two miles of plants from around the world. Don’t miss the Children’s Garden on the inside, the splash pad, and the hands-on activities and interactive exhibits.

• City Gardens – vibrant, urban, free, one-of-a-kind playground for all ages. Enjoy and explore the captivating sculptures, relax by the fountains, watch the kids run through the splash pad or swim in the pool, climb through tunnels, slide down slides, and just simply unwind. The calming paths also light up in the evening making it a lovely spot for an after-dinner walk. 

• Bellefontaine Cemetery – Some of you creepy people are into cemeteries. I get it. This 276-year old gem has several architecturally significant monuments and mausoleums and has free admission, unless you are dead and plan to stay. The cemetery contains 314 acres and over 87,000 graves, including those of William Clark, Adolphus Busch, Thomas Hart Benton, William S. Burroughs, Rush Limbaugh, and many Union and Confederate soldiers from the American Civil War. (Note: None of the locals are buried there. They’re not dead yet.)  

• Lemp Mansion – Still not spooked? Test your bravery and tour one of the United States’ top 10 supposedly haunted properties.

• South City Hospital – Still not spooked? Drive by this now closed hospital on South Broadway in the Dutchtown neighborhood at night. (Actually, don’t do that.) Previously known as St. Alexius Hospital, the facility was founded by the Alexian Brothers and had a capacity of 178 bed at the time of its closing in 2023. It played a significant role in the (alleged) exorcism that inspired the famous movie “The Exorcist”. The exorcism, conducted in 1949 on a 13-year-old boy, began at his aunt’s house and later moved to the Alexian Brothers Hospital for a month-long period. 

• Union Station – Ride the St. Louis Wheel, a 200-foot high observation wheel with 42 fully enclosed, climate controlled gondolas that seat up to eight riders each. Wheel passengers will take three to four rotations high over the St. Louis skyline. If heights aren’t your thing, visit the on-site St. Louis Aquarium, play mini golf, view the mirror maze and fire and light show, and maneuver the ropes course.

• World Chess Hall of Fame. Whether you’re a nerd or not, this is a cool, free place to stop and check out. If nothing else, get a photo with the world’s largest chess piece! 

• Purina Farms – Take a short 35-minute drive outside the city to one of the most fun places for kids in St. Louis. The whole family will love watching the dog show filled with super-talented canine friends and walking through the training center. Purina Farms is also home to horses, sheep, cows, chickens, and more that you can interact with. Free.

• Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site – Take a short drive across the river and tour the central section of the largest prehistoric Native American city north of Mexico. Occupied from 700 to 1400, the city grew to cover 4,000 acres, with a population of between ten and twenty thousand at its peak around 1100.

• Eckert’s Farm – While you’re across the river, go pick your own apples, pumpkins, and such, ride the wagon, shop the country store, and eat at the country restaurant. If you’re with the Johnsons, you’ll also play a pick-up game of Bocci using mild to moderately rotten apples. If you still have gas in the tank, stop by nearby Mascoutah High School, where I played football circa ’80-’81. Go Indians!

• World’s Fair Pavilion – have a picnic in this pavilion that was originally built for the 1904 World’s Fair. Free.

• Museum of Transportation – Check out the collection of over 300 locomotives, cars, airplanes and other vehicles. Kids will love the ‘Creation Station Express’ miniature train ride and the ‘Throw Mama from a Train’ interactive exhibit.

• Grand Basin – A beautiful spot for some photos with water cascades. An ideal place to just relax and reflect. Free.

• Museum of Illusions – An interactive experience that will trick your eye, entertain your mind, and show you the exciting science behind illusions!

• National Blues Museum – Immerse yourself in the birthplace of the blues genre, discover stories about legendary musicians, and the cultural impact the blues has on music around the world. 

• The Jewel Box – A greenhouse with vibrant floral displays. Truly a hidden gem. $1 admission.

• Laumeier Sculpture Park – A unique and immersive outdoor art experience. Good place to capture artistic photos with the sculptures as your backdrop. Free.

• James S. McDonnell Prologue Room – the kids will love checking out the large-scale models of planes found here while learning about the history of aviation. Free.

• Loan Elk Park – Scenic wildlife habitat with tranquil drives, hiking trails, and picnic spots where elk, bison, and deer roam. Free.

• ChocoCulture Saint Louis Half-Day Private Tour – If you love chocolate and feel like splurging on something unique, this tour is for you. https://www.viator.com/tours/St-Louis/ChocoCulture-Saint-Louis-Half-Day-Tour/d24780-209615P227

• Moto Museum – rare and vintage motorcycles galore! Free.

• Miniature Museum – This is the place for anything miniature. Have a little fun and make this museum into a scavenger hunt or a game of “I Spy”. 

• Campbell House Museum – Built in 1851, the first house in the elegant Lucas Place neighborhood, the Campbell House was the home of renowned fur trader and entrepreneur Robert Campbell and his family from 1854 until 1938. 

• Ulysses S. Grant National Historical Site – Also known as White Haven, the site commemorates the life, military career and presidency of Ulysses S. Grant. Five historic structures are preserved at the site, including the childhood home of Ulysses’ wife, Julia Dent Grant. Free.

• Soulard Farmers Market – Established in 1779, this is the oldest farmers market west of the Mississippi and is open Wednesday-Saturday. Free.

While visiting St. Louis, you simply must check out one or more of the fascinating, historic neighborhoods. Janet and I pick a neighborhood and go walk it in search of interesting bookstores, coffee shops, and eateries. As an example, we recently went to Cherokee Antique Row and visited Hammond’s Books (straight out of a Stephen King novel), Riverside Architectural Antiques (never seen anything quite like it), Myrtle Haus books (with a fireplace!), The Mud House coffee shop, and Taqueria Hectorito (the best street tacos you’ll ever consume). Maplewood offered a festival, The Book House, and La Cosecha Coffee, featuring a bakery in the back with free samples! Central West End served up Left Bank Books, Northwest Coffee Roasting Company, and The Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis. We’ll update this blog annually as we explore new ‘hoods in the area. For now, though, check out this link for some options: https://explorestlouis.com/plan-your-trip/neighborhoods/

Confession time: while visiting Kyle and Laci a few years ago, they took us on a walking tour at dusk around Clayton, just west of Forest Park. As we walked by the beautiful Concordia Seminary (a primary seminary for the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod; founded in 1839), I noticed a large crowd of people gathered on the upper grounds outside the institution. Curious, and going against the urging of my family, I climbed the hill like the 20th Maine at Little Round Top on Day 3 at Gettysburg. Kyle followed me with the earnestness of a 28-year-old preacher following an aging parent with declining cognitive abililites. At the top, we discovered what appeared to be a freshmen/parent mixer, and I slipped into the back of the line at the large food tent, with my incredulous junior progeny in tow. I smiled, lovingly grasped the back of Kyle’s neck, and gave reasurring nods to other anxious parents. Ten minutes later, Kyle and I descended the hill, each toting a styrofoam container with a brat, french fries, German potato salad, and a packet of spicy mustard! No guts, no glory!

I hope this blog will inspire you to come see us in St. Louis! Did you notice how many things are free? Even the Lutheran brats! We actually live in Chesterfield, a very safe, low-crime city about 21 miles west of downtown St. Louis.

As for St. Louis… yes, like most cities, there are some rough, dangerous, high-crime parts of town, especially at night. We avoid those areas, especially at night.

So come see us! We might even show off our adorable grandsons!

Welcome to the Johnson’s 37^th consecutive Christmas dispatch! Let’s talk about some beautiful things…

I’ve long made fun of over-the-top, doting, bragging grandparents… and now I am one! Janet and I have joined the club. Out of nowhere, the next generation has arrived! Having a grand has given us a boost of energy and renewed purpose. Little Bradford (actually, thick, muscular, 99 percentile length and head-size Bradford) fills a space in our hearts that we never knew was empty. That is truly a beautiful thing. I’ll come back to that.

As for the older generation, Raymond & Shirley, Janet’s parents, continue to live with us and provide blessings and humor to our lives. He struts into the kitchen each morning, with his pajama shirt tucked into his pants, and his pants tucked into his socks—next level old man gangsta! At 91 and 86, they are doing pretty well physically and can still beat us in cards.

I visited my dad and his caregiving wife Gail three times this year. One visit involved three days with him at a rehab center post-surgery, in order to give Gail a respite. Dad’s short-term memory is diminished and he sleeps a lot, but he’s a dear, sweet man. One morning, I sat by his bedside and said, “Dad, what can I get you? You have plenty of money—want a new TV? Want to go on a vacation? Whatever you want, I’ll get it or arrange it for you.” He thought for a moment and said, “Well, there is one thing, Bull. If it’s not too much trouble… I’d love a grilled cheese sandwich and some chocolate milk.” I smiled and said, “You got it, Pops!” The Greek Stoic philosopher Epictetus wrote, “Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants.” My dad gets that. Peace and contentment at age 87 is a beautiful thing.

Speaking of beautiful, inside and out, my darling Janet had a busy, productive year. She taught several Ladies Bible classes and taught our congregation’s 5^th and 6^th graders. She loves speaking at Christian women’s events and was blessed to be able to do so this year in Kittanning, Pennsylvania and Houston, Texas. My little lady pours her heart and soul into these lessons and listeners. The college version of Janet I remember would never have envisioned herself teaching a Ladies Bible Class, much less speaking to large crowds of women around the country. Janet also went away with a group of lady friends for a cabin weekend in the woods to eat, fellowship, and watch/discuss several episodes of The Chosen. Seeing her spiritual growth and the way God continues to use her in ministry is a beautiful thing.

My year was filled with writing at coffee shops, doing disaster relief work in Valdosta, Georgia, doing prison ministry, hiking (to Rocky Top, Andrew’s Bald, and Charlie’s Bunion in the Smokies), leading a mission trip to Honduras, and teaching/speaking at Eastside and around the country. I spoke at the Kittanning PA church of Christ, the Camp Wiregrass men’s retreat in Alabama, and taught a 12-week course about my Appalachian Trail thru-hike to a local class of home-schoolers. While subbing at Knoxville Christian School, a first grade girl told me I was, “old, squishy, and 26.” She received partial credit… and remains in time-out.

In February, I published Every Scar, A Story: Act I, the first of a planned 3-part series, telling my life story. This first volume covers the first 25 years of my life—growing up in a military family, traveling the globe, falling in love, getting married, becoming a father, and the various highs, lows, and scars involved in such pursuits. Examining one’s life and capturing it in words is a useful, cathartic experience and a gift to future generations. I think everyone should pass on stories and lessons from their life to friends and family, whether that takes the form of a book or just a long note. I hope you’ll consider doing so. Having my youngest son tear up after reading a never-before-heard story about his late great-grandfather was, well, a beautiful thing.

Other 2024 highlights include:

• Visiting Bradford (and Kyle and Laci) in January, April, and November in Missouri. On the most recent visit, we celebrated Bradford’s first birthday!
• Visiting Jason & Rachel in Elkin and Mount Airy (think Mayberry), North Carolina, and doing an amazing 19-mile bike ride with them along Virginia’s Creeper Trail. 
• A week vacation in July to Canada with all 7 Johnson’s—Bradford’s 1^st visit to another country.
• Being visited by Kyle and Bradford in Maryville in September. Bradford (like his Uncle Jas, circa 1994) removed Tupperware from cabinets, pushed them around the kitchen floor, and put pieces on his head and in his mouth. He has a bright future.

• Celebrating our… wait for it… beautiful 36 years of marriage at Maryville’s swanky RT Lodge (courtesy of friends Kevin & Erika!) and then in Hot Springs, North Carolina, one of my favorite stops on the Appalachian Trail. (Sadly, the town was later devastated by Hurricane Helene flooding.)
• A wonderful family reunion with Steve’s sibs and their hubbies along 30A in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida.
• Going to Tennessee Volunteer football and basketball games with Joe and Jan, our friends from Missouri. Vols baseball–national champs! Vols football–made the playoffs! Vols basketball–currently #1 in the nation! Tis a good time to be a Vols fan!
• A family Thanksgiving gathering at a Kentucky Airbnb, where Steve taught Bradford how to catch a 10-lb catfish!

Last week, I visited my dad and his wife in Cincy with my sibs and their hubbies while Janet stayed home to look after her ailing mom. We went to a German-themed Christkindl market in downtown Cincy featuring bratwurst, vendors, an ice skating rink, and scores of costumed workers and visitors. As I exited the restaurant’s bathroom stall after doing my business, I looked over and Santa Claus was exiting the adjoing stall. We made eye contact, and in that moment, in the twinkling of an eye, Christmas became real.

Now for our big news. In April of ’25, we plan to move to Missouri—about 30 minutes west of St Louis! We have absolutely loved living in East Tennessee—our house, neighborhood, church family, friends, the mountains, etc. It’s all good. But the magnetic pull of a grandchild is real and powerful—if you’ve been there, you know. When you add a second grandchild on the way, well, we’re packing our bags! Our military lifestyle always kept us from being able to live near family. That’s about to change. As we enter this prime grandparenting window, we want to be present, whatever form that takes. I’m also “wired” to move every 4-6 years for a change of scenery—new jogging trails, coffee shops, bookstores, parks, neighborhoods, and people. That’s a bizarre concept to most, but the “human crop rotation” approach works for us, gives us a reset, and has allowed us to form friendships with people all over the country. To us, that is a beautiful thing.

Cathy (Janet’s middle sister) and her husband have graciously agreed to take in Janet’s parents for this next season of life. We’ve been busy painting and laying flooring in their Bristol VA home, getting a storage unit, and measuring furniture. The move will not be easy for my in-laws (and the congregation here is not happy to lose these sweet people), but we’re confident God will bless and provide for them in Bristol just as He’s done in Maryville. Their time with family in Virginia, like our time with family in Missouri, has the potential to be a beautiful thing. 

Amid this hectic holiday season, may we not lose sight of God sending His only Son into this world to die for messed up people like you and me. Jesus’ sacrifice on a cross and subsequent resurrection gives us hope and, as Andy Dufresne put it in The Shawshank Redemption, “Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things.” 

To which I would add… hope is also a beautiful thing. Merry Christmas, everyone!

On this, our 36^th Anniversary, a small sampling of the reasons I love you, Janet Johnson…

1. When something is crooked, out of sorts, or otherwise amiss, you call it “whomperjawed.” 
2. Your adorable “young Kristy McNichol look/vibe” took my breath away on September 15, 1984, when I first laid eyes on you, as you sat on my knee at the freshman mixer… and still takes my breath away today! 
3. You occasionally turn the ceiling fan above our bed on at 11 p.m., pull the covers off me by midnight, then graciously dole out a tiny patch of sheet at 2 a.m. to treat my frostbite.
4. You read and take notes from God’s Word every single day. No wonder your Bibles “fill up” and only last a few years. No wonder I see Jesus in you.
5. Our long, deep, intimate conversations, about any and everything, especially on long road trips. 
6. After all these years, you still try out new recipes on me. The recent roast beef sliders au jus were the bomb! I also like how, at restaurants, you’ll stare at the hushpuppies on my plate until I offer you one.
7. Yellow dresses, yellow… (well, you know). My kryptonite!
8. You love your parents, in words but even more so in deeds. Few have honored their parents these past 5 years the way that you have honored yours. (You honored my mom similarly, especially in her final few weeks, doing the most difficult of tasks, and I’ll never forget that.)
9. Your “career ambition” was never about money, titles, or promotions. You’ve always just wanted to be a loving, nurturing, present, wife and mother. That was enough. You are enough. 
10. Your spandex pants once inadvertently drew the attention of onlooking family and our youngest son, even as he was about to propose to his girlfriend. 
11. You once dropped an egg roll at Maryville’s Asian Buffet, then handed it to a nearby Asian woman who doesn’t work there.
12. Our shared nightly “happy place”—snuggling on the couch with a tub of popcorn, watching Survivor, The Crown, or a movie. Also, the way you recently tried to get me to watch the series Tracker because the (oft-shirtless) Josh Hartley “is a fine actor.” I’m sure he is.
13. All the inside jokes and references that only the two of us understand. We have our own little language!
14. Our basement couples’ YouTube aerobics sessions. “Come on, hon! Get those legs up!”
15. Your nightly bubble bath featuring Wordle, Quordle, iPad puzzles, and occasionally your spouse. 
16. When ministry becomes frustrating, you pull me back from the ledge and help me to not grow weary—to not give up on people.
17. I experience everything—the slightest touch, hug, kiss, gesture, glance, or comment—much more strongly with/around you. It’s magnetic, magical, and inexplicable… or maybe it’s just love.
18. The way we recently looked at each other in the theater, crying, when that critically ill little girl finally got the break she needed.
19. You model Jesus by serving so many people in so many ways at so many times. It’s just a natural part of who you are. When He returns, and we meet Him in the air, I hope you get the first high-five. You inspire me, lady!
20. The adorable way you can’t pronounce “rural”, “vulnerable,” “Massachusetts,” or “Worcestershire.”
21. How our “falling apart” while engaged made us realize how much we needed to fall back together, one final time. 
22. Your willingness to teach Bible classes and share God’s love at Ladies Days across the country (including Pennsylvania this fall… road trip!) You also help me, in countless ways, lead mission trips to Honduras.
23. Your selfless diligence in editing my books, down to the last comma, because you want the world to get the best I have to offer. I look forward to returning the favor on your upcoming book!
24. How we (Nonni and Papa Fob) get this regular, insatiable desire to squeeze our precious Baby Bradford, then concoct a plan to convince our kids to invite us to Ballwin, MO for a long weekend. Also, how you care as much about our adult sons now as you did when they were children. 
25. You know my love language—scalp massages, eye rubs, ear pulls, deep conversation, getting coffee, perusing bookstores, and long walks in nature. Truth be told, doing life with you is my love language.
26. You used to get on top of our RV on sunny days with a bucket of suds, wearing shorts and a T-shirt, spraying it down with a hose. Based solely on safety considerations, I stood by and watched. Confession: I couldn’t wait to drive through the mud again!
27. You look at me, smile, and say, “This says it all!” whenever Shania Twain’s “From This Moment On” comes on the radio. I say the same to you whenever Vince Gill’s “Look at Us” comes on. We’re both right.
28. Almost all your Facebook posts are about elevating God and your family, not yourself. Without a doubt, you help me stay on the “straight and narrow” path toward God and Heaven.
29. You let me hike the Appalachian Trail and, over six months, cheered my every step and planned a couple of unforgettable, soul-reviving reunions. The journey changed my life and reinvigorated my passion for writing. I will always be grateful to you for that.
30. Your willingness to call me out, in love, when I need to be called out. You know my every flaw but value and emphasize my strengths. 
31. On back-to-back Christmases, you got me an anti-snoring nose plug, followed by mouth-sealing “hostage tape.” If you ever find out I can breathe through my ears, I’m in big trouble! 
32. Your “spaghetti”? Amazing, but the menu is diverse. You keep me guessing!
33. On our Alaska land/sea cruise, you were a finalist in the onboard American Idol singing competition, rocking the house with “Dancing Queen” as you fulfilled a childhood dream. I was so proud of you and excited to have married a rock star!
34. In addition to cooking and doing the laundry for our family, you often do the same for a former prisoner… showing him a love and concern that has too often been missing in his troubled life. You make him, the children of Didasko orphanage in Honduras, Anastasia, and so many others—“the least of these”—feel worthy. 
35. The way you always loudly blow your nose right before going to bed. It’s only a matter of time before the neighbors complain.
36.  I wake up every morning, not entirely sure how the day will go. But I always know that whatever happens, you will be in my corner. My battles will be your battles, and your battles will be mine.

My darling Janet, our journey across 48 states, 27 foreign countries, and 36 (really 40) years… by car, plane, boat, RV, and sometimes foot… has been incredible! You are God’s second-greatest gift to me, and I wouldn’t trade you for anyone in the world! 

As Vince Gill put it…

“Chances are we’ll go down in history
When they wanna see
How true love should be
They’ll just look at us.”

Happy 36^th Anniversary! 

My dreams came true because of you!

I love you!

Every Scar, a Story… what can you tell us about your new book?

It’s Act I of my planned three-act life story, which I hope to eventually cover in three roughly 25-year increments. 

So, it’s a memoir?

More of a memoir/autobiography hybrid. It’s not as comprehensive as a full-life autobiography, but it’s wider in scope than a traditional memoir. I tell my story (and, to a degree, my family’s story) through nearly 140 bite-sized scenes or vignettes. The “scar” theme runs throughout and ties them together.

So, it’s a tell-all?

It’s a tell-some. I put my life under a microscope and try to make sense of it. I turned over as many stones as I could find.

With all due respect, you’re not famous. Who’s going to read this?

Fair point. My sister Ellen asked the same question! (I love the raw honesty of a sibling.) I’m confident my sisters and sons will read it… and Dave Esslinger and Jeff Battreall, my buddies since high school. They have starring roles. As co-editor, my wife has to read it. Beyond that, I don’t know. If you want famous, you can read Madonna’s story or, better yet, the Book of Job. 

My goal has never been big sales. That’s a fleeting pursuit. That’s not why I write. In this book, I set out to tell my story in a truthful, hopefully captivating way, and draw some lessons from my life. I grew up in a military family and traveled all over the world. I’ve lived through some amazing, wonderful, and difficult experiences. My hope is that readers will see themselves in some of my stories and be encouraged, inspired, or at least feel something. I like the way author Anne Lamott puts it: “If something inside you is real, we will probably find it interesting, and it will probably be universal… Write straight into the emotional center of things.” That was my target. The reader gets to decide if I succeeded. 

What inspired you to tell your story?

A couple of years ago, it dawned on me how little I know about my ancestors. You may know your grandparents but what about your great-grandparents? How about your great-great-grandparents? Not much, right? Most of my ancestors were content to live and die, leaving behind little to no documentation of their allotted time in history. These people—their lives, voices, and knowledge—are lost to us. I would love to know more about a family member from two hundred or five hundred years ago. How cool would that be? So, in a sense, this book is a gift—a love letter—to my family and especially my descendants, most of whom I will never meet. My new grandson, Bradford, will eventually get to read this book and learn a fair amount about his great-great-great grandparents.

How did your title come about?

While working on the project, I was perusing the Facebook page of a young man who hadn’t been to church services in a while. Sometimes social media posts give an indication of someone’s well-being. I came across the phrase “Every Scar, a Story” and instantly knew I had found my title. It works on a couple of levels. The book tells a single story—my story—yet it’s shaped, in part, by scars—physical, emotional, or spiritual. And each of these scars has a story.

How did you research and organize the stories?

I have two things going for me. First, I have an exceptional memory, fed by exhaustive family archives. I have an extensive collection of scrapbooks, yearbooks, photos, and family mementos. I still have gifts from elementary school girlfriends, a collection of old, nasty football mouthguards, and letters my grandfather sent home during World War II. I tapped into those resources—well, not the mouthguards. 

Second, I’m a nerd. I created an Excel spreadsheet, with the first 25 years of my life down the left hand side and, across the top, various categories of things I was looking for—decision points, lessons learned, the funny, the embarrassing, and the scars. Over the past 18 months, as memories randomly popped into my head, I noted them on the spreadsheet, then wrote about them. I also reached out to my wife, sisters, and other family and friends for their perspectives. 

Were the perspectives different?

In a sense, always. No two memories of an event are identical. We each remember things differently, based on our perspective, age, and baggage. Some memories form or evolve based on oft-repeated stories. We block out other memories. There’s a whole area of psychology dealing with our brains and how memories form. My friends and family corrected me in some places, and I was reminded of a few scenes long forgotten. The goal was to tell my story accurately and fairly, not to reach consensus. Keep in mind: this is my story. If someone has a different memory or perspective, that’s okay. They can write their story, and I’ll read it.

“Every Scar” sounds heavy?

There are some heavy moments, for sure. I had to go to some dark places, and I will have to dig up more skeletons in Act II. For a book like this to work, you must be vulnerable and transparent. You have to rip off some scabs. No reader wants you to drone on about how wonderful your life has been. Still, there are some sweet, touching moments, too. Plenty of humor. Self-discovery. Even some pop culture. I pack a lot into this book. I can’t wait for my family and friends to read it. 

How did you handle privacy concerns for those you talk about in your book?

That was tricky. I mostly went with first names. I also changed the names of my middle and high school girlfriends, along with a few people who did embarrassing things. To my knowledge, nothing is mean-spirited or unfair. In a few instances, where family members’ shortcomings are discussed, I either got their permission or used material that was already widely known. I don’t think anyone will be offended, but if so, I apologize in advance. I did my best. This has been the most difficult and personal of all the books I’ve written. I should also mention that I have many friends and family who I love, and who positively impacted my first 25 years, who are not mentioned in the book. Not every relationship or memory fit the construct I used. Please don’t be offended. You may even be thankful!

Did you learn anything about yourself?

You can’t take on a project like this without learning a ton about yourself. The process is self-discovery on steroids. I’m proud of some aspects of my life but I also rediscovered plenty of regrets. We all have them, don’t we? Most people put up a wall. We sanitize our past or take our mistakes with us to the grave. We put on our Sunday clothes and project an image of how we want people to see us. Not this time. I knocked down the wall. I talk about many (though not all) of my missteps with the hope others can learn from them. If you find yourself thinking “TMI” while reading, just move to the next story! The experience has also given me a deeper appreciation for my family—I’m so blessed. This project was an opportunity to forgive myself in some areas, put the past behind me, and move forward. It’s a healthy, cathartic, therapeutic exercise. Everyone should write their story, regardless of whether you publish it.

Any other projects in the works?

There are always projects in the works. My brain never rests! Just ask my wife! I try to write a monthly blog. I’m ¼ of the way through Faith in the Margins, Vol. 2. I’ll also keep nibbling away at Act II of my life story. I’m considering a leadership book based on my military, church, and other experiences. There may be another book, already partially written in my head, on prison ministry. I plan to keep writing, even though Maryville’s Vienna Coffee House, without asking, got rid of my favorite, weathered, wrinkly writing chair that sat in the corner. How am I supposed to write on shiny new leather?

What about fiction?

Aside from aspects of The Eulogy, which I co-wrote with Janet, I haven’t done much fiction writing. I admire authors who create imaginary people and worlds and take us there. We all need an escape from time to time. But I’m drawn to the real world. My calling as a writer—my niche if you will—is to point people directly or indirectly to Jesus. That’s non-fleeting—an endeavor that can pay off in ways that endure. I’ve found I’m best able to do that through non-fiction. In my latest book, as well as the previous six, I’ve tried—through board games, my Appalachian Trail hike, a dying man, the Genesis story, etc.—to illuminate a loving God. As long as He keeps me around, I’ll keep doing that. 

Anything else you’d like to add?

A few weeks ago, I spent a week looking after my dad at his Florida condo. He has dementia, is frail, and sleeps about 16-18 hours per day. But in those waking moments, we had some great conversations. He’s not able to read much anymore, but he can still speak, listen and understand. Each next day, though, his previous day is almost always erased from his memory. It’s sad but we’re doing the best we can to support him and his wife. At Janet’s suggestion, I started reading a late draft of Every Scar, A Story to him. He laughed out loud at points and shook his head at others. I helped him recall some family history he had forgotten. He even corrected a few details, as his distant memories are still partially intact. What a gift to be able to share my book with the man who was largely responsible for my existence—my story. The significance of the moment was not lost on me. It’s something I will always remember… until my mind starts to slip. Perhaps then my sons can read to me from Every Scar and revive old memories.

So, who will read the life story of just an ordinary guy? I don’t know. But I got to share a good portion of the tale with my old man in the twilight of his life. He smiled. He said it was good. That was enough.   

Every Scar, A Story is available on Amazon at:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CVNJPYP6/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1M3WW6A2VBVTO&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.9BdImdk7-sx9al5nRAir_Q.NRD-ZCrp6MHcTNYUV_ywEJjj4kIWi7WYGZHFx4X2Qo4&dib_tag=se&keywords=every+scar%2C+a+story+steve+johnson&qid=1707927705&sprefix=every+scar%2C+a+story+steve+johnson%2Caps%2C98&sr=8-1

In the tradition of Michael Scott’s Dundees and Lord Alfred’s Nobels, we present We Da Johnson’s 2023 superlatives. Hope you enjoy our 36^th annual Christmas missive…

Best Event – The Birth of Bradford Genry Johnson! Our first grandchild, who happens to be the most adorable, precious little guy in the universe, entered the world on Nov. 9^th, 2023, at 7:32 a.m., carrying 8.25 lbs. and 21.5” in length. So many things in this world—electric cars, elaborate weddings, parades, and pomegranates—are overrated. Becoming a grandparent, we have learned, is not. We highly recommend it! Laci was a champ through 27 hours of painful labor (even more painful than the wooden furniture in the waiting room), and Kyle did a great job supporting her and not vomiting. We are thankful to Laci, Kyle, and God for blessing our family in such an amazing way. Bradford (aka Ford, Fjord, Little B, et al) likes to eat, sleep, poop, repeat (don’t we all?), and raise his long fingers into the air like a conductor. He’ll carry Papa Fob’s, Uncle Jason’s, and Great Grandpa Brad’s middle name—Bradford—through life, along with his mom’s maiden name. He’ll also carry our hearts forever.

Best Road Trip – Belleville Marathon! Jason surprised Steve at our front door one night, and the next afternoon the two of them surprised Kyle at his front door. We made the journey to STL in September to cheer Kyle on (and hand out a tub of popsicles) as he completed his first marathon. He now joins Jason and Steve with a bucket list marathon under his belt.

Best Party – Papa Raymond’s 90th Birthday Bash! We celebrated this milestone in July with a large gathering of friends and family. We hoped Papa would receive 90 birthday cards, and he ended up with 189! Thanks to those who sent one—he has spent countless hours reading them over and over. Papa’s faithfulness and humility are a shining example for all who know him.

Best Hike – Mount LeConte! We joined friends Brook and Janna in July for an 8-mile, 3K-foot elevation gain hike to the top of Mount Le Conte, then spent the night at the highest guest lodge in the eastern United States. Only two awkward moments: Brook’s phone alarm—Julie Andrew’s “The Hills Are Alive”—blared near Steve’s head at a far too early 6:30 a.m. … and Steve asked some puzzled Japanese tourists near the summit, “How far to Dorrywood?”

Best Win – Chili Cook-Off! In October, Steve won the annual church chili cook-off with the first bowl of chili he’d ever made! He thanked his family, friends, and 8^th grade Home Economics teacher for their support. He has no plans to compete again as he wants to go to his grave undefeated in cooking competitions.

Worst Injury – Shirley’s Broken Hip! Mamaw fell and broke her hip in January, raising our household replacement hip total to three. (We scatter the broken hips and other discontinued body parts across the lawn at Halloween to scare the trick-or-treaters.) A week later, Steve took Papa to visit her in rehab and went to the wrong room on the wrong floor. Thinking she was at PT, they rearranged her belongings to create places to sit, hung out for 30 minutes, and wondered why her new roommate said she was at dialysis.  

Best Reunion – Nashville Baby Showers! In July, we gathered with Steve’s large extended family for fun baby showers for Laci and our niece, Ellie. At one point, Steve’s dad looked at him and asked, “Now, who are all these people?” With a little prompting, he can still make the connections. (Runner-Up: A trip to Tucson in April to hang out, hike, and consume local cuisine with Steve’s sisters and their hubbies. 2^nd Runner-Up: Multiple visits to see Steve’s dad and his wife Gail in Cincinnati. On one trip, 86-year-old Brad beat his son at bowling!)

Best New Skill Learned – Beekeeping! On a disaster relief trip to Valdosta in September, Steve was twice asked to don a beekeeping suit and cut open a fallen tree trunk with a chainsaw to help extract a queen and hive with about 70K fired-up bees. As a result of the experience, Steve now shakes his bum in a “waggle dance” to get Janet’s attention. (More on that trip at https://www.bigsteveandliljan.com/bee-student/)

Best Speaking Gig, Janet (aka Nonni) – (tie) – Ladies Days in Lufkin, TX (Feb.), Carolina Bible Camp, NC (May), and Fairview Heights, IL (Sep.). Janet loves talking to groups of ladies about God and the opportunity that affords her to buy new outfits.

Best Speaking Gig, Steve (aka Papa Fob) – (tie) – Lufkin, TX; Athens, AL; & Greenback, TN. Like Janet, Steve is willing to travel anywhere at any time to share pics of Baby Bradford and talk about faith, mission work, and hiking the Appalachian Trail. 

Best Mission Trip – Honduras! In May, we led a team of 17 missionaries to build houses, hand out food, provide medical care, and share the Gospel in Honduras. We hope to return this coming May. (Runner up: A disaster relief trip to Wynne, AR, in April, which resulted in this blog:  https://www.bigsteveandliljan.com/wynne-arkansas-disaster-relief-amys-swing/)

We hope you have a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful 2024! Our greatest blessing this year, and every year, is our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We are thankful for His life, death, and resurrection, which give us purpose in this life and hope for the future. We’ll close this annual letter by giving Jesus—the Word—the last word, from John 14:6… “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” 

Merry Christmas!

Steve & Janet

Nurses mustered, monitoring
Mom reclined, suffering
Dad present, attending
Mothers involved, advising
Fathers nearby, praying
Bloodline assembled, hoping

Autumn blessing, imminent

9 months, anticipating
27 hours, excruciating
Pushing, contracting, maneuvering
Visible crown, wooly
Immense pain, selfless sacrifice
“Push, Lace! You got this!”

Autumn blessing, emerged

Blue tint, massaging
Heartbeat? needs oxygen
Mothers unsure, weeping
Nurses purposeful, scrambling
Mom depleted, thankful
Baby swollen, acclimating, brand new world

Autumn blessing, alive

8 pounds, 4 ounces, pure joy
Reddish hue, dimpled chin, long fingers
Nurse, sleep, cry, endless cycle
Precious in every way
Answered prayer
God’s special gift

Autumn blessing, Baby Bradford