Plans and the Internet

You may have noticed the picture at the top of this blog. The one that looks suspiciously like something you might find on the front of a CD album cover. (Which might be because of the words “debut album” floating across the bottom right-hand corner.)

Well, it’s not actually. A CD album cover, that is. It was booted out in favor of a different photo I had on hand. But there is a real CD album cover. Complete with accompanying CD case and CD. Amazing how far technology will take you these days. I hadn't the slightest clue what I was doing (and to be quite honest, I still don't think I really do). But due to the fact that God had me born in this time and place and not a thousand years ago or on the unnamed, deserted island I sometimes wish I was living on, I now have a CD. Designed, researched, edited, copyrighted, ordered, uploaded, and downloaded on the Internet. (Let me point out that you're also reading about this on the Internet.) Created in studio. Written at home. It’s entitled “Home” (the narrow winner over my second choice, “Internet”), and if you go to www.amazon.com right now, search MP3 downloads, and type in “Rebecca Johnson, Home,” it will show up. Unless your connection stops working. Which is what mine just did. The songs should also be making themselves available on itunes within the next couple weeks. And I have a myspace at www.myspace.com/rebeccasjohnson. I figured I might as well go all out.

So, how’d this all come about? . . . Well, that’s a good question. I think it started late one Monday night in Africa after I’d spent a day with orphan kids who weren’t wearing any shoes and couldn’t stop smiling at me. Or maybe it was before that in March when I stepped into an actual professional recording studio. Or possibly it was that first song I wrote back in fifth grade about eagles' wings. Or maybe God’s been planning this before the creation of the world.

“ ‘I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord.” Which is why it’s absolutely okay that I don’t have a clue. Besides, this way, you can’t give me any of the credit or glory. It all goes to Him, right where it belongs.

Kids and Puppies

Recently, it has come into my mind that there’s not so much difference between being a mom and owning a dog. Kids and puppies. They both smell funny and like to chew on things they’re not supposed to. Their noses run. The value of your house begins a slow (or fast) downward spiral the moment they arrive. You start feeling jittery if you let them out of your sight for more than ten seconds, and when you do finally dash off to take your speed shower, you pray they don’t move.

I’m what you might call an expert in this subject (and I don’t say that about many subjects). I don’t have a kid; I don’t need one: my family’s already got seven. Three babies, one toddler, and three little guys that are most definitely 100% kid. I’ve got a dog. The similarities are astounding. My sister yells at her kids to stop jumping on the couch; I yell at my dog to stop jumping on the kids. She gets woken up at 3:00 in the morning by a baby crying for food; I get woken up by a puppy that’s got to go potty now. Her vehicle’s back seat is a mess of half-eaten french fries and toy pieces; my back seat is a mess of muddy paw prints and dog hair.

It’s amazing how much you have to pack for an overnight stay with a baby or a dog. Diapers. Leash. Bottle. Doggy treats. Binkie. Pillow. (The pillow’s for my dog; he sleeps on one at night.) It’s amazing how much money you start spending, not on yourself. On them. On it. It’s amazing what you hear coming out of your mouth. “Don’t eat so fast; you’ll choke and die.” “Don’t take her toy; she had it first.” “What’d you do with your blanket?” “Why aren’t you in bed sleeping like you’re supposed to?” (And believe me, I’ve heard these said to both kids and dogs!)

Then again, I’ve never heard my sister yell, “Get that poop out of your mouth!”

Maybe, there’s a difference between kids and puppies after all.