Category Archives: DadWhoWrites

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Reflecting on a Chaotic Summer: Triumphs, Challenges, and Healing

As the summer draws to a close, I find myself reflecting on the whirlwind of events that have shaped these past few months. It’s been a chaotic and busy summer, and unfortunately, my blogging took a backseat amidst the flurry of activities. Nevertheless, I want to take this moment to share some significant highlights and experiences that have profoundly impacted my life.

Embracing Change and Healing

One of the major milestones of this summer was transitioning to a new church after my wife’s remarkable decision to resign from her 15-year stint serving on staff at our previous church. Her courage to step away from an environment that had subjected her to toxic, emotional, and spiritual abuse was both empowering and liberating. Sure our finances took a hit, but it was the right choice. As we embarked on this new chapter together we began attending a new church and despite not knowing many people, we decided to step out of our comfort zone and serve at our Vacation Bible School (VBS). I took on the role of games coordinator, she did snacks! Witnessing our mutual commitment to serving our community brought us immense joy. While I won’t delve deeply into the details of our previous church’s experience right now, it’s essential to acknowledge that we are both on a path of healing, growth, and renewed faith. Though there are still some wounds to tend to, we’re gradually finding solace in each other’s love and support.

Triumph in Publishing – Iggy & Oz Series

Another remarkable achievement this summer was the successful Kickstarter campaign for the fourth book in the Iggy & Oz series. With great pride and gratitude, we were able to not only meet our funding goal but also surpassed it by 200%. The overwhelming support from our readers and fans made this experience truly heartwarming. The Iggy & Oz series has become a passion project close to my heart, and witnessing its continued success brings immense fulfillment.

A Journey of Struggle and Success – Realm Makers Writers Conference

Amidst the busy schedule, I made it a point to attend the esteemed Realm Makers writers conference. This year held special significance for me as my book, “Iggy & Oz: The Living Snot,” was honored with the award for the best middle-grade book. This recognition was particularly meaningful as this book was written during a time when I was battling severe anxiety. The writing process served as a cathartic outlet, and the award felt like a well-deserved acknowledgment of the challenges I had overcome.

Collaborative Creativity – “Interstice Undone”

Currently, I’m engaged in an exciting cowriting project with fellow authors Steve Rzasa and Jason Joyner. Together, we are crafting an epic crossover story that features all our beloved characters. Titled “Interstice Undone,” this collaborative effort is a testament to the power of unity and creativity. Working alongside these talented authors has been an inspiring journey, and we can’t wait to share the final result with our readers.

As I look back on this chaotic and eventful summer, I’m filled with a mix of emotions – from the joy of triumphs to the somber reflections of healing. Through it all, I’m grateful for the love and support of my wife, the encouragement of my readers, and the camaraderie of fellow writers. These experiences have strengthened my faith, fueled my creativity, and reminded me that even amidst chaos, there are moments of triumph and healing worth cherishing. I look forward to the days ahead, where I can continue sharing my journey and stories with all of you. Until then, thank you for being a part of this rollercoaster summer.

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Mondays Stink!!!

Ah, Mondays. The day of the week that nobody looks forward to. The day when the weekend is over and the workweek begins. The day when coffee is no longer a luxury but a necessity. Yes, Mondays stink. And if you’re anything like me, you probably feel like you need an IV drip of coffee just to get through the day- To quote Lorelai Gilmore.

happy coffee
Photo by Kaboompics .com on Pexels.com

But why do Mondays have to be so terrible? Maybe it’s because we’ve spent the last two days living it up, and now we’re paying the price. Or maybe it’s because Mondays are just inherently cursed. Whatever the reason, there’s no denying that Mondays are the worst.

For starters, getting out of bed on a Monday morning is an uphill battle. You’re groggy, disoriented, and you’ve probably hit the snooze button on your alarm at least five times. And when you finally do manage to drag yourself out of bed, you’re hit with the realization that you have an entire week of work ahead of you. Ugh.

Then there’s the commute. Whether you’re driving or taking public transportation, Mondays always seem to bring out the worst in people. Drivers are more aggressive, commuters are more irritable, and everyone seems to be in a rush to get to their jobs. And if you’re anything like me, you’ll spend the entire commute fantasizing about all the different ways you could quit your job and become a professional trout bum.

But let’s not forget about the actual work. Mondays are usually filled with meetings, emails, and catching up on everything you missed over the weekend. And even if you managed to get some work done over the weekend, it’s never enough. You’re always playing catch-up on Mondays, and it feels like you’re constantly behind.

And then there’s the coffee. Oh, the coffee. Without it, Mondays would be even more unbearable. But even with it, Mondays still suck. You’re constantly refilling your mug, trying to stay awake and alert, and praying that the caffeine kicks in soon. And if you’re really desperate, you might start fantasizing about that Gilmore IV drip of coffee we mentioned earlier.

But hey, it’s not all bad. Mondays can be a great excuse to procrastinate. You know you should be working, but instead, you’re scrolling through social media, watching funny cat videos, and reading blogs about how much Mondays suck. And who knows, maybe you’ll even find some inspiration for your next meme or TikTok video.

And let’s not forget about the silver lining. Once you make it through Monday, the rest of the week will be a breeze. Well, maybe not a breeze, but at least it won’t be Monday. (Unless you’re like I was like week and have a week of Mondays.) And before you know it, the weekend will be here again, and you’ll have two whole days to do absolutely nothing.

So there you have it. Mondays suck, but they don’t have to be the end of the world. Embrace the coffee, procrastinate a little (or a lot), and remember that the rest of the week is just around the corner. And who knows, maybe someday we’ll all have access to that IV drip of coffee we’ve been dreaming of. Until then, let’s just try to survive Mondays one week at a time.

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Ten Years of JJJohnsonWrites

On March 10th, 2013, I registered the domain jjjohnsonWrites.com and started blogging/writing. What was my plan? There was no plan! Like most discovery writers I usually make it up as I go along. And to be fair, I was pretty upfront about it: the site is called jjjohnsonwrites– So what exactly am I writing? I’m writing about just whatever pops into my mind and what I feel like writing about for that day.

black and white blog business coffee
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

This, to be sure, is how my site continues today, nearly ten years later. 

I’ve remained on WordPress this entire time. And with the exception of the last half of 2021, thru all of 2022, when I struggled with anxiety and some minor depression and needed a break from everything and everyone- I’ve been here blogging.

Many say blogging is dead. I beg to differ. There are a lot of lies about social media spaces, and prettier attractions always come along. Yet, my site has always been consistent, and when I show up here, to spew out random thoughts, so do readers. 

Most posts are undoubtedly about writing, reading, being Geeky, and of course the kids. Some post are even on the finer joys of life: like Coffee. Why? Well, these are the things that interest me. 

Writing here has become, sort of my life’s work. I Don’t get paid for it; it’s not monetized, nor is this the work most people read. Heck, this year I’ve already published well over 15,000 words of content on this site.

When I started writing here, I had only one child, a five-month-old son, and I had published only one short story: Compulsion. My life was in a very different place, professionally, politically, and spiritually than it is now.

I never planned for this place to be a personal blog or anything. But the reality is that is what it has become, and it probably will always be, just whatever I feel Like writing about because I want to or until my brain runs out of things to say. Which I’m hoping is unlikely anytime soon.

So, here is to another ten years.

Oh, and for kicks- Here is the very first post I put up. 47 Drafts: https://jjjohnsonwrites.com/47-drafts/

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10 Things to Teach My Boys

Sometimes I wake up, look at the world we live in, and sort of shake my head. I often wonder if our parents did the same at our age. I’m disappointed in the world my children are having to grown up in. It doesn’t seem quite fair. How do I teach my boys to become men? Especially in this world.

Yet as a father it is my job to prepare them for the insanity that they will face… I fail at this often. The problem is- There is a lot to teach them. But on top of that, how do I teach them to become good, respected, Godly men?

LESSONS MY DAD TAUGHT ME

When I was young my dad taught me a few lessons. Not the type of lessons where you sit down, have a chat, read a text book type. They were lessons on life I picked up on by just watching him.

My father was a blue collar man. That’s the type of life I like, and the type of men I respect. Men that get up and go to work and never complain out loud.

The lessons I learned by watching my father were lessons like:

  • Sacrifice for your family
  • Work hard to ensure they have clothes, a roof, and food.
  • There is beauty in sitting alone in the silence of a deer stand or on a fishing dock all alone.
Tweet: The most important lesson of all I learned from my father- Duck tape can fix nearly anything. #Parenting #RaisingBoys

We’ve all seen that meme floating around on facebook lately: Lessons to teach your son. There is some practical advice on that list. But it got me thinking about some of the things I wanted to teach my boys.

I believe there is an added bonus on thinking through such things. I think it makes us better parents. A proactive parenting life is much better than a reactive parenting life.

The issue I face is there are so many life lessons I need to teach them, but these are just a few. Perhaps over the coming weeks I can think of other list on the lessons of life I hope to teach my children.

TEN THINGS TO TEACH OUR KIDS

1- Never type out a comment, email, or social media post in anger. Take time to think things through before responding.

2- Make sure the people you respect have standards you would be proud to teach your own children.

3- Try and not let your differences have a negative affect on your friendships.

4- Listen to others who have a different opinion and don’t simply dismiss their views. Think about them.

5- Be humble enough to learn your weaknesses, and then seek advice and ways to improve yourself in those areas

6- Adventure is sometimes more memorable than making plans. Don’t be afraid to go on one. Especially the spontaneous ones… 

7- Failure is a part of life. Never let it be the thing that makes you quit

8- Apply yourself 110% to the work you do

9- Never be ashamed of what you believe and of your faith

10- Don’t be a douchebag to people. Protect those that are weak and stand in the way of those who are bullies

As I said. These are only a handful of the lessons I hope to teach my boys as they grow.

I want to also teach them about adventure, dating, work, disappointments, being Biblical… The list could go on and on. Maybe now that I’m approaching mid forty the idea of finding the most important lessons is becoming more important.

What are some solid lessons you would like to share with your kiddos….?

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Old Castle!!! Oklahoma Mystery 

Sometimes in life you need to let you geek side take over and explore an Old Castle.


I’ve always wanted to drive down to the Arbuckle Mountains in Central Oklahoma for a hike to explore the Old Collings Castle. Having lived in Oklahoma for all my life I couldn’t believe I hadn’t ever done this. And although the hike itself wasn’t long (lots of heat) we did spend a significant time climbing the steps of this old relic from the depression.

Collings Castle was built in the late 30’s. Doctor Collings was a professor at the University of Oklahoma and had a desire to build a summer home right along Honey Creek near the falls. I’ve read up on it a bit over the years. Lots of evenings were spent here during the 40’s with dinner parties and Mr. Collings entertaining his guest.

Overtime as his estate sold it off (what were they thinking) the Castle has detroiated. A lack of proper upkeep has excluded it to nothing more than a Oklahoma Mystery, overtaken with vines and trees, leaving isolated and standing as a place of imagination and exploration for childlike minds.


(My wife’s Sister and my brother in love)

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(Turner Falls large Waterfall)

(Very Skinny and Spiraly Staircase)