Category Archives: Life

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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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Twelve Years Since We Lost My Brother

It’s been 12 years since we lost my younger brother to his fight with addiction. Usually, I don’t like using social media or my site to talk about my sorrow, pain, or grief. I keep those for my private life and a few close friends. Besides, some people struggle so much more than I do anyway and need help, words of comfort, and focus. But 12 years later, my grief has left me to an extent.

Keith and I
Keith, Myself, and Grandma

Sure. Like his big bear hugs and spunky personality, I’ll always miss my younger brother. His annoying liberal talk and countless funny mistakes made you want to laugh. Those are the things I miss.

The hard part of addiction is: It kills. It does everything it can to break you until it wins. Whether pills, insecurities, alcohol, porn, sexual, control, or whatever. Addiction comes in different shapes, different disguises, and different methods.

But here is the deal. Addiction doesn’t need to define you. Addiction can be beaten or, at the least, locked away, chained up in some dark cave. Because the truth is addiction never leaves you.

That’s where the real battle is.

We, as men, know this all too well. Sometimes we, as men, find ourselves going off and sitting alone at the mouth of those caves. To think, to fight, and grasp hold of the battle. This is sometimes dangerous, especially when we try it alone. The worst part is- if a man can’t find the cave, we’ll create one out of whatever circumstances happen to be lying around. Temptation is strong, as is the need to withdraw.

We are all addicts in a sense. All of us are born with a natural tendency to sin, and not only to sin but to enjoy it, to justify it, to embrace it.

Thankfully when God looks at us who follow Him in faith, He doesn’t see the sin, the addiction, the hurts, the habits, or the hang-ups.

When God looks at us- He sees the Cross.

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What experiences in life helped you grow the most?

What experiences in life helped you grow the most?

I’ve had so many different experiences in life it’s difficult to narrow down and say “this one made me grow.”

The daily question: what experiences have helped you grow the most

We all face challenges. We all face difficult circumstances. Yet, why does it need to be the negative that causes us to grow?

Maybe it’s because failure teaches us the most important lessons in life. But the world teaches us that failure is bad, it needs to be avoided, and that if we fail we’re done.

In my life I’ve learned to embrace failure. Not because I want to fail, but because I’ve learned that failure more than anything helps me grow.

My biggest failure was when I failed out of high school. While all my other friends were heading off to college, I was stuck trying to take a couple of correspondence courses just to get my last two credits in order to graduate.

What I learned here is that one failure doesn’t set you on a predetermined course. Failures can often, more times than many, be the thing that pushes you to keep going .

What about you? What experiences have helped you grow in your life?

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Smoking Cheese- A New Hobby

Recently my wife has been experimenting with charcuterie boards and making snack trays for birthdays or when we have friends over. One thing I’ve always enjoyed is Smoked Cheese and crackers. So, I’ve decided to attempt smoking cheese- a new hobby. Or, a disaster, it’s yet to be determined

Smoking cheese- a new hobby

The first batch seems to of turned out well. I did three types of cheese. Colby jack, Sharp Cheddar, and a White Sharp Cheddar. I wanted to do some Gouda but they didn’t have any blocks.

The method was simple. Find a large disposal aluminum tray and fill it with ice.

Next place the cheese on either toothpicks or a small wire rack, and place it in a smaller tray. A tray that will fit nicely into the larger iced tray.

Smoke on a low heat at around 150 to 200. After one hour, flip the cheese, add some more ice if necessary, and smoke for another hour.

Last, wrap the cheese in parchment paper and place in the fridge for at least 48 hours.

Simple method, and probably the cheapest thing I’ve ever smoked.

So smoking cheese- A new hobby? Most likely.

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My Wife, Her Bread, and Her Life

My wife grew up cooking. Her love for the kitchen began at a young age, shortly after her father and brother passed. Throughout our time over the last 20-something years, I’ve seen her take on the role of family chef.

My wife made biscuits

That love led her to culinary school, where she became a certified chef, to serve at a church on staff for fifteen years running food service, and now back home to her favorite place- the family kitchen. One would think that you would eventually burn out when you’ve used your gifts to serve people who were often ungrateful and, at times, undervalued you as a person.

Not so.

Growing up, my grandmother was my biggest hero. And I see a lot of my grandmother in my wife—someone who always puts her family’s needs, desires, and well-being above her own. Through February, my wife has set a personal goal not to buy bread products for the month and to bake it all. I loved this idea because her bread is always perfect and tastes much better than store-bought bread. The smell brings back memories of my grandmother working in the kitchen. And that’s a smell I want my kids to remember.

My wife made baguettes

We often need to remember that heroes and legacy aren’t those with big followings. Many of us seek to make significant impacts, be known, and change the world with one TikTok at a time. But that’s not how the world is changed.

I hope my children don’t see the YouTubers they enjoy as their heroes. I hope they see them as entertainment. I hope they remember the sacrifice and love their mother pours out over them, the little things, the small points in life that seem minor but have a lasting impact.

Because that is what a hero does.

For me, it was watching my grandmother make french toast with a fresh loaf of bread she had just baked.

I’ve learned that for my wife, her bread, and her life, are all about serving the ones she loves. That’s a lesson I, my kids, and I hope you, can learn.