The Wizard of Oz!

Can you guess which Wizard of Oz characters my family and I are dressed as?

And no, this isn’t a family Halloween costume. It was for a Wizard of Oz event! Imaginarium 360 invited me to their Wizard of Oz themed light experience in exchange for posting online. I get a lot of scammy sounding invites for exercise clothes discounts and random things like that, but this seemed legit, so I went for it and accepted four tickets to Imaginarium in Chandler, AZ.

Apparently, I’m an “influencer” now. (Check my IG follower numbers, and you’ll be as surprised as I was.)

They also gave me a link for discounts, so if that sounds fun to you, you can click the button below and use the code “BreanaJ”.

GO to Imaginarium

Now, I don’t often ask my husband to drive us an hour for an evening activity, but on the occasions I do, I make sure it’s well worth it. And this was! Lots of lights, photo booths, and even a circus/motorcycle daredevil show (that was our favorite part).

Of course, we couldn’t go to a Wizard of Oz-themed family night without sharing the story with our seven-year-old. So he read the book, and then we watched the movie. I think I enjoyed it even more as an adult…and I was a kid who walked around with a Dorothy dress sewed by my aunt, a pair of sparkly red Mary Janes, and a little stuffed Toto that my mom gave me.

Ever since then, I have been seeing Wizard of Oz stuff everywhere. Our library’s children’s section even has a big Oz display! I was confused about this coincidence…until I realized that the second half of the Wicked film is coming out next month.

I actually didn’t know this until last night, when my mom and I FINALLY had a movie night to watch Wicked. We’d been planning this since my birthday. Which is in February. But I’m glad we waited, because we were both shocked when the movie ended at such a cliffhanger, only to tell us To Be Continued… I’m glad I only have to wait a few weeks!

Don’t judge me, but I haven’t read the book Wicked yet. I had my kid read The Wonderful Wizard of Oz before watching the movie, but I didn’t follow up own rules for Wicked!

Anyway, all this Wizard of Oz fun has renewed my love for Oz. Maybe I’ll even give the books a re-read. Even though there are 14 of them, and some are pretty weird! Haven’t read them? Give them a try! I’m curious what you’ll think of Dorothy’s many friends from Oz.

Lowell Observatory

arizona, Uncategorized, United States

Did you know Pluto was discovered in Arizona? Yeah, we take it a little bit personally that poor Pluto has been demoted to dwarf planet.

Beyond the glowing light pollution of Phoenix, the mountain town of Flagstaff, Arizona has the perfect dark-sky environment for stargazing…and planet discovering.

Back in the early 1900s, when Great State 48 was still known as Arizona Territory and the Wild West was still in living memory, astronomer Percival Lowell built an observatory on a hilltop in Flagstaff. He spent the remainder of his life here, searching for the next great space discovery. First, he looked for canals on Mars that might prove the existence of water and life. When he didn’t find that, he searched instead for “Planet X,” a new planet he was sure existed at the edge of the solar system.

But it wasn’t until after Lowell’s death that Pluto made its dramatic debut into the world of astronomy. A Midwest farm boy and amateur space enthusiast named Clyde Tombaugh ended up discovering the planet after many cold nights of taking images on photo plates through the observatory’s cutting-edge telescope.

You can read more about Pluto’s discovery here.

Visitors can still walk through the observatory to view the famous decades-old telescopes and the beautiful library of Percival Lowell. Recently, the museum has also added some fantastic displays and a children’s area to play and learn about astronomy.

We recently visited with friends, and everyone (ages 2, 4, 6, 12, 13, and two grown-ups) had an awesome time! If you’re ever passing through Flagstaff, be sure to take some time to stop and learn something new about space and Arizona history.

Your Kids Can Get Awarded for Reading … Year-Round

books, Uncategorized

My son really likes individual sports, like mountain biking. He also likes science experiments. And reading. He really loves reading. And while reading is a reward in and of itself, it’s nice when he can feel recognition for achieving milestones in an activity that usually doesn’t involve trophies and certificates.

Mensa Reading Program

This is our current favorite program! You child doesn’t have to be a member of Mensa to take advantage of this excellent reading reward program. It’s simple and low-tech: just print off the book list, read all the books (our library had all but one of them), and mail it to Mensa to receive a certificate and t-shirt to celebrate your child’s accomplishment.

Start the Mensa Excellence in Reading Program

Library Reading Programs

Library summer reading programs are the best! While the summer season has passed, some libraries also do a winter reading program too. So, keep that on your radar over the next couple of months.

Restaurant Reading Programs

Millennial parents probably remember getting pizza for reading. You can still get free Pizza Hut during the summer with the Book It! program. But your bookworm can earn play points from Chuck E. Cheese all year round. Homeschool parents can also register for the Panda Express reading program. If you don’t homeschool, you could ask your child’s teacher to sign up the class.

Do you know another reading program? Please share in the comments!

Kids’ Mystery Chapter Books Series You’ve Never Heard Of

Uncategorized

If the kid in your life has already blown through the Boxcar Children, A-Z Mysteries, and Encyclopedia Brown, chances are you’re scouring the library shelves for something new. Well, here are some kids’ chapter book mystery series that may not have made it to your local library’s collection–but definitely belong in yours.

The Rugendo Rhinos

Shel Arensen

My husband grew up on this adventure mystery series set in Africa. Follow a band of daring missionary kids and their friends as they make rescues and fight crime in Kenya.

National Park Mystery Series

Aaron Johnson

Join the adventure! This mystery series for elementary school kids is set in real locations in various national parks. My son reads these until they fall apart and is begging to visit Great Sand Dunes National Park.

Timmi Tobbson Solve-Them-Yourself Mysteries

J.I Wagner

A new take on the solve-it-yourself style of Encyclopedia Brown. Use both the stories and the illustrations to crack codes, discover clues, and solve the mystery!

Living Legends: Jerome, Arizona

Uncategorized

Most of the Wild West is a myth. This is something I did not realize until I was 25, and I was disappointed to find that out!

However, the truth is often stranger than fiction.

Imagine a hillside where Native Americans once obtained ore for decorative use, where the winds in the heights cool the simmering desert temperatures. Prospectors came looking for copper, and they found gold–enough gold to attract 15,000 dreamers, investors, and liars from all over the world.

For decades, the town grew until it was one of biggest towns in Arizona Territory. It developed a reputation as the wickedest town in the West, too. Shootings, hangings, and violence of all types thrived among the bordellos and bars. The dusty earth kept producing gold, and the region’s mines boomed and multiplied.

Bbut by the 1950s, the town was dying. Nearby Gold King Mine in Haynes, AZ, a mile away, had gone under in the 1920s, and now the gold had run out in Jerome, too.

Still, the few remaining residents, less than 100 now, kept the town alive. By the end of the century, the wickedest town in the West had a new shtick: Arizona’s newest ghost town. Supposedly complete with real ghosts.

The rugged beauty of the desert, nearby ancient ruins, and remote solitude of Jerome attracted creatives, and eventually the town became home to a population of artists, whose work and whimsical lifestyle turned the town into a popular tourist attraction. Today, 400 people call the town home, and hoards of visitors support the life of this old town that refuses to die.

We visited Jerome and Gold King Mine with our kids, and my six-year-old was determined to come home with gold. I was pretty sure he wouldn’t, but guess what? That kid was right. He emerged from the ghost town with a vial of genuine gold dust, proving that dreams still come true in Jerome, Arizona.

Holy Week Activities for Families

Bible, Uncategorized

I recently had a conversation with a friend about how it can be hard to plan Easter activities with kids. In a season saturated with cute bunnies, colorful eggs, and sugar, it can be a challenge to get to the heart of the resurrection of Christ with kids. And with spring break behind us and summer on the horizon, Easter feels like it sneaks up on us every year!

My family has developed Holy Week traditions to prepare our hearts for Resurrection Sunday. Here are some of the things we love to do:

Resurrection Eggs

I grew up with Resurrection Eggs and love sharing this tradition with my son. Each morning, we open a plastic egg and take out the small, meaningful object. Then we read the accompanying devotional and scripture.

If plastic eggs aren’t your thing, a great alternative to this is building your own in a small box using the book Benjamin’s Box as your guide.

As a kid, I built my own Benjamin’s Box. I showed it to a friend, who loved the box and asked to go through it together on several occasions. You never know what kind of conversations your kids can share with their friends when you provide tools like this.

Go on a Devotional Walk

We love to take a devotional walk during Holy Week. You might be able to find a church or nature path that offers guided prayer or reflection on scripture. In the Phoenix area, I know of two great places we can do this:

Canaan in the Desert, which is a prayer garden in Phoenix founded by German Evangelical nuns. The garden offers a path decorated with artistic representations of Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection.

Prayer Hill at Christ’s Church of the Valley in Peoria. This is an easy hike up a hill that offers several prayer prompts along the way. We enjoy stopping to read scripture at the cross at the top and in the empty tomb on the way down.

Host a Messianic Seder

You may know that in the last few days before his death, Jesus and his disciples were observing Passover. The traditional seder meal is a celebration of God’s saving work during the Exodus, but it also points to the Messiah. Experience this for yourself and see how closely the story of Passover and Easter are intertwined.

Here is a guide for the Messianic seder meal. And this resource can help you prepare for the Messianic Passover.

Plan Acts of Service for Maundy Thursday

One of the most touching accounts from Holy Week is Jesus washing the disciples’ feet. This display of humble servanthood is an example for us to follow.

On Thursday (or any time during Holy Week), read John 13 and talk about what it means to serve others. Do something together to show service–maybe wash each other’s feet, serve at a food bank, or challenge each person to surprise another family member with an act of kindness.

Attend Good Friday Service

Not every church offers a Good Friday service, but it’s easy to find one that does. A Friday evening reflecting on Christ’s sacrifice is a great way to set the mood for Resurrection Sunday.

What does your family do on Holy Week? Share your traditions below!

What We Did in Africa

Africa, Burundi, Expats and TCKs, International Travel, Uncategorized

We just spent a month in Africa! My husband’s family has lived there since the 1940s, and we took a long trip to visit grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins in Tanzania and Burundi.

If you’ve been following me for a bit, you know that my 21-month-old daughter has several health concerns. When she was first diagnosed, we believed our days of international travel were over. But as she’s grown, her medical needs have stabilized significantly. And it was high time she met her paternal grandparents and many of her other extended family members!

Here are a few of the things we saw and did:

Gisuru School for the Deaf and Ephphatha School for the Deaf

We started our trip visiting the village of Gisuru, which is in rural Burundi. My brother-in-law started Gisuru School for the Deaf to meet the needs of the uncommonly large Deaf population in Burundi.

We took Baby Bee down to visit a few times, and as you can see, everyone wanted a chance to meet the little deaf American baby! She was even given a name sign, which I’d been hoping for. We also got to chat with both of the students we sponsor.

Little Man’s not in this picture, but he spent many hours at the school, helping make bread. The school has a bakery as part of its trade program.

When we visited the capital city on the other side of the country, we got to visit Burundi’s other school for the deaf. Ephphatha School for the Deaf was started by in-laws a few decades ago, and now is it one of many projects that Ben’s other brother and his wife oversee. Currently, they are working on developing the school’s new campus.

These are boarding schools serving impoverished rural families. You can support the mission by sponsoring a student:

Sponsor a Student

Discovery School

My sister-in-law runs an English-language private school in Bujumbura, Burundi. The school takes a critical-thinking approach to education, which sets them apart. One of their main goals is to equip Burundi’s future leadership to lead well and navigate the global marketplace effectively. They celebrated their first graduating class three years ago.

Discovery School is currently working on opening a branch near a rural hospital a few hours away. This school will help to attract and retain medical professionals, since many hospital employees have decided to leave their work due to lack of schools in the area.

Little Man loved the library–I believe it’s the biggest school library in the country!

See photos of the school and learn how you could get involved here:

Discovery School Burundi

Grandpa’s Boat

We stayed with Ben’s parents for a week. They have recently retired and moved into a lovely home overlooking Lake Tanganyika. Grandpa’s boat is a lot of fun for lake trips, but it’s also a ministry tool. He uses the boat to minister to communities all along the lake, some of which are impossible to reach by road.

While in Tanzania, we also enjoyed time with Ben’s childhood friends and the family of another of his brothers (yes, Ben has a LOT of brothers!), who does pastoral training etc. in Tanzania.

Kanura School for the Blind

My father-in-law opened this school for the blind in the 1980s. It’s currently under the leadership of Burundian nationals, some of whom are blind graduates of this school. Kanura is also open to sighted children, which furthers the goal of destigmatizing disabilities.

It was cool to see how the school has adapted their curriculum to work for the students. Some of the classrooms displayed textured posters, like yarn and beans glued to graphics of the digestive system so kids can feel it it and understand as they learn. We also came across several students playing musical instruments, and I was excited to see their braille library, including braille printers and adaptive computer programs that allow them to create more literature.

Support Kanura School for the Blind

The Lab

Ben built this lab in a rural village in Tanzania. His friend, also named Benjamin, is a pharmacist and will hopefully be opening his practice here within the next year. It was cool to see the finished building in person.

Besides visiting these projects and schools, we had a great time with family. Little Man got to hang out with seven of his cousins, and everyone loved playing with Baby Bee, too. She made a lot of progress and thrived in this new setting. It was a good month!

You Are a 17th Century Poet

books, Uncategorized, writing

When I first started dating my husband, I did what any early 2000s teen would do: logged onto Facebook and read every single post that he’d ever had.

Remember how people used to post on each other’s walls? Just the most random things? Well, I discovered that a mutual friend had recently shared to his wall: “You are a 17th Century Poet.”

I have rarely known Ben to write poetry–the exception being a sweet poem he wrote me early in our marriage, which I kept by my bedside table until our dog ate it out of revenge for being shut in the bedroom while we had guests.

And I was pretty sure he was born in the 1990s, so I wasn’t sure what that comment meant.

Then, one day as I was killing time in our university’s library, I discovered a book written by a poet from the 1600s named Ben Jonson! He was a contemporary of Shakespeare. In fact, he wrote a touching poem upon Shakespeare’s death, which basically said that the Bard’s writing wasn’t that great (While I confess thy writings to be such/ That neither man nor muse can praise too much) but had lots of nice things to communicate on other topics.

Aside from agreeing that Shakespeare’s works are a bit overhyped–Romeo and Juliet. Just why?–I found some of Jonson’s comments thought-provoking. He refers to the playwright as a “monument without a tomb,” a commentary on Shakespeare’s legacy that has proved true for over 400 years.

Can you imagine creating something that people will still discuss and study and cry over and love in 2425?

The truth is, you will.

You may not be a 17th-century poet (the Ben Johnsons of the world excepted, perhaps), but you create a legacy every day with the actions you take. Maybe we consider this as we raise a child, publish something, vote. But you have the “butterfly effect” with everything you do. Even the smallest kindness can change the course of someone’s afternoon. Give them hope. Draw them from the brink of despair. Maybe even direct their trajectory.

Every day is sacred, and each moment we write a piece of history in our vast, interconnected world. Going into 2025, I want to be live with the mindset of a “monument without a tomb.” Will you join me?

What’s in a Name?

Uncategorized, United States, writing

Could you ever find your name on those souvenir magnets or bicycle license plates? There are pros and cons to common names.

When my parents chose the name “Breana,” they were looking for something unique.

At the beginning of 1994, it was unique.

At the end of 1994, it was #27 on the lists of popular baby names. Of course, it was soundly beaten out by Jessica and Ashley (shoutout to all the Jessicas and Ashleys who had an initial tacked to the end of their name for their entire elementary school experience).

Of course, the spelling of my name helped me stand out a bit, even if there were a few Briannas and Breannas in my life growing up. And my maiden name is fairly unique.

Then I married a Johnson. Ha! Do you know how many Breana Johnsons there are on Facebook? Go ahead. Look it up. I promise you won’t find me.

However, as any good freelance writer would, I made sure to stay at the top of Google for my name despite its commonality. This worked for about eight years, until someone named Breana Johnson lit her boyfriend on fire.

Yup. That’s right. “Texas Woman Charged with Murder After Setting Boyfriend on Fire.” I’m not going to link it here, because I would like to eventually beat her in Google rankings again. And also because it’s a pretty disturbing story.

Someone told me I need to do something more memorable than human arson, which is good advice, but I’m not really sure how to follow that act. I am, however, open to suggestion that do not involve murder or fire.

Now I’m curious to know the top hit for your name. Google your name and tell me what you find in the comments!

Why Read Fiction?

books, Special Needs Parenting, Uncategorized

Nothing I do will ever be enough for my special needs child. No amount of physical therapy, feeding therapy, speech therapy or occupational therapy will ever bring my daughter to the level of functioning required to perform basic adult tasks.

This is my daily reality, even as we work through these therapies and utilize the accompanying equipment. I’ve accepted this, and it’s my normal. We are happy.

But every once in a while, this truth slams into me hard enough to knock my breath out.

A few days ago, my daughter had a rough day and vomited several times in the afternoon—not unusual for her—and then fell into an exhausted sleep. I put her down for nap and went to clean up the mess.

When I heard her wake up, I went into the closet where she sleeps and felt all the wind go out from my sails. I sank down next to her crib and cried over the impossibility of this situation and grief for the life I’d dreamed of for my daughter.

Then I picked myself up, because I’m the mom. And I gathered her up in my arms to find that she’d thrown up in her bed. I picked her up and she was limp and listless. A few hours later, we were in the ER. Again.

Unlike the previous week’s hospitalization, this ER visit ended up not being too serious and we had no admission. But as things go in healthcare, it was a long time waiting around for this or that. My husband eventually had to leave to pick up our older son and put him to bed. Brielle fell asleep. So it was just me and my book, Trapped in Yosemite by Dana Mentink, which is a romantic suspense story about a single mom.

I opened the book, pulled out my bookmark and read:

“The day had been endless, terrifying, heart wrenching and everything in between. She was depleted, mind and body, but there was still a baby to be tended.

And that was a fact with which she grappled on a daily basis. What if she didn’t have enough resources, physical and mental, to meet Hannah’s needs? What if she wasn’t strong enough, smart enough, brave enough?

You aren’t but God will give you enough, one day at a time, like He’s been doing.”

I promptly dissolved into tears. It was as if the author had seen me, knew my daily fight and deepest fears, and had found the right words to speak truth into my life.

Read my interview with Dana Mentink

This is why I read fiction.

Yes, there is an entertainment element. It’s a great way to unwind at the end of the day. And a good rom com is just right for escapism during a hospital stay.

But more importantly, fiction holds truths we need to challenge us, embolden us, and speak to our hearts during the darkest nights of our souls.