Susan, one of the sweetest most wonderful liars we've ever known (by Linda McDaniel)

Susan, one of the sweetest most wonderful liars we've ever known...

Michael went to great links to set the scene for the day that he proposed to me, but in doing so it meant that Susan and another dear friend, Jo Allison-Archer would need to lie to their good friend Linda. Not just one lie, but many. Knowing these two beautiful, Christian ladies as we do, lying was a difficult thing for them. But their love for the two of us empowered them and both Susan and Jo became the most proficient of liars.

Michael set the scene informing Susan that she had won a ski trip and that she was to invite Jo and Linda along. On a certain day at a certain time Susan and Jo were to have Linda at a certain place and Michael would appear and pop the question. Thanks to the magnificent lies, scheming, and timing of two wonderful, lying ladies the proposal came off without a hitch. Thanks to Susan and Jo, Michael and I have a wonderful engagement day in which to reminisce. We love you!

Linda and Mike McDaniel

Love You Bunches (by Lauren Johnson)

Dear mom,

I love you tons!!!!!!! You are the only mother that I can imagine being my mom. You bring sooo much joy into my life. I remember when you would take us to the Saigling Park, and we would play together for hours. Thanks for changing my diapers (pee-eww), bathing me when I was little, doing laundry, cooking meals (that are amazing), helping me with A LOT of homework, & loving me. Your words are always encouraging me, and telling me that I am going to do great. You are the most amazing mom ever!!! Happy birthday. You are the coolest!


Love you bunches,

Lauren

A Special Friendship (by Jo Archer)

I have known Susan for more than half her life...that would be about 25 years now. I think Mark says it best about Susan in his blog that she has such a love of life. This is what stands out the most in my mind about her. My single years hold so many special memories from our years of buddying around ("Now isn't that shhpecial", I can hear her Church Lady voice say:). We met in our church's singles group, and I guess we really got to know each other playing volleyball with the singles. We were so impressed with our athletic abilities, both being about 5 feet tall, that we nicknamed ourselves "Macho Mama"...she being "Sue Stud", and I was "Jo Jock" (with jerseys to match). This was all a joke for me, but Susan really had great athletic ability. She was good playing in the outfield on the ladies team at our church. I enjoyed playing together...until we had more than one team...I made the "low" team and she, of course, was on the "good" team. We still had fun hanging around watching all the games, both guys and girls teams, and coed teams also. Many memories abound from those years:
Hot Fudge
Magnum PI
Foil Face
Dr. Floss
Dingleberries (gifts from my cat Demetri)
PacMan
Centipede
Taco Patrols
OMA (Old Maids Association)
I recall many fun weekends spent with a bunch of singles at her parents' lakehouse (thanks Mr. and Mrs. Colvin! You were like my second parents!).

I also remember many exciting road trips...especially the trip to Petit Jean in Arkansas to "rough it" and camp out, with our good friend Lynn. The looooong drive, sleeping outside once we got there since it was so late, waking up when it began to pour rain on us and running to the car, three of us sleeping in her sedan, putting up the tent the next day (and being so proud cause us women did it), meeting Larry (so impressed with my au naturale look, I'm sure), and following Susan down the mud trail...no, sliding down the mud trail to the falls. It truly was a fun trip, now that I look back on it :).
I remember the Singles Talent Shows that she appeared in as Roseanna Danna. She was funnier than Gilda Radner herself! We began teaching in our youth group, and went to the youth camps in the summer. We had more fun than the kids. We also were roomies together for a few ladies retreats at our church. And we had a fantastic trip to Disney World one year. There was never a dull moment.I remember Susan and I helping our good friends, Mike and Linda McDaniel get engaged. It was a very covert operation, and Linda was not expecting it. Mike had asked us to pull off this elaborate scheme to get Linda to the Sante Fe ski slopes, and he would ski over at a specific date and time and place, and propose. We could not let on to her at all. I had never felt so bad about having to lie to my friend Linda. Susan came up with the great idea to tell Linda that she had won a radio contest for a ski trip, and we could all three go and have a good time. She was so good about carrying out all the details...I was a nervous wreck. I remember Susan carrying a camera to the top of this slope and telling Linda that she wanted to get pictures of all of us skiing down. Linda would go first...oh, go ski down to that gold ribbon on that tree (what was that doing there?), and then I would go next. The gold bow was what Mike told us to look for on that slope. When Linda skiied down to the bow, Mike steps out from behind the trees. Susan is snapping away with the camera. We are at the top of the slope, too far to hear anything, but not seeing any smiles or hugs, and going "oh boy...what have we done"? Then they wave us to come down. Susan is really an expert skier, having grown up on skis it seems. I, on the other hand, am not. As we ski down, I plow into everyone, saying "Linda, I'm sorry I lied...I'm sorry I lied" (couldn't they have done this on a green slope instead of a blue one?). Linda was not quite ready to say yes until they talked a little more (understandable as they had just broken up, and Mike was now ready to pop the question). We did know that Linda was still in love with Mike, though...and sure enough, they came down the last ski lift of the day...with Mike wearing a tshirt painted with the words "She said yes" on it. We were waiting on the lodge deck when we saw them. We were elated...and I was still recovering from following Susan down the rest of the trail, going over ski jumps, moguls, into tree branches, everything...me falling over and over. I still tell Susan it was my rented ski boots. Later that year, we were priviledged to be bridesmaids in a very beautiful wedding (with the gold bow and the engagement story being presented at the wedding). Linda has since forgiven her good friends for the lies, after many years of marriage to Mike and three kids.

Well, from one romance story to another: Then, Susan fell in love. I remember Mark asking me about her (he was following Susan around, not the other way around..see Mark's earlier post..I have to set the record straight). And then they started to date. I was excited to see how happy Mark made Susan. But then, Mark did something unusual one day. He called me up to go with him out to eat one night. What was this? Was he trying to run around on my good friend?? It sounded strange, but I went ahead and had dinner with him, ready to set that dude straight. He tells me over dinner that he wants to ask Susan to marry him. Although I was excited for them, I started crying and couldn't stop (I think our waitress thought Mark was breaking up with me:). I knew our buddy days were going to be limited, but I also knew how much Susan loved Mark, and that God was definitely in this. Mark asked me if I could get Susan's ring size as he wanted to pop the question and surprise her. Sure Mark!! (How in the world am I supposed to do this without her knowing???). That next day, Susan and I just happened to meet for lunch, and I thought I might try something...(another lie to a dear friend; what have I become?)..."Susan, I'm supposed to get a service award from work, a ring...don't know what size I wear though; I wonder what size I wear?" Susan replies "I wear a size 5, Jo. I tried on Cindy Brown's engagement ring last night. I bet you're about a 5". I almost choke on the bite of hamburger I had just taken. What luck! I go back to work, call Mark, and all I say is "Size 5". He says "WHAT? You didn't tell her, did you? " "No Mark". "Does she have any idea...what did you do, take a plaster cast or something?" I tell Mark I give great service...less than 24 hours turnaround time! The night they were to get engaged, I stayed up nervously awaiting them to come by and show me the ring. It was around 2 am, and I remember being so excited for them. I was honored to be a bridesmaid in this beautiful wedding also.

Since then, many years have passed. I, too, finally fall in love and get married, and Susan is a bridesmaid in my wedding, along with Linda. (Mark and Mike are also in our wedding party). I will always remember the rehearsal dinner for my wedding, with my bridesmaids presenting me with an OMA (Old Maids Assoc) flag. A whole formal presentation. I have finally been promoted to a general...one of the funniest moments of the wedding festivities!!

We now have our families. Times are busy now, with children and households and work. But we keep in touch, though it will never be enough. Always must celebrate birthdays and Christmases together. That will never change. And especially this special birthday...the big 5-0!! I better close this blog entry, before it gets too long (too late for that). I could write so much more, and shut down the internet world wide. Maybe I should write a book...and maybe I will someday. And one of the major people in that book who has been a big part of my life would be Susan. She has left an indelible impression on my life. She has taught me to love life and laugh. To be a faithful friend. And to just have fun. And the underlying thread that runs through all this, that makes her the neat person she is, is that she loves our Lord, and serves him...just as she has encouraged me to.

To my dear friend Susan. I love you, and wish for you a wonderful 50th birthday. Many decades of friendship in the past...and many more to come. Happy 50th Birthday Susan!

Love, Jojo

A Cherished Friend of Eleven Years

Dear Susan,

I have enjoyed our eleven year friendship. I can't believe it has been eleven years. A lot of memorable, not so memorable, and don't want to remember things have happened in that time.

• Memorable: The Saturday morning I was standing at your front door with our goldfish bowl that your neighbor/friend/Teresa was suppose to watch for us while we were on vacation. Oops, wrong house.
  

• Not So Memorable: Extra sauce, light cheese lady.

• Don't Want To Remember: (Or should I say, I didn't remember.) Teresa and I standing you up at Prego for lunch. Another oops!
  

But the best memories are our conversation. I love your wisdom, humor and loads of information you have for what is to come with my children that are younger. They are younger because I am younger. (Ha Ha) I get to let you figure out all the high school, senior high school and college stuff and then you can pass your wisdom on to me. Seriously, I am blessed with your wisdom and humor whether we are having a lunch conversation, your teaching bible study, hanging out at the pool with the kids, we are walking the dogs or we are taking a break from a heated tennis match.

You are an awesome friend and 50 year old woman and I will always cherish our friendship.

Sherise

PS I forget to talk about your bravery. The time you were teaching bible study and you stood up there all by yourself and sang acappella, Three Dog Night's, A Child is White, A Child is Black. Wow, that takes guts!

Happy Birthday Susan (by Karin Wesson)

Susan,

You have been an awesome sister-in-law. You are creatively clever and playfully funny. I am so glad that you love my brother! You always have a story to tell. Usually one about your family that has tickled you and embarrassed them. I love how you share these with the rest of us!

Many blessings to you on your 50th birthday! May another 50 come your way,filled with God's grace, peace and mercy!

Love,

Kran

Treasured teacher

Susan,

I can't tell you what a pleasure it is to servive our God together in BDG! Your optimism, teachable heart, servant's hands, vision, flexibility, commitment, integrity, fun attitude, and willingness (I could go on, but can't let you get a big head) all minister to me. And, I know that your diligence in handling God's precious Word has impacted many across the metroplex. May God continue to bless you and enrich your life so that you can continue to teach women for years to come. WHAT A BLESSING YOU ARE! Sorry to have to miss your 50th (my day is right around the corner...you'll have to tell me what it's like turning a 1/2 century), but the schedule can't be tweaked. Have a great time at your fiesta. Eat some yummy food for me! YOU ARE LOVED! the other Susan

My Fun and Inspirational Friend

WOW! 50! I can't believe it. It seems like just yesterday we were celebrating your 49th birthday. I was just reading a quote in Real Simple by Madeleine L'Engle. . . "The great thing about getting older is that you don't lose all the other ages you've been." I remember when you were just 40 and we were moving into the neighborhood. Julie and Rachel were in Elementary School, Lauren wasn't yet in school. All of you brought us the first of many plates of "Johnson" brownies to welcome us to the neighborhood. It seems we receive "Johnson" brownies when we are sick, when something great happens, when something not-so-great happens, when we think we are moving, when we find out we aren't moving, and when you just have some extra brownies. Do you know how much the Michelsens love brownies? Not only do you provide brownies, but you provide car rides, extra cups of sugar, pickles (dill and sweet-n-sour), more car rides, tomato paste, salsa, more sugar, eggs, a car ride back home to get homework, mayo, milk, paper towels, more car rides and I think we've even asked for toilet paper on occasion. My point is, you have always been there for me and for my family and always with a smile on your face. We have been truly blessed to have such a wonderful neighbor. You have come to our rescue so many times and you haven't even thought twice about helping us out. You have blessed our family in so many ways; not just in your physical presence but in your spiritual presence as well. I can always see the Spirit of the Lord in your actions and in your words. Your prayers and encouragement in those trying times have helped us through the challenges of life. You have the most sincere, caring and compassionate heart. So many people respect you for your thoughtfulness, fairness and open-mindedness. The one thing that stands out to me is that when I am talking with you, I have your undivided attention. No matter how busy you may be, you stop and listen to every word I say and give me those wonderful words of wisdom or guidance that always make so much sense and ease my mind. You always make me feel special in that moment. You are an inspiration!

Speaking of special moments. There are so many fun memories I have of you. The one that stands out the most is one that occurred during the Women's Retreat at Parkway Hills a couple of years ago. I thought I really knew you so well and you have always had that conservative but fun sense of humor. Then, all of a sudden I see you impersonating Rosanna Rosanna Dana! Not my Susan. It can't be. I was rolling in my seat. You are the best Rosanna Rosanna Dana I have ever seen. You gave the performance of a lifetime and truly inspired me. I still have the pictures in my head. I wish I had pictures to put on this Blog! Other great memories include playing tennis with you, taking morning walks, lunch at Pregos, lunch at Tin Star, Bunco, Ladies Lunch, scrap booking (Well, I was scrap booking, you were putting your pictures in an album. I'm still in 1999; you are organized through 2008), and so many more. I think I may have won 1 tennis match . . . or was that 1 point. Even though you are ???? (a lot of) years older than me, you can run circles around me on the tennis court and walking that dog, Patch! You also have the greatest spur of the moment ideas and you can tell a joke like it has never been told before. I don't know how you can remember the jokes. I can only remember the punch line. You are so funny! Speaking of spur of the moment . . . the photo of you and the girls I put on this blog. It is from the BIG Snow and Ice Storm when the kids didn't have school. My kids are out making snow balls and the next thing I know, you are pulling out trash bags and lids. The kids start sliding down the alley having the best time. You are a SUPERMOM and a true kid at heart. You are one of the greatest moms. I'm always checking with you on how you handle those challenging situations. You have the best advice and it always includes a positive way of handling difficult situations. Your husband and your girls simply adore you and love spending time with you. You are always so supportive of their events at school and church. You encourage and support their spiritual and physical growth. You're involved in their church and school activities and extra-curricular activities. You are their biggest cheerleader and fan. Everytime you talk about them, I can hear the love and adoration in your voice. I don't know how you juggle it all and still maintain that calm, happy smile on your face. I think you could find a way to make taking out the trash fun.

Susan, I think I've taken up enough room on your blog. I'm so blessed to have spent the last 10 years as your neighbor and friend, I'm looking forward to 50 more years. Let's see . . . you'll be 100. I'll be . . . still younger than you. But, think of the fun we'll have.I'm sure we'll still be playing tennis, attending Bible Study, and you'll still be making brownies, being my confidante and coming to my rescue. The kiddos will be visiting with their kids or maybe their kids' kids will be visiting with their kids. Yikes, we'll be really really old. But it will be great with my fun and inspirational friend . . .

May God Bless you for another 50 years!

Teresa

Sense of humor (by Ralph Johnson)

During Susan and Mark's wedding rehearsal the pastor admonished all present that they were not taking the rehearsal of this very important ceremony seriously enough and there appeared to be too much levity. During the very next practice while Susan was on the arm of her father when they were half-way down the aisle, Susan leaned into her father's arm and clicked her heels together in the air. I knew then that the marriage was going to be successful. It had to be with a bride with a great sense of humor.

Early Memories About Susan Fair Colvin (by Fair and Mary Alice Colvin)

Your birth only a few minutes after we got to the hospital. Daddy teasing you about almost” dropping out” while Mom was working in the flower bed

The joy of hearing,”It’s a girl!”

Your head full of dark hair that stood straight up!

Your first plane ride to Shreveport at 2 months while Dad went to Summer Reserve Camp

Our move to Midland when you were 9 months old

Flying from Shreveport, we landed in our first of many sand storms

Your first ear ache in Midland when we didn’t even have a doctor and no doctors were taking new patients.

Bathing and playing in the sink while Mom cooked dinner

Playing in “The Dennis the Menace Park.”

Wanting to come down the big slide but panic hit as you climbed to the top of the ladder

The morning bike rides with you and Tracey Rogers in the baskets while Martha and Mom exercised “their jaws”!

Fun times playing dress up and dolls with Sherrie Melton

Slipping through the missing picket to play with the Halpert kids

Going to Big Bend with the Halperts. All 9 of us sleeping in one big room

Seeing the yard full of Tumbleweeds after a sand storm

Being in the G.A. Coronation as a Crown Bearer

Your cute Buster Brown haircut.

Your first sleepover that lasted only until 10:30 p.m.

Playing records or listening to Daddy playing the piano so you could fall asleep.

One Christmas Eve after visiting the Cookie Tree, you saw Santa driving by in a car and he and Daddy waving to one another.

Going to Glorietta Baptist Encampment and getting your picture in the Baptist Standard

Sleeping in the back of the station wagon on those long trips to Shreveport

Our Christmas in Shreveport when Steve put sticks in your stocking

Your Birthday party where we played “Go Fishing” and you caught a watch

Your saying, “Mom, get the clothes off the line. A sand storm is coming!”

Your kindergarten teachers, Mrs Matthews and your Mother

Hoppy, your pet rabbit, escaping from the back yard and our adventures finding him.

Mandy’s litter of puppies and watching the miracle of birth

Our train ride to Shreveport when we slept in a bedroom compartment

Joining a Motel pool and all the fun times swimming with the Johnsons

Fun times at the Sand Hill State Park

After church fun with families

Having your teachers over for dinner

Playing ball with Dad, Ken and neighbors

Winning first place in the Halloween costume contest

Daddy snapping his fingers at you when you and Ken got too rambunctious

You and Nanna waking up at 3:00 a.m. on a Christmas morning

Your hard third grade teacher who caused you to have stomach pains so often that we had tests done

Summer nights in Midland, lying down on blankets to watch for shooting stars or satellites

August 14, 1967---Goodbye good Midland friends. Moving to Houston on Mom and Dad’s 13th wedding anniversary

Riding to Houston in the Volkswagen with Dad and a tranquilized Mandy.

Your life with us is full of wonderful memories and they keep multiplying each day. We will leave you to record those and many others in your own Memoirs. You are a precious daughter who is a joy to us and many others.

We love you dearly,
Mom and Dad
HAPPY 50!

How I Asked Susan to Marry Me (by Mark Johnson)

Susan married me 20 years ago. Our wedding was a wonderful time of laughter, family and friends. But how did I get Susan to say "Yes"?

Susan and I had been dating for about a year. She was everything God had in mind for me...

- Fun (check)

- Laughed at my jokes (check)

- Follower of Christ (check)

After praying and considering if I could be married (guys don't think the same as girls on this subject), I knew the Lord was leading me to Susan.I also got quite a bit of "pushing" from Susan's good friend Jo Allison (since then Jo married and is now Jo Archer). Jo was always pressing for me to deepen my relationship with Susan. When we were not yet dating Jo would ask me, "When are you going to ask Susan out?". When we were dating Jo would ask, "So when are you going to kiss her?" followed by, "When are you going to ask Susan to marry?". Jo was relentless.Since Jo was very interested in my "taking the next step" with Susan, I enlisted Jo's help. I needed to get Susan's ring size, but did not want Susan to suspect anything. So I asked her friend Jo to get her ring size without letting Susan know.Jo was very quick at getting the ring size - this was a girl on a mission! Within 24 hours she called me.

The conversation went like this...

Ring...ring...ring...Mark: Hello.

Jo: Size five!

Mark: What? Who is this?

Jo: Size five!

Mark: Is this Jo?

Jo: Yes - and I got Susan's ring size in less than 24 hours! And she doesn't suspect a thing.

Jo had done the job well. I ordered the ring from a diamond broker (size five).


Next, I called Susan's parents to have dinner and ask them if I could marry Susan. We met early in the week for a dinner at their house. It was a great time to visit and was one of the first times I had ever been with them without Susan around. I dressed in a jacket for the especial occasion. Susan's parents were very gracious to me.

We had a nice dinner, but Susan's mother could barely contain herself. At the end of the meal, she just couldn't take it any longer and said, "Mark, what is on your mind?" I said that I loved Susan and wanted to marry Susan and asked if that would be OK with them. We had a good discussion about our families and how special Susan was to each of us.

I also talked with my parents and they were excited about Susan.

Next, I arranged to use our friend's (John Hromadka) sailboat. He had a large boat on Lake Grapevine. The plan was to go night sailing with Susan.

Ring purchased - (check)

Susan's parents approval - (check)

Tell my family - (check)

Arrange proposal location - (check)


So, with all that done, I asked Susan out for a dinner on a Thursday night. "Wear something nice and bring a change set of casual clothes to change into", I said to Susan. I picked up Susan that Thursday night. We ate at Baby Does Matchless Mine restaurant near downtown Dallas. Then we drove to Lake Grapevine and found John Hromadka's sailboat at the dock.


We changed into casual clothes and cast away for an eventful cruise at about 10:30 pm. We went night sailing for a while (moonlight, cool wind, your best friend at your side). Then I took the sails down and we drifted in the middle of the lake. I told Susan how much she meant to me and how I had thought about our future together. When I asked her to marry me, she said "Yes" immediately. I could barely get the question out before she said "Yes". Then I had her close her eyes and placed a plastic Fred Flintstone ring on her finger. She was surprise and laughed. Then I gave her a diamond ring. She kept both of the rings (Susan still has the Fred Flintstone ring to this day).We motored back to the dock, put up the boat and drove back to Dallas. We had to visit Jo Allison and tell her how it went. Knocked on Jo's door about 2 a.m. and visited with her for a while.


It was a wonderful time - meeting on a sailboat in the Virgin Islands (see my entry below titled "How I met Susan") and getting engaged on a sailboat. Susan and I have "cruised together" through 20 years of marriage. I thank the Lord for blessing me with such a beautiful wife.

How I met Susan (by Mark Johnson)

I met Susan in 1986 at Northway Baptist church in Dallas.

I had recently graduated from the University of Texas at Austin, had moved to Dallas for my first job and had found a good church. Susan had been out of school for several years (she is four years older than me - a fact that will always be true and a fact about which I remind her often). Susan was in the singles group and lead Bible study for 8th grade girls in the youth group.

I had learned how to sail in my early teens and really enjoyed sailing. Sailing on the ocean was my "dream vacation". If I ever got the chance to go sailing on the ocean, I would jump at the chance. That summer, a friend in the singles group at church organized a sailing trip in the Virgin Islands. He invited a bunch of singles and I was "on board" with the idea immediately. We had two 52-foot boats that slept about eight people per boat. Each boat had a kitchen, bathrooms and a dinghy to get back and forth to from the shore. We sailed for a week in the U.S. and British Virgin Islands "bare boat sailing" - you do all the work - you rent the boat with no captain and no crew.

Well, guess who was on my boat? A girl named Susan Colvin. We had seen each other at church, but it was a big church and we had not (yet) had the chance to visit. When you stay on the same boat for a week, you get to know everyone on the boat pretty well - you can't get more than 52 feet away from them!

We had a great week sailing around the Virgin Islands, swimming, snorkeling, cooking, hanging out and just enjoying the friendships. Susan was fun and I could tell she enjoyed life. She also enjoyed the life she had via a relationship with Jesus. Fun on the outside and beautiful on the inside.

We began dating after we returned from the Virgin Islands sailing trip. I like to tell the story that Susan started following me around and would not leave me alone. Most likely she has another account of the story. After the sailing trip I began teaching in the youth group (8th grade guys). Many years later, we still enjoy ministering to young people together.

I married Susan in 1988 and now she is Susan Johnson. I thank the Lord for giving me Susan and for the many ways He has blessed me through Susan.

When people ask, "How did you meet your wife?", I always like to say, "I met my wife on a boat in the Virgin Islands".

The rest of the story is history (or at least the subject for another blog entry).