Blog
2017 Year In Review
We hope that you've had a blessed Christmas time with your family. With the new year knocking at the door, we've spent a few quiet moments reflecting on our ministry and family life in 2017...
Hi Friends,
We hope that you've had a blessed Christmas time with your family. With the new year knocking at the door, we've spent a few quiet moments reflecting on our ministry and family life in 2017.
- 1 new baby!!
- 5 months of non-touring maternity leave
- 5 months of touring with 2 1/2 month on the road with a baby. Read about that experience here
- 1 USA music ministry tour
- 37 Concerts
- 6 flights
- 5,568km driven
- 5 years of music ministry full-time!
- 1 new music video created. Watch it here
- Hundreds of nappies changed!
8 1/2 months pregnant
Eric playing at New Life Believers Church, Victoria, Australia
We began the year pregnant and completing our last music ministry tour before becoming a family of three. We toured to different Victorian churches each weekend while being based at home.
Looking back it was a time of excitement, apprehension and growth of faith in God as we went head long around another blind corner of this journey. We each had moments of struggle, wondering and praying about how it was all going to work out.
Monique singing at Glen Huntly SDA Church, Victoria, Australia
First family date when Ezra was 8 days old
Then 10th April came and with it we became a family of three. Our little darling Ezra Eric Johnson was born. For the next 4 months, I (Monique) was on maternity leave with Eric working on booking and administration from our home office. It was such a beautiful, sleep deprived, frustrating and joyful time before we faced the world of music ministry touring with a baby.
Our first time taking a church service after Ezra was born at Dandenong Polish SDA Church, Victoria, Australia
Eric singing at Crossway North Church, Victoria, Australia
The remainder of the year included three tours; NNSW, SQLD, VIC and Oregon, USA.
Sing at Storyline Church, Oregon USA
Singing at 'Your Church' in Brisbane, QLD, Australia
House Concert at ARISE / Light Bearers campus in USA
Singing at Warragul SDA Church in Victoria, Australia
Sharing music at the Salvation Army in Leongatha in Victoria Australia
Ezra checking out the piano!
It was absolutely amazing to be back doing concerts together with our little roadie. After the 5 month break, doing concerts again was like an invigorating breath of fresh air. Each concert in every tour was amazing and special. We are so thankful to God for all the providential moments and to all the people who helped and supported us.
Ezra fast asleep while Monique sings up in Maitland SDA Church, NSW Australia.
Cannon Beach in Oregon, USA
Eric getting some admin work done on a sunny afternoon with Ezra hanging out
Ezra fast asleep after a concert in QLD, Australia
Off to USA with a baby on an extremely long flight!
Crater Lake National Park in Oregon, USA
Ezra exploring the keys!
We also just recently put out a new music video for our song 'God Is Love'.
It's been a year that we dubbed at the beginning as 'The Year of the Baby'. A year of change. One that has been both the slowest and quickest in our recent history. Yet one that has been filled with joy. We have exciting things planned for 2018 and we cannot wait to let you know more about that in the new year.
Happy New Year!
Blessings & love,
Eric & Monique
Touring with a Baby!
Is touring with baby difficult? Of course. Is it easier than we thought? Definitely! Yet, it's ever-changing... just like a baby's supercharged development.
Is touring with baby difficult?
Of course.
Is it easier than we thought?
Definitely!
Yet, it's ever-changing... just like a baby's supercharged development.
From when we got pregnant, we’ve been thinking and praying about this moment. Touring with a baby. We started out with a game plan knowing that literally, anything could and would happen.
THE GAME PLAN
Prayer + Timing Pre-Concert Naps + Feeding before a concert to keep him happy + Baby Wearing to sleep during a concert = Possible Game Plan.
Back up plan = If Ezra has needs during the concert I tap Eric to let him know I'm out back for a bit with the squish. If all else fails, figure out another game plan.
THE REALITY
It pretty much went the way of the game plan for the first little while, until Ezra decided that the car was a good place to fill his nappy rather than napping. So, with that we had to create a second back up plan: If all else fails, pray that God will provide an appropriate babysitter to sit with Ezra in the front seats.
He did! God always provides and looks after His children. As a friend reminded me, as much as we love our children, God loves them even more.
Anyone whose had a baby will testify to, plans constantly change with a baby and will continue to change as he grows and develops. So, we tried above all else to be flexible for him, while keeping somewhat of a routine no matter where we were to create stability. And of course, give him a ton of love!
Honestly, it turned out pretty good. Ezra did so well. I loved wearing him during concerts! And we’re so thankful to the people who looked after Ezra. He’s a very social baby and he adapts well to change (so far). His behaviour was actually about the same as when we were at home. We were amazed by him and are so thankful.
The biggest things I struggled with on tour with a baby was baby sleep and adult interaction.
I got far too obsessed with baby sleep. Trying to make sure Ezra had enough sleep each day and that his naps were timed close enough so he’d be happy or asleep for concerts became an unfortunate second nature to me. I got a little bit too obsessed with it... Did he ever get upset? Yes, of course. He’s a baby. But he was happy and he got a good amount of sleep most days.
I also struggled with missing the adult interaction before and after concerts; hearing testimonies and stories from people we met. I couldn’t have that interaction (sometimes I was able if a friend was looking after Ezra) because Ezra needed me. And that’s okay. Motherhood, especially of young children, is often described as a lonely season of life. But that’s what it is. A season. From the beginning I’ve been trying hard to keep my mind on the positive, to enjoy every minute, every stage, and to not “look forward” to the next. It's not always easy. Babies will be babies. But I've found it's so important to live in this season because it will be gone before we know it.
Overall, it was and is a joy. Amazing to both be back at being a musicianary on the road and to share this life with Ezra. It was phenomenal to see God, once again, provide not just what we needed, but beyond what we had hoped for.
- Monique
Day off at Crater Lake National Park, Oregon, USA
Watch what it's like to tour with a baby on our weekly vlogs!
Vlog Series
We experimented with Vlogging in 2016 and after a break, we have started vlogging again with a weekly series on our YouTube channel.
We experimented with Vlogging in 2016 and after a break, we have started vlogging again with a weekly series on our YouTube channel. Expect a new video of some kind on our channel every Monday. We may even do flashback videos to the past. Also make sure you subscribe, like and leave a comment!
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