Christmas 2011

This year I am having a hard time getting in the Christmas spirit. My guess is, it has to do with the lack of snow. For crying in the mud, we live in Minnesota! We should have multiple feet of snow on the ground, children riding on the backs of snowmobiles, frozen lakes and warm homes to retreat to.

But here we are, snowless, wrapping gifts, creating gifts, and doing what it takes to get in the Christmas spirit. I'm trying to change our mindsets to dwell on our savior, who came for the purpose of redemption. The Christmas season is full of "stuff" to get us off track. I am trying to change my mindset from the picturesque Christmas to the Christmas that point to the birth of Jesus.

As the head of my home it is my responsibility to show the importance of Jesus' birth and the tree he died on, not the tree in our living room with the lights on it. As a father this is my first Christmas, as a husband, it is my second. So, on this Christmas eve, we are looking to the coming of our savior, Jesus Christ.

My Gal

A few years ago my life didn't have much depth.  I would work a lot, go to church (awesome and deep), and every once in a while I would get outside of my self and hang out with friends. On a whim I made the trek I swore I would never take... entering the state of California. I guess if there were a reason to go to California it would have to be for the most amazing girl in the world. And that is exactly the reason I went. I sought her, found her and married her. I am the man I am today because of this amazing woman. Daily I learn to love more, protect better, lead with both my mind and my heart and worship Jesus more. 

Not only do I get the most amazing girl in the world, but I also get the most amazing cooking in the world. 

There are so many qualities about my Beautiful Bride that I will spend a life time enjoying and communicating them to those around me. 

 This says it all

The best part... She diggs me.

Raising Capital

Acquiring capital for most small businesses and/or farms is as simple as going down to the bank and applying for a loan. However, in my desire for a farm, I will not put undue financial pressures on my family. I really enjoy the way things are right now. The one who brings home the bacon is me and the one who cares for our child is my amazing wife. I cannot find the sense in sending her to work and my daughter to school just to make a few extra bucks to pay off a loan. So I'm challenged with raising capital for my farm without financing everything. So, I will be keeping my family home and being creative about saving.

One idea I have is something I started doing while in Colorado, and now that I have a place to work it is even more convenient. Maintenance and small repairs on cars and light trucks can be a good source of additional income. I can charge 1/3 of what dealerships charge for the same work. I get closer to my goals,  and the person I am helping is pleased they got a great deal on their auto repairs. Since I am already doing this as a full time job at a dealership I already have the tools I need to complete most any job.

Another idea I have is creating a small woodworking shop in my garage making jewelry boxes, music boxes, humidors, mantel clocks, etc. Since I have a serious lack of wood tools I will need to find some tools for a reasonable price. Craigslist is a resource I can use for finding cheap used tools. And I also have Menards just down the road. I do still have the challenge of finding a marketing plan that will get things off to a good start. I believe I will be checking out "Gorilla Marketing" from the local library. And in the Spring/Summer months I will try to get connected to some farmers markets and arts and crafts shows. Until then I will try to get an inventory built up and check into some of the legal matters of what I am trying to do.

This will not make me rich overnight, or at all. My goals are simply to start a self sustaining farm in the Forest Lake area. The name of our farm will simply be Johnson Farm with many headings (example: Johnson Farm Woodworking or Johnson Farm Meats and Eggs). As we go along things will change and ideas will keep coming and going. The main goals however will stay the same.