Luke's Baptism 3/6

 A few weeks ago we had the sweetest Sunday morning for Luke's baptism. 

It is always the sweetest seeing Dad get to baptize his grandchildren. Luke makes for his fourth grandchild baptism and it never gets old seeing this special moment take place. 

I think he was excited to get in his baptismal gown that Mimi made. It's such a special gown made with some of Mom's tatting from her family line. 

The Jussely family, ready for the big morning!

So, Aaron & Blair were talking about if James would come on the stage with them or not so when it got close to time, Aaron had him come to the front row with them and the following is what happened.

He wanted some solo time and while he didn't make it to the stage with the family--he gave us the funniest, best laugh that I've had in a while. That little mischievous face!

Someone didn't want to be in the picture...at first!

Ann Hatten LOVES some "Baby Luke". I mean, every time she's around him she wants to hold him, kiss him, talk to him, so, so cute. 

Praise The Lord for His faithfulness from generation to generation. 

We are praying that there’s never a day sweet Luke doesn’t know the vast and deep love The Lord has for him and pray that Luke will seek Him all the days of his life!

Christmas Eve & Christmas Day

 I love Christmas. 

It is a time to slow down, spend time with family, and for me, it is a time to reflect on the year that is coming to pass. 

Thankfully, Jason and I have two full weeks off from work and we are able to take it slow the days following Christmas. The torn wrapping paper has time to settle and we're able to enjoy one another and rest as we step towards a new year. 

If you couldn't tell from the previous posts leading up to this one, we have had some fun-filled days leading up to Christmas. Since Mary Claire had to work on Christmas Day, we had our main family gathering on Christmas Eve this year. We had our family dinner and exchanged gifts. This year, we only did gifts for our parents and niece and nephews. 

This was Luke's first Christmas with us and he made for the sweetest little addition. He has grown so much in these last (almost) 4 months and he is the sweetest little nugget. 

Big brother James was a bit more in to the holiday happenings this year since he's gotten older. It was fun watching him open presents. I love hearing his sweet little voice and seeing his (literally) most precious grin that there is. He's not too sure about Aunt Ellen's "big" camera so of course, I couldn't catch his grin!

I feel like this is the first Christmas where Ann Hatten was actually in to giving and receiving gifts. It was incredibly sweet watching her eyes light up when she would open her gifts. She was truly thrilled and I think her favorite was her unicorn jewelry box. So stinking precious. 

Some things I want to remember about Bennett this Christmas is him walking more, talking more, and growing up to be the sweetest little bub. His mild manner and gentle spirit are simply the best. 

I mean come on, look at the faces on those boys! 

This girl loves everything clothes, jewelry, princess, pink, and purple related so it goes without saying that she was thrilled with her new leopard print booties that she got from Aunt Blair. 

I love this picture of James looking so intently at the wrapping before getting to tear it off. This was his nerf rocket launcher from Jason and I. 

One thing I always want to remember about Papa Steve and the Christmas holidays is how he always takes the time to get each couple a new devotion book to use in the upcoming year. He wraps them and labels them just for us and as always, there's a handwritten note with the year in there from him. I love this tradition and cherish these things. 

I think it's safe to say that the grocery cart was James favorite gift. He was so funny climbing in there and having Ann push him around. 

Jason and I got Ann Hatten a little, mini digital kids camera and she was all about snapping pictures of everyone. She loves to use my polaroid, big camera, and phone for pictures so I knew this was exactly what she needed this year. 

One thing I never want to forget is the love and care that Mama Carol puts in to our stockings. As we've gotten older those have become the show stopper for the grown kids and we love it so much. Each item that's in our stocking is thoughtful and you can tell that she's taken the time to think of things that would meaningful and useful to us. They are my favorite part as a "big kid" and I appreciate the time, effort, and love that is put in to each one. 

Not pictured was our delicious Christmas Eve dinner. We had turkey, dressing, bean bundles, sweet potato casserole, and an apple crisp dessert. We may not have gotten to the dessert because of the presents and needing to get to church but man, it made for a tasty late night dessert when we got home that evening. 

Our church faithfully hosts a Christmas Eve service and something neat about this year is that it was Dad's 25th time to preach that service and have the communion that goes along with it. 

Christmas morning has become a little more spread out as we've each gotten married and as my siblings have had children. But, this one was special because we had The Welch's join us! They brought some delicious breakfast foods and we all had the best mornings being together. 

These ladies have been the best of friends for years and years. 

The Christmas morning crew oh, and Ann Hatten taking over the self stick below

I'll end with sharing a snippet from a book that I read last year but still rings true this year: 

“On this side of eternity, Christmas is still a promise. Yes, the Savior has come, and with Him peace on earth, but the story is not finished. Yes, there is peace in our hearts, but we long for peace in our world. ⁣

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Every Christmas is still “a turning of the page” until Jesus returns. Every December 25 marks another year that draws us closer to the fulfillment of the ages, that’s draws us closer to home. ⁣

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When we realize that Jesus is the answer to our deepest longing, even Christmas longings, each Advent brings us closer to His glorious return to earth. When we see Him as He is, King of kings and Lord of lords, that will be “Christmas” indeed! ⁣

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Christmas is an invitation to a celebration yet to happen. If you’ve got a Christmas longing, you’re about to be satisfied, too. Just hold on and say with me...Maranatha! Come Lord!” ⁣

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Joni Eareckson Tada

Fall Catch Up (Aug, Sept, Oct, & Nov)

 And lastly, a big ole photo/event dump from the fall and all of the various events that took place. 

We started our 10th and 11th year of teaching. We are both still at the same school.

We have been able to throw some girl's nights in there.

Maddie started working with me in my classroom this year and she has been a joy to work with and it has been incredibly sweet seeing her love on the kiddos and enjoy what she's doing. This is from her bridal shower! She has had the most fun/busy fall and the wedding pictures are to follow. 

I don't wake up early unless I have to--aka--for work but at least I am able to catch these beautiful early morning views when I get to work at the crack of dawn. 

I always love getting to see these little cuties on Sundays.

Ann Hatten was showing James the forgiveness rock she made in children's church. 

A long overdue game night with these friends

We celebrated N I N E years since our very first date and per usual, went to the same place.

We walked with our school in the Homecoming Parade and went "under the sea"

And hosted a shower for Maddie along with some other work friends.

And soon after, celebrated her big day!

Also, Jason made the cheesecakes that were seven at the wedding. They were so delicious!

Halloween weekend came and we dressed up for school as Pirates and then attended the Annual "Bad and Boozy with the Thomases"

Our sweet family dog, Tobey, passed away. 

We got Tobey when I was in the 10th grade and I remember Mary Claire begging Mom to get him from the Walmart parking lot. When we got home, we cracked the door to the computer room and stuck his little body in there to show Papa Steve what we had done.

 Better to ask for forgiveness rather than permission, right? 

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He had the sweetest demeanor and while he could yap up a storm, he always had his “smile” on his face and made for the sweetest little companion. ⁣

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We will miss seeing him under the magazine rack, by Mom’s side in her chair, in his little bed, or laying on the porch. ⁣

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This little pup gave us 16 years of sweetness and joy

Had a girls night with these two. We went to Dumbos and had delicious food and fun times.

And soon after that went to our first Broadway show since Covid came about. 

We went and saw Anastasia and it was so nice seeing live shows again. 

And lastly, this last week of Thanksgiving Break has been such a nice time to reset, spend time with family, get some cross stitching done, sleep in (ha!), and relax to the max. It has been an awesome week!

We can thank Ann Hatten for this one--Jason was trying to tell her to make sure she pointed it at us and not the ground--ha!

Ann Hatten LOVED holding Baby Luke. It was the cutest thing. She kept asking people if they wanted to come and "pet" him. 

The Thanksgiving Sangria in all its boozey glory.

Well, we tried getting some pictures of them! Ha!

I wanted to share a liturgy from "Every Moment Holy" about feasting with friends (and I say, family)--this is not the whole thing but some lines from it here and there. 

But the joy of fellowship, and the welcome and comfort of friends/family, new and old, and the celebration of these blessings of food and drink and conversation and laughter are the true evidences of things eternal, and are the first fruits of that great glad joy that is to come and that will be unending. ⁣

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So let our feast this day be joined to those sure victories secured by Christ, let it be to us now a delight, and a glad foretaste of his eternal kingdom. Bless us, O Lord, in this feast. ⁣

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Bless us, O Lord, as we linger over our cups, and over this table laden with good things, as we relish the delights of varied texture and flavor, of aromas and savory spices, of dishes prepared as acts of love and blessing, of sweet delights made sweeter by the communion of saints. ⁣

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May this our feast like a great hammer blow against that brittle night, shattering the gloom, reawakening our hearts, stirring our imaginations, focusing our vision on the kingdom of heaven that is to come, on the kingdom that is promised, on the kingdom that is already, indeed, among us, for the resurrection of all good things has already joyfully begun. ⁣

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May this feast be an echo of that great Supper of The Lamb, a foreshadowing of the great celebration that awaits the children of God. ⁣

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Take joy! All will be well!⁣

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All will be well! Nothing good and right and true will be lost forever. All good things will be restored. Feast and be reminded! Take joy, little flock. Take joy! Let battle be joined! Let battle be joined!⁣

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Now you who are loved by The Father, prepare your hearts and give yourself wholly to this celebration of joy, to the glad company of saints, to the comforting fellowship of The Spirit, and to the abiding presence of Christ who is seated among us both as our host and as our honored guest, and still yet as our conquering king. Amen. ⁣

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In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, take seat, take feast, take delight!

We ended the break by going to Vicksburg for Black Friday to take part in a pottery sale for a friend of Mary Claire's. It was a fun girls outing and look at the precious nativity. 

I love the fall.