Life Update

Two major things took place in May and while I'm late posting about them on here, hopefully you've already heard the news since I've been so excited!

First, Jason and I graduated from William Carey! We completed their Educational Leadership program and received our Specialist degrees. While it was a lot of work, it was fun getting to do it with my favorite person by my side. What a special experience for us and then even more so, getting to graduate side by side! It was so special and we are thankful for all of the kind congratulatory words. 

In addition to graduating, I was nominated and received the honor of being selected as certified staff of the month for the district for the month of May. It was the sweetest way to wrap up year 10 and my transition into my new position within the district. 

This has been the busiest spring semester but, there have been some really sweet moments here of late. Receiving this honor ended up causing a lot of reflecting for me as this year came to an end. 

As stated above, after 10 years in my classroom, I am moving into a new position next year. I will be the Behavior Specialist/Behavior Support Teacher for Pre-K through 8th grade. I am incredibly excited for what is to come and looking forward to stepping in to this new role! 

Even with the excitement, this still feels bittersweet! I’ve been reminiscing with Jason on all the things as we are nearing the end of the school year. While I’m still going to be in Pearl, Northside has been the best gift over the years. I met my husband here, I have made life long friends, I’ve furthered my education, completed my National Boards, and so much more. The Lord has used so many people and experiences to shape me through this building on Harle Street. 

And my sweet students. I’ve had many students walk into my classroom doors throughout my time at Northside and I can tell you something special about each one of them. They have made a lasting impression on me and I know I learned just as much from them as they did from me. They have shaped me and changed me in so many ways and I am thankful for each and every one of them! They are the best part of my job 💚

My Mom always reminds me to think about what The Lord has taught you through situations. This is one of the big ones. A decade of my life has been shaped and marked by things that have happened at Northside. The Lord has been so, so good and I am thankful for His faithfulness and provision through working in a place and with people and am children who I love so much!

We were all asked to attend the board meeting for recognition which was so fun to experience together!

I spent the last week of school writing little notes to a few people who made a lasting impact on me during my time at Northside and one of the things that I was reminded of was my very first day on the job. Our principal started our first staff meeting by reminding us "we work unto God and not unto man" (Colossians 3:23). I knew on my first day that Northside was special but, I could have never comprehended the depths of how it would impact me in my adult life. I am blessed to have had a job I love so, so incredibly much and I am forever thankful. 

packed up this room for the last time after 10 years--so, so bittersweet. 

Our last, last day together at Northside. 

If you know me at all, you know how much I love this place and have enjoyed my 10 years teaching here. While I’m staying in the Pearl District, I’ll miss working alongside my favorite person 

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!” ⁣

⁣

Joni Eareckson Tada

Ann Hatten's 4th Birthday Party 12/19/21

Little Annie girl had her FOURTH birthday the same weekend we had the wedding.

We all got in from the wedding on Sunday and that afternoon we had her family party at MC and Grant's house. She is at the age where she is all in to these types of events no matter who it is for so it was fun finally getting to do it for her!

We can say with certainly that she has grown so much over the past year and it has been the most fun seeing her grow and change.

Bennett decided he needed a front row viewing to the present opening.

This big four year old got a frozen bike for her big surprise! She was truly surprised and her face lit up when she saw it. It was the cutest thing. You know it's a hit when she's riding it around the house immediately. 

Ann Hatten, your Uncle Jason and I love you so, so much. We are proud of you and have so enjoyed watching you change and grow over the past year. Your zeal for life, your kind heart, and your fun-loving spirit are just a few of the things we love about you. You are a treasure!

Our yearly tradition of getting a picture with her by their tree--she changes so much each year!

Oxford Wedding Weekend 12/18/21

Our family's long time friends had a wedding in Oxford last weekend. 

We made our way there and had such a good time. We ate TOO MUCH good food, got to experience Ann Hatten's enchantment with her first wedding--that she could actually take in what all was happening. It was so. much. fun!

A fun story--so when Mary Claire was turning 21, our family made our way to Oxford for a surprise birthday celebration for her. This was Jason's first big outing with our whole family and we went to Boure', which is where the pickle martinis are from. So this place and that drink hold a little bit of a special meaning for us. This was the first time we've been back to Oxford since then and we KNEW we had to have a pickle martini. They were just as delicious as we remembered and it was fun to sit there and talk about those early days of dating. 

Before we get in to wedding pictures, I have to say that every single thing we ate that weekend was delicious. My family tells me all the time how good the restaurants are in Oxford and I have to say, they lived up to the hype. We went to (and would suggest) Boure', Big Bad Breakfast, and Insomnia Cookie. Y'all know I love a good meal!

On to the wedding. The ceremony was so fun because Ann Hatten sat with us and kept talking about seeing the Princess. She was SO excited and even made sure her Grando saw her as he was walking down the aisle to perform the wedding. She was glued to the aisle and loved seeing everyone walk down. She even "shushed" me one time when I tried to tell her something! I'm glad to know she's taking it so seriously-ha! The one thing she was disappointed about was that the cake was no where to be seen in the church. We had to explain to her that we had to go to the reception and that's where the cakes would be. 

We made it to the reception and as you can see, she was the first one on the dance floor and I think she put in the most miles on that floor, too. I will be 100% surprised if she's not in every single picture from the reception! She had the time of her life and I'd be lying if I said we didn't enjoy watching her. 

Bennett got a little dance floor action himself and he was the cutest little fella on the floor. 

I am pretty sure she told Mary Claire she needed to take her shoes off so that she could dance better. I feel you girl, I feel you!

Even though it's blurry, I love this picture of Bennett. He looks so cute and teeny tiny when he's standing up like that next to Jason's long legs. 

Oh and this, this is what a picture taken by your almost four-year-old niece looks like when she's scurrying back to the dance floor. 

Oxford, you now hold a few more good memories for us.