Category: Home movies & audio

The best part of our day

Timothy, Christmas 2004

The best part of each day lately is when Richard and I sit down to watch an annual family Christmas video. We have made these videos since 2003, so if we want to see them all before Christmas, we begin early. They feature our kids’ performances, piano pieces, and sometimes lip syncs to Christmas songs. They end with a slideshow of the year’s photos put to music. They were originally intended for the grandparents, but as the years pass, they probably bring the most delight to us.

We are working on the 2025 installment. There is always a story to tell about family.

Here is a part of our 2014 video:

2014 Christmas

Open House for Daniel and McKenna

This is what we have to show for our family’s efforts this summer, a party full of lights and people, a celebration for Daniel and McKenna.

So many people helped us, and I have kept a record of the tender mercies that got us to this day.

Image by Mike’s Photo
Image by Mike’s Photo

Eagle Court of Honor for Tim and Mark

The boys earned their Eagles about 18 months ago, just before the pandemic. We wanted to do a court of honor with family at the Weber, so we waited a long time for this. We gathered on a Sunday evening at Pines Ranch during the reunion, and I just love a mountain backdrop for this event. It was a special evening.

Our Cub Scout and Girl Scouts helped with the flag ceremony.

I really like how the little cousins wanted to be in the middle of things.
Richard and I made a slideshow of each boy, and Richard took some time to reminisce about Scouting with Tim and Mark.
My dad pulled out from storage his uniform and presented the awards. We dug deep into our closets to find the Scout things we have neglected for 18 months. I remember picking up their Eagle awards in February 2020 (it feels a lifetime since then) and crying as I drove away from the Scout office for the last time.
Their cousin Ray just completed his Eagle project, so while we couldn’t award him his rank, we honored him with a slideshow just like we did for Tim and Mark.
A wild eagle flew overhead as Mark was presented with his Eagle.
I was delighted, as you can see.
singing with Grandma
My boys (singing)
The end.

Photos by Daniel Ross, Michael McLaughlin, and Richard Jaussi

Joy, December 13

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves: we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

Psalm 100

The phrase I love is, “It is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves.”

I look at this little video of our children and reflect how their qualities have matured over the years. I see they carry, and are developing, many qualities that can only be traced to heavenly parents.