#1,445 Thanksgiving + Adoption.

After a huuuuuuuuuuuge traditional Thanksgiving spread at Ben’s parents’ for lunch (fried turkey, dressing, homemade cranberry sauce, scalloped potatoes, hash brown casserole, sweet potato casserole, rotel chicken spaghetti, turnip greens, green salad, green bean casserole, yeast rolls, pumpkin pie, pecan pie, cherry pie, cheesecake… for 7 adults) we managed to move our overstuffed bodies back to the southern part of the state to meet my brother and his wife and Jim and Mallorie for Thanksgiving at my parents’. Mama always does gumbo on Thanksgiving night since we tend to go overboard at our in-laws at lunch, thankfully, but she still had garlic French bread, pecan pie, leftover turkey, and Mallorie’s coconut cake. And tonight was the Egg Bowl in which Ole Miss, sadly and pitifully, managed to lose to State in overtime. By fumbling in the end zone. But we didn’t even care.

You know why?

Remember this post about Clark and Amanda? They got the call that a healthy newborn baby boy would be here soon just a few days ago, and they brought him home from the hospital. The baby that we’ve all been praying for for years is here! It’s been the biggest celebration in the world for our family. John Walker Rasberry. My nephew!

This is a bittersweet photo since Beau, Clark and Amanda’s labrador who was a wedding present to each other as a puppy 12 years ago, has been diagnosed with cancer. The doctor said he doesn’t have much time left. He’s moving slow, but it didn’t stop him from making the rounds to get his ears scratched tonight. I’m so glad we got a family portrait with him.

Mama can’t stop smiling and gushing about how beautiful life is. Can you tell?

It was the first big family gathering where not just one, but TWO babies were present. We’ve gone from a 100% childless family to having Lucy and John Walker in a year: