Merry Christmas from the Jackson Family (2025)

It's been a very long time since we've sent out Christmas cards - probably the first decade of our marriage. Since we've been married thirty-five years, that's a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.

So, rather than trying to build a Christmas card list, I decided to make a Christmas card blog post... 

Here's the ho-ho-ho-highlights of 2025 for Mark, Shari, Braeden, and Collin:

• I'm still working for the TN Department of Education - and is about to finish my 12th year with the agency. (Profoundly thankful for my supervisor and the team I work with.)
• Shari has been volunteering with NAMI (the National Alliance on Mental Illness).
• Braeden is seeking a Masters degree online from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary while working part-time at Essential Church in Huntsville, Alabama.
• Collin is halfway through his junior year at UT Chattanooga and is working part-time at Rocket Fizz in downtown Chattanooga.
• The boys & I were able to attend Gulf Games in February in Asheville, NC (just Mark & Braeden) and in July in Lexington, KY (all three of us). 
• Shari & I had an amazing two week vacation through portions of Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia in May... including a detour to make sure Shari got to see Niagara Falls. (I highly recommend hiking the Gorge Trail at Watkins Glen State Park, btw.)

Yes, I acknowledge that "ho-ho-ho-highlights" is a level of Dad joke-ness and cheese that I should not have attempted. But I did and you kept reading, so we both lose. [grin]

Top row: Lake Erie, Halloween, Gulf Games
Bottom: Grammy & all of her grandchildren & great-grandchildren (Thanksgiving)

On the more difficult side, my mom passed away in February after a long fight with Alzheimer's. My grief is a weird mixture of sadness and relief - and the certainty that she is present with the Jesus she loved and served throughout her life.

Mom playing Qwirkle with us in 2014

May your Christmas be blessed - not only merry but also meaningful. May your New Year be filled with truth, beauty, and grace - and may you be an instrument of His peace to folks around you.

Merry Christmas

Mark