Family Christmas/New Years Letter

Here is a copy of our Christmas/New Years letter that went out, if you did not get to see it enjoy! 

Dear Family and Friends of my parents,

My existence has been short so far and I have only heard Mommy and Daddy talking for a few weeks so I know there is still a lot to learn.  I want to share with you what I know so far in this Christmas letter. 

At Daddy’s birthday dinner in New York City Mommy told him it was time to have children which caught him off guard because he had planned on waiting a few years and they had not even been married for one year yet.  He said give me time to pray about this and we will revisit it later.  It took him a week to tell Mommy that they could stop preventing and pray for God to send me to them in His timing.  Within two months God began His work on me, one of His latest projects!  They didn’t find out about my arrival until they were preparing for the new year of students they were going to teach this year.  I think the timing was perfect since I am going to be one of their students soon.

The Lord has been working diligently knitting me together in Mommy’s belly (Ps 139:13-18) and He is awesome.  I have learned that He is love (1 John 4:8).  I can tell that my parents know His love by the way that they love me already.  They have been talking about me to everyone.  Mommy even started writing a blog that has been mostly about me so far (http://ourjourneythroughgrace.blogspot.com/).  I think she is planning on having it printed each year in a book.  It will be her digital scrap book.  Daddy has been writing me letters almost every day that he will give me when I am older.  The main purpose of these letters is to remind me of the Lord’s love and how it is radiated through our family. 

Mommy and Daddy have been searching for a church home where they could serve the Lord in His kingdom together since before they were married.  Recently they heard the Lord speak to them separately through a sermon series and small group study called Greater at the church they had been attending.  He called them to join LINC Baltimore in planting Missional Communities.  This is something outside of their comfort zone but they are certain that God has been preparing the way for them.  I am excited to see how I can be a part of this ministry one day.  Mommy shares more of the details in her blog.

I am told that my new home wrote the annual letter last year.  It is doing just fine but is going through some changes.  Extreme Home Makeover – Baby Kassouf Edition has begun.  My nursery is going to be their old office and I can’t wait to see the Winnie the Pooh space they are planning.  This process has been moving slower than they would have liked because of the graduate studies.  Last February Daddy began his master’s degree in education through Gratz College.  He will have nine classes finished before I am born in April and will finish his program next summer.  Mommy just stared a graduate certificate in autism studies through John’s Hopkins University.  I am looking forward to a lot of Daddy time once I am born as Mommy finishes her program.

I am sure Mommy and Daddy have other things to share but as far as I am concerned I am the only thing that really matters.  I have already begun changing their world and am anticipating the great changes I will make once I am born. 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,

Andrew and Erin Kassouf’s child

Ps. I look forward to meeting all of you soon.

Race Into the New Year

Andrew and I participated in a 5K while we were in Myrtle Beach! It is a fundraiser for Risen Christ Lutheran School where Mom Kassouf works.  Last year, we did the race for the first time and this summer Andrew made me learn how to jog and he began jogging and running.  We had been working out multiple times a week over the summer because Andrew wanted to beat his little brother this year at the Race Into the New Year 5K.  This fall we did not exercise the way we wanted but on Saturday we did the race.  Andrew did a great job! He took 10 minutes off his time from last year and he ran an 11:50 mile average! I am so proud of him!!  His baby brother was out of town so I'm not sure who would of won but Andrew did a great job and he has already set a new goal for next year.  I did not jog because I am 23 weeks pregnant but I walked with Mom and Dad and we had fun!

Christmas Fun!

Christmas began early this year!  This is a picture of us in front of our tree before leaving for our trip.

Our Christmas extravaganza began on Saturday December 21st at my Dad's house.  We enjoyed a great ham dinner and had fun visiting.  We also ended our trip on December 30th there so we could visit with my Mommom and Poppy.

We then continued on to Calvert County to see my mom and extended family.  Grandma and Grandpa came to Mom's house for dinner Sunday night.  Mom made lasagna, one of my favorites!  Then, Monday morning we baked cookies with my cousins and had lunch with Aunt Debbie's family.  This is the first Christmas I can remember where I would not spend Christmas Eve at Grandma's house with all of the extended family.  It was really nice to get to see all my family separately because we got to spend quality time with each of them!  It was a nice bonus.  We then celebrated Christmas with my Mom and brothers Monday night!  

Tuesday morning we got up early to hit to road for Myrtle Beach!  Andrew's parents thought that we were coming on December 26th but for the last 2 years Andrew and Tim have been planning a surprise Christmas Eve trip for Mom this year.  So we set out for Myrtle Beach.  The timing ending up being perfect.  We arrived at church 10 minutes before service was scheduled to start.  We walked into church and found Mom.  Andrew tapped her on the shoulder and casually asked if the seats around her were taken.  She was absolutely shocked, confused, and beyond excited to see us there 2 days early.  This was extra special for her because she was not alone for church on Christmas.    

On Christmas Eve after church we ended up swapping gifts as couples. My big gift was a new cushion for my papasan chair! It is so fuzzy and warm.  I also got the complete collection of Matilda; the book, DVD, and Broadway CD.  Andrew and I went to see the Broadway show in October and I was so excited because it was a movie that I had watched with my Mommom a million times growing up!  I can't wait to share it with our child.

Andrew's big gift was tickets to a Kennedy Center Show in March to see Brian D'arcy James.  He played Shrek in "Shrek the Musical" when it was on Broadway.  My mom got him the DVD copy of the show for Christmas! It was a perfect pair.  

Baby Kassouf also did very well this Christmas.  He/She got a "Nana and Me" picture frame, monkey onesies, and a Winnie the Pooh blanket from Nana.  Grandma and Grandpa gave him/her a new diaper bag, socks, book, and picture book, which were all Vera Bradley! Aunt Erin and Uncle Tim supplied bibs for all of their first holiday outfits.  He/She got a sleeping sheep white noise maker from Poppy and Noni, and a stuff animal from Great Mommom and Poppy!

On Christmas Day Mark and Ashley joined us for Christmas! Mom and Dad Kassouf got to see all 3 of their boys on Christmas Day! That has not happened in a very long time and they were super excited!

We had a great Christmas Break and are not ready for the hustle and bustle of regular life but I guess it's time.