In the tradition of Michael Scott’s Dundees and Lord Alfred’s Nobels, we present We Da Johnson’s 2023 superlatives. Hope you enjoy our 36^th annual Christmas missive…

Best Event – The Birth of Bradford Genry Johnson! Our first grandchild, who happens to be the most adorable, precious little guy in the universe, entered the world on Nov. 9^th, 2023, at 7:32 a.m., carrying 8.25 lbs. and 21.5” in length. So many things in this world—electric cars, elaborate weddings, parades, and pomegranates—are overrated. Becoming a grandparent, we have learned, is not. We highly recommend it! Laci was a champ through 27 hours of painful labor (even more painful than the wooden furniture in the waiting room), and Kyle did a great job supporting her and not vomiting. We are thankful to Laci, Kyle, and God for blessing our family in such an amazing way. Bradford (aka Ford, Fjord, Little B, et al) likes to eat, sleep, poop, repeat (don’t we all?), and raise his long fingers into the air like a conductor. He’ll carry Papa Fob’s, Uncle Jason’s, and Great Grandpa Brad’s middle name—Bradford—through life, along with his mom’s maiden name. He’ll also carry our hearts forever.

Best Road Trip – Belleville Marathon! Jason surprised Steve at our front door one night, and the next afternoon the two of them surprised Kyle at his front door. We made the journey to STL in September to cheer Kyle on (and hand out a tub of popsicles) as he completed his first marathon. He now joins Jason and Steve with a bucket list marathon under his belt.

Best Party – Papa Raymond’s 90th Birthday Bash! We celebrated this milestone in July with a large gathering of friends and family. We hoped Papa would receive 90 birthday cards, and he ended up with 189! Thanks to those who sent one—he has spent countless hours reading them over and over. Papa’s faithfulness and humility are a shining example for all who know him.

Best Hike – Mount LeConte! We joined friends Brook and Janna in July for an 8-mile, 3K-foot elevation gain hike to the top of Mount Le Conte, then spent the night at the highest guest lodge in the eastern United States. Only two awkward moments: Brook’s phone alarm—Julie Andrew’s “The Hills Are Alive”—blared near Steve’s head at a far too early 6:30 a.m. … and Steve asked some puzzled Japanese tourists near the summit, “How far to Dorrywood?”

Best Win – Chili Cook-Off! In October, Steve won the annual church chili cook-off with the first bowl of chili he’d ever made! He thanked his family, friends, and 8^th grade Home Economics teacher for their support. He has no plans to compete again as he wants to go to his grave undefeated in cooking competitions.

Worst Injury – Shirley’s Broken Hip! Mamaw fell and broke her hip in January, raising our household replacement hip total to three. (We scatter the broken hips and other discontinued body parts across the lawn at Halloween to scare the trick-or-treaters.) A week later, Steve took Papa to visit her in rehab and went to the wrong room on the wrong floor. Thinking she was at PT, they rearranged her belongings to create places to sit, hung out for 30 minutes, and wondered why her new roommate said she was at dialysis.  

Best Reunion – Nashville Baby Showers! In July, we gathered with Steve’s large extended family for fun baby showers for Laci and our niece, Ellie. At one point, Steve’s dad looked at him and asked, “Now, who are all these people?” With a little prompting, he can still make the connections. (Runner-Up: A trip to Tucson in April to hang out, hike, and consume local cuisine with Steve’s sisters and their hubbies. 2^nd Runner-Up: Multiple visits to see Steve’s dad and his wife Gail in Cincinnati. On one trip, 86-year-old Brad beat his son at bowling!)

Best New Skill Learned – Beekeeping! On a disaster relief trip to Valdosta in September, Steve was twice asked to don a beekeeping suit and cut open a fallen tree trunk with a chainsaw to help extract a queen and hive with about 70K fired-up bees. As a result of the experience, Steve now shakes his bum in a “waggle dance” to get Janet’s attention. (More on that trip at https://www.bigsteveandliljan.com/bee-student/)

Best Speaking Gig, Janet (aka Nonni) – (tie) – Ladies Days in Lufkin, TX (Feb.), Carolina Bible Camp, NC (May), and Fairview Heights, IL (Sep.). Janet loves talking to groups of ladies about God and the opportunity that affords her to buy new outfits.

Best Speaking Gig, Steve (aka Papa Fob) – (tie) – Lufkin, TX; Athens, AL; & Greenback, TN. Like Janet, Steve is willing to travel anywhere at any time to share pics of Baby Bradford and talk about faith, mission work, and hiking the Appalachian Trail. 

Best Mission Trip – Honduras! In May, we led a team of 17 missionaries to build houses, hand out food, provide medical care, and share the Gospel in Honduras. We hope to return this coming May. (Runner up: A disaster relief trip to Wynne, AR, in April, which resulted in this blog:  https://www.bigsteveandliljan.com/wynne-arkansas-disaster-relief-amys-swing/)

We hope you have a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful 2024! Our greatest blessing this year, and every year, is our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We are thankful for His life, death, and resurrection, which give us purpose in this life and hope for the future. We’ll close this annual letter by giving Jesus—the Word—the last word, from John 14:6… “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” 

Merry Christmas!

Steve & Janet