Hearty Bean and Ham Soup

Acquire all necessary ingredients and prepare for cooking.\nSoak the dried beans in a large container, covering them with several inches of cool water. Allow this process to occur for 8 hours or overnight, depending on your schedule.\nDrain the soaked beans and transfer them to a large pot. Fill the pot with enough water to cover the beans by about 1 inch, then bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and let simmer for 30 minutes.\nOnce the beans have finished cooking, drain them from the pot. Add diced ham, ham bone, sliced carrots, chopped celery, and diced onion to the pot. Stir in a mixture of vegetable broth, vegetable juice, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, chili powder, chopped parsley, black pepper, and bay leaves.\nPour in enough chicken broth to cover the ingredients, then continue to simmer over low heat, stirring occasionally and adding more chicken broth as needed. This process should take about 8 hours.\nAfter the long simmering period, remove and discard the ham bone. Season the soup with salt to taste.\nContinue to simmer the soup for an additional 1 to 2 hours, or until it has reached your desired consistency. Remove the bay leaves before serving.\nFinally, serve the soup hot and enjoy your delicious creation!