Welcome to JOYFUL REFLECTIONS. Also welcome to MARCH!!!! My header picture this month is a photo I took of the pretty Crocus blooms in our yard... The Crocuses and Daffodils are the first signs of spring here in Tennessee. I am definitely ready for SPRING...

Friday, January 10, 2014

Nativity at the Opryland Hotel Resort, Nashville, TN

Taken from a distance of the large Nativity
On December 19, 2013,  George and I met his daughter Kelly and hubby Chuck in Nashville for a Christmas dinner at the Claim Jumper Restaurant in Opry Mills Mall --and then the four of us visited the gorgeous Opryland Hotel Resort to see their Christmas decorations.  Of course,  we took a gazillion photos!!!!!

Today I'll share my favorite part with you,  the beautiful Nativity --which is in the front of the hotel.  We had seen the Nativity before (years ago) when it was in an interior area of the hotel.  It is MUCH nicer now;  in fact, I was really impressed,  and can call this Nativity one of the best ones I have ever seen.  Talk about something showing the TRUE meaning of Christmas.  This is IT!!!!

Hope you enjoy the photos---as I just walked around the large area taking pictures from different angles.  As we walked,  we could enjoy an audio telling the story of the Birth of Jesus.  I was so taken by my surroundings that it was hard to stop and take pictures!!!!  BUT--I did manage to get some to share.  Hope you enjoy them.  Be sure to enlarge the photos in order to see them larger.  Get a cup of coffee (or something hot),  sit back and enjoy what Christmas is all about! 



Here is one of some signs around the area.

































Hope you enjoyed seeing this gorgeous Nativity... My wish is that you can see it in person sometime--if you ever get to Nashville,  Tennessee...  The entire hotel/resort  is fantastic --and there are many other things to do during the Christmas season.

On another issue,  thanks for your wonderful support and comments on my Wednesday blog on Weight Loss and Maintenance... Click HERE if you missed it.  I just hope and pray that in FIVE years,  I can look back at this post and still be able to say that I am STILL doing it....  A good friend of mine,  Catherine (from Canada),  has been working on getting healthy --and we have exchanged ideas and kudos for quite some time.  She piggy-backed on my blog and published one herself this week.  She has more great ideas which have worked for her.  Please check out her blog post by clicking HERE.   

Hope you made it through the horrible arctic blast this week.  We had 2 inches of snow with ice under it, which stayed with us for 3+ days...  The temperature on our deck one morning was a MINUS 10 degrees (F).... Yipes---it's been a long time since we have experienced anything like this here.  Schools were out 4 of 5 days.  They finally went back TODAY.

UPDATE:  Anyone getting an email from me (with a Cox.net address)--do NOT open it. I will not send out an email just with a link.  The one that hubby got, was a link and said AMAZING.   I must have gotten spammed!  I will change passwords AGAIN.  Thanks..

Have a wonderful weekend --and I'll see you on Monday.  Hugs,

52 comments:

Ms. A said...

The Nativity is gorgeous, but I still don't see how they can get that many lights on every branch and limb of those trees! Amazing!

diane b said...

It sure is a fabulous nativity scene but the trees are mesmerising.

Fun60 said...

That's a beautiful Nativity scene. Glad to hear it's heated up a little for you over there. Quite mild temp wise over here but it is the rain and high tides which are causing misery for thousands of people as their homes are flooded once again. Maybe it's a picture of Noah's ark I need with an instruction leaflet.

Elizabeth Edwards said...

the hubby & i have always wished to go there. we have so many friends (& family) who have been & really have enjoyed it so. one day, we are hoping to get there. what gorgeous Christmas decor. i wonder how long they take to get up all those items? i bet it takes some work. ( :

Elizabeth Edwards said...

the hubby & i have always wished to go there. we have so many friends (& family) who have been & really have enjoyed it so. one day, we are hoping to get there. what gorgeous Christmas decor. i wonder how long they take to get up all those items? i bet it takes some work. ( :

Anonymous said...

Very pretty Nativity photos. Looks like we have rain for this weekend. Take care.

Glenda said...

Oh, Betsy!!! These photos are wonderful, and I just hope that we can get to Nashville to see this beauty for ourselves one of these days. Thank you for sharing! We have also had some cold temps this week, and our local schools are going back today---two hours late. Most parents are wondering why they even bothered to go back at all at that rate! Have a fantastic Friday!

Kamana said...

how wonderful! have a great weekend!

Sharon said...

We traditionally visit Nashville and the Opryland Hotel as our celebration of Bill's completing another semester of teaching. Sadly, this year we didn't get there so thanks for showing it to me through your eyes! Beautiful as always. Would be interested in your opinion of The Claim Jumper. Our experience in restaurant in Opry Mills haven't been all that positive. Crowded, expensive, mediocre food.

Big Dude said...

Great shots Betsy

linda m said...

The Nativity Scene is one of the best I have ever seen. Thank you so much for sharing it. Hopefully one day I will be able to see it in person.

Shug said...

Thanks Betsy for sharing the Nativity with us. Hopefully I'll get to see it this next year. Can you imagine the hard work that goes in to setting up these touching scenes? Gorgeous!!
Your blog truly blesses many people...me for sure!
Hope ya'll warm up today...we are expected to be in the 70's.
Blessings..
shug

The Furry Gnome said...

That's pretty spectacular. We camped just down the road from there I think last April.

MadSnapper said...

i love photo number 8 and this nativity is the prettiest i have ever seen

David said...

Betsy, My son used to work for Gaylord...the company that owns the Opryland Hotel. We've been there and I even had a conference there back when I was working. What aggravated me the most was that here is this huge hotel with thousands of parking spaces and they charge you through the nose for parking. It is a beautiful and interesting place though...

As for the weather, down here in the valley we just had a trace of snow and 2 degrees above zero was the worst of it. Still, it was the coldest temperature in 18 years!

Take Care, Big Daddy Dave

Connie said...

What a lovely display, and you got some great pictures, Betsy! Hope you have a nice weekend!

Out on the prairie said...

Very nice, a lot od work put in to decorate

Lynda said...

I love going to the Opryland Hotel any time of year but you are right that it is extra super special at Christmas. The best part it is free just to walk through it all. Like you, I hope others who have not seen it will make plans to go sometime. It is as fabulous as your pictures but even more than they can convey! Thanks for sharing your experience so I could relive mine.

Dorothy said...

Wonderful pictures of this gorgeous Nativity scene! I would love to be there at Christmas. I wonder if they take down all those millions of lights that are on the trees!! What a job that would be!

Peaches McGinty said...

Hi Betsy!
It is the grandest Nativity scene I have ever seen, it's breathtaking, it would be wonderful to see it! the weather has been awful for you, it has been on our News a lot, I do hope you are staying warm x x x

Busy Bee Suz said...

The nativity is gorgeous….I love that it is simply done in all white.
We DID survive the arctic blast. Thanks XOXO

Chatty Crone said...

Okay now Betsy - you and George have hit a place I have gone too.

Isn't it beautiful there in Nashville and Opryland? And the hotel is HUGE!!!

I love the beautiful way it is decorated and the nativity scene - so wonderful to see it so big.

Love, sandie

Pat - Arkansas said...

Lovely Nativity scene; thanks for sharing your nice photos of it. Kudos to those folk who strung the lights in the trees.

Terry and Linda said...

I wish I could see this in real life...still your photos are stunning!

Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com

Annie Jeffries said...

The Nashville Nativity is sublime. I'm so glad you are still able to have such a public display. There is a life size nativity and Bethlehem display in Balboa Park in San Diego. It's been under attack by atheists for decades. Lots of Christmas haters in California and they are very bold.

Rose said...

I bet this really was a beautiful nativity set! I really love that first shot.

Anonymous said...

Hi Betsy, I have never seen the Gaylord Hotel in Nashville. I have seen photographs of the holiay displays. It looks wonderful. Minus 10 degrees is way too cold! Glad you did not have any damage. It's up to 78 here today. Have a great weekend!

Ruth Hiebert said...

Beautiful pictures. I believe that the only thong better would be to see it in person. I hope that some day I can get there for a New Years eve celebration. My favourite Gospel group puts on a three day event during those days.

Serenity Cove said...

Beautiful Nativity. The true reason for the season and it seems like more and more people aren't displaying them. Sad!

Janice K said...

That was beautiful....I had no idea they did something like that at Opryland.

eileeninmd said...

Pretty Nativity scene, Betsy! Lovely photos, have a happy weekend!

happyone said...

Wow that is a beautiful Nativity.

Susie Swanson said...

Just beautiful Betsy. I've always wanted to visit there. I hope you have a nice weekend. Hugs, xo

Elizabeth said...

What a gorgeous Nativity, all shining white! The detail in the statues is amazing...I can feel Joseph's worry at finding a place for Mary to spend the night. And then the trumpeting angels, and the shepherd playing the flute! Thanks for taking me along on this walk :-)

Now, as this Arctic Blast was coming down toward you, I was hoping it would drop some snow on you because I know how much you love it...BUT 10 below zero is NOT a fun time to play in the snow!! I spent a lot of time and $$ taking care of my backyard birds and I'll bet you did too! Thank goodness temps are going back to normal, which I once thought of as cold, but now think of as balmy!!!

hugs from Mississippi

White Lace and Promises said...

My children live in Nashville and we visited the Opryland Hotel and saw the lights last year. It was cooooold and our baby boy was freezing, but we had a great time. I love that place any time of the year, but especially at Christmas.

Love your blog. Hope you'll visit me sometime. I am your newest follower.

Bonnie

Linda at To Behold The Beauty said...

It's easy to see why you were so taken with this display. It's really remarkable.

carolina nana said...

Beautiful Nativity, would love to see it one day. We went to Opryland years ago.
We are having a lot of rain tonight but at least the temperatures are in the 40's.
Blessings and have a wonderful weekend.
Marilyn

DeniseinVA said...

You find the neatest things to share with us Betsy. Love it! So many beautiful photos.

Our photos said...

Beautiful photos, Betsy!
That you have a happy weekend.

Kay said...

I love the photos of the magical lighted trees. Wow! I do hate those email virus. I got hit twice and am very wary now.

Betty Manousos said...

hi betsy, what a beautiful nativity scene! i'd love to be there at christmas. i really love your photos. they are all gorgeous.

wish you a great weekend!

big hugs
xoxo

Betty Manousos said...

plus: can't stop looking at your photos! it really looks amazing! the Christmas lights are gorgeous too. glad you enjoyed your Christmas vacation, betsy.
xoxo

Joy said...

Awesome nativity. Hope they will do it here in Norway too, not just showing Santas all the time.
Happy New Year Betsy:)
Hugs from me!

Joy said...

Awesome nativity. Hope they will do it here in Norway too, not just showing Santas all the time.
Happy New Year Betsy:)
Hugs from me!

camp and cottage living said...

Betsy
what a beautiful life-sized Nativity-I can see why you were so impressed with it!
I've had horrible spamming in my comments section of my blog.
They are tricky and comment on old post and then I don't see it...

Back Porch Writer said...

I love driving by the hotel there off of Briley Parkway and seeing the lights. It's an adventure inside for sure. I've not been lately during Christmas time but would like to go sometime again. Hope you have a lovely weekend!

Barbara said...

Very nice Betsy, love Nashville too, have a friend in Shelbyville not far from Nashville, hope you have a very blessed new year. We are..

Cheryl @ TFD said...

Pretty Christmas scenes from Nashville. That's a fabulous Nativity! Hope your weather is better today, too. We finally have sunshine and it's warm! Yay!

Ann said...

oh wow, that is amazing. The way they lit the trees really sets it all off and looks quite stunning

Catherine said...

Such beauty! I love those sparkly lights!
Thanks for the mention my friend - keep healthy!
xo Catherine

Miss Debbie said...

Beautiful pics of the nativity. My boss, the doctor, took all of us to Nashville abt 5 years ago. We stayed T THE Opryland Hotel. It is beautiful anytime, but I can only imagine how elaborate their decor is at Christmas. I saw a clip on TV that said they start putting the lights up in Aug!

Small Kucing said...

Tnanks for sharing the photos. Makes me feel a bit emotional seeing these. ....it's just so serene