Welcome to JOYFUL REFLECTIONS. Also welcome to DECEMBER . Hope you have an awesome and grateful month!

Wednesday, December 4, 2019

A Sunny Florida Thanksgiving

Robert and Melissa's awesome backyard
Dear Family and Friends,   I hope all of you enjoyed your Thanksgiving Holiday WEEK...  George and I certainly did!!!!!  We enjoyed a few days with George's son,  Robert,  and his wife Melissa (and their family) at their beautiful home near Tampa, Florida.  They 'ordered' some fabulous weather while we were there --and I'll admit that that warm Florida sun felt GOOD!!!!

Both Robert and Melissa are AWESOME cooks ---so you can only imagine what they fixed for our delicious Thanksgiving Dinner...  Here's a list of some of the dinner choices:  Ham,  Turkey,  Dressing,  Gravy,  Green Bean Casserole,  Macaroni and Cheese,  Mashed Potatoes,  Wild Rice Casserole,  Rolls/Butter,  Cranberry Salad,  and for dessert----Robert's homemade  PUMPKIN CHEESE CAKE....  Oh My Heart and Soul!!!!!!  (Glad Calories don't count on Thanksgiving!!!! ha ha ha)

Today I'll share with you a few pictures from our visit with them (Nov. 27-30)!!!! Hope you enjoy seeing more of our wonderful family!!


Their gazebo --up close and personal!!!



More of their backyard --including several water treatments!!!



Along the back fence



All of the beautiful vegetation in their front yard 



George and son Robert at the Thanksgiving Dinner table



George and his grandson,  Sean (Robert's son); We were amazed at how tall Sean is now.. He is a Sophomore in high school.



"The Parents"  enjoying Thanksgiving Dinner;  It was a 'running joke' that we were not only the 'parents' --but we were also the OLD PEOPLE.... ha ha ha



Besides Robert and George,  I introduce you to Melissa with the yellow shirt on and her daughter, Kayla and two of Kayla's 3 children.  The baby and Daddy stayed home because the baby was quite sick... We missed seeing them this trip. 



The other end of the Thanksgiving table;  It was a marvelous day and we were blessed to be able to be there,  although many family members couldn't be there with us.  Melissa has 3 sons: (1 in Basic Training for the Navy; other two are in North Carolina).  Robert's other son lives in Colorado now.  Melissa's mother lives in North Carolina.   George's daughter (Kelly) is visiting with Rob/Melissa this coming week.



What does one do AFTER eating that big Thanksgiving Dinner?????? 



WELL---this shows what I really did!!!!  NAPTIME!!!!   (How many of you take naps after a big meal????? ha)
We left Florida on Saturday,  Nov. 30 and headed north to enjoy more of our special journey.  We had one night in Savannah and one night in Charleston --and now are at our favorite beach (Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina)...   We love the beach at this time of year since there are very few people around and we seem to have the beach all to ourselves!!!!  LOVE it.  I will do some upcoming blog posts on these areas of our trip I'm sure.

Have a great week --and enjoy this wonderful, happy, joyful month of December...  George and I are still so very THANKFUL for our families and for good health... Thanks be to God for all of the blessings we receive each and every day.

Hugs,