MAY 2026

Welcome to JOYFUL REFLECTIONS. Also welcome to JUNE. My header picture this month is this Mama and her babies.. The picture was taken on Mother's Day, 2026. God's Blessings to YOU for an awesome JUNE.

Monday, September 3, 2018

This, That, and the Other

Dear Friends,    August just seemed to fly by this year.   Usually it is our hottest month --but this Summer hasn't been bad --compared to most!!!!! So what has Betsy been up to this past month?

You know that the first week is my Birthday Week ---and you also know, by reading my blog posts this month,   that we took a wonderful trip to Mt. Pisgah that week.   Then ---the past two weeks,  I have been showing off some of our pretty Day Lilies and Roses.  Since we've had a milder month with more rain than usual,   our flowers have really put on a show.

SO---what else?   I decided to show you some of the things which you may not have seen.  It's a 'hodgepodge' post ---but I hope you enjoy it....


Every year, for my birthday,  George makes a new CD for my collection.   This is the CD Cover for this year's collection.   He fills the CD's with all kinds of LOVE songs...   So special!!!



Son Mark gave me this wonderful prayer for my birthday;   Made this happy Mama Cry!!!! I'll share the words with you.
A PRAYER for My MOM
"Dear God,  I gratefully thank you for giving me my Mom.  You must really love me 'cause you gave the best you had.  Watch over her and bless her, Lord,  and keep her in your care.   And may she feel my love for her, is my humble, heartfelt prayer."

Is that just the most special gift I could have ever gotten from one of my sons?  Wow!



Some of the gorgeous sights we enjoyed photographing while on the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina



A trip to Mt. Pisgah always includes a visit to the BILTMORE  House and Gardens in Asheville,  NC.   This time we enjoyed a fantastic presentation  by CHIHULY...   Believe it or not--  this is all made out of GLASS!!!!   Amazing!!



Another birthday gift---this one from my wonderful hubby.  He took this picture with his iPhone in May when I first met my Great Granddaughter....   I LOVE LOVE LOVE this picture....



Speaking of my Great Granddaughter,  Little Vivi was SEVEN months old  when this picture was taken in August.  Isn't she just precious?  



Another beautiful picture taken in the Smokies---from Newfound Gap in Tennessee;   I love the wildflowers.



We have a new 'baby'  in our family.... Meet  Mrs. P,  our new 2018 Prius.... This is our 3rd Mrs. P --but the first time we bought a NEW one.  The Metallic Gray color is so pretty also. Oh how we LOVE it.  



Grandson, Landon,  turned 23 on August 25;    We all met in Knoxville to have lunch and celebrate his birthday.   We also met  Rebecca,  Landon's girlfriend....  Great gal --and so pretty!



I love this picture of son Jeff,  daughter-in-law Dawn, their two children-- Landon and Avery,  and special friend,  Rebecca.



Son Mark  (and other son Bert) both had to work,  so they missed our 'party'....  BUT--we all visited Mark at his new place of business.  He loves loves loves his new job as a Bartender.  My "people-loving" son is in his element now.



Here's a picture of all of us after our delicious lunch.    It was a great 'family day'.




Finally,  here is a picture of George and me along the Blue Ridge Parkway  on 8/9/18...

Hope you enjoyed my August Happenings!!!!!!

Have an awesome week.

Hugs,

Monday, August 27, 2018

ROSES and COOLER WEATHER Go Together

A Very Happy Lady enjoying our COOL Weather early one morning 
Hi There from WONDERFUL Tennessee.   We have had some cooler, less humid and AWESOME weather the past few days...  The picture above was taken one early morning when George and I were enjoying some special time on our deck...  The temperature that morning was about 57 degrees. That is why I was dressed in my sweats and even had a blanket, some hot tea,  and my Sweetheart to keep me warm!!!!!    Gotta Love It!!!!!!

I had been contemplating as to what to write for this week's blog post...  There were lots of possibilities  (Mammoth Cave Trip,  Pisgah Inn Trip,  and more Day Lilies)...  I just couldn't come up with one that I wanted to do...  SO---what did I do instead????????   I went outside  and 'walked-the-yard'.... WOW---we have had a burst of color and our Roses are showing off all of their beauty.   (I am sure that the Roses enjoyed the cooler weather also!!!!)

SO-------my blog post this week is all about our ROSES....   I took ALL of these pictures on 8/25/18...  Hope you enjoy the burst of colors today!!!!  Some are still in bud form;  some are partially open;  some are almost finished blooming.  But---I hope you enjoy each and every one of them.



BRIGADOON Rose 8/25/18



LOVE AND PEACE  Rose 8/25/18



SEDONA Rose 8/25/18



PERFECT MOMENT  Rose 8/25/18



SOFT WHISPER Rose  8/25/18



ROYAL WELCOME Rose 8/25/18



SOMETHING SPECIAL  Rose 8/25/18



TIFFANY Rose 8/25/18



ALEC'S RED Rose 8/25/18



ST. PATRICK'S  Rose 8/25/18  (This yellow rose does have a GREEN tint--so the name is appropriate!)



TROPICANA Rose  8/25/18



BEWITCHED  Rose 8/25/18



DOUBLE DELIGHT  Rose 8/25/18  (always a favorite of ours)
The Day Lilies are all gone  (until they bloom again in the Fall) ---so now the ROSES are showing off,  don't you think?    Do you have a favorite from this group????

Have an awesome week, my Friends.  And remember to take time to "smell the roses"....

Hugs,