Beginning of Our Thanksgiving Celebration

November 22, 2024

With the maturing of our granddaughters and their multiple involvements, scheduling family gatherings is more complicated. But we had very much looked forward to family fellowship at Thanksgiving. This year the first to arrive were Jeff and Darla, arriving about 11:15pm on Friday evening, November 22. With the excitement of seeing them, we stood around and talked until about midnight.

November 23, 2024

With the late arrival last night, we were at breakfast about 10am. Jeff and Darla had brought along waffles, and Marty Dye joined us with a box of Krispy Kreme doughnuts.

Jeff and Darla enjoy the fellowship with Marty, and Jeff and Marty typically get into some kind of project when they visit. This time they built a portable greenhouse for Marty. Jeff and Rod got electrical supplies because Jeff wanted to replace some of the old receptacles in two of the bedrooms. He replaced four receptacles, one a sophisticated multi-receptacle with added USB and USB-C charging ports. He has gotten a lot of electrical experience in his work on their Radio Road house.

Darla and Jeff brought along a sophisticated high pressure cooking pot and were prepared to cook some of the meals in it. Jeff also uses it to cook his large batch of eggs for his egg white dietary element.

Darla used the pot to cook for us a delicious Mexican soup meal, so we enjoyed it around 6pm on their first full day of visiting with us.

November 24, 2024

Jeff and Darla take a walk every morning in the neighborhood. They joined us for church. We skipped lunch since the church's Thanksgiving Dinner was scheduled at 5pm. Brenda made brownies, and others made lots of nice desserts to compliment the nice catered turkey dinner.

Mark joined us for the dinner, and Marty joined us later when he could get off work. We had about ninety people in attendance and it was a very happy event. We were given cards to state things we were thankful for and Pastor Doug and Marsha shared those stated blessings with the gathering.

Views to the left and right above show the large group present. It was a wonderful time of fellowship and food.
We had a relaxed time at our table and got to visit with those around us. We knew almost everyone there well from our experience with them in church activities.

It was a good time for us to just relax at the table.

November 25, 2024

Darla made another fine dinner for us with the sophisticated pot. Mark came out and pressure washed the parking pad for us and stayed for dinner to visit.

It was a rare and pleasant occasion to get Darla, Jeff and Mark for just a relaxed conversation. It was a blessing.

November 27, 2024

Tuesday, November 26 was a day of shopping and planning for our Thursday gathering. Jeff got in a couple of swims at a nearby pool on these days, and they had activities with Marty when he was available. Jordan and Luke left Pearl River in the afternoon on Tuesday and reached us shortly after midnight.
Having arrived after midnight, we wanted to let Luke and Jordan sleep late. Around midday we got time for fellowship with Jordan.

Brenda, Darla, Jeff, Marty and Jordan.

Marty provided our supper because he had made up a big pot of his wonderful chicken and dumplings. He had to work at his Hobnob position on this busy week for restaurants so he couldn't join us. We appreciated his generosity.

The final agenda for the day was to pick up Elyse at Atlanta Hartsfield Airport when she came in about 9pm. She had had a class on this day before Thanksgiving at LSU Baton Rouge and a meeting for her Resident Advisor group as well. We appreciated Jordan and Luke for going out to pick her up.