Family Thanksgiving Dinner

November 24, 2022

Approaching 1pm the beautiful turkey was transported to the dining room table. Marty had procured the turkey and did the roasting of the big bird!

We decided to sit down for the blessing and family photo before carving the turkey. With a few words of family blessing and Thanksgiving remembrance from Granddad Rod, he asked the Lord's blessing on this feast and our family gathering.

On the left side were Grandma Brenda, Jeff, Darla, Elyse, and Marty.

On the right side were Mark, Jordan, Luke, and Ashleigh.

The turkey was moved to the kitchen island and Ashleigh was commissioned to carve it. As a third year medical student, we had great confidence in her dissecting ability.

Marty gets to watch his masterpiece being carved. He had marinated it for a day or two, and covered it with a network of bacon slices to add flavor as he roasted it.

Two hungry guys watch as the stack of turkey slices builds on the big platter.

Jeff helps hold the bird down as Ashleigh makes the last big cuts. Quite a nice platter of turkey!

Our traditional after Thanksgiving dinner family portrait by the fireplace. Darla, Jeff, Rod, Brenda and Mark in front. The younger generation Elyse, Ashleigh, Jordan and Luke in back.

It was a nice day, so we decided to take a picture outside by the Japanese Maple. We always think that after Thanksgiving dinner has everyone in a good mood, so its a good time for pictures. But we were feeling so good that we couldn't get everyone to stop laughing!

OK, let's try it again. Mom and Grandma are still laughing!

Uh, Oh! I think the laughter is catching from Grandma to Jordan!

OK, let's just make it a time of playful celebration. After all, it is Thanksgiving! And we are together as family to consider our blessings and be grateful!

The remainder of Thanksgiving day was spent in relaxed conversation, some game playing, and just enjoying one another's company. This was about 8:30 and we had migrated into the dining room and were just visiting.

Friday, November 25

We got to visit over breakfast and for part of the morning before Jeff and Darla had to leave for Louisiana around 10. Jordan, Luke and Elyse made a trip into Atlanta to explore the Market at the Old Sears location, which Elyse, Jeff and Darla had visited earlier in the week. Then the three of them made their departure for home.

We enjoyed visiting with Ashleigh and watched a movie with her Friday night.

Saturday, November 26

We enjoyed more visitation time with Ashleigh. That gave us some time to talk to her about her Medical School experience and learn more about the nature of the third year of medical school.

Mark came out for lunch with us and Ashleigh.

In the afternoon Mark took Ashleigh back to the Atlanta airport for her flight back to New Orleans. It was a much more peaceful trip to the airport than Jeff and Darla's trip on the super-busy Wednesday night to pick up Ashleigh. Everyone made it home smoothly, so we were grateful for their safe returns. It had been a very blessed week with the family.