A Quiet Wood

A Quiet Wood

Thursday, November 29, 2007

After the Feasting.

Well, the eating and the talking and the eating and the laughing and the eating and the game playing and the eating and the dish washing and the eating...are finally completed. I bask in the warm glow of the memories and the few extra pounds tenaciously clinging to my thighs. I was so blessed to be able to spend Thanksgiving with my dad's family in Alabama. We had close to 40 people there on the main feast day, but of course the celebration spread over 3 days. You can't get everything said in just one day. :) I was reminded of the blessing of a family steeped in love and dedication to our Heavenly Father. Sure we have our faults. Who doesn't?! But knowing each other as well as we do, we choose to drive or fly hundreds of miles to celebrate connections and laugh at each other's idiosyncrasies. So, before I get more sentimental, I'll give you a pictorial journey through my Thanksgiving.

The table was laid.



The stockings hung on the ladder with care.


And the fun began. It seems like at least a few guys are looking at a map at one point or another. I'm sure Phil is giving Brent good advice. :)


A classic pose of some uncles (James & Philip).


My sweet mother and dear Aunt Carole.


The newly married among us (Phil & Dana).


The soon to be married (Josh & Faith).


A classic shot where the background shots are even better than the foreground.


And a few other random shots of the hilarity on the night we opened presents.















And then, finally, we got a few cousins and spouses together for a group picture. Due to poor planning, not everyone was still there. Oh, well. We do the best we can. Oddly enough, we seem to be standing on an incline. In actuality, the house was on a level surface.


Central to our celebration is my precious grandmother. I want to be like her when I grow up!!


Saturday was the big ol' catfish fry. In case you don't know... Greensboro, AL is the catfish capitol of...hmmm...something. Anyway, they raise catfish there, and it is amazing. Some friends with big fryers came to do the honors.


Like manna from heaven.


Well, there are many more pictures I could inflict upon you. Like the guys watching the sky for the return of our Lord. (Actually, David was flying his remote control helicopter. Really cool!)


Or my dear brother wowing the young ones.


Or pics of my wonderful parents.




I could do that. But I think I'll stop now.

Let the basking continue!

19 comments:

Tara said...

I'm so happy you're back! I missed ya! I must say, right back at ya with the "pretty"; you look so good in those pics. (extra thigh lbs. or not).
And how weird am I for THOROUGHLY enjoying someone else's family Thanksgiving so much just from pics?? Well, for one thing, I had already watched BV's video blog of your get-together and done much laughing aloud!! You're a crazy bunch...and a very blessed bunch.

Hope to see or talk to you soon.

Kimberly said...

I think it's funny that we both indepentently used the word "steep" in our blogs on the same day...weird!!
Fun pics...esp. like the one of you and your Granny! You both look beautiful! Love Ya!

Cindy said...

Looks like you had a great time! I'm really glad. And I agree...you DO look very pretty in your pictures. Glad you were able to get away for a few days.

Perhaps when the crunch of Christmas programs is past, I will wander back over your way. I know in reality it's only been 2 months since I've seen ya, but it feels like forever! Love ya friend!

Dixie said...

Love the pictures. I really glad you all had a good time.
Oh if you keep doing the "jam" with Shaleen and Mindy they will help you with those extra thigh lbs.

Making Memories 1999 said...

Enjoy every moment of your basking!! :-) You have great reasons to do so! What a neat family and heritage you have, friend! I enjoyed "basking" with you via your pictures. Thank you for that privilege! Trust you have a blessed Christmas season! (I'm off to see BV's version of the weekend!) :-)

jenny said...

Sonja, you can't hear it too many times...so I'll say it again...you look SO pretty in these pictures! I was very moved by how close your family is and how they all still congregate...inspiring.

Anonymous said...

Wow! What kind friends I have! Besides the basking, I will now enjoy warm fuzzies for a while. :) Thanks guys!

And to anyone who would like to see more, BV's video blog can be found on You Tube by searching under his name. I believe it's his video blog #9. I will say, it's pretty funny stuff, especially if you know my family well at all.

coffeechica said...

hey i love all the pix! glad you had a nice break! your comment on my blog made me smile, if only we could burn calories and tone muscles by sitting at the computer!! oh well, guess we'll hit the basement with more sweat on monday :)love ya!

kayla said...

I had a wonderful time viewing your pics and watching Brent's video. Got to see some of your cousins that I haven't seen for a long time.
Looking forward to your visit at Christmas. I can't say much more than that lest I be accused of being bratty.

Liz said...

Such great pics of a dear and funny family. I am glad you were all together!!! I also enjoyed Brent's video. Very funny indeed!!!

Anonymous said...

Loved seeing pics of the family we share:-D Plus ya'lls family always seem to have a crazy time:-D lol! I saw Brents Video blog...and it was VERY funny;-D Lol!!!

Anonymous said...

Oops..btw, this is Christa...I didn't realize I was still under mom's name:-D Lol!!

Marty said...

Might I say how STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL your mother looks!! And you as well...wow maybe that is not the right way to start on someones blog...ummm. Oh, well! Great to see all the family that we share! Cheryl told me a few funny stories one having to do with Isaac's "dirty diaper"!! I had to laugh long and HARD!!

lauralavon said...

I enjoyed that so much! Thanks for sharing the pics and all.

Julia said...

LOVED THE PICTS. Haven't seen lots of these folks for a long time. Your Momma is looking great too. (much like her daughter)

Glad you had a good time friend.

sarahmfry said...

I've been sitting here with tears running down my face after seeing you with your amazing grandma. (Bubby's like..."Why you sad?")

I want to be like her when I grow up, too. I used to love visiting her. She encouraged me on the tough days without saying a word. I'm not too crazy about the word "sweet", but her sweetness was the sure, pure, kind and holy sort of sweetness. I could go on and on. I usually do, don't I?

Enjoyed being a fly on the wall for another year of the classic Vernon nuttiness.

sarahmfry said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Sarah Cook said...

Looks like so much fun! So enjoyed the pictures! Enjoyed talking with you the other night! You're a true friend! I am up in the middle of the night because I cannot BREATHE again... this too shall pass, and hopefully very soon! You cheered up my breathlessness! Now, for that headache... hmmm, maybe I do some more bloghopping! Love ya!

Anita Marie said...

Just stopped by to say how blessed I was during your song of Jesus at HS.
Just finished watching it. Look forward to seeing pics of a V Christmas.