I hope everybody had a wonderful time celebrating Christmas. We really have no family here so we decided to drive to Pensacola to visit John's dad. My mom is doing fine and she is back with my sister in Waukegan, IL. It is so quiet here without her and I miss her.
I am linking with the Tablescaper for Seasonal Sunday at http://thetablescaper.blogspot.com/
and Susan for Outdoor Wednesday at http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com/
We left on the 24th at 4:30 in the morning. We picked up a friend and then started our road trip. My friend and I fell asleep right away while John was driving and then John woke me up to see this amazing sunrise.
The post taken from a moving car resembles a crucifix, doesn't it?
I just kept shooting because the sky was just beautiful.
We made it to Spanish Fort in Alabama by 9:30 AM and came across this pretty shopping center. The tree is so beautiful.
I invited my friend, Debjani to come with us, cause her hubby is taking a surgical fellowship in Michigan and could not make it home for Christmas.
We shopped at Williams Sonoma, Pottery Barn and Michael's for a while.
And then we had lunch at Wintzell's Oyster House. The food was excellent!
Please excuse my outfit, lol. I dressed to be comfortable for the 6 hour drive so I wore my Florida sweats.
The shopping Center was all decked out for Christmas, complete with a horse carriage that was giving free rides.
We had this oyster sampler for an appetizer and it was soooo good!
Off we drove to Pensacola right after eatingWe went straight to the nursing home to visit my father in law.
This is John with his dad, a picture taken a few years ago. Dad is in a wheelchair now and I thought I would post this picture instead. He will be 89 next month.
Later on, we checked into the hotel, had dinner at a Vietnamese Restaurant, then went back to the hotel to nap for a few hours and woke up in time to go to midnight mass at St. Michael Church in downtown Pensacola.
The service and the church were beautiful!
On Christmas morning, we went back to see dad and then left for the drive home around noon. These trees were outside the hotel.
We are home now but we are too tired to open presents so we will probably do that tomorrow.
Thank you so much for stopping by. I hope you all have recovered from all the Christmas activities and partying. Save up some energy for the coming New Year. Thanks to our hosts, The Tablescaper and Susan for these blogging events!
Christine I love this post!
ReplyDeleteSt Michael's is beautiful!
Christine, I always am touched with the love and honor that you both give your parents. I thought of your sweet mama today, and I know that each holiday with her becomes more and more special. I pray that she will have a safe, smooth year to come. Thank you for stopping by my post. Our guests ate and visited at our table tonight for 2 1/2 hours. I think that they all had a marvelous time. Enjoy opening your gifts tomorrow. Merry Christmas! Cherry Kay
ReplyDeleteThanks for including me in your Christmas blog and more importantly for including me during Christmas Eve and day. I had a great time and the pictures are fabulous, especially the ones of the sunrise and the fall trees.
ReplyDeleteAttending Midnight Mass was a wonderful experience as well. Looking forward to New Year's and completing our many many projects!!
Looks like you had a nice trip Christine! The sunrise and church are just beautiful!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post Christine! The sunrise pics are truly fabulous and what a charming shopping center! My fave is the church! So pretty and serene.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Cindy
Glad you are home safe. The sunrise is beautiful. Doesn't the light pole look like a cross in one of the pictures? Beautiful church,too.
ReplyDeleteHi Christine -- this looks like a wonderful mixture of Church services, family visits, time with friends, shopping and a beautiful sunrise. Wishing you and new year filled with wonderful joys and blessings!
ReplyDeleteHappy day after Christmas Christine. What a great looking trip you and your hubs took. I never had oysters but they sure looked good.
ReplyDeleteHappy Boxing Day, Christine! Enjoy your time and travel home safely.
ReplyDeleteFantastic photos, Christine, and how nice of you to take Christmas to visit your father-in-law! Plus, so nice of you to take your friend along, when she would have been alone on the holiday. You and John are really good people. Have a great rest of the weekend!
ReplyDeleteBest,
Gloria
P.S. I like the pic of John with his sweatshirt hood on! He looks cute! :)
Oh Christine, how wonderful to be able to take the long drive to see your FIL. I know that was so special to him. Your pictures are just wonderful. Love the sky. I hope you have a super day. Hugs, Marty
ReplyDeleteBeautiful sunrise! Sounds and looks like you had a very nice Christmas!
ReplyDeleteI have tried to eat oysters, but just don't care for them. :)
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I love your blog!
ReplyDeleteChristine, it sounds like a wonderful way to spend Christmas. How sweet to take you friend with. The sky photos are beautiful and it does look like the crucifix. What a beautiful church you went to. I bet John's father was happy to see all of you. I am sure you miss your mom and I bet she misses your weather! Waukegan is cold.
ReplyDeleteChristine what an honor you gave your father in law. How wonderful that you could spend Christmas with him. I loved the photos of the sunrise and the crucifix. Many blessings for the New Year, it's been a real treasure meeting you here in blogland!
ReplyDeleteSo wonderful of you to go visit your father-in-law for Christmas. I'm sure he appreciated it. It sounds like you had a grand adventure.
ReplyDeleteIt's always great to have you being a part of Seasonal Sundays. As these days turn from the Christmas Season to the Season of Winter, I hope you'll continue to share with us.
- The Tablescaper
Family is important everyday, but especially during the holidays. It touches me how close you all are to family.
ReplyDeleteYour pictures are beautiful!
Hi Christine! What beautiful photos! That sunrise is gorgeous and what a magnificent church! I konw John's dad must have enjoyed his visit with you all. You are always so sweet to include your families in everything you do. I hope your Christmas was wonderful! It was small and filled with my two grandchildren here plus, as you saw, our first white Christmas! Have a wonderful week!...hugs...Debbie
ReplyDeleteLovely! The church is just beautiful, the altar reminds me of the one at our church. Like it so much better than the modern ones!
ReplyDeleteSo what did you buy at WS? I was there the 23rd and the sales weren't good at all. Last year the week before all the Cmas was 70 off. NOT this year! I left with nothing!
I am sure it meant the world to John's dad to see his son!
Such a sweet post. I know John was glad to visit his father. I am glad that you were able to make the trip. The pictures are great, thanks for sharing. Sounds like you got lots of goodies, you must have been good. Ginger
ReplyDeleteThe pictures are gorgeous!!! Those oysters look great too. It looks like y'all had a Merry Christmas. I'm so behind on blogs but I'm trying to catch up!
ReplyDeleteOh Christine, those photos of the sunrise took my breath! Looks like a long but great Christmas day. I know John's Dad was so glad to have y'all come visit for Christmas. And how nice of you to take your friend along, so she wouldn't be alone on Christmas. The church is also gorgeous. laurie
ReplyDeleteSweet Christine..you live such a charmed life! That sea food looked fantastic..as did everything else...wonderful OUTDOOR post. I loved it!
ReplyDelete