A Few Of FR's Finest....Every Day....11-27-03 thru 11-30-03....Happy Thanksgiving To The Finest

Mama_Bear | 11-27-03 | Mama_Bear

[dansangel]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997. Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay, or a profile of another FReeper.

On Mondays please visit us to see photos of A FEW OF FR'S VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

If you have a suggestion, or an idea, or if there's a FReeper you would like to see featured, please drop one of us a note in FR mail.

We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie, Mama_Bear, dansangel, dutchess, Aquamarine ~

Thanksgiving
by Edgar Guest

GETTIN' together to smile an' rejoice,
An' eatin' an' laughin' with folks of your choice;
An' kissin' the girls an' declarin' that they
Are growin more beautiful day after day;
Chattin' an' braggin' a bit with the men,
Buildin' the old family circle again;
Livin' the wholesome an' old-fashioned cheer,
Just for awhile at the end of the year.

Greetings fly fast as we crowd through the door
And under the old roof we gather once more
Just as we did when the youngsters were small;
Mother's a little bit grayer, that's all.
Father's a little bit older, but still
Ready to romp an' to laugh with a will.
Here we are back at the table again
Tellin' our stories as women an men.

Bowed are our heads for a moment in prayer;
Oh, but we're grateful an' glad to be there.
Home from the east land an' home from the west,
Home with the folks that are dearest an' best.
Out of the sham of the cities afar
We've come for a time to be just what we are.
Here we can talk of ourselves an' be frank,
Forgettin' position an' station an' rank.

Give me the end of the year an' its fun
When most of the plannin' an' toilin' is done;
Bring all the wanderers home to the nest,
Let me sit down with the ones I love best,
Hear the old voices still ringin' with song,
See the old faces unblemished by wrong,
See the old table with all of its chairs
An I'll put soul in my Thanksgivin' prayers.

In searching for a Thanksgiving prayer, I came across this from last year. I don't think I could find anything more fitting to include in this years Thanksgiving presentation. Thank you, Michelle Malkin, for this.....

November 27, 2002

By Michelle Malkin

Dear Heavenly Father,

As we gather together to count our blessings, 381 years after the first Thanksgiving Day, we realize how little appreciation we have expressed for this thy bounty:

For sunbeams and sunsets and sun-kissed cheeks, for rainbows and raindrops and rain sticks, for mountain dew and prairie frost, for harvest moons and shooting stars, we give thee praise.

For Blueberry Hill and Blackberry Creek, for Apple Valley and Orange County, for Plum Borough and Peachtree City, for Pineapple Park and Coconut Grove, we give thee praise.

For coal miners and construction workers, for truckers and bakers, for mail sorters and short-order cooks, for ranch hands and stage hands, for accountants who keep honest books, for politicians who keep their promises, for stay-at-home moms and double-shift dads, we give thee praise.

O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come, we thank you this day for "Proud to Be an American" and "These Colors Don't Run," for "Let Freedom Ring" and "Of Thee I Sing," for "Every Heart Beats True" and for "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue."

For Purple Hearts and Bronze Stars, for Green Berets and Gold Stripes, for the 10th Mountain Division and the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, for the KC-130 Crew and the 101st Airborne Division, for the soldiers and SEALS and special forces who made the ultimate sacrifice this year, and for all who continue to protect and to serve, we give thee praise.

For the Border Patrol and citizens on patrol, for the National Guard and Guardian Angels, for the USO and the VFW, we thank you, O God, our creator and redeemer.

For the Pentagon rebuilt and Ground Zero restored and the faith of a nation renewed, for "Semper Paratus" and "Non sibi sed patriae," for "Never forget" and "Never surrender," for freedom from fear and freedom to dream, for free minds and free markets, for freedom with responsibility, we give thee praise.

For the Song of Solomon and the Prayer of St. Francis, for "the Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer," for "without vision we perish," for Proverbs 28, for John 3:16, for "The Old Rugged Cross," for "The Solid Rock," and for "What a Friend We Have in Jesus," we offer eternal thanks.For "All men are created equal," for "Tear down this wall," for "Ask not what your country can do for you," for "Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty," for "I swear to uphold the laws and Constitution of the United States of America, against all enemies foreign and domestic," we give thee praise.

For iron will, for steely resolve, for mettle tested and time-worn, for uncommon valor that never sleeps, for steady hands, sturdy legs, broad shoulders, and level heads, for stiff upper lips, for blood, sweat and tears, for conquering our fears, and for unbending courage in the face of the unknown, we give thee praise.

O Father, we come to thee on this national day to join with heart and voice all the people of our blessed land to honor and thank thee. We ask you, Lord, as our forefathers did in times of strife, "to inspire our commanders both by land and sea, and all under them, with that wisdom and fortitude which may render them fit instruments, under the providence of Almighty God, to secure for these United States the greatest of all blessings: independence and peace."

For precious life itself in this great nation—under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all—we thank thee, O Father. Amen.

Michelle Malkin is author of Invasion: How America Still Welcomes Terrorists, Criminals, and Other Foreign Menaces to Our Shores. Click here for Michelle Malkin's website.

Copyright 2002 Creators Syndicate, INC.

This holiday thread will run through Sunday, November 30th.
Please drop by when time permits and share a cup of fellowship
with us. New FRiends and old FRiends are always welcome at
our cyber table. So, pull up a chair ~ we are glad you are here.

We now return to our regularly scheduled program...

To you and your family,
from the "Finest" hostesses ~
Billie, Mama_Bear, Dansangel, Dutchess, Aquamarine

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 11-24-03...Military Monday 11-25-03...Countdown To The Holidays 11-26-03...Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

Thanks, Mixer!

1) Click on the graphic to open the Calendar.
2) Once there you can click on any month and even click to the right to go into next year. Once you are in the month that you joined FR you will need to click on the number in the calendar and then an add item screen will come up.
3) In the next box enter your name in the "Calendar Text" field and then click on submit.
4) If any of the screens fail to load simply click on refresh in your browser and that will usually fix it.
5) If all else fails or simply if you want me to do this for you send me a FReepmail and I will gladly do it for you. ~Mixer

Click on the photo to view the album. To
submit your photo, please contact danangel or .45man at danbh59@yahoo.com
and include Freeper Photo Album in subject line.

[dixie sass]

"The artist paints his/her emotions - whether they are black or sunshiney yellow - they paint from the heart. A true artist needs no training, because it is already painted on their hearts" Oliver W. Frey - My daddy, the poet, the artist...

Oh FTH, I got up this mornining and had cold Macaroni Cheese Pie and a bite of cold yams for breakfast... Yummmmm. I am still so stuffed, I feel like a duck just waddling around the apartment!

I watched the news and goodness, the difference between the receptions that Clinton and whatchamacallit got and that of our President - GW.

The soldiers that they had pose with Hillary and her compatriot looked stiff and very unhappy, while just the opposite was true for Mr. President.

If anything should tell the Dems that Hillary is not liked are wanted it should be this. But then ...

[dixie sass]

Evening Pippin!!! Happy holiday weekend!

[dixie sass]

Evening Rus, How are things going with you and yours? Hope you had a wonderful day yesterday.

Thank you for your daily message. It means a lot.

[dixie sass]

Evening Calpernia

[dixie sass]

Maybe, just maybe The Thin Man is no longer thin after yesterday?

[dixie sass]

John, welcome to the "Overstuffed Club"! I don't think I will need to eat again for at least a week or two.

Are you going to write on yesterdays events? The comparison between the receptions that Bush and Clinton received? What a difference!

[The Mayor]

Things are going as well as one can expect.

Had a good relaxing day yesterday, then went to inlaws for dinner.
Got home way to late, 1am..

Hope you had a Great day .

[CamelRiding4U]

Just wanted to say thanks to you folks for supporting the troops! Happy Thanksgiving!

[deadhead]

I saw this photo posted on another thread. I just love the reaction of this soldier when he sees President Bush in Iraq. I am so proud of President Bush, he is the man! Hoping everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

[The Mayor]

Wow ! what great expressions.

Bush did a great service to the troops and the Country yesterday. God Bless him..

[dixie sass]

So precious Dan. We lost all of the things that Matthew made as a child in an electrical fire, including his pictures when he played the part of Jesus in the Easter play when he was five.

Oh well, the physical things only help to reinforce the golden memories that we all carry in our hearts and minds. They are important but not as important as that sunshine smile our children give us that we carry with us in our hearts.

[dixie sass]

giggle.

[dansangel]

The thanks go to *you*!

Thank you for stopping by the Finest, (((((((CamelRiding4U))))))

[dansangel]

***Love*** that straight-from-the-heart reaction (((((Colleen)))))

Thanks so much for posting it!

[dixie sass]

Oh Yer Honor, it was wonderful. The kids (the ones weren't sick) were delightful, the day was a day of fellowship and love within the family and with certain friends of the the cousins.

My fondest wish is that I could get all of the Finest together at my apartment for a day or two - what fun we would have.

[dixie sass]

Besides the looks on their faces, look at the eyes and see the respect.

The Marines would turn their backs on Clinton and still do to Hillary. But the Marines and other military personnel have a great deal of respect for President Bush.

[The Mayor]

My fondest wish is that I could get all of the Finest together at my apartment for a day or two - what fun we would have.

That would be a dream come true.

[dixie sass]

Yes it would be. I can hear the laughter now...

[MEG33]

Great pic!

[dixie sass]

Kevin was telling us about a delicacy from Georgia - fried ribs.

I've never heard of frying ribs before. Got a receipt for them?