A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....11-24-04....Happy Thanksgiving!

Mama_Bear

[Mama_Bear]

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 ~

Giving Thanks

For the hay and the corn and the wheat that is reaped,
For the labor well done, and the barns that are heaped,
For the sun and the dew and the sweet honeycomb,
For the rose and the song and the harvest brought home --
Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving!

For the trade and the skill and the wealth in our land,
For the cunning and strength of the workingman's hand,
For the good that our artists and poets have taught,
For the friendship that hope and affection have brought --
Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving!

For the homes that with purest affection are blest,
For the season of plenty and well-deserved rest,
For our country extending from sea unto sea;
The land that is known as the "Land of the Free" --
Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving!

Author Unknown

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

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.

Click here for Michelle Malkin's website.

Copyright 2002 Creators Syndicate, INC.

This holiday thread will run through Sunday, November 28th.
Please drop by when time permits and share a cup of cheer and
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 ~

May your Thanksgiving be blessed with
The bounty of the Season
Love of Friends and Family
And a Harvest of Smiles...

Billie, Mama_Bear, Dansangel, Dutchess, Aquamarine,
The Mayor, JohnHuang2

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 11-22-04...Military Monday 11-23-04...Let the Holidays Begin!

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 an 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.

CLICK

[Texagirl4W]

Thanks for the great lesson, Mayor. I hope you all have a great, happy, blessed Thanksgiving day. Not just today, but every day.

For those of you who may have missed President Bush's Thanksgiving Day message, I'm taking the liberty of posting it again.

The President's Thanksgiving Proclamation for 2004:

All across America, we gather this week with the people we love to give thanks to God for the blessings in our lives. We are grateful for our freedom, grateful for our families and friends, and grateful for the many gifts of America. On Thanksgiving Day, we acknowledge that all of these things, and life itself, come from the Almighty God.

Almost four centuries ago, the Pilgrims celebrated a harvest feast to thank God after suffering through a brutal winter. President George Washington proclaimed the first National Day of Thanksgiving in 1789, and President Lincoln revived the tradition during the Civil War, asking Americans to give thanks with "one heart and one voice." Since then, in times of war and in times of peace, Americans have gathered with family and friends and given thanks to God for our blessings.

Thanksgiving is also a time to share our blessings with those who are less fortunate. Americans this week will gather food and clothing for neighbors in need. Many young people will give part of their holiday to volunteer at homeless shelters and food pantries. On Thanksgiving, we remember that the true strength of America lies in the hearts and souls of the American people. By seeking out those who are hurting and by lending a hand, Americans touch the lives of their fellow citizens and help make our Nation and the world a better place.

This Thanksgiving, we express our gratitude to our dedicated firefighters and police officers who help keep our homeland safe. We are grateful to the homeland security and intelligence personnel who spend long hours on faithful watch. And we give thanks for the Americans in our Armed Forces who are serving around the world to secure our country and advance the cause of freedom. These brave men and women make our entire Nation proud, and we thank them and their families for their sacrifice.

On this Thanksgiving Day, we thank God for His blessings and ask Him to continue to guide and watch over our Nation.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim Thursday, November 25, 2004, as a National Day of Thanksgiving. I encourage all Americans to gather together in their homes and places of worship to reinforce the ties of family and community and to express gratitude for the many blessings we enjoy.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-third day of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-ninth.

GEORGE W. BUSH

[The Mayor]

Thank you!

You too!

[ST.LOUIE1]

WOW!!!!!! LOL! I love it!!

For *you*. : )

((((((( dansy )))))))

[dansangel]

Thank you Louie. I hope you have a Blessed day!

:-)

[austingirl]

I have so much to be thankful for this year. I offer my prayers to thank God for all my blessings including the wonderful community of people here at FR.

[The Mayor]

I agree with you on that.

Good friends are right here!

[Mama_Bear]

God bless our military for the job they do, for the sacrifices they make, and for the risks they take. And, God bless their families who also serve by keeping the home fires burning.

[Libertina]

What an amazing and beautiful painting!

Happy Thanksgiving dear FReeper Friends!
And thank You Lord for all Your glorious blessings!

[deadhead]

CAMP VICTORY, Baghdad It's a mission that's been weeks in the making, and today, military chefs throughout Iraq are serving traditional Thanksgiving meals to American servicemen and women there.

Sergeant Major Eric Parris, spokesman for Multi-National Corps-Iraq, says turkey and all the trimmings, right down to the pumpkin pie, will be on tables from Baghdad to Mosul and even in Fallujah. Parris says commanders in Fallujah have gone to great lengths to make sure their troops have a little bit of home in their hearts and in their stomachs on the holiday, security conditions permitting.

Some units have planned football games and "fun runs" to mark Thanksgiving. And they'll get a chance to watch the N-F-L and college football games via satellite.

[Mama_Bear]

LOL. You are looking fat and happy this morning!

I am wishing you a very Happy Thanksgiving day. A feast awaits you...pace yourself. ;-)

Sending you a fuzzy hug.....TTYL, I gotta run, I am needed in the kitchen. :-)

[Diver Dave]

Treat your wife.....DO THE DISHES! : )

Hmmmm. Guess that makes this day no different than any other. :)

Happy Thanksgiving Louie!

[luvie]

GOD BLESS ALL WHO ARE ON THIS LIST OF OUR MILITARY, AND ALL THOSE BRAVE SOULS WHO AREN'T ON THE LIST BUT WHO PROTECT THE LIBERTIES WE ARE THANKFUL FOR TODAY AND EVERY DAY!

[The Mayor]

I save that pic for special days..

Happy Thanksgiving Libertina !

[ST.LOUIE1]

Libster! Great to see you!

Have a wonderful day. : )

[ST.LOUIE1]

LOL. You are looking fat and happy this morning!

Yep! Happy - yes.....fat comes after dinner. : )

A feast awaits you...pace yourself. ;-)

AhhhhhRoooooo! Hope you made eough pies. : )

And tell Jeff to keep his mits off of them 'til I get mine. LOL

[ST.LOUIE1]

Hmmmm. Guess that makes this day no different than any other. :)

LOL!

You're a fine man, my friend. : )

[TASMANIANRED]

Thank you for your service. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

[Libertina]

You too, Louie Wolf! It's a good day! :)

[Badray]

Happy Thanksgiving to you, too.

[WVNan]

Thank you for that Cobby. It's a keeper. Happy Thanksgiving.