A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....04-08,09,10-05....T.G.I.F. at the Finest

Billie

[Billie]

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, Dutchess, Aquamarine, Dolly Cali ~

Welcome to TGIF at the Finest!   We hope you've been having as much fun as we have with our essays and/or spotlight on various FReepers. From the beginning, we've been kicking back on Saturdays and Sundays and simply reviewing the features of the week; our weekend threads now start on Friday and continue through Sunday. If you missed seeing any of this week's threads and want to say hello there now, just click on the link for that particular day. If you'd like to drop in and out of this thread today through Sunday, please feel free to do that also. One of us will try to be around to see the welcome mat is still out, put the coffee pot on, and maybe even bring fresh flowers for the table. : )

~ Billie, Mama_Bear, Dutchess, Aquamarine, Dolly Cali ~



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


"Getting to Know You"

THIS WEEK'S THREADS


04-04-05 ~ Military Monday
By Billie
Presented by The Mayor

04-05-05 ~ Hello, Dolly!
By Billie

04-06-05 ~ Smiles from our Furry Friends
By Dutchess

04-07-05 ~ Some of the Words of Pope John Paul II
By JohnHuang2
Presented by Dutchess

Have a wonderful weekend!

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

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

03-29-05 ~ Finest Hall of Fame #11

[The Thin Man]

A "braodly" is not a military fighting machine;
just the result of too little/much? coffee..:))

Now Lady, you should never give your critics the satisfaction of admitting a mistake. If you keep insisting that's the correct spelling, no matter the evidence to the contrary, people will eventually agree with you or at least be so worn down they won't feeling like arguing it anymore. :-)

It works for me. :)
 

[LadyX]

Knew I could count on you, TMan, to restore my dignity..:))
Faring well these days, I hope?

[luvie]

Beautiful sunset! We went on a road trip to see the bluebonnets that are in bloom right now here in Texas. Here is one view that I took....
So peaceful.

[LadyX]

Thank you, Luvvy. for the royal feast!!
Indeed - Spring's promise of new life and renewal always strikes deep chords within us.

I love April - it held my mother's birthday - brought the arrival of my firstborn on a day between Good Friday and Easter morning! - a son...

How great are His blessings in all seasons!

[snugs]

April the 17th was my nan's birthday as my parents always worked in the evenings when I was small (they owned a fish and chip shop) she was the one who read to me at night and stayed with me until I went to sleep, so April is a bittersweet month to me now.

[deadhead]

Prayer Thread for Texas Cowboy

[Dubya]

The Legend Of The First Robin

One day, long ago, a little bird in Jerusalem saw
a large crowd gathered around a Man carrying a
heavy wooden cross. On the Man's head was a
crown made from a thorn branch.

The thorns were long and sharp. The little bird
saw that the thorns were hurting the Man.
It wanted to help Him, so it flew down and took the
longest, sharpest thorn in its tiny beak.

The bird tugged and pulled until the thorn
snapped from the branch. Then a strange thing
happened. A drop of blood
fell onto the bird's breast, staining it bright red.

The stain never went away.
And so today the robin proudly wears a
red breast, because it helped a Man named Jesus.




May God bless you today,
And keep you all year through.
May God give you all the faith it takes,
To make your dreams come true.
May His love and wisdom always help,
To guide you on your way.
May His light shine down upon you now,
To bless your every day.

[Dubya]

This one is for our COWBOY.

COWBOY & THE CHURCH

[LadyX]

"April the 17th was my nan's birthday"

My beloved mother's birthday was the 20th of April, snugs.
My first child was due on the 19th - but chose a half hour past Good Friday - on April 17th!! - I was given Easter lilies on the morning of the 18th - Easter.

My bonny lad is a Physician Assistant (currently instructing PA's in a University, and also working on his doctoral project) and volunteered before 9/11 to be on a Federal Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) for South Florida, where he lives. They were slated to go to New York City that November to be first treaters of those digging in the rubble; but enough Northeastern teams were available, and they stood down.

Two years ago, they and their two fully equipped treatment tents (plus their own communications tower and support staff) were deployed to Hurricane Lili in Louisiana to assist for a week.

Last summer when Hurricane Charley struck Punta Gorda on the West Coast of Florida, the Emergency Room at the major hospital there was blown out -- and at 2:30 in the morning, Steve's team arrived to take over the function of ER for 11 days - 12 hours on - 12 off. Each tent had a PA and a physician - so Steve was one of 4 serving the large number of injured and the ill, with support staff of nurses, lab techs, Pharmacist, etc.

His volunetterism doesn't end there, for in early years he had been a police officer in Pinellas Park, Florida. In Ft. Lauderdale, then, he joined the area's Police Drum and Pipe Corps, accepted after only 6 months of study as a permanent playing member! (and had no experience)

He is 6' 5" and looks grand in his curtom made tartans - my grandmother was Mary Matilda Dickson, daughter of James Walter Dickson (another minister) - and sure and there be singin' Scottish blood flowing in our veins!

When I lived in North Carolina in 1974, we went over and up to The Highland Games on Grandfather Mountain.
What a thrill to see the games and then The Grand Parade of The Clans!!

Last fall, he and his wife, Sandy, spent 9 days driving all over Scotland.
Their son, Ryan (21), is 6' 6" and definitely looks Scottish!

[WVNan]

Ai and tis our Scottish blood that bonds the two of us in spirit dear Sistah. How are you? Planting flowers I see. Me too. The earliest spring blooms are just beginning. The white blossoms of cherry & pear,Forcithia, buttercups, violets, and pink magnolias. Three or four warm days so I could take Miss Emma for a walk. She loves that. Now I'm working on taxes and getting ready for my church's revival which starts tomorrow. Going to be a busy week. I'm just about more than ready for some R & R. Give me a report soon. You are in my prayers daily. Love you.

[LadyX]

Just circld back to check the thread, and am thrilled to see you here!

I MISS YOU!!!!

Doing some better, and will try to write soon --

Hugs to you and Jack and precious Miss Emma!

[LadyX]

Just found this on a Prayer Thread for TC, in the hospital for probable surgery next week on a hip injury -- a picture of "our" Miracle Child - Little Logan - "The Texas Termite!"

From barely a blob at his premature birth, 1 lb. - Something - here he is NOW!!

[firewalk]

stopping in to say
thank you for the pings

hoping that your weekend is wonderful

[WVNan]

Aw Sistah......you know that I nearly always have to post and run. That's the biggest reason I just don't post much any more. I feel bad if I can't stay and answer responses. Now it's 11:00 p.m. and tomorrow is Sunday. So.....just know that I'm thinking of you.

[WVNan]

That is one miracle of a kid. Yes, I saw the prayer request thread for TC and offered a prayer.

[The Mayor]

April 10, 2005

Let Your Balloon Go!

Read:
2 Samuel 22:1-8

I will give thanks to You, O Lord, . . . and sing praises to Your name. -2 Samuel 22:50

Bible In One Year: 2 Samuel 22-24

The participants at a conference in a church in Nebraska were given helium-filled balloons and told to release them at a point in the worship service when they felt like expressing their joy. All through the service, balloons ascended one by one. But when the meeting was over, one-third of the people had not released their balloons. I wonder if they couldn't think of any reason to praise God.

King David would have let go of his balloon when singing his song of praise recorded in 2 Samuel 22. God had delivered him from all his enemies (v.1). Earlier, when hiding from King Saul in the rocky desert, he had learned that true security is found only in God (1 Samuel 23:25). David's heart had to "give thanks" and "sing praises," for the Lord had become David's rock, fortress, deliverer, stronghold, refuge, and Savior (2 Samuel 22:2-3,50).

What has the Lord been for you throughout your life? Your peace in a chaotic time? Your comforter amid loss? Your forgiver of a sinful choice? Your strength in a difficult task?

Take out a piece of paper and write down your list of thanks. Then take time to praise God for all He is and all He has done.

Let your balloon go! -Anne Cetas

From your heart give God your praise
For His blessings all your days;
Lift your voice to God above-
God of mercy, God of love. -Hess

Praise is the overflow of a joyful heart.

FOR FURTHER STUDY
What Is Worship?

[Billie]

Good morning, Finest Friends. Hoping the sun is
shining on your house, and your Sunday is blessed.

[Billie]

[Do the legs on that horse seem disproportionately l-o-n-g??!! to you?]]

They do to me. Being a Quarterhorse person, especially so. I can't tell for sure, but that looks more like a painting than an actual horse. (the feet are awfully big, too!) :)

[Billie]

Hi, Pip - Tuesday's a go, so plan to be here as much as you can. :)

[Billie]

What a great picture! Love it when you share your photos with us, snugs!