[Billie]

I should have posted our Military Prayer much earlier today, but will do it now - it's good to have it fresh on our minds as we wind down the evening. I think I will say goodnight with the prayer, and will be back right here on this same thread tomorrow. Goodnight, All - God Bless, and Thank you for all the sweet words!

Below are names of some of our FReepers' loved ones who are serving our country. If you have someone you would like to add, please address a post to

Billie; Mama_Bear; Dutchess; Aquamarine; The Mayor; DollyCali,
and we will add their name to this list. As we pray for them, we pray also for all our nation’s leaders, and military personnel, and their families and friends. May God hold them close to His heart.

gator girl........................husband severa............husband, brother Maigrey............................cousin mystery-ak.............son, husband Gogrammy...................grandson Inspectorette.......................son Blessed American..........nephew Slip18..........................nephew Diver Dave.......niece, nephew ConspiracyGuy........2 nephews Pippin............niece's husband sneakers..............................son weldgophardline.....brotherinlaw jamaly.................brotherinlaw Future Snake Eater..........cousin WaterDragon.............grandson WaterDragon...........son-in-law BeforeISleep...................son kimmie7......................brother Armymarinemom............3 sons american_ranger.............son LadyX.........................grandson fawn796.......................nephew ValerieUSA....................2 sons Lakeside........................2 sons LakeLady......................nephew Spruce.........................daughter Leofl......................................son chena......................................son Philman_36..............2 nephews bjcintennessee.......son, niece TheMayor...............friends'son homeschoolmama...........nephew mhking.........................cousin visualops..........................cousin auboy.............................cousin Ladysmith..nephew, friend's son tina07......soninlaw & his friend MontanaCowgirlCop.......brother Colorado Slim................nephew Tapatio....................2 nephews Alouette................................son Katydidnt..............................son Q6-God...................twin brother Q6-God.....................active duty Warrior Nurse...........active duty SK1 Thurman...........active duty David Osborne.........active duty fc2tomschermuly......active duty bkwells....................active duty LongCut....................active duty cjk...........................active duty Trish.........................active duty ODC-GIRL.................active duty AF_Blue...................active duty Notwithstanding.......active duty thumperusn..............active duty Veloxherc.................active duty Don Simmons...........active duty wingnutx...................active duty Old Sarge.................active duty CGblue.....................active duty bigghurtt...................active duty frankiep....................active duty veeceeque................active duty JRios1968...............active duty

scubachick.....................husband OhioWfan................................son ladtx..................................2 sons Its_me_K.E.T.........................son Hostel............................cousin MozartLover...........son, nephew Dubya............................nephew LBGA (RIP)..........................son katykelly..............................son cookcounty.............................son SpookBrat........................nephew SpookBrat........................cousin Doug from Upland............soninlaw Himyar....................................son boxerblues........................2 sons the piper....................................son sheeza................................husband kemathen7.........................husband Tiffee4Bob..........................boyfriend deadhead.............................cousin JimRobinson...............2 nephews TexKat.......................son, step-son StarCMC.............................brother Consort........................2 daughters Consort.......................son-in-law Darheel...............................niece Donaeus...........................nephew dixie sass........................nephew BeAllYouCanBe........................son Repubmommy........................brother AgThorn................................2 sons kneezles.................................son RoseinRoseBear.....cousin's hubby Atomic Conspiracy......half-brother Atomic Conspiracy...........nephew Atomic Conspiracy..............niece Sunflowergal....................grandson mrstank..............................husband MrsMike31........................husband spotbust1............................husband campfollower............................fiance LUV W........................................son painter...................................nephew ProudAFDad...................................son Misty4jc................................husband Bykrbayb........................................son Hope and Glory.........................son ak_daddoo..............................nephew SilentServiceCPOWife........husband Walkenfree................2 grandsons Walkenfree.................. 3 nephews Walkenfree..................granddaughter ariamne.........................2 cousins Zechariah_8_13.......brother-in-law Zechariah_8_13.......................cousin DirtyHarryY2K......................daughter DirtyHarryY2K................son-in-law nelibeli...................................nephew Skimask.....................................son El Gato...............................nephew Palladin...............................grandson MississippyMuddy...................sister MississippyMuddy.....2 nephews Kramster...............................stepson gonzo.........................friend's son Socratic.............................nephew jkphoto...............................nephew

[The Mayor]

Hi Billie and all.. Just got done singing birthday wishes to Mrs Mayor..

I will be hitting the sack soon myself, I haven't even been able to look at the thread yet..
Looks like I missed a good one..

[TASMANIANRED]

Amen

[Darksheare]

Thanks!

[GodBlessUSA]

Thanks! God Bless You!

[EsmeraldaA]

Amen and Thank YOU!

[Billie]

Good morning to all, and a Thank You to NicknamedBob. I asked him to write a poem for me to use today to *start* the day (Okay, so it's very late, and some have been here for hours and hours!). I don't think he could have written anything more fitting for the Finest.

It's often a challenge to figure out how to best present his words - there are always many directions we can go - but this is the direction I chose. :) Thank you again, Bob.

We’ve had so many threads by now, it forms its own display,
Just like a giant ball of string, that you can see one day.
But patterns are emerging, as each one gives a spin,
It takes some stepping back sometimes, to see the thing you’re in!

We’re weaving quite a tapestry, each of us in our part,
The warp and weft have crossed enough, by now it is an art.
The picture that we get from it, we few with distant views,
Is of a landscape celebrating life, in all its many hues.

The red of flags a-waving, and bunting on the porch,
And heartfelt tears of sacrifice, well-lit by Freedom’s torch.
With blue of longing, tears of hope, and tears of sad remorse,
As separations come along, and sometimes Life’s divorce,

The gold of patriotic fervor, and yellow ribbons tied,
The bright and shining hopes we had for all the ones who tried.
Whose efforts are a massive force, for Freedom’s wave to crest,
With dampened spirits left behind, by One Who knows things best.

Oh, yes, there is a pattern, it will be seen by all,
When sitting by the side of Someone standing very tall.
So as we go through life we dip and weave among the strands,
And trust the end we shuttle to to Someone Else’s hands.

NicknamedBob© . . . . . . August 2, 2005