A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....11-24 to-27-05...Thanksgiving is GIVING Thanks!

DollyCali | November 24, 2005 | DollyCali

[DollyCali]

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, Dutchess, DollyCali, Mama_Bear, GodBlessUSA ~

THE FIRST THANKSGIVING DAY PROCLAMATION
President Abraham Lincoln, 1863

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies.

To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God.

In the midst of a civil war of unequalled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.

Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defense have not arrested the plough, the shuttle, or the ship; the axe had enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore.

Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.

No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American People.

I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.

And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and Union.

Give Thanks
Music Here

Give thanks with a grateful heart
Give thanks to the Holy One
Give thanks because He's given
Jesus Christ, His Son

(Repeat twice)

And now, Let the weak say "I am strong"
Let the poor say "I am rich"
Because of what the Lord has done for us

(Repeat twice)

Give thanks !







Count Your Blessings
Words by Johnson Oatman, 1897
Music Here

Chorus:

Count your blessings
Name them one by one
Count your blessings
See what God has done
Count your blessings
Name them one by one
Count your many blessings
See what God has done

When upon life's billows
You are tempest tossed
When you are discouraged
Thinking all is lost
Count your many blessings
Name them one by one
And it will surprise you
What the Lord has done

Chorus

Are you ever burdened
With a load of care
Does the cross seem heavy
You are called to bear
Count your many blessings
Every doubt will fly
And you will be singing
As the days go by

Chorus

When you look at others
With their lands and gold
Think that Christ has promised
You His wealth untold
Count your many blessings
Money cannot buy
Your reward in heaven
Nor your home on high

chorus

So, amid the conflict
Whether great or small
Do not be discouraged
God is over all
Count your many blessings
Angels will attend
Help and comfort give you
To your journey's end

chorus

"Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise.
Give thanks to Him and praise His name.
For the LORD is good and His love endures forever;
His faithfulness continues through all generations."
(Psalm 100:4-5)

"I do not think of all the misery,
but of the glory that remains.
Go outside into the fields, nature and the sun,
go out and seek happiness in yourself and in God.
Think of the beauty that again and again discharges itself
within and without you and be happy. Anne Frank

"Let us remember that, as much has been given us, much will be expected from us, and that true homage comes from the heart as well as from the lips, and shows itself in deeds."—1901 Theodore Roosevelt

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them."
John Fitzgerald Kennedy

"It is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor." George Washington October 3, 1789 in his first Presidential Proclamation.

Thanksgiving Links

Thanksgiving Timeline

Jackie Lawsons 2005 offering

Turkey Singin the blues

Pumpkin Pie (Jackie Lawson)

11 Commandments of a THANKSGIVING DINNER

Thanksgiving Dinner Family Debate: Liberals vs. Conservatives

09-27-05 ~ Hall of Fame #13

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 11-21-05 Military Monday 11-21-05 Giving Thanks 11-23-05 “Animals are People Too”

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' Every Thursday at the Finest The guy's good, folks!

[Army Air Corps]

Happy Thanksgiving to you as well! I am stuffed. Gah!

[Billie]

Thank you, Dolly, you did an amazing job with this beautiful Thanksgiving Post. I love your Fall Leaves background - the colors are outstanding!

We will be leaving for dinner in a couple of hours and I have a few minutes (while company is 'napping') to drop in and wish ALL a blessed Thanksgiving.

[JustAmy]

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone.
Thank you, Lord, for these wonderful friends. Thank you for our military and the sacrifices they make. Thank you for the love of family. Thank you, Lord, for giving us so very much to be thankful for.

I hope to get back later and chat a bit.

[The Mayor]

Happy Thanksgiving Billie.
We are leaving right now too..

[The Mayor]

http://www.rusthompson.com/Thanksgiving.html

[Diver Dave]

A terrific presentation, Dolly.

Extending warm Thanksgiving Greetings and Blessings to one and all.

[MEG33]

Wonderful! and informative ,too..Thank you,Rus.

Thanksgiving to God for our many blessings.

[R. Scott]

Thanks. I still need those sometimes.

[Texas Termite]

Amen and Blessings to you.......

"TT", Beth & Nana

[Mrs.Nooseman]

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

[Colonial Warrior]

Here is wishin' you and yours a Happy Turkey Day!

The work you have done on this thread is outstanding!! Thank you so much!!

Hooah!!

[Texas Termite]

Thank you :) It was a nice day shared by family and friends. Prayers were said for those present and those gone but not forgotten.

Logan had a ball! He's big enough to enjoy his cousins and all of the attention he gets from the 3 girls :)

We hope yours was nice as well......

Nana

[LadyX]

Sending much love to you and your family, Nana, today and every day.
While there is a new empty chair at our tables, we rejoice that our lives are infinitely better for having had our friend in our lives..:)

God's Plans for each of us will be lived to the utmost,
assured of His Promises - -

In His Love,

~ LadyX

[Mrs.Nooseman]

I am glad to hear that you had a nice Thanksgiving and that Logan had a ball.

Thank you Nana.

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving.You were all included in our prayers.

{{{HUGS}}}

[DollyCali]

Hi Luv, I played with your table (Nice to come home & not have pressure of company, clean up etc) & put on my leaf/grass border for one of yours...

A Thanksgiving Prayer
Thank you Father for the blessings given this day.
Help us to remember, Thou has shown us the way.
And give us strength to help those in need.
Never letting us forget, Thy merciful deeds.
Keep us in Thy tender loving care.
Save us, O Lord, when we are in despair!
Give us grace as we walk through life.
Inspire us to seek our brothers amid the strife.
Victory in Thee will be our guiding star.
In courage we march not caring how far.
Now we ask for the most important thing.
Grant us salvation to escape death's sting.

Copyright by Jim Smith


GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS
~~~~~~~~
GOD BLESS AMERICA

[DollyCali]

Thank you for your kind words daisy.. I have enjoyed going through past Finest threads & seeing your beautful work. You had a nice style (prolly still do!!!). Before I started this, I always enjoyed looking at th e threads here but NEVER realized "what was involved".

Hope your day was special!

[DollyCali]

Those first years of an empty chair are always difficult aren't they? Hope your day has gone well. It sounded like you had a gentle one, I did too.. appreciated your earlier recouting of the Lady X family background

[DollyCali]

Well, sistahs.. got thru another day here of holidays that are a far cry from the "former life". Much quieter & more reflection time. Thank you all for your sweet comments, appreciate your input as ...."you know"...I enjoyed my years living in new england (Newport, RI & Boston area) & the rich history that was there for the taking. I recall being quite disappointed when I saw "plymouth rock"..not sure what I expected but what I saw was pretty small & unremarkable.

In a bit I am going to check on Mom & then do some more checking around FR.. Gucho on the war progress thread always has some good articles on what the troops are doing on any given day.

[DollyCali]

Thank you Colonial for stopping by & your kind commnets.

! Hope you & mrs. Hushpuppie had a good day. Were you with kids? family?

[DollyCali]

Victoria, this is a lovely picture, poem & song. Always enjoy your contributions. You take the time to brighten up the thread with your clever graphics & the music. Now with my new computer, I can finally hear the music! And now thanks to Aqua's help, I know how to research/find it.