A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....12/01/05....Celebrate Living

dutchess

[dutchess]

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, GodBlessUSA ~

Celebrate Living...

This is a repeat....BUT...it's time to " Celebrate Living" again. As we stress with work, home and the holidays just upon us...it's time to sit back, chill and take time to appreciate what we have. For added pleasure click on the mustic link and ENJOY!

Sounds Out Of Africa

Suggestions on how to live a happy & rewarding life:

Take time to smell the roses.

Take a nap on Sunday afternoon.

Drink 8 glasses of water a day.

Never deprive someone of hope….it might be all they have….

Be thankful for every meal

Don't be afraid to say I'm sorry.

Don't take good health for granted.

Don't interrupt……Don't tailgate…

Improve your performance by….Improving your attitude.

Wave at children on the school bus.

Listen to your children.

Leave everything a little better than you found it.

Leave the toilet seat in the down position.

Keep it simple.

Keep good company.

Keep your promise.

Be kinder than necessary.

Take good care of those you love.

Make it a habit to do nice things

Make it a habit to do nice things for people who will never find out.

Wear outrageous underwear under the most formal business attire.

VOTE.

Judge your success by the degree that you're enjoying peace, health and love.

Be a good loser.

Be a good winner.

Be romantic.

Live so that when you your children think of fairness, caring and integrity, they think of you.

Enjoy real maple syrup.

Never refuse homemade brownies.

Never give anyone a fruitcake.

Remember other people's birthdays.

Sing in the shower.

Don't nag.

Don't gossip.

Don't expect money to bring you happiness.

Be forgiving of yourself and others.

Never give up on anyone. Miracles happen every day.

Say thank you a lot.

Say please a lot.

Take your dog to obedience school. You'll both learn a lot.

Slow dance.

Don't rain on other people's parades.

Don't postpone joy.

Stop blaming others. Take responsibility for every area of your life.

Take care of your reputation. It's your most valuable asset.

Count your blessings.

Whistle.

Marry only for love.

Call your mother.

Do more than is expected.

Be there when others need you.

Never sell yourself short.

Never be ashamed of your patriotism.

Never be ashamed of honest tears.

Never forget life before Free Republic.

Thank those who open the Finest door every morning with coffee, goodies and words of wisdom.

Give thanks for our military men and women and their families

Give thanks for all our Finest Friends.

Give thanks for Jim Robinson and FreeRepublic

09-27-05 ~ Hall of Fame #13

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 11-28-05 Military Monday 11-29-05 Let the Holidays Begin! 11-30-05 Let the Holidays Begin! cont'd

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

[Aquamarine]

You forgot talented. :)

[deadhead]

[Pistov Elf]

We must be doing something right or you wouldn't be here spending your precious time with us ... after all it is your busy season. :)

Naaahhh! Just Elf magic.

If we couldn't be in multiple places almost simultaneously, it would be hard maintaining Santa's Naughty and Nice Lists.

Whoops! Tomkow just earned the Naughty List!! and Billie just earned the Nice List!!

Hey, wouldn't you know Aqua gets the Nice List too!!

Pistov

[Pistov Elf]

Why We Put Bows on Presents
by Pistov Elf

Greetings! And Merry Christmas!

The Wrapping Department at the North Pole is working at top speed this very hour even though Christmas is still several weeks away. The entire basement of the workshop is filled with supplies, storage and merry elves that all work to wrap presents for Santa. It operates 24 hours a day, six days a week. (Closed on Sundays).

Now, wrapped presents are hardly the most interesting part of Christmas. But an email sent to Santa this week raised the question of just why bows are important on presents and just what they mean. Santa thought it was a good question that needed to be answered. So here goes:

The wrapping of presents is a tradition in several world cultures that goes back many centuries. In terms of Christmas, wrapping of presents is symbolically linked to the wrapping of the Baby Jesus in swaddling clothes.

As the sacred story is told in the Bible, Mary and Joseph had little to offer the Christ child in regards to worldly comforts. His was a most humble birth. But the gift of love and life as only a mother can give was snuggled by the meager cloths wrapped around the Babe of Bethlehem. The wrapping of presents is symbolic of this event.

The additions of bows to presents are symbolic of the greater gift that was contained within the tiny bundle held by Mary and Joseph that first Christmas day. A bow on a present is bright, maybe shiny, a thing a beauty and a wonder in and of itself, regardless of what may be contained in the package it surrounds. It symbolizes the fact that the true gift is the gift of thought and love and remembrance and selflessness not of toys or things or neat stuff. In reality, it is not the gift itself but the love behind it that is most important.

Santa encourages you to look at the bows on your presents this year and think about that. Be especially mindful of the bows you put on gifts you give. You will find that both the giver and the receiver gain by contemplating the bow. It is what Christ is all about. It is what love is all about. And it is what Santa loves the most about Christmas.

VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!

May God bless you all!!!

[GodBlessUSA]

Wonderful Thread dutchess! :)

[Aquamarine]

This is really nice, did you write this?

BTW...thanks for putting me on the nice list.

[The Mayor]

We are getting Rus' lake effect snow..

We are getting some now, your weather is coming our way..so it's your fault.. : )

[Billie]

I loved that story, Aqua - what a wonderful, wonderful reunion. Am glad you shared it with us. (((((((((Aqua))))))))

[Billie]

Hope you have a great little escape! (((((((Dutchess))))))))

[Temple Owl]

No, PeeWee is not behaving. He is acting like a spoiled puppy. That's because he is being spoiled. He is really adorable.

[Billie]

But then, of course, if yer a certain little hostess-gal 
From down Texas-way, 
Blue is whatcha wanna be, 
Each and every day. 

Oh, oh, oh - I love that! Thank you, Mr. Fox - and hope you had a great Thanksgiving in AZ. Good to hear from you today!

[Billie]

oh, oh.. someone put BILLIE in the corner?

chuckle...

LOL. Who'd of thunk calling Mz Dowdy a witch would put me on the naughty list. (even though Elfie was taking up for witches.) :)

[Billie]

Hi, Colleen. I feel very honored to have a pome written for th' bluebird. :)

[Billie]

Still trying to figure out who you are. Love the backgrounds! LOL

[Mama_Bear]

T.G.I.F.....over HERE!

[Pistov Elf]

Yo! CW.. thanks for the Welcome! And thanks too for being a Warrior! But, don't try to suck up to get on the Nice List!! And, get the Christmas Spirit!

Deeds, Not Words!!

Pistov

[Pistov Elf]

Yeah...they come from another Elf friend of mine...her name is Billie too.

We elves have magic powers, as given to us by the Christmas Spirit. Santa grants us use of them as he assigns our tasks. Sometimes we just sprinkle a little Christmas magic on sleeping humans and they do some much needed Elf-work.

Merry Christmas! and Thank you!!

Pistov