A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....12-9,10,11-05...From East to West Freepers Decorate Best

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.

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We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie, Dutchess, DollyCali, Mama_Bear, GodBlessUSA ~

Good morning, FReeper FRiends! We're Christmas'ing all this month at the Finest, and this weekend you are invited to join us on a tour of the Finest Homes, where many of our regulars are going to share their decorations with you in their posts throughout the weekend. In addition, we would love to see your Christmas trees, your outdoor lights, favorite decorations, recipes, Christmas traditions in your home.

Because the thread may get really *graphics-heavy*, I ask that you keep your photos a reasonable size (both physical and in bytes), but do hope you will feel free to post as many as you like, and drop in often to see the offerings of others. I will start with a little bit of Christmas in my kitchen, which helps get me in the mood to bake cookies and other goodies we don't need but think we can't do without. :)

As we share our photos and traditions with others, I'd like to share a link to a wonderful Christmas album: "Merry Christmas With love" by Clay Aiken, who has one of the most beautiful voices I've ever heard. My favorite song is #6: "Mary Did You Know". I've been listening to it over and over and over, but you should be able to listen to all of the songs on that CD.

Clay Aiken ~ "Merry Christmas With Love"

Mary Did You Know

Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy would one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy would save our sons and daughters?
Did you know
that your Baby Boy has come to make you new?
This Child that you delivered will soon deliver you.

Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy will calm the storm with His hand?
Did you know
that your Baby Boy has walked where angels trod?
When you kiss your little Baby you kissed the face of God?

Mary did you know.. Ooo Ooo Ooo

The blind will see.
The deaf will hear.
The dead will live again.
The lame will leap.
The dumb will speak
The praises of The Lamb.

Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy will one day rule the nations?
Did you know
that your Baby Boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?
The sleeping Child you're holding is the Great, I Am.

From My House to Yours.....

Merry Christmas, Ya'll!

09-27-05 ~ Hall of Fame #13

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 12-05-05 Military Monday 12-06-05 Finest Christmas Tables, Part I 12-07-05 Christmas in New York 12-08-05 Bush Booming, Democrats Still Depressed

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

[tuliptree76]

LOL! That's true. Last year I hung strings of lights around my ceiling. It was nice to have the lights up, but it was a pain taking them down. ;-)

[snugs]

I have also decorated mum's room at the home, I will get some more chocolate ones tomorrow when I am out to put on it, here it is at present.

Tomorrow I hope that I will see some carol singers in the town and probably the Salvation Army Band here is a photo of them at the end of November in the town centre

[WVNan]

I'm here now Billie. I just took a few pics and e-mailed them to you. As I said, post when and what you want. I'll try to take outside tomorrow. I wish it would snow. We haven't gotten a flake.

[WVNan]

snugs, I do so enjoy your reports from England. Isn't Free Republic the greatest thing? We can share traditions, and for the most part realize that most of our traditions have the same origin. I loved seeing your tree and your Mum's. I never heard about the chocolate ornaments. I wish I knew where to find some. I have a very good friend who is a chocolate freak. She would love those.

[Mama_Bear]

Oh, Santa! What cute wolfie whiskahs you have!! And that scowl doesn't fool me one bit. You be an ol' softy under that gruff exterior. ;-)

I'll be sending you my Christmas wish list momentarily. :-)

[Billie]

Nity-Nite, ALL. Will continue tomorrow - hope to see many more Christmas pics, and Nan, I got yours, thank you - will post tomorrow!

[WVNan]

MAMA BEAR!!!! I'm so glad you're here!

[WVNan]

That pic is adorable. Nite nite Billie. Thanks for the Christmas sharing thread. Sleep well.

[tuliptree76]

Good night, Billie.

[Mama_Bear]

Hi NAN!!! I'm so glad you're here too!!!! Big bear hugs to you!

I am about to post a couple photos of our Christmas trees and dining room centerpiece. I am FINALLY finished decorating. YIPPEE!!! Now I can sit back and enjoy it.

[WVNan]

I'm almost finished. Have to tweak some of the outside lights yet, and do a bit more in the dining room. Knee-deep in Christmas program at church. I'll e-mail you a couple of pics of Emma. She's a real sweetheart. Starting to show some independence (temper). I've had to walk away from her a couple of times lately. She can't understand why I won't be an audience for her fits. LOL

[Mama_Bear]

She can't understand why I won't be an audience for her fits. LOL

Yep, that's the best way to handle temper fits. It is just no fun at all without an audience. LOL.

I look forward to the photos. She is such a little doll!

[WVNan]

I sent some. Her favorite toy is the basket I got her last Easter, and the plastic eggs. She breaks the eggs apart, hands them to me to "fix", and I put them together and hand them back to her. This goes on for hours sometimes. LOL. Drives me batty, but she loves it.

[Mama_Bear]

Oh, dutchess! What a special, precious photo of your kids. That one is a keeper for sure! And you did a great job making a beautiful graphic out of it.

[Mama_Bear]

Thanks Nan. I got them. She is just SO cute!! My favorite is the closeup of her looking at the flower. Can I put a Christmas border around the photo and post it here?

[WVNan]

Well, it doesn't look much like a Christmas picture, but I'm sure you are gifted enough to make it one. Go for it.

[Mama_Bear]

Very pretty wreath, sistah. :-)

[WVNan]

I'm in for the night MB. See you tomorrow. God bless.

[Mama_Bear]

Okay, see you tomorrow. I will get that photo of Miss Emma posted tonight or tomorrow morning.

HUGS!

[Mama_Bear]

I have enjoyed seeing everyone's Christmas decoration photos and looking forward to more being posted this weekend. This was a great idea, Billie.

Finally, I am finished decorating and all the Christmas boxes are back out in the garage. Here are my pictures. It was hard to decide what to photograph, since we have three trees and decorations (mostly Santas) all over the house.

This is our dining room table centerpiece this year.



Our "formal" tree in the living room.



Our "family" tree, in the dining room, decorated
with ornaments we have collected since our son was a baby.
(We also have a kitchen tree, but the photos didn't come
out worth showing. It sets on our kitchen counter and is
decorated with only kitchen ornaments.)



And, JK has a huge Santa collection, all shapes
and sizes. These are just a few in the family room.
(Yes, that would be Chachi sleeping on
his blanket on the sofa in the background.)