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.

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 ~

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!

[ST.LOUIE1]

You never miss a chance do you, you Wolfbo! :o)

Not when it comes to huggin' and smoochin'! : )

[dixie sass]

No Cuz, no snow, just freezing!

I'm glad to hear that at least one church will be holding services on Christmas Sunday. This new trend about closing the churches on Christmas is for the birds!

Chaos always abounds when there are little ones around at Christmas, isn't it wonderful?

[ST.LOUIE1]

YO, Santa! What big ears you have!!!! :)

You noticed, huh? LOL

Morning, beautiful!

[LadyX]

**The LadyX** has been preparing for, executing and recovering from Mission Blessed Christmas for her sister, Anne, who is now in an Assisted Living Facility in another part of the state.
The visit was truly Christmas at its best for my husband and me, sharing love with my 'guiding light' throughout life and the source of many wonderful get-togethers, visiting with and traveling with her through the decades.

The small facility is fairly new and state of the art - beautiful, and absolutely immaculate - dining room where they are served three nutritious meals a day, set with linens and china - cheerful spacious living room with fireplace lit and sofas and chairs and lots of space for those in wheelchairs.
Everything was beautifully decorated for Christmas, of course. On the front porch rocking chairs, Anne had suggested and they made seat cushions covered with red and green Scottish plaid fabric.

Her individual small apartment even has a small kitchen area where she can prepare whatever else she wants 24/7 - microwave above stove, etc.

The staff is *exceptional,* and the Assistant Manager who serves as Anne's nurse as well is from her small town in South Carolina - went to their private school with Anne's son, and her younger sister with Anne's other son - Very Special Care is accorded her with loving respect.

We signed her out and took her shopping and then to eat, and then shopped some more..:))
Visualize us getting out of the car at Wal-Mart, no handicap spaces available, and all three of having difficulty with balance walking -- only one shopping cart nearby to grasp. Uh oh...

Unflappable, and skilled at gleeful adaptation, without fanfare all three of us grabbed the handle and glided to the entrance (triplets?!!), laughing all the way!!
Why care about "what persons think?!!"
You simply make the most of every hand you are dealt in life, and we choose to laugh at any stumbling blocks in our path - - the bodies might have changed, but the spirits are untouchable....

For us, it was Christmas Day, and we celebrate it every day of the year, knowing we are truly blessed.

It was a beautiful day, knowing Whose we are...

[ST.LOUIE1]

Rusty and Giz

Really cute!

As are *you*. : )

[ST.LOUIE1]

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. ;-)

Hmph! : (

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

Whatever *fuzzy* wants....*fuzzy* gets. : )

Morning, gorgeous!

[Billie]

Thanks, snugs - think I'd seen your mom's pretty little tree on another thread - such a sweet thing to do to help her feel a little of the Christmas joy.

Love the picture of the Salvation Army band!

[DollyCali]

Oh Maggie, it sounds like you made it such a fun outing for her & for you both in the process. thanks for the report. I am sure it hurts you to see "young vibrant" Anne relegated to an assisted living facility. We do what we have to do but it is always sad.

Nice you could go down memeory lane with her.

[LadyX]

I see you posted something I, too, received, Dolly, but you failed to issue the obligatory
This definitely is a
***THREE-TISSUE ALERT*** !!!

so I'm reposting it for those who might have missed it:

======================================================

A DIFFERENT CHRISTMAS POEM

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.

Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.

My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.
The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know,
Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.

My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
a lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.

A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.
"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"

For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light.
Then he sighed and he said "It's really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."

"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.
I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.

Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.

"I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother...
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."

"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?"
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.

For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us.

WE ALL NEED TO PRAY FOR
OUR MILITARY PERSONNEL EVERY NIGHT!

MERRY CHRISTMAS to all!!!!

=======================================================

[ST.LOUIE1]

Watch out! It's mistletoe!

Billie has her mistletoe up, JohnnyFox!

Dibs!!!! : )

Hi, John, hope all is well with you and yours. I've missed you of late.

[DollyCali]

shhhh.. don't tell billie I messed up, she'ss send me to the corner again!

:-)

[DollyCali]

so.. you are telling JOHNNY about the mistletoe???

hmmm.

I am in line FIRST MR. Woolfie.. stop chasing Santa Claus & start chasing the woman folk at the Finest like a respecting wolf SHOULD do..

pucker up precious . . . . . . .

[Billie]

The Tree in her Parlor




And finally.....Nan's Main Christmas Tree

[DollyCali]

she'ss = she'll

both ways, I am toast

[DollyCali]

wow, how very lovely.Thanks for both of you sharing your lovely decorations Nan..

! christmas decorations.. hmmm.. well, need to wade thru a bunch more laundry & try to get all these "attic" roof leak boxes out of the way..

take time for smooches from woolfie...

get ready for date tonight...

not sure I will decorate..

priorities, ya'know?

I could just wait until christmas eve & do a "chinese thing".. you know how they have the year of the dog? year of the snake? I will have the year of Christmas decorations.

whatcha think?

[DollyCali]

Funny Doggies !

[ST.LOUIE1]

I am in line FIRST MR. Woolfie..
...pucker up precious . . . . . . .

WOW!!!!! Gimme that KISS and....

[ST.LOUIE1]

Mighty pretty, *Nan*, mighty pretty indeed. Almost as pretty as *you*. : )

[DollyCali]

THAT'S BETTER.

Cant neglect your women now.. Johnny fox hasn't been around much so it is all ON YOU!

thanks sweetie.. now I can return to the laundry w/a smile.

[ST.LOUIE1]

...thanks sweetie.. now I can return to the laundry w/a smile.

My pleasure, pretty lady. AhhhhhRoooooo!!!