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

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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!

[ST.LOUIE1]

Watch out! It's mistletoe!

Wolfies ready! Lay one on me! : )

[Billie]

GeeBee to the rescue!!!! Please let this load - it is worth waiting for!

Mary Did You Know ~ Clay Aiken

[ST.LOUIE1]

Beautiful thread, beautiful home decorations.

Thank you, wolfie. I'm glad you think so.

Everything *you* do is bautiful. : )

TWO TREES? I love it! : )

Oh, wait! I do believe that's a mirror behind the tree. :)

LOL!!!!! You're sooooo cute! AhhhhhRooooo!!

[deadhead]

Hi Billie, yes that is the outside of my house. The pic is from another year. The deer were animated, moved their heads and tails. Lucy was so afraid of them, would bark at them...I guess she thought they were real. So, I gave the deer away :-)

Every year, I think about decorating early so I can enjoy it longer, but it never happens.

[Billie]

Wolfies ready! Lay one on me! : )

LOL Take your pick! :)

[La Enchiladita]

Amen, Dolly!

[ST.LOUIE1]

Yep!! St.Louie1...a.k.a. Wolfie Toofums...you have earned Santa's Naughty List, again...and it's
BIG TIME!!!

Yo! Elfie!

[ST.LOUIE1]

Wolfies ready! Lay one on me! : )

LOL Take your pick! :)

Surely you know I'm gonna say.....ALL OF THEM! : )

And I don't know what "bautiful" means. LOL

[La Enchiladita]

This is the most gorgeous song; has me in tears.... thank you.

[Dubya]

Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown!
By Kelly Boggs Dec 9, 2005 bp news

McMINNVILLE, Ore. (BP)--It almost did not air. Network executives thought it moved too slowly for a Christmas special. They also were convinced that the absence of a laugh track, a staple of 1960 era comedies, would be the kiss of death.

To further complicate matters, the man behind the cast of animated characters insisted upon using real kids for the voice-overs. As a result, only a couple of the children who were cast had any acting experience.

However, what most concerned the suits at CBS was the religious content. The climax of the 30-minute program focused on a main character quoting Scripture.

The executive producer even insisted that the Bible could not be read on network television. However, the creator of what has become a Christmas classic refused to edit or otherwise water-down the content.

In spite of network executives’ concerns, “A Charlie Brown Christmas” made its television debut on Thursday, Dec. 9, 1965. The result: More than 15 million homes tuned in and it captured nearly half of the possible audience.

The week it aired, the show was No. 2 in the ratings. It went on to win critical acclaim as well as an Emmy Award for outstanding children's program and a Peabody Award for excellence in programming.

The executives at CBS were stunned at the program’s success. Lee Mendelson, executive producer of “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” told USA Today, “When I started reading the reviews, I was shocked.... They actually liked it.”

This year marks the 40th anniversary of “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” the animated classic that features the Peanuts characters created by Charles Schultz. The storyline not only exposes the crass commercialization that characterizes too much of American Christmas, but it also highlights the real reason for the season. And after four decades, it continues to be popular.

The so-called experts are still scratching their collective heads over the success of Charlie Brown. Explanations for the show’s longevity abound.

Some suggest the popularity is due to the genius of Schultz and the popularity of the characters he created. Others insist that it is the craving for nostalgia of the baby-boom generation that fuels the seasonal success of “A Charlie Brown Christmas.”

Contrary to expert speculation about Charlie Brown’s success, I believe the popularity of Charles Schultz’s story about the round-headed boy’s search for the true meaning of Christmas runs deeper than superficial sentiment for characters or the desire to reminisce. The success of “A Charlie Brown Christmas” is anchored in truth.

In a society that is on the verge of committing politically correct suicide, “Charlie Brown” dares to declare the simple truth that the reason for the season is the birth of Jesus Christ.

When Charlie Brown shouts in desperation, “Isn't there anyone out there who can tell me what Christmas is all about?” Linus responds, “Sure, Charlie Brown, I can tell you.” He then takes center stage and quotes verbatim the King James Version of Luke 2:8-14.

With simple eloquence, the blanket-clutching character unashamedly announces, “For unto you this day is born in the City of Bethlehem, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.”

Linus’ quotation stands in stark contrast to a popular culture that seeks to ban the Guest of Honor from His own celebration. The message of “A Charlie Brown Christmas” is the supernatural reality that God sent His only begotten son into the world so the world might through Him be saved.

In the 40 years since Charles Schultz first communicated the simple truth of Christmas through his beloved Peanuts characters, American culture has grown more secular and politically correct. However, the hearts of individuals still yearn for truth and meaning.

In the vast wasteland that characterizes much of the American Christmas experience, “A Charlie Brown Christmas” is an oasis of truth. Year after year, thirsty souls have taken time to drink deeply the profound truth that God became a man.

Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown!
--30--
Kelly Boggs is pastor of the Portland-area Valley Baptist Church in McMinnville, Ore. His column appears each Friday in Baptist Press.

[Dubya]

Nice thread today as always. Thanks.

[dutchess]

Rusty and Giz...Christmas 05 (Just taken an hour ago!!!!)

[dutchess]

Absolute lovely wonderful marvelous thread! Love everything about it!!! And...LOL...I was so impressed with TWO trees too!!! OOPS! Mirrors...who would have thought!

Am decorating tomorrow and will certainly take pictures. (and this makes me decorate with a much more "critical eye"!)

I think this thread has started to put me into the Christmas Spirit!!! Thanks Sistah!

[dixie sass]

What a pretty thread. Since I live alone, the only thing I do is put a wreath on the front door and put my Norfolk pine in the middle of the kitchen window after I dress it up a little.

[luvie]

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

[dixie sass]

How precious!

[deadhead]

An awesome photo of Rusty and Giz! It looks like a painting

[Billie]

The deer were animated, moved their heads and tails. Lucy was so afraid of them, would bark at them...I guess she thought they were real. So, I gave the deer away :-)

Our little four-legged friends are so funny, aren't they? Move a piece of furniture or put anything new in the yard, and they think it's a boogie man or something. Mine will bark at a tumbleweed caught on the fence! :)

[Billie]

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

[Billie]

LOL Take your pick! :)

Surely you know I'm gonna say.....ALL OF THEM! : )

Surely do. :*

And I don't know what "bautiful" means. LOL

LOL! Wondered about that. :)