A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....12-13,14-05....Finest Christmas Tables, Part II

Billie, LUV W, Mrs.Nooseman | LUV W, Mrs.Nooseman

[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 ~

With the holiday season in full swing and Christmas fast approaching, a few weeks ago I asked a Few of Our Finest to set some of their finest Christmas tables to present throughout the first three weeks of December. Each one has chosen her own theme, and no one else has seen it. Today our featured guest artists are LUV W and Mrs.Nooseman.

I hope you enjoy and appreciate their beautiful Christmas offerings as much as I do. It's always rewarding when we have our Finest' contributions, but never moreso than during the Christmas holidays.

Thank you, Luv and Mrs.N!

Bring Us Home Again

He slowly came awake today
and he lumbered to his feet,
for it was just two hours
before that he faded off to sleep.

He donned the day's attire and
grabbed his M-16.
He headed off to breakfast to keep
him strong and lean.

As he walked down to the chow line
he kept a watchful eye.
He didn't want the enemy
to take him by surprise.

As the chaplin said a special prayer
on this very special day,
he kept thinking of his family
that is oh so far away.

He rubbed his left breast pocket
where he keeps a picture of his wife
and a letter from his daughter that
he reads most every night.

He fought back a single tear
as he stared out at the sand,
wishing he could be back home
with his family close at hand.

He shook his head to clear his thoughts
and then be on his way.
He's defending our great country
and has little time to play.

When he got out to the fence line,
his buddy by his side,
he exchanged a "Merry Christmas"
followed by a tired sigh.

He climbed upon the watchtower,
his mouth a tiny grin.
He said, "Merry Christmas to the world"
and "God, please, bring us home again".

~Bradley A. Peraino~




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

Good Morning FR Finest.

Christmas Traditions at my house.

Advent

At our house we start the Christmas celebrations with Advent.

We have a wreath made out of pine cones with four candles on it. Each Sunday we light one Candle and read the Story of Christ's birth and listen to Christmas songs.

During the time of Advent, we also start baking our Christmas Cookies and making Christmas decorations.

Our kids receive an Advent Calender on the First of December to count down the days to Christmas.

St.Nick or Nickolaus

On December sixth we celebrate St.Nick, who brings small gifts that he puts into the children's boots that have been left in front of their doors, if they were good. ;)

To keep some of the traditions from Germany in the family, we also exchange gifts on December 24th, and we put some gifts under the tree for December 25th, to include the traditions of an American Christmas.

We have integrated both traditions into our very own tradition and hope that our kids will carry on this tradition, when they have their own families.

It would be great if you all could share your Traditions with all of us, whether they are Christmas, Hanuka or other Holiday traditions.

I wish you all Happy Holidays and a Merry Christmas.

09-27-05 ~ Hall of Fame #13

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 12-12-05 Military Monday

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

[snugs]

Do you not have the tradition of the Christmas Fairy in America?

We have pantomimes at Christmas (Cinderella, Puss in Boots, Jack and Beanstalk etc) and they all have a Christmas fairy in them.

Here is my tree with the fairy on top but no presents under it :0(

[luvie]

Thank you so much for your encouraging words! I do love the troops and our wonderful country!

[luvie]

What a sweet tree...and I love your little fairy. Here we put angels or stars on the top of the tree. When I was a kid we always had a star to represent the star that guided the wise men to Bethlehem. I got my Christmas angel in Germany...and that is when I started noticing others using angels, too.

[snugs]

Some people put stars on them I think that is Germanic like the angel maybe the Christmas fairy is a very British tradition probably like the pantomime.

[luvie]

I expect you're right. I should ask my manager where I work. She was born in London, though she and her husband have become American citizens now.

[snugs]

My mum's fibre optic one that I have put out for her at the home has a star on top

[luvie]

I love the fibre optics...they are so pretty as the color rotates through them. Nice little Russian dolls, too.

[Jen]

I just got my tree up and decorated yesterday! My son will be home Friday and daughter and son-in-law arrive on Christmas Eve. I've been so busy that I haven't FReeped in ages. Nice to see you today!

[Jen]

I usually wait until a few days before Christmas to shop, but this year I started a couple weeks early and wrapped gifts as I bought them. Did a fair bit of online shopping since I hate crowded stores. That's nice too because the gift comes already boxed and all I have to do is make sure it's OK, then add paper and trimmings. Sure made it a lot easier. Enjoy your Friday shopping blitz! :)

[Jen]

Your tree is lovely snugs. What happened to the wine??? An early present to yourself? ;-) I don't know of any Christmas fairy tradition in America. Others may, but it's new to me. Your fairy looks like an angel. What is the difference? Is it the wand and are those ballerina shoes?

[Jen]

Awwwwwww, cute little Santa bears.

[snugs]

We are into our teddy bears in Britain especially at Christmas just been up on Cadbury's site and found a lovely Santa and of course a teddy bear

In case you did not see the other day this is a main Christmas display in Ashford at our Designer outlet and theme this year is teddy bears

[Jen]

That display is gorgeous. And Cadbury - yummmmmmm!

I gotta get to bed so I can get up early tomorrow and do another thousand things that have to be done before my son comes home on Friday. Hope to see you all later!

[Diver Dave]

Howdy, Jen.

Great lookin' 'apolitical' tree. I also stuck a flag on ours. When our neighbor saw it, her comment... "I see dave helped decorate." :)

I looked carefully under your tree but didn't see my gift - must be in the mail.

Enjoy your time with your son. Merry Christmas!

[luvie]

Snugs, I just got this from a fellow FReeper and thought it very appropriate for the subject at hand:

When four of Santa's elves got sick, and the trainee elves
did not produce the toys as fast as the regular ones,
Santa was beginning to feel the pressure of being behind schedule.

Then Mrs. Claus told Santa that her Mom was coming to
visit. This stressed Santa even more.

When he went to harness the reindeer, he found that three
of them were about to give birth and two had jumped the fence
and were out, heaven knows where. More stress.

Then when he began to load the sleigh one of the boards
cracked, and the toy bag fell to the ground and scattered the toys.

So, frustrated, Santa went into the house for a cup of
apple cider and a shot of rum. When he went to the
cupboard, he discovered that the elves had hidden the
liquor, and there was nothing to drink.

In his frustration, he accidentally dropped the cider pot,
and it broke into hundreds of little pieces all over the kitchen floor.

He went to get the broom and found that mice had
eaten the straw end of the broom.

Just then the doorbell rang, and irritable Santa trudged
to the door. He opened the door, and there was
a little angel with a great big Christmas tree.

The angel said, very cheerfully, "Merry Christmas, Santa.
Isn't it a lovely day? I have a beautiful tree
for you. Where would you like me to stick it?"

And so began the tradition of the little angel on top of the Christmas tree. :o)

[snugs]

Yes I like the fibre optic one mine is actually fibre optic as well and I love to watch the colours rotate. Funnily enough though I think the white/pearl is the most tasteful next to the bright red or purple.

[snugs]

She should have a wand maybe I lost it last year and yes she does have ballerina shoes.

The wine was a gift from a supplier at work and as an adult I do not get that many gifts I put it under the tree to make it look more festive. I will wrap dad's gifts this weekend and put them under to add to the Christmas ambiance but with just the 2 of us there will not be that many under the tree.

I will get gifts from other friends so I may be a good girl and not open them early and put them under the tree as well.

[snugs]

lovely I think the Christmas fairy must done something similar a well LOL

[The Mayor]

December 14, 2005

Secret Security

Read:
Psalm 91

He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. —Psalm 91:11

Bible In One Year: Hebrews 11-13

Feeling secure is a high priority in this unsafe, volatile world. A private investigation agency in Florida promises to "work diligently to restore the sense of security and safety that you and your family deserve."

The psalmist found a "secret place," where he felt safe (Psalm 91:1). And we can rest secure in that same place. He described it with these phrases:

Under the shadow of the Almighty (v.1). Shadows provide protection from the direct heat of the sun. If the heat is severe, the shade reduces what we actually feel. When we're under God's shadow, we do not face the full heat of our difficulties.

A refuge and a fortress (v.2). God is the strongest protector we could ever have, and we can run to Him for help. Nothing can penetrate Him to get to us unless it's part of His loving plan for our ultimate good.

Under His wings (v.4). God is soft and tender like a caring mother bird. When troubles rage, He draws us close. We don't need to fear that He will cast us out—we are His.

A dwelling place (v.9). Our Father will be our home, our abiding place—now and forever.

True security can be found only in our Lord, who promises to save us and be near us (vv.15-16). —Anne Cetas

Hidden in the hollow of His blessed hand,
Never foe can follow, never traitor stand;
Not a surge of worry, not a shade of care,
Not a blast of hurry touch the Spirit there. —Havergal

No one is more secure than those who are in God's hands.

FOR FURTHER STUDY
How Has God Loved Us?

[Mrs.Nooseman]

Great Tree Jen.

Thanks for sharing.