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

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 ~

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]

In Britain we have different tradition Boxing Day or what the Christmas Carol calls "The feast of Stephen". There are many different suggestions of where it came from and the modern outworking of it. Nowadays it mainly is the day that the "other" set of parents get visited or visit.

Here is a link to a website that explains the 26th December and its history and modern day concept in Britain better than I can

Boxing Day

My boxing day tradition was always going to a soccer game

[snugs]

Wow what a load of presents makes my one bottle of wine under mine look a bit lonely LOL

[snugs]

Question is that an angel or a fairy on top in Britain we tend to have fairies or a star but I noticed quite a few people on FR referring to an angel.

[snugs]

All mine is is a fibre optic with a few chocolate tree decorations on it, I think they can look very nice and in fact has inspired me to think of getting a big one next year.

[luvie]

Thank you, Dolly, for your compliments. I enjoyed doing this table to honor our service personnel. They make it possible for us to have safe holidays.

[GailA]

You are most welcome.

[luvie]

I hope you're not a stranger here either, Colonel. It is a place of beauty and serenity and love for the troops. And these folks love to decorate! Thanks for coming and seeing what we did. You are always welcome at the Finest or wherever you go.

[luvie]

Thanks, Aqua....I appreciate your kind words.

[luvie]

Thanks to all of you for your encouragement and for welcoming me every day to a warm loving Finest Family! (((hugs)))

[luvie]

You never cease to have the most beautiful aircraft pictures that I never see anywhere else. Thank you.

[dutchess]

Gosh...so sorry I wasn't able to be here today....busy work and after work open houses... Think I have a sort of decent picture of our tree to post tomorrow. So glad it is a twofer. You ladies are so very talented and are getting me into the Christmas Spirit. Thanks!

[Jen]

Most of the presents are for the kids in my family. The top is an angel. I've never heard of a fairy on top of a Christmas tree. Interesting.

[luvie]

Awwww...thanks Dutchess! It was my pleasure!

[dutchess]

Hi dolly. Praying and thinking of you. Here's a link to my thread from 2 years ago when codee died. I think this was when you were a pretty "newbie" to the finest. You thoughts and comments were pretty special. Maybe they will be of comfort now. ((((dolly))))

Codee tribute/Rainbow Bridge

[dutchess]

And a lovely tree is is Jen. I finally got mine up but am having problems with the camera. PLUS NO PRESENTS UNDER IT AND OUR CHRISTMAS IS THIS WEEKEND YIKES!!!!

[deadhead]

Beautiful 'tables', Luv W and Mrs. Nooseman. Thank You for sharing your holiday traditions with us, Mrs. Nooseman. And thank you for remembering our military in your 'table', LUV W. Great job. Lovely presentation, Billie. I know I am very late getting here, but wanted to make sure I stopped by :-)

Merry Christmas!

[DollyCali]

I remember that! Thanks for the reminder. And THANK YOU.

[deadhead]

Hi there, Jen. Nice to 'see' you :-) Love your Republican tree! Wow, lots of presents already. I am a last minute shopper, have not started yet. Taking a day off from work on Friday, hopefully I will start and finish :-)

[deadhead]

'Deck The House'

Very cool, Diver Dave :-)

[Mama_Bear]

Sorry I am late. I read the post earlier today, but didn't have time to post a comment then......next thing I knew, the whole day had gotten away from me.

LUVW, the photo of our soldier with the Christmas card and the poem that follows is so very touching....and beautifully framed in your Christmas table. Thank you for sharing your talent with us. Your love for our military and your patriotism is heartwarming.

Mrs.Nooseman, traditions are so very important and I think it is wonderful that you are preserving and handing down traditions from Germany and America to your children. One of our most memorable Christmases was in 1990, the year our foreign exchange daughter, Katja, was with us. We incorporated her Finnish traditions into our Christmas celebration....complete with the customary "rice porridge" on Christmas morning. It made it extra special for her to be able to share some of the traditions of her homeland and for us to experience something of her culture.. Thank you for sharing your traditions with us. Your table design is very pretty too!

Billie, I like that graphic with the white roses, the pine cones and pine boughs with the pretty crystal arch thing (not sure what to call it) in the center. It would look nice as my dining room table centerpiece. :-)

Thanks for bringing more Finest Tables to us today, and for doing it with such "style". :-)