A Few of FR's Finest...Every Day...12/16-18/05 ....Christmas In The Heart

Sgt. Rodney Murray, Freema & GodBlessUSA

[GodBlessUSA]

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, Dolly Cali, Mama_Bear, GodBlessUSA ~

We received the following in FR mail from freema last week and wanted to share it with you today.

"The following poem was written by a local soldier, Sgt. Rodney A. Murray on December 16, 2003. He collected toys for Iraqi children, and taught at our high school for two days before getting called up. His wife is one of the sweetest women I've ever had the pleasure to meet.

Rodney was killed on Mother’s Day, 2004, in a vehicle accident between Baghdad and Scania when his Humvee was sideswiped by a passing tank.

Rodney joined the Army Reserves in July of 2000 and was called to Iraq on February 11, 2003. Rodney left on February 14. Ten months later he was able be with his wife on

December 16, just in time to celebrate their three-year wedding anniversary and wrote the following poem. Rodney left again on December 30."

In Memory Of Sgt. Rodney A. Murray


All I want for Christmas is to see my wife,
Friends and family, be at home, that's all.
The young soldier really meant it.
And a bit of guilt he did feel
Of having his miracle come true;
Though not enough to change his plan;
With no kids to play Santa to, yet,
Some with such would have to stay.
Of all such days, Holiest of Holy,
Every soldier, every national, every vulnerable Citizen of this ravaged land
We claim to help should be able to celebrate.
But cold mornings in a lonely guard shack,
Riding lonely desolate supply routes
Tries to deny the celebratory mood.
And chaos and beastly acts alike
Try to rid others of a celebration of sorts.
A ruthless dictator captured
Becomes a festive celebration to some.
While others will avoid, hopefully,
Festive ending fiasco
In loss of life and will.
That's how they'll spend Christmas
If only that reason to celebrate.
Others cling to hope as their Yule Tide;
Hope for home soon from a foreign land,
Hope for a home,
Civilization in a lack luster land,
Hope for a difference one made
Or hope just to make it out alive, another day.
But it's guaranteed, the soldiers who
Have to stay in an Unsilent Night,
A non Holy Night,
Will instinctively glance at their watches,
When subtracting eight equals twenty-fifth at home.
And they'll silently utter Merry Christmas
From the heart to spouses and brothers,
Friends, loved ones, fathers and mothers.
But there's the rub. Like you at home,
All nestled and nice, calm and comfy,
They'll have Christmas in the Middle East.
For it will be in the heart, in grateful
Honor and remembrance of that Holy Night,
When the world received the greatest gift,
Wrapped in Hope, Grace, Mercy, In Love,
For all mankind.
Such will have Christmas
In their hearts, where it should be.
While others in that land,
The one promised to Abraham's seed
Will know nothing of it.
For they must of followed Ischmael's seed
Instead of Issac's.
No Christmas for them.
Can they even tell you their "Messiah's" birthday?
Death date would probably be easier,
But they'll claim to tell you what he wants
You to do to get to Heaven, maybe even
Doing away with ones that follow
That First Noel-
Cause in it you do nothing to get to Heaven,
Save receive the gift,
The Christ in Christmas.
So, you don't take for granted this Holy Season,
And grumble for lack of parking spaces.
Don't let crowds confound you
Or busy bustle bring a frown to you.
Love the busy schedule of family and friends,
Give in honor of the birth of Him who gave
You All.
Remember, some won't have Christmas,
And some will have it merely in their hearts.
Merry Christmas Rodney Murray ~ 12-16-2003

09-27-05 ~ Hall of Fame #13

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 12-12-05 Military Monday 12-13-05 Finest Christmas Tables, Part II 12-14-05 Finest Christmas Tables, Part II, cont'd 12-15-05 Dems to U.S. Troops: It's not too late to lose! But time's running out.

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

[Mama_Bear]

Junior Mints! Now, there ya' go. That is some goooood candy. LOL.

[Mama_Bear]

I love that song by Eartha Kit! She is the only one that can do it right, everyone else just doesn't have that certain something in their voice.

It is funny you should mention that. A certain wolf and I were discussing this very thing in a freepmail today. He says that "certain something" in Eartha's voice makes him think someone has their hands around her throat making her sound like a chipmunk. LOL!!! He can't stand her voice.

I love the way she sings it! What I can't stand is the Madonna's rendition of "Santa Baby". No one does it like the original "sex kitten".

Since we are talking about it......here is the link to the song from my profile page.....

[dixie sass]

I don't like the meats at Wal-mart for two reasons. I don't need to buy more thank one piece of meat at a time since I don't have storage space in my itty bitty freezer and it just doesn't have a good flavor.

Mr. K's Piggly Wiggly has a meat case where I can purchase just one chop or steak or breast and there isn't any waste. They also carry Boar's Head Deli Meats and they are best.

PLUS, lol, they have the best bakery goods around since I can't get to Publix and you know Publix Bakery... YUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!

I do appreciate the fact that Wal-Mart does match prices at other stores. That fact plus coupons save a pretty penny every month.

[dixie sass]

Thats the one! Pure sex dripping from her voice.

[Mama_Bear]

What I can't stand is the Madonna's rendition of "Santa Baby"......is what I intended to say. :-)

Time to fix dinenr here. You have a nice evening, dixie. TTYL.

[Aquamarine]

Still here (had to go pick some hickory nuts out - big job).
Had a feeling that story would jog a memory of your sons. :)
Mom said that my brother had actually developed a taste for burnt grilled cheese and preferred them that way, said she was so embarrassed when he exposed her failed cooking skills at Woolworth's that day. lol

Have another funny brother story. My Grandma told me that when Grandpa came home one night he told her that he had run into my parents and my (other) brother in downtown Tulsa on the street that day. He had a suit on which my brother who was only 3 at the time wasn't used to seeing him in. He said that my brother was staring up at him the whole time he was talking to my parents not saying a word, then after a long while my brother reached up and tugged on his suit coat and asked - - Is your name Grandpa?

[Aquamarine]

BTW, I have been visiting the "Sound America" site that you sent me the link to last Christmas (I think). Was looking for a wav of Eartha Kitt's "Santa Baby". I found it there. It is a great site for good music files. Lots of Mannheim Steamroller too.

Sound America is a great Christmas Music site but I can't link to them this year, get a screen that says something about being licensed that's why I'm trying this new site out.

[Billie]

Have enjoyed your sweet Children's Nativity Scenes!

[Aquamarine]

That's a good upbeat song, don't remember hearing it before.

Just had a look at your Profile Page and it's adorable, you even have that hostess graphic of all of us as Southern Belles. :)

[Mama_Bear]

Just had a look at your Profile Page and it's adorable,

Thank you. :-)

you even have that hostess graphic of all of us as Southern Belles. :)

Yes, but now I need to figure out how to get our newest sistah in there. Maybe I can get Billie to remake the graphic for me and add another "belle", since she made it originally.

Oops, dinner is burning on the stove. Gotta go!!

[Aquamarine]

Found some good pictures over at the dose that I don't want y'all to miss.

Iraqis celebrate their elections.

Barney's happy about it too.

[Billie]

I missed your Christmas decor yesterday - what a pretty room, tree, decorations! Thanks for letting us peek into your living room at Christmas time!

[Billie]

Classy, huh? :-)

Ooh La La - I love it! Careful you don't fall though! It's a long way down! :)

[snugs]

Yes these are council schools and the children probably come from homes where there is no religious input. They will also have been doing many Christmas activities at school. A lady who is our receptionist bought in a Santa hat that her son made at school and her older daughter has been doing craft things at senior school in relation to Christmas as well.

[Billie]

Maybe I can get Billie to remake the graphic for me and add another "belle", since she made it originally.

I lost some of my Victorian graphics when my other pc was reformatted, and not sure I could put another one together - you probably don't have any idea how *many* graphics I used to put that one together! The five of us were all from different graphics and the "room" was from two others if I remember. Then the frame. :)

That's one problem with personalizing our hostess graphics - the sistahs keep changing. :)

[snugs]

Yes I know the type of sweets you are on about they are same as you get in lucky bags.

[snugs]

She is beautiful

[deadhead]

Beautiful, and very, very sad.

May you Rest In Peace, Sgt. Rodney A. Murray

God Bless our Military, always

[DollyCali]

May you all have a blessed Lord's Day.
Tuba Christmas is in Akron today 6:30PM.. I hope to go.
"Services" for Oliver today at 4.
Heartfelt appreciation for your notes of love & concern. .They have meant a lot to me.

[Dog]

:-)