A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....05-02-06....A Walk on the Beach

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, GodBlessUSA, JustAmy ~

What do you look forward to spending your free time doing? I love to get out and visit the beach. I especially appreciate the beach before the crowds get here for the summer. Even on mild days during winter, we get out and take walks on the beach. I feel fortunate to live close enough to visit often. My kids, the dog and I enjoy taking long walks at the beach. We look for shells, watch surfers and view the sea birds.

Year round there are surfers out on the ocean. If a storm is coming, you can bet many surfers will be there to ride the big waves. It's exciting to watch them challenge the waves.

The below picture is from a day I took photos of surfers. It was a surprise to come across this one. Uh oh, is that what I think it is? LOL, Fortunately, no shark attacks were reported that day. I think, it's an optical illusion of a surfer.

Or was that just a surfer? :)

Below, on the left Seagulls, resting. The right, is a Spotted Piping Plover. (picture from websearch) They are always running at the shore line. They will run to the water and then away, as the tide comes in. In the spring, they block off parts of the beach so people do not disturb their nests. I get a kick seeing the little ones run about.

Above is The Great Egret. A gorgeous bird. I usually see them at the bay beaches and not as much at the ocean. (picture from a web search)

Above is the Great Blue Heron. We do have them on the beaches but I have yet to see one locally. I took this picture while I was visiting in DC last summer. The Great Blue Heron is a very impressive bird in person and much bigger than what I had imagined from viewing pictures.

03-28-06 ~ Hall of Fame #15

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 05-01-06 Military Monday

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

[GodBlessUSA]

[GodBlessUSA]

[MEG33]

Good Morning Gee Bee!
I have spent some wonderful days roaming the beach, watching the birds..Now I just visit the beach like this...;) Thank you for the beautiful thread.

[GodBlessUSA]

Good Morning Meg,
Thanks :) LOL, Too cute, can I snag that one?

[The Mayor]

May 2, 2006

Naomi

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READ: Ruth 4:13-22

The women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a close relative.” —Ruth 4:14

A wise person once told me, “Never be quick to judge whether something is a blessing or a curse.” The story of Naomi reminds me of this.

The name Naomi means “my delight.” But when bad things happened to her, Naomi wanted to change her name to match her circumstances. After her husband and sons died, Naomi concluded, “The hand of the Lord has gone out against me!” (Ruth 1:13). When people greeted her, she said, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me” (v.20).

Rather than judge her circumstances in light of her identity as a follower of the one true God who had proclaimed unfailing love for His people, Naomi did what most of us tend to do: She judged God in light of her circumstances. And she judged wrongly. The hand of the Lord had not gone out against her. In fact, Naomi had a God-given treasure she had not yet discovered. Although Naomi lost her husband and two sons, she was given something totally unexpected—a devoted daughter-in-law and a grandchild who would be in the lineage of the Messiah.

As Naomi’s life shows us, sometimes the worst thing that happens to us can open the door for the best that God has to give us. —Julie Ackerman Link

Loving Father, help me not to judge Your love for me
on the basis of whether today brings good news
or bad. Help me remember that You desire to use
my circumstances to make me more like Jesus. Amen.

God’s purpose for today’s events may not be seen till tomorrow.

[MEG33]

Of course!

[GodBlessUSA]

Good Morning The Mayor
Thank You for the Good Morning Post :).

[The Mayor]

My Pleasure..

I have a picture of a Heron somewhere in this computer. We are surrounded by water here and only one beach on the island. It's run by the state and we have to pay to get there.

[MEG33]

"God’s purpose for today’s events may not be seen till tomorrow."

Indeed..Thank you for our daily bread..I enjoyed the link to the reading and prayer...The Julie Ackerman Link doesn't work for me..

[The Mayor]

One of the details I have to work out with the new format..
http://www.rbc.org/devotionals/our_daily_bread/writer/4558.aspx

Here ya go Meg.

[GodBlessUSA]

Your area sounds so nice. I hope you can find and post the picture. When, I first saw a Heron, I was amazed. I ran into this bird while taking a walk on a trail in DC area. Heron actually frightened me at first. The Heron was right in front of me staring me down. LOL

[GodBlessUSA]

Ironic, I needed to read this today. :)

[GodBlessUSA]

They did a beautiful job on the website.

[MEG33]

Pelicans off the coast of South Padre
I enjoyed the Pelicans that perched on the pier in Santa Barbara.

[MEG33]

Herons nested in the trees around the Goleta Beach Restaurant..I am searching for a picture.

[DollyCali]

Oh GeeBee.. a simply lovely thread on one of my favorite places.. THE BEACH! and this thread/pix make me even more homesick for it. Lived at coast on many occasions. Now we have Lake Erie, which can't compare but is water & it nearby.

I was there yesterday with Toby & Josy & friend. Here is a pix of Josy investigating if this smells bad enough to roll in.

Thank you for the beautiful job & for opening the Finest doors this Tuesday!

[DollyCali]

Another timely devotional Rus. It is not the circumstances in life that are obstacles for our "growth" as a person, it is how we handle them & perceive them

Thanks.

Now I must get outdoors & get a few things done in yard before the promised rain in a short time!

[GodBlessUSA]

Good Morning Dolly
I was thinking of you and your dogs when I did this thread. I know you do a lot of outings. This is where I bring my dog all the time. Your picture is great. Thanks. Josy is beautiful. :)

[Mrs.Nooseman]

Good Morning GBUSA!

{{{HUGS}}}

Great thread,love all the pictures and you presentation.

What a great way to start of my day.:)

[GodBlessUSA]

Those Pelicans are beautiful and in flight. Another fascinating bird. I had seen them in Florida years,...years....years ago ;)

I look forward to your picture of a Heron.