A Few of FR's Finest.Every Day.12-22 to 25-06..Polar Express - Christmas Weekend

December 22, 2006 | Dolly Howard

[DollyCali]

The magical train ride found in the Book and the Movie are the backdrop to the glorious adventure held nightly for 5 weeks in NE Ohio as part of the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railway (CVSR) offerings leading up to Christmas .

The story in a nutshell: A little boy, Jammie clad in jammies(FReeper material ) doubting Santa’s existence any longer, is whisked away one night on a magical train, that picks him up AT HIS HOME & takes him to the North pole where he views the magic of Santa, the elves and the life there. It is a short book with wonderful art work & was released in 1985.

At the Ohio Polar Express, this is captured in the several hour ride that parents & kids alike arrive in Jammies to participate in the fun. Thanks to the Polar express we now have a new dress category to add to Business casual etc. There will be Nighttime Jammies perhaps!

So very much goes on behind the scenes. For the ride of several hours for youngsters in wonderment along with their parents and grandparents, there is an amazing amount of ground work that is done. Professionals and volunteers all work together to make this a memorable part of the participating family holiday experiences. Many US cities have similar programs, we feel fortunate to be one of them.

Do you just decide THAT day, hey, lets go for the train ride tonight? Well, no NOT EXACTLY. The ride is sold out in late Summer and tickets chosen by lottery. There are actually two trains that converge in the North Pole. One begins in Akron heading North & the other begins in Independence heading south. They arrive at the N Pole about 15 minutes apart to gaze out the window at the merriment of Santa’s workshop, all the elves dancing (town folks, who have caught the spirit, Santa on sleigh, drummer boys, reindeer etc.

The deluxe Saint Lucie train car.which goes out each night is a luxury charter smf is sold out for next 3 years.. To say this activity is “in demand” is perhaps an understatement. This popular train, which runs in part through the Cuyahoga Valley National Park holds several other Christmas related series of Rides Mr. Jingeling's Holiday Express and Christmas Tree Adventure (train to neaby Peninsula & pick out /buy tree, return

In the story Polar express (as viewed in the movie) Director Robert Zemeckis revolutionized the art of animated film in 1998's WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT by dropping cartoon characters into the same frame with flesh-and-blood actors. In THE POLAR EXPRESS, live action and animation have merged seamlessly, resulting in sparkling super-realism. A landmark technique Zemeckis and his Sony Pictures Imageworks team call "Performance Capture" perfectly suits the tenor of this wondrous children's Christmas story by Chris Van Allsburg

A disillusioned little boy, just old enough to doubt the existence of Santa Claus, has the adventure of a lifetime one fateful Christmas Eve. Clad in his pajamas, he climbs aboard a magic train to the North Pole, driven by a kindly train conductor (voiced by Tom Hanks who starred in both of Zemeckis's Academy-Award winning films FORREST GUMP and CASTAWAY). Among myriad jaw-dropping moments, the train plummets brakeless through crystalline mountains in a simulated roller coaster ride. Going off the rails, skidding sideways, and snaking violently across a frozen lake, the train arrives at the North Pole (a vast, glowing city of brick buildings)

At that moment, the car carrying the kids detaches and they're sent tumbling down never-ending chutes and slides until they land in the middle of Santa's Workshop.

In the body of the thread are pictures/commentary from the last regular “run” of the season. Try to check back regularly for new additions. Your are invited to join in the “magic”

[MEG33]

Thank you, Dita..Lovely!

[Issaquahking]

Merry Christmas to FR's finest crew!

[GodBlessUSA]

Merry Christmas Issaquahking! :)

[GodBlessUSA]

Magnificent thread! I'm also enjoying all your photos :)

Merry Christmas Dolly :)

[Mrs.Nooseman]

Good Afternoon FR Finest!!!

I wish all of FR Finest,their Families and all that come to visit here....

A Merry and joyous Christmas and a blessed New Year.

Jesus is the reason for the season.

[stopem]

Wishing all My FinestFRiends a very Merry Christmas!
From:

[MEG33]

Lovely, Dolly!

[GodBlessUSA]

Merry Christmas Maj!!
Hugs!

[GodBlessUSA]

Merry Christmas The Mayor and Family! :)

[GodBlessUSA]

Thank you for all your wonderful posts. I hope you have a wonderful Merry Christmas, Jack!

[GodBlessUSA]

Merry Christmas Stopem! :)

[DaBearOne]

Thanks La Enchiladita,

I've tried them and like some of them. There are times I do not follow instructions on the package very well.

But I'm learning, I just think it's easier to take candy out of a package, nuts, and cookies.

I'm learning more each day.

bernie

[GodBlessUSA]

Gorgeous Dita!!
A Merry Christmas to you! My FRiend :)
HUGS!

[SoldierDad]

Merry Christmas to everyone.

[DaBearOne]

Love the card Billie, and a very Merry Christmas to you.

[MEG33]

Good Christmas Morning To The Finest

[Mrs.Nooseman]

Dolly!!!

[The Mayor]

December 25, 2006

A Fitting Present

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READ: Matthew 2:11-15

Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God. —Romans 12:1

A little boy was somewhat perplexed by all the exchanging of presents on Christmas morning, for he had been taught in Sunday school that it was the birthday of the Savior. Finally, after a long period of silence, he asked, “Mommy, when are we going to give Jesus His present? I thought it was His birthday!”

Strange, isn’t it, that most of us give gifts to everyone but the One whose birthday we celebrate. A good question we might ask ourselves is this: What am I going to give to the Lord Jesus this Christmas? If you have never trusted in Him as your Savior, the thing He desires most from you is a believing heart. Why not put your faith in Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross so you can be saved from your sins?

If by faith you already know Christ as your Savior, then the most wonderful thing you can do this Christmas is to present to God the one gift He most desires to receive from you—your body (Rom. 12:1).

Our bodies are to be used for God’s purposes. Because we have accepted the gift of salvation from Him, it’s only reasonable that we should present ourselves to the Father. When we give ourselves, we give the one Christmas present that truly fits the occasion! —Richard De Haan

What shall I give for Christmas
To Him who gave Himself for me?
To Him I give my life, my love,
For time and for eternity.  —Anon.

Give your all to Christ; He gave His all for you.

Bible in One Year:   Zephaniah 1-3; Revelation 16

[Mrs.Nooseman]

Majee!

[Mrs.Nooseman]

ST.LOUIE!!!