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”

[La Enchiladita]

One minute to de-orbit burn for space shuttle DISCOVERY. Will land at the Cape.

Could pass over Houston...

[La Enchiladita]

DISCOVERY TOUCHDOWN!!

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1757086/posts

[The Mayor]

December 22, 2006

The Joy Of Redemption

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READ: Psalm 98

Oh, sing to the Lord a new song! For He has done marvelous things. —Psalm 98:1 For 30 straight Christmas seasons at the Omaha Community Playhouse, Dick Boyd never missed a performance as Ebenezer Scrooge in Charles Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol. When he retired at the age of 83, Boyd no longer needed makeup to play the cynical, miserly old man who is transformed at Christmas. During the play, the dramatic change in Scrooge is seen in his face, in his voice, and in his generosity. The director who selected Boyd for the role in 1976 said, “Dick was the one who best captured the joy of redemption.”

Each Christmas reminds us of God’s grace shown to us in the gift of Jesus Christ, His Son. The carols of the season reflect the psalmist’s words: “Oh, sing to the Lord a new song! For He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory. The Lord has made known His salvation; His righteousness He has revealed in the sight of the nations” (Ps. 98:1-2). Isaac Watts poetically expressed Psalm 98 in these enduring words:

Joy to the world! The Lord is come:
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And heaven and nature sing.

The evidence of God’s salvation can be seen in our faces, heard in our voices, and reflected by the works of our hands. May the joy of redemption shine through us this Christmas, and throughout the rest of the year.  David C. McCasland

You’ll have no true joy at Christmas if Christ is not in your heart.

Bible in One Year:   Micah 6-7; Revelation 13

[MEG33]

~Joy To The World~

> Amen ..Merry Christmas, Mayor

[WVNan]

Great thread and pictures, Dolly. I loved the Christmas cookie recipe you sent me too. LOL. Just want to wish everyone a blessed Christmas. I talked to Maggie's husband this morning for about an hour. He is building a house across the way from his daughter, so he is keeping very busy. He seems to be doing okay so far, but he misses Maggie and talks about how she is still arranging everything in his life. That's not so strange. I think she arranged for me to become "Auntie" to Nattie Shea. The problem is that it's been soooooo long since I had to advise a 14 year old, I've forgotten how.

MERRY CHRISTMAS ALL!!!!

[The Mayor]

Merry Christmas to you both...

Good to see you Nan.

[MEG33]

(((Hugs)))Merry Christmas,Nan!.. Thank you for an update on Maggie's husband, Da Bear..I am so glad he is keeping busy and will be close to his daughter.

I don't think 14 year old girls are so great with advise..but I recall my daughter did absorb more than I used to think she did at age 14..LOL.

[WVNan]

Hi you two. Good to see you. I'm trying to wind down after the whirlwind of the season. I have almost all my shopping done and only have to wrap 9,000 gifts. LOL. Don't anybody faint, I'M COOKING!. Just finished two pumpkin pies and now have pumpkin bread in the oven. I made blueberry muffins this afternoon for one of my neighbors. Have two neighbors to go yet. One of them may get ham. Ha. Too much time in the kitchen gives me hives.

Is all well with you? I've been so out of touch, I know. It's been a tough year, but the Lord has been good to me, seeing me through as always. I saw someplace a request to pray for Kayak. Can anyone tell me what is going on with her?

[WVNan]

Oh, Nattie Shea is much smarter than the average 14 year old. She has been home-schooled. She's smarter than I am, so it's pretty hard to give her advice. I mostly just listen to her and tell her stories about the "olden" days.

[MEG33]

I found the update on kayak and pinged you to it.. It is not good. Prayers .

I have said thank you, Lord, so often this year..I feel so blessed.I have been back at my own house since June..did a LOT of scrubbing and trimming..and had the whole family for Thanksgiving..I have had a wonderful time being home and now have a kitty, a rescue from when I was at my daughter's..I am back at my daughter's for Christmas. We are playing my kind of Christmas music and just hanging out..My Navy grandson is out searching for a gift for his dad..all is well! They are in the midst of reroofing, new windows, new siding and so it is sometimes chaotic but we are enjoying. Be careful in the kitchen, Nan!

[DollyCali]

Hi Nan.(if you are still around)...good to see you drop in for a bit.

I am off for some dinner soon.

Insane day at computer(singing the HTML blues).. at least the Singles thread didn't cause the havoc the Finest did..but it was a simpler thread. And not to have a slacking PM I had a 2 hour lost dog scare again.

[Diver Dave]

Great Christmas Train presentation, Dolly.

We took one of our grandsons on a Christmas Train ride a couple years ago on the Sierra Northern RR out of Oakdale, CA (just east of here). Lotsa fun!

[The Mayor]

The Mrs and I just got back from shopping, we are done, I think. We have missed you, I have been here daily but most just to post coffee. I post when I can, very busy with work and politics as always.

Good to see you and God Bless, please pass our concerns to Bernie and family.

[The Mayor]

December 23, 2006

A Baby Boy

READ: Luke 2:8-14

[Mary] brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths. —Luke 2:7

The full-page advertisement in the newspaper caught my eye immediately. Near the top of the light-blue page was the silhouette of a star. In the center of the page were the words:

It’s a boy.

Luke 2:11 was printed across the bottom of the page: “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord” (niv).

This simple message—it’s a boy—proclaimed the indescribable gift of a Savior who came to earth as a baby. Why did He do it?

We needed God to send Jesus. Because of our sin, we were separated from a holy God (Rom. 3:23). A perfect Savior and mediator was needed to bring us back together. Only God could restore the relationship.

God wanted to send Jesus. He loved us so much that He gave His Son (John 3:16) so that our relationship could be restored. Jesus was the only One who could meet His demand for a perfect sacrifice—only He was sinless (Heb. 9:11-15). He willingly gave Himself on the cross. God accepted that sacrifice and raised Him from the dead.

Because of our need and His love, God the Father gave us the gift of Jesus the Son. Accept His gift today—it’s free.

Rejoice, O soul, the debt is paid,
For all our sins on Christ were laid;
We’ve been redeemed, we’re justified—
And all because the Savior died.  —D. De Haan

Jesus died that we might live.

Bible in One Year:   Nahum 1-3; Revelation 14

[MEG33]

~O Come Let Us Adore Him~

[ConorMacNessa]

Beautiful Post, MEG!

[ConorMacNessa]

May the Blessings and Joys of Christmas Descend upon President and Mrs. George W. Bush and Sustain Them through the New Year

[luvie]

That is just beautiful, Conor!

God bless and keep you and your family....and also our president's family!

Merry Christmas!

[Majie Purple]

[luvie]

~Michael Franks~
I Bought You A Plastic Star For Your Aluminum Christmas Tree

Island Christmas

Mannheim Steamroller~Silver Bells


EVERYONE