A Few Of FR's Finest....Every Day....07-23-03....Christmas In July

dansangel

[dansangel]

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, dansangel, dutchess, Mama_Bear, Aquamarine ~

And Welcome To
The Top Ten Reasons
To Have Christmas In July

LadyX mentioned her son celebrating "Christmas in July" at his workplace on one of last week's threads. That is what planted the seed for today's presentation. Sit back, relax and enjoy as I bring you the following countdown of what I believe are the top reasons for lobbying to have Christmas fall *two* times during the year.



10) This reason is the most obvious: More Presents! Now, in addition to Birthdays, Anniversaries, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Grandparent's Day, Christmas in December, etc., there will be *another* excuse during the year to receive presents.

9) Revives the economy. Tax breaks be darned! What better incentive to shop than having another gift-giving holiday in the middle of the summer?

8) Revives the medical sector's economy. Remember, along with all of the shopping, crowds, surly store clerks and flaring tempers comes hypertension and depression. This would boost office visits and sales of blood pressure medication and antidepressives exponentially.

7) An effective tool to award good behavior. Instead of threatening children with receiving coal for Christmas if bad behavior persists just once a year, the practice could continue year-round. After all, it's much easier for a child to appreciate that "Christmas is just around the corner" when, in fact, it really is!

6) A great solution for thinning out the forests. It is a well-known scientific fact that the reason so many deadly forest fires burn out of control is due to the endless source of fuel for the fires. The need for Christmas trees twice a year would help to defoliate fuel-rich forests.

5) More unwanted animals would be given homes. Puppies and kittens make great Christmas gifts. There would be a surge in pet adoptions twice a year.

4) Christmas carolers would have a much better environment to carol in. They wouldn't have to bundle up against the cold and have an extra "hot toddy" or two to keep them warm while performing for the neighborhood. Heck, they could even just show up at the neighborhood pool and sing and suntan at the same time.

3) There would be a renewed interest in fruitcake. Just imagine - instead of bringing a heavy, cumbersome watermelon to the family barbecue, one could carry a neat little compact package just full of the fruit that people crave when eating outdoors.

2) Exercise. Grown-ups everywhere would get a great work-out twice a year climbing up and down ladders to decorate, then un-decorate the house. Or, if Christmas was held twice a year, the less-motivated home-owners would have an excuse to leave the decorations up all year round. ("But, Honey, Christmas is right around the corner….again!")

And finally, the Number One reason to have Christmas in July:

1) Another opportunity to take the time to give thanks to our Savior for being born, only to willingly give up His life for our eternal salvation.

Instead of waiting for another holiday to be declared in order to praise our Lord Jesus Christ and to reflect on His short life here on Earth, let us declare *every* day Christmas. That way we will appreciate our Savior - and each other - more fully and more often.

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 07-21-03 Military Monday 07-22-03 A Few MORE of FR's Finest

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

Thanks, Mixer!

1) Click on the graphic to open the Calendar.
2) Once there you can click on any month and even click to the right to go into next year. Once you are in the month that you joined FR you will need to click on the number in the calendar and then an add item screen will come up.
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God Bless Our Military

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Below are names of some of our FReepers' loved ones who are serving our country. If you have someone you would like to add, please address a post to Billie; Dansangel; Dutchess; Mama_Bear; Aquamarine and we will add their name to this list. As we pray for them, we pray also for all our nation’s leaders, and military personnel, and their families and friends. May God hold them close to His heart.

~~~~~~~~~~   ~~~~~~~~~~

We ask Lord, that You guide the leaders of our great country in their hour of decision. The burden that has been placed on their shoulders is overwhelming. We ask that with Your infinite wisdom You guide them gently to the right decisions.

Please give us the strength, Lord, to get through each difficult and devastating day that faces each of us and our country. Protect and guide our Military that are now being called to duty, strengthen them in their trials and temptations; give them courage to face the perils which beset them; and grant them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they may be; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

OhioWfan........................son mystery-ak..........son, husband Gogrammy................grandson Inspectorette...................son Blessed American..........nephew Slip18..........................nephew anniegetyourgun...........nephew Pippin....niece,nephew,loved one Doug from Upland......son-in-law weldgophardline.....brotherinlaw Future Snake Eater..........cousin WaterDragon..son-in-law,grandson BeforeISleep...................son The Mayor........................niece LadyX.........................grandson fawn796.....................nephew ValerieUSA................2 sons Warrior Nurse...........active duty SK1 Thurman...........active duty David Osborne.........active duty fc2tomschermuly......active duty bkwells..................activve duty LongCut..................active duty Trish.......................active duty

Maigrey................cousin ladtx....................2 sons Mama_Bear...........nephew gator girl............husband severa................husband MozartLover......son, nephew LBGA........................son SpookBrat...........nephew Himyar.....................son boxerblues............2 sons the piper...................son sheeza...............husband kemathen7...........husband Diver Dave................niece deadhead................cousin JimRobinson.....2 nephews Armymarinemom.....3 sons Consort..2 daughters,son-in-law Darheel..................niece dixie sass.............nephew BeAllYouCanBe.........son AgThorn...............2 sons homeschoolmama.......nephew kneezles.................son

[LadyShallott]

Instead of waiting for another holiday to be declared in order to praise our Lord Jesus Christ and to reflect on His short life here on Earth, let us declare *every* day Christmas. That way we will appreciate our Savior - and each other - more fully and more often.
I loved that! Thank you for such wonderful words to start the day. This thread (I must admit) makes me want to make sugar cookies and cook,cook,cook! LOL. Maybe I will turn the A/C down so the "weather" will match the theme. Have a great day all. God Bless-
Chris

[dansangel]

This thread (I must admit) makes me want to make sugar cookies and cook,cook,cook! LOL.

Oooohhhh - may I come to your house? LOL!

(((((((Chris))))))))

God's blessings for you and your lovely family - and *smoochies* to Hannah!

:-)

[FreeTheHostages]

More and more we receive mail from ones like the son of ladtx outlining the rapid progress they are making in bringing the country into this century with their infrastructure, and helping establish an atmosphere not driven by fear.

God Bless Ladtx's son and all those who serve. And God Bless Jessica Lynch, who reminded us of them again yesterday.

[Pippin]

What happened to #12?

[LadyX]

*Borrowed* this recipe from The First Lady.
Turn up your air conditioner and enjoy it!

From Mrs. Bush's Kitchen …

Hot Chocolate

Ingredients
6 T. Unsweetened cocoa
6 T. Sugar
Pinch of Salt
2 1/2 cup Milk
2 1/2 cup Light Cream
1/2 t. Vanilla (or more)
Pinch of Cinnamon Powder (optional)
Whipped Cream
Orange Zest

Directions

Mix cocoa, salt, and sugar.
Add milk. Heat to dissolve.
Add light cream, cinnamon, vanilla.
Heat to just under boiling.

Mix very well and pour into warm mug.
Top with whipped cream, cocoa powder, and fine orange zest.

[FreeTheHostages]

Christmas in July: Saint Nick is careful to visit the little ones wherever they lay their head on their summer's vacation.

[FreeTheHostages]

wow, that light cream looks fattening . . . .

orange zest -- that's a nice touch!

[LadyX]

(For Hannah and Logan and Christian and other Finest children)

Here are some others who love Christmas at The White House, and in July:

Spot - Barney - India -

[LadyX]

"wow, that light cream looks fattening . . . ."

Use a different perspective, Freezie -
just substitute it for one candy bar or a handful of M&M's and enjoy it !!
LOL

[JustAmy]

Christmas in July!!!

[MeekOneGOP]

It was removed. So I sent you a Freep !

[LadyX]

Managed to whip up a few things to eat for the middle of the afternoon drop-ins:

[JustAmy]

I need a freepmail too!!!

[MedProf]

Hi Mom (and the world!)

I have indeed been following the thread today. I'm thrilled that you're having as much fun as we did last week here at the office. Outside of December, we too often forget to remember our friends, family, and co-workers in the spirit that Christmas was meant to be.

God bless one and all!

[MeekOneGOP]

LOL !! Okay. You've got TWO Freep 's !!

[JustAmy]

Thanks Meekie!!!!

[LadyX]

Aha!
The Instigator surfaces - or should I say Insta-Gator to you down there in Florida?!

It was a perfect fit for us here in The Finest Family Room where we congregate daily to support our veterans and active military and America and its best and well - finest thngs..:))

It is reassuring to know ones like you hold the torch high in a world that needs guidance and and caring, always looking to Him.

Adding what lies at the bottom of your mail signature:

* Character is doing the right thing even when no one is looking *

Big Smile and {{{HUGS }}} from Mom..:))))

[LadyX]

(reminding self to pay attention when one edits - one 'and' is sufficient)

[LadyShallott]

Oh you are a wonderful friend! Thank you so much for the great recipe. I will think of you and The First Lady when we make it. I so love the autumn and winter weather. It makes me want the snow to start falling. God Bless Lady!
Chris

[LadyShallott]

To go with the hot chocolate, enjoy! :)

Gingerbread Cookies

1/2 pound margarine, softened
1-1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup molasses
1-1/2 teaspoons ginger
1-1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
3 teaspoons baking soda
3-1/2 cups flour
Directions
In an electric mixer, cream margarine and sugar until light. Add eggs and molasses. Mix until well blended. Add ginger, cinnamon, baking soda, and flour. Mix on low speed just until blended. Wrap dough in plastic and refrigerate overnight.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Roll dough out onto a lightly floured surface, about 1/8-inch thick. Using a cookie cutter, cut dough into desired shapes. Place cookies onto parchment-lined cookie sheet, spacing each about 2 inches apart.
Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until evenly browned. Remove cookie sheet from the oven. Using a metal spatula, remove cookies from the cookie sheet and place on a wire cooling rack. Cool completely.
*Decorate, if desired, with cookie decorating frosting, using a pastry bag fitted with tip #5