A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....08-23,24-03....Week in Review

Mama_Bear

[Mama_Bear]

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.

On Mondays please visit us to see photos of A FEW OF FR'S VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

If you have a suggestion, or an idea, or if there's a FReeper you would like to see featured, please drop one of us a note in FR mail.

We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie, Mama_Bear, dansangel, dutchess, Aquamarine, FreeTheHostages ~

To Our FReeper FRiends: We hope you've been having as much fun as we have with our essays and/or spotlight on various FReepers. We thought we'd kick back on the weekends and simply review the features of the week. If you missed seeing them and want to say hello there now, feel free to click on the link to that particular thread. If you'd like to drop in and out of this thread today and tomorrow, please feel free to do that also. One of us will always be around to see the welcome mat is still out, and maybe even put fresh flowers on the table. ~ Billie

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"Getting to Know You"

THIS WEEK'S THREADS


08-18-03 Military Monday................................................. BILLIE

08-19-03 Finest Pets on Vacation.................. DUTCHESS/GIZMO

08-20-03 FReepercise!........................................... DANSANGEL

08-21-03 John's Two Cents.... JOHNHUANG2/BILLIE/DUTCHESS

08-22-03 Nevada - "Battle Born!".......................... MAMA_BEAR

Have a wonderful weekend!

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.
3) In the next box enter your name in the "Calendar Text" field and then click on submit.
4) If any of the screens fail to load simply click on refresh in your browser and that will usually fix it.
5) If all else fails or simply if you want me to do this for you send me a FReepmail and I will gladly do it for you. ~Mixer

[Calpernia]

How is your daughter?

[Calpernia]

[LadyX]

Hi to you, Calpernia..:))

Was MIA yesterday because of a visit from my sister, on her way back to Florida, and was 'plumb tuckered' afterward . . went to bed obscenely early, which backfired, of course.

Woke at 1 - up until 5 - back to bed.

Nice to be retired, and that not matter!
The only pitter patter of little feet and screaming is from my kitty boy wanting breakfast...:))

[jwfiv]

I missed the swan, too...good catch.

Funny thing is, I had been searching swan pics on google earlier this morning, looking for a good one to post...I drifted over to cirrus clouds somehow and found the one I eventually put up.

It had a swan I didn't even see...guess i was on the right track all along...a signal for me, also.

"Pay attention," I hear a voice say...)

[Dubya]

Leighann is home from the Hosp and doing fine, thanks.

[Diver Dave]

...from a recently received e-mail...

God Lives Under My Bed

Don't start reading this one until you've got more than 3 or 4 minutes to just "scan" over it. It deserves some time for reflection.


My brother Kevin thinks God lives under his bed. At least that's what I heard him say one night. He was praying out loud in his dark bedroom, and I stopped outside his closed door to listen. "Are you there, God?" he said. "Where are
you? Oh, I see. Under the bed." I giggled softly and tiptoed off to my own room.

Kevin's unique perspectives are often a source of amusement. But that night something else lingered long after the humor. I realized for the first time the very different world Kevin lives in. He was born 30 years ago, mentally disabled as a result of difficulties during labor. Apart from his size (he's 6-foot-2), there are few ways in which he is an adult. He reasons and communicates with the capabilities of a 7-year-old, and he always will. He will probably always
believe that God lives under his bed, that Santa Claus is the one who fills the space under our tree every Christmas, and that airplanes stay up in the sky because angels carry them.

I remember wondering if Kevin realizes he is different. Is he ever dissatisfied with his monotonous life? Up before dawn each day, off to work at a workshop for the disabled, home to walk our cocker spaniel, return to eat his favorite
macaroni-and-cheese for dinner, and later to bed. The only variation in the entire scheme are laundry, when he hovers excitedly over the washing machine like a mother with her newborn child. He does not seem dissatisfied. He lopes out to the bus every morning at 7:05, eager for a day of simple work. He wrings his hands excitedly while he boils water on the stove before dinner, and he stays up late twice a week to gather our dirty laundry for his next day's laundry chores.

And Saturdays -- oh, the bliss of Saturdays! That's the day my Dad takes Kevin to the airport to have a soft drink, watch the planes land, and speculate loudly on the destination of each passenger inside. "That one's goin' to Chi-car-go!" Kevin shouts as he claps his hands. His anticipation is so great he can hardly sleep on Friday nights. And so goes his world of daily rituals and weekend field trips. He doesn't know what it means to be discontent. His life is simple. He will never know the entanglements of wealth or power, and he does not care what brand of clothing he wears or what kind of food he has. His needs have always been met, and he never worries that one day they may not be. His hands are diligent. Kevin is never so happy as when he is working. When he unloads the dishwasher or vacuums the carpet, his heart is completely in it. He does not shrink from a job when it is begun, and he does not leave a job until it is finished.

But when his tasks are done, Kevin knows how to relax. He is not obsessed with his work or the work of others. His heart is pure. He still believes everyone tells the truth, promises must be kept, and when you are wrong, you
apologize instead of argue. Free from pride and unconcerned with appearances, Kevin is not afraid to cry when he is hurt, angry or sorry. He is always transparent, always sincere. And he trusts God. Not confined by intellectual reasoning, when he comes to Christ, he comes as a child. Kevin seems to know God - to really be friends with Him in a way that is difficult for an "educated" person to grasp. God seems like his closest companion.

In my moments of doubt and frustrations with my Christianity, I envy the security Kevin has in his simple faith. It is then that I am most willing to admit that he has some divine knowledge that rises above my mortal questions. It is when I realize that perhaps he is not the one with the handicap ... I am. My obligations, my fear, my pride, my circumstances -- they all become disabilities when I do not trust them to God's care. Who knows if Kevin comprehends things I can never learn?

After all, he has spent his whole life in that kind of innocence, praying after dark and soaking up the goodness and love of God. And one day, when the mysteries of heaven are opened, and we are all amazed at how close God really is to our hearts, I'll realize that God heard the simple prayers of a boy who believed that God lived under his bed. Kevin won't be surprised at all!

When you receive this, say a prayer. That's all you have to do. There is nothing attached. This is powerful. Prayer is one of the best free gifts we receive. There is no cost, but a lot of rewards.

FRIENDS ARE ANGELS WHO LIFT US TO OUR FEET WHEN OUR WINGS HAVE TROUBLE REMEMBERING HOW TO FLY

"If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it."

[LadyX]

"Leighann is home from the Hosp and doing fine, thanks."

What wonderful news, Dubya!
How meriful our Father is, hearing the prayers of loved ones and friends . . .

We give thanks, Lord, for Your healing touch on this situation, and for Your unceasing love.
Amen.

[lonestar]

lonestar had a dogless leash once, but never an imaginary dog.

Weinie :)

[LadyX]

A wondrous story, Dave - a wondrous message - - -

May we also achieve that place where we listen to and see Him with such clarity, and behold the pure magnificence of His love.....

~ ~ ~ Rejoice !! ~ ~ ~

[Dubya]

I have tears running down my face. I am passing this one own.

[Dubya]

Thanks Maggie. She is so happy that the pain is almost gone.

[Calpernia]

Glad you had a great visit with your sister! Matter of fact, I do remember you posting that she was going to visit now.

How is Binky?

[dixie sass]

He will be here until...

It's good to have him home for a while. He left the hospital today and is typically male in that he thinks he can go out and lick the world now.

I think tomorrow he will have learned he can't. Men!!!!!!

[dixie sass]

I will. I'll tell him he has to call all of his friends in California and vote for Weinie!

[dixie sass]

Lol, I told him that he would have to make up a really good story for his ladies so that they would pamper him.

His reaction? Mommmmmmmmmm, I'm not gonna do that! He'll find out...

[lonestar]

I'll tell him he has to call all of his friends in California and vote for Weinie!

WHAT???? You have to live in California to vote? I've been wasting money buying votes in the other 49 states?

Weinie

[Calpernia]

Here are some great swan pics for you (click the swan to hear it's call):

Tundra Swan

Abbotsbury Swan (no sound file)

Bewick's Swan

Mute Swan

Unknown Swan Species (Black Swan sound loaded)

Trumpeter Swan<

Tundra Swan

[Calpernia]

VERY glad to hear that! I'm sure you are relieved!

[Calpernia]

ROFL!!!!

[Temple Owl]

Okay dutchess. Ink is here by my side looking longingly for a piece of cheese. She will get it. Tell Giz thanks.