A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....10-28-02

dansangel and Billie

[dansangel]

A Few of FR's Finest.....
......Every Day

FR is a Treasure Trove of talented, compassionate, patriotic, wonderful people who gather every day to discuss the latest news and issues;  salute
and support our military and our leaders;  tell a few jokes;  learn a new
word;  write poetry;  pray for those in need;  and congratulate those who
are deserving. Thank you, Jim Robinson, for giving us the vehicle in which
we can express ourselves.

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.  I
can remember lurking when there were only a few regulars who posted, and now there are over 60,000 who have registered for posting privileges. 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 November 11, 2001

So many people have written me since my original Veteran's Day Tribute, asking how they, or a loved one, could be included in that tribute. Since I can no longer add the photos to the body of the thread, I've been including them in additional posts as I received enough to make another collage.

Still that doesn't seem to be enough. I think there's never been a better nor more appropriate time to keep the faces of our own Veterans and Active Military in front of FReepers--every day! That's why I wanted to do yet another Daily Thread .....ABOUT FReepers .....and FOR FReepers. But not only about our Military FReepers; for all FReepers! Wouldn't it be nice to get to know a few of the other FReepers as well? That's why, in addition to seeing FR's Finest Military Personnel every day, I thought it might be fun to feature a different FReeper (or FReepers) each day. If you would like to be pictured, or know someone who would, please FReepmail me and we'll turn the spotlight - on YOU - for the day!

And do let me know if you'd like your picture added to the groups of Veterans/Active Military below. I will keep this page updated, and continue to add them to the comment section of the original Veteran's Day thread as well.

TOP: Logos, SwedeGirl's hubby, Neil E Wright, FallGuy, 1John, Sneakypete
MIDDLE:  T'wit, COB1, LadyX, Dick Bachert, 68-69TonkinGulfYatchClub
BOTTOM:  YankeeinSC, Delta21, JoeSixPack1

TOP:  Bosniajmc, AFVetGal, Archy, A Navy Vet

MIDDLE:  4TheFlag, Aeronaut, 68Grunt, Xinga

BOTTOM:  Codger, AAABest, Clinton's A Liar, Duke809, dcwusmc

TOP:  mc5cents, Norb2569, LBGA's son, VanJenerette

MIDDLE:  Jim Robinson, KJenerette, davidosborne, KG9Kid

BOTTOM:  gwmoore, Equality7-2521, SAMWolf

TOP:  porgygirl, Phil V., MudPuppy, NorCoGOP

MIDDLE:  RaceBannon, OneidaM, rdb3, jwTexian

BOTTOM:  USMC Vet, TheMayor, Vineyard, rhododogma

TOP:  spectr17, RightOnline, SERE_Doc, Tet68

MIDDLE:  FutureSnakeEater, RightOnline's wife, CIApilot, Clamper1797
BOTTOM:  usmcobra, onedoug, DiverDave, Joe6-pack

                     

Salvation Freeper since December 19, 2000

Salvation was born and raised in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. She attended elementary, high school and two years of college there. After earning her Associate's Degree in Education, she taught second and third grades in Dix, NE. A few years later, she wound up moving to California, near Anaheim, and it was there that she met her husband-to-be on a blind date. They were married a year and a half later and moved to the Bay area.

During the next few years, Salvation's husband Dave worked first as an auditor for the Federal Home Loan Bank Board and then as Controller for what was then called Central California Federal Savings and Loan in the main office in Auburn, CA. Also during this time, Salvation had given birth to three girls and a boy. While Controller for Central California Federal, Dave had the pleasure of meeting Ronald Reagan during a trail ride on horseback sponsored by his employer.

Ronald Reagan, lovingly rendered by our own Billie (c)2001.

Desiring a change, Salvation and her husband flew to Salem, OR to look at a child care center that was for sale. They decided to purchase the child care center, licensed for 50 children with a staff of five adults and two teacher aides, usually high schoolers. Two years after moving there, their youngest son was born. Salvation's husband Dave worked for the State of Oregon as a fiscal analyst for the Child and Protective Services. He also handled all the bookkeeping for their daycare center.

What appeared on the surface as a life of bliss as parents and business-owners, in reality caused stress leading to the request for a divorce by Dave. Salvation signed them both up for a Marriage Encounter weekend without Dave's knowledge. He consented to go, however, when the weekend was finally scheduled. It turned their marriage around. Subsequently, they went for training to be a presenting team couple for Marriage Encounter weekends - as if they didn't already have enough on their plates! They did that for about five years, and also presented several Family Weekend Experiences for families in the Salem area.

Their children were active in Little League; Dave served as League president and umpired games for the region. In high school, their daughters were involved in Spanish Club, dance team and soccer. The boys went out for football and wrestling. During this time Dave was also the campaign treasurer for several Republican candidates in local elections. Salvation says she was "still too busy to get into the politics of it all, however."

Then, in 1985, as Salvation puts it, "the big bomb hit. It may as well have been a bomb, because I was devastated. We found out that my husband had lung cancer in April and he died the last week of August of that year. I am thankful that the Lord gave me those four months, don't get me wrong."

It was a year later that Salvation attended her first Beginning Experience weekend. She returned a year after that for another weekend and relates that her life has never been the same. It was as though God was preparing her for her next painful experiences. Over the next 6 years she experienced four more deaths in her immediate family. Drawing on her strength and her deep faith in God, she became an active member in her Catholic parish (Disciples in Mission) and during Lent she is on the Pastoral Council.

This all leads up to Salvation joining Free Republic. She credits her late husband with her Republican "conversion." She was brought up in a Democratic family who believed in government subsidies for farmers. Dave helped her to see that the subsidies, by and large, did not really help the farmers at all, while taxing all of the other citizens of the nation.

Salvation's actual Free Republic membership began by lurking during the hearings after the presidential election and the subsequent Democratic election fraud fiasco in Florida. She ended up tiring of being a lurker and signed up. She is pro-life and anti-government-takeover of privately-owned land. As a former business-owner (she no longer owns the daycare center, having sold it in 1991), Salvation feels that when a person's income depends on the land they own (such as in the farmlands surround the Klamath Basin in Southern Oregon), "it is vital that we all stand up and speak out."

Salvation is proud to be a Roman Catholic and contributes to threads in the religion forum on a regular basis. She also posts the "Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings" on FR each day and the "Sunday Mass Readings" on Sunday. She also tries to post the "Radio Address by the President to the Nation" each Saturday morning but is not always so successful in getting it posted. She says that is due to her "laziness," but with all of her accomplishments and raising 5 children to boot, it is very difficult to believe the word "lazy" even exists in her vocabulary.

Salvation's five children are all grown and live in Chicago, Phoenix, Cornelius, OR, Salem, OR and her youngest son is a student at Portland State. Salvation also has "three and almost four" grandchildren. Two grandsons are in Phoenix and a granddaughter is in Cornelius. Salvation feels it is important that "I also try to enjoy the each day as the Lord gives it to me. Smell the flowers, gaze at the sunset."

Finally, Salvation cites the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi as her favorite:

~Prayer of St. Francis~

Lord, make me and instrument of your peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are both to eternal life.

St. Francis of Assisi.

Please join me in giving another deserving FReeper a warm welcome to FR's Finest...

Today that Finest is
Salvation!

THIS WEEK'S THREADS

10-26, 27-02 "A Few Of FR's Finest" Weekend Thread

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 an FReepmail and I will gladly do it for you. ~Mixer

[Pippin]

Howdy, Mixer!

[Billie]

dansangel,
How appropriate for someone named 'angel' to create such a beautiful and spiritual layout - your background and color choices and graphics are absolutely breathtaking.

Salvation, it is so nice to meet you and read your story, and hope that you have a wonderful day today as others get to meet and greet you, too. :)

FR is truly blessed to call you one of their own.

[Pippin]

Howdy, Billie!

I'm a full-fledged freeper now! :^)

[Billie]

Hi, Pippin - I'm just getting here to read the thread and need to start at the beginning, but since we usually 'miss' each other, and I saw your post at the top of my comments page, though I'd say hello to you and then go back to the beginning.

What makes you a full-fledged FReeper now? You already were one! :)

I'll be back to your answer in a bit) :)

[Billie]

Hi, Pippin - I'm just getting here to read the thread and need to start at the beginning, but since we usually 'miss' each other, and I saw your post at the top of my comments page, thought I'd say hello to you and then go back to the beginning.

What makes you a full-fledged FReeper now? You already were one! :)

I'll be back to your answer in a bit) :)

[Pippin]

I was at the Patriot's Rally in DC on Saturday with the DC chapter of FreeRepublic. It was awesome!

I was there when thr Iraqi's came! :^)

[dansangel]

Thank-you for coming by, Gerish! Yes, it certainly doesn't hurt to be reminded of how important the Lord is in our lives. We are fortunate to have people like Salvation to keep reminding us!

[Pippin]

Today is thr feast day of Sts. Simon and Jude. Check out Salvation's thread for today were she has today's mass readings.

[lodwick]

[dansangel]

No thanks are necessary, Salvation. It is all my pleasure!

[Billie]

I missed the weekend thread and wanted to say hello to you all and to thank you for just being the great FReepers you are.....and for being here almost every day. :)

     

[dansangel]

{{{{{{{{{{{{Wolfie}}}}}}}}}}}}

[Pippin]

Hi, Loddy!

great graphic! great Lady!

Happy birthday to the Statue of Liberty!

[Salvation]

Thanks, GailA, you brought my favorite, black coffee! I'll take a cup and enjoy.

[Aeronaut]

Good morning Billie.

[Salvation]

Glad to meet you, Molly Pitcher. I read your day in the limelight from earlier this month!

Congratulations to you, too!

[Salvation]

lodwick,
Thanks, but no thanks.

Waffles are not on my diet right now. (Bah!) But then I have lost over 55 pounds so I'm not complaining! LOL!

[Billie]

JL, that's a beautiful post. Let me take just a minute to ask everyone to remember and keep in prayers all those who are unable to be with us right now for whatever reason, whether it is illness on their part or a loved one's ......

Daisy had to make an unexpected trip back East due to an illness in the family, so remember her and pray for her family and for a safe return.

whoever, we still love and miss you and pray for blessings upon you.

Beep, do hope that you are resting and recovering from your recent surgery.

Meekie, we love you and miss you, too, and were pleased to hear your dad is going to be alright.

[dansangel]

This daylight savings time irritates me as it seems to me it should be called "day goes too quickly time" I totally agree!

Enough of my grouchness!

You're allowed to "vent" any time! That's what we're here for...to listen and to empathize!

Luuuvvvv the pic of all you little kittens...

That's due to our Billie's endless talent. She's great, isn't she? :-)

Enjoy your vacation, angel...rest, relax, restore...and, play a little, too.

I plan on it, jw. I think you can appreciate just how precious vacation time is!

{{{{{{{{{jwfiv}}}}}}}}}}}

I hope this cheers you up!

[Salvation]

What a darling picture.

Last Thanksgiving I answered the phones at our church for take out meals for the day. We have about 500-700 come in that day for a sit down meal.

Our big undertaking is a Christmas dinner, Coat Closet, and toys (Teddy bears and balls) for the kids. Last year we served over 1500 people dinner.

It's one of the things our church is well known for in Oregon. Feeding the hungry.