A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day - HAPPY THANKSGIVING!....11-28 thru 12-01-02

Billie and Mama_Bear

[Mama_Bear]

As we come together with family and friends and bow our heads in thanksgiving, let us remember our servicemen and women who are far from home during the holidays. In remembering them, let us also give thanks for the sacrifices of their families who will have an empty chair at their Thanksgiving table this year. Let us be ever mindful of our freedoms and the price that has been paid, and continues to be paid, in order to preserve them.

This Thanksgiving Prayer, by Kathryn Kay, is thought to be the poem which inspired President John F. Kennedy's most memorable words:

"Ask not what your country can do for you,
ask what you can do for your country."

Thanksgiving Prayer

God, ev'ry year about this time,
according to routine,
I've bowed my head in the accepted way
and offered thanks, like some well synchronized machine
that prayed because it was the time to pray.
But, God, this year is different, this year I seem to feel
America's Thanksgiving is my own,
that in my nation's gratitude I have a part that's real,
a part that until now I've never known.
And, God, this year a deep humility has filled my heart,
a newborn pride rings true thruout my soul
because I do belong, because I have and am a part,
a tiny part of one tremendous whole.

I think I know the feeling of those first Americans
who said, "We must give thanks for this, our land."
I cherish now the rights that are each woman's, ev'ry man's,
the rights I've just begun to understand.
This year my heart has learned
what all Thanksgiving Days are for,
true thankfulness at last I realize,
but, God, I'm sorry that it took the tragedy of war
in other lands to open up my eyes.
Again I bow my head but this time deep within me stirs
a mighty prayer, part of one vast design,
"God, help me make America as proud that I am hers—
as I am proud, and grateful she is mine!"

"Thanksgiving Prayer" was published
in Kay's book "If the Shoe Fits" in early November, 1941.

In 1789, the father of our country, George Washington,
issued the first official Thanksgiving Day proclamation.

"Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God --- to obey His will --- to be grateful for His benefits --- and humbly to implore His protection and favour: And whereas both Houses have, by their joint committee, requested me "to recommend to the people of the United States a DAY of PUBLIC THANKSGIVING and PRAYER, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favours of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:"

NOW THEREFORE, I do recommend and assign THURSDAY, the TWENTY-SIXTH DAY of NOVEMBER next, to be devoted by the people of these States, to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be That we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favourable interpositions of His Providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; --- for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed; --- for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish Constitutions of Government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted; --- for the civil and religious Liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; --- and, in general, for all the great and various favours which He hath been pleased to confer upon us.

And also, That we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations, and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; --- to enable us all, whether in publick or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us); and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and generally, to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.

GIVEN under my hand, at the city of New York, the third day of October, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine.

(signed) G. Washington"

Thanksgiving is a time for counting blessings,
for drawing near to family and friends,
and for sharing the bounty of God's gifts.

Our cup runneth over; for this,
Lord, we give thanks this day.

During this Thanksgiving weekend, if you have a moment, please sit down at our table and share what you are especially thankful for, what Thanksgiving means to you, or a special holiday story, recipe or memory. There is always plenty of room at our holiday table for our Finest FRiends.

Turkey In The Straw
Over The River And Through The Woods
Colors Of The Wind
Old Home Place
Amazing Grace
Give Thanks




Stop by and say hello when you can.
Our regular "A Few of FR's Finest" thread will return on Monday.

THIS WEEK'S THREADS

11-25-02 The Guild
11-26-02 wirestripper
11-27-02 Carlo3b



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

A reminder from Billie...

[ST.LOUIE1]

[Mixer]

Oh my gosh I am so honored to be in the picture. Thank you so much.

Here's to hoping that everyone had a great Thanksgiving and is enjoying the rest of the extended weekend. Sorry I do not have my full ping list on this PC so if I forgot anyone it wasn't intentional...I dont even have my letters here : (

Happy "FReeper Anniversary" to Billie!!!!

Matt - Mixer

[lodwick]

Outstanding leftovers! Thanks for the smile.

[ST.LOUIE1]

Oh my gosh I am so honored to be in the picture.

You're not hard to please, Mix! : )

And what would the Finst pups be without ya?

[ST.LOUIE1]

I'll see what I can do about Billie rubbin' your belly. : )

[ST.LOUIE1]

Happy "FReeper Anniversary" BillieBlue! : )

You've made FR the 'Finest' place on the net!

And you're pretty, too. : )

[ST.LOUIE1]

C'mon, fuzzy, stop munchin' leftovers and show yourself. : )

[Billie]

Happy "FReeper Anniversary" BillieBlue! : )
You've made FR the 'Finest' place on the net!
And you're pretty, too. : )

I'm going backwards in "My Comments" - thank you for the Anniversary wishes! Thank you for the compliment, and thank you for the other compliment! :)

Hope you had a great day yesterday - now it's leftover time! (they're almost always better the next day!)

Need a hug? :)

((((((((((((((WOLFIE)))))))))))))

[Billie]

Thanks, Mix! Hope you had a great Thanksgiving!

Louie! Those pups are the CUTEST things!!!!!! I love 'em! You guys are too much!

[MeekOneGOP]

heh heh ! I love it.

Uh-oh ! Who let the dogs out? .....

[Billie]

Hi, daisy - am glad you're feeling better today - stay in and rest this weekend - we need you next week! LOL!

[Billie]

Good afternoon, ladtx. 1969 again was the hardest hit year on this date with six losses. Thank you again for reminding us to be thankful for heros like this.

[Billie]

Hi, BWB - thank you for those very special words, and so glad you and yours had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day yesterday.

Daisy and I loved featuring the Guild Monday. Am glad that so many of you could enjoy it with us. :)

[firewalk]

Happy Friday everyone

[Billie]

Hi, Misty - am SO glad you were lurking on Carlo's thread and found many of the recipes helpful! They all sounded yummy!

[MistyCA]

They WERE yummy! I tried all but the last one...I just don't have enough room here yet, plus I don't have all my kitchen stuff! Not even a decent sized mixing bowl! :) So I was pretty lucky to be able to do the first three! It was well worth the effort! :)

[lodwick]

In Memorial

Eldon S. Riley, Colonel, USAF,Retired
1.4.1922 - 11.28.2002 RIP

My dear father-in-law can now soar with the angels
and truly touch the face of G*d.

[Mama_Bear]

So glad to hear you are doing better Daisy. It's awful to be sick during the holidays. Get well (((((((((hugs))))))))).

Just because (((((((hugs)))))))) to you, AngelFriend.

Billie, this is your special Anniversary day. Gosh, gal.....you are just about older than dirt around here. LOL!! ;-)

Today is the day we traditionally decorate the house for Christmas........but I can't do a THING until I locate my Mannheim Steamroller Christmas CDs......and I can't find them anywhere. I have to have my music and hot chocolate to set the mood.......THEN I can start decorating. :-)

Have a wonderful day, everyone!

[Mudboy Slim]

"Thanks, Mix! Hope you had a great Thanksgiving!"

HAPPY DAY-AFTER-THANKSGIVING, y'all!! Did you ever see the Beatles' "A Hard Day's Night"?! Remember the old fella...Paul's GrandPa...well, they called him "quite a mixer" 'cuz he liked stirrin' the pot!! That should be everyone's goal, IMHO...MUD

[Mudboy Slim]

ROFL..."No Songs Today"...LOL, musta be the gawldurned triptafan!!

My Skins blew it...it's over now, I'm in mourning...MUD