A Few Of FR's Finest....Every Day....11-27-03 thru 11-30-03....Happy Thanksgiving To The Finest

Mama_Bear | 11-27-03 | Mama_Bear

[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.

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 ~

Thanksgiving
by Edgar Guest

GETTIN' together to smile an' rejoice,
An' eatin' an' laughin' with folks of your choice;
An' kissin' the girls an' declarin' that they
Are growin more beautiful day after day;
Chattin' an' braggin' a bit with the men,
Buildin' the old family circle again;
Livin' the wholesome an' old-fashioned cheer,
Just for awhile at the end of the year.

Greetings fly fast as we crowd through the door
And under the old roof we gather once more
Just as we did when the youngsters were small;
Mother's a little bit grayer, that's all.
Father's a little bit older, but still
Ready to romp an' to laugh with a will.
Here we are back at the table again
Tellin' our stories as women an men.

Bowed are our heads for a moment in prayer;
Oh, but we're grateful an' glad to be there.
Home from the east land an' home from the west,
Home with the folks that are dearest an' best.
Out of the sham of the cities afar
We've come for a time to be just what we are.
Here we can talk of ourselves an' be frank,
Forgettin' position an' station an' rank.

Give me the end of the year an' its fun
When most of the plannin' an' toilin' is done;
Bring all the wanderers home to the nest,
Let me sit down with the ones I love best,
Hear the old voices still ringin' with song,
See the old faces unblemished by wrong,
See the old table with all of its chairs
An I'll put soul in my Thanksgivin' prayers.

In searching for a Thanksgiving prayer, I came across this from last year. I don't think I could find anything more fitting to include in this years Thanksgiving presentation. Thank you, Michelle Malkin, for this.....

November 27, 2002

By Michelle Malkin

Dear Heavenly Father,

As we gather together to count our blessings, 381 years after the first Thanksgiving Day, we realize how little appreciation we have expressed for this thy bounty:

For sunbeams and sunsets and sun-kissed cheeks, for rainbows and raindrops and rain sticks, for mountain dew and prairie frost, for harvest moons and shooting stars, we give thee praise.

For Blueberry Hill and Blackberry Creek, for Apple Valley and Orange County, for Plum Borough and Peachtree City, for Pineapple Park and Coconut Grove, we give thee praise.

For coal miners and construction workers, for truckers and bakers, for mail sorters and short-order cooks, for ranch hands and stage hands, for accountants who keep honest books, for politicians who keep their promises, for stay-at-home moms and double-shift dads, we give thee praise.

O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come, we thank you this day for "Proud to Be an American" and "These Colors Don't Run," for "Let Freedom Ring" and "Of Thee I Sing," for "Every Heart Beats True" and for "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue."

For Purple Hearts and Bronze Stars, for Green Berets and Gold Stripes, for the 10th Mountain Division and the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, for the KC-130 Crew and the 101st Airborne Division, for the soldiers and SEALS and special forces who made the ultimate sacrifice this year, and for all who continue to protect and to serve, we give thee praise.

For the Border Patrol and citizens on patrol, for the National Guard and Guardian Angels, for the USO and the VFW, we thank you, O God, our creator and redeemer.

For the Pentagon rebuilt and Ground Zero restored and the faith of a nation renewed, for "Semper Paratus" and "Non sibi sed patriae," for "Never forget" and "Never surrender," for freedom from fear and freedom to dream, for free minds and free markets, for freedom with responsibility, we give thee praise.

For the Song of Solomon and the Prayer of St. Francis, for "the Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer," for "without vision we perish," for Proverbs 28, for John 3:16, for "The Old Rugged Cross," for "The Solid Rock," and for "What a Friend We Have in Jesus," we offer eternal thanks.For "All men are created equal," for "Tear down this wall," for "Ask not what your country can do for you," for "Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty," for "I swear to uphold the laws and Constitution of the United States of America, against all enemies foreign and domestic," we give thee praise.

For iron will, for steely resolve, for mettle tested and time-worn, for uncommon valor that never sleeps, for steady hands, sturdy legs, broad shoulders, and level heads, for stiff upper lips, for blood, sweat and tears, for conquering our fears, and for unbending courage in the face of the unknown, we give thee praise.

O Father, we come to thee on this national day to join with heart and voice all the people of our blessed land to honor and thank thee. We ask you, Lord, as our forefathers did in times of strife, "to inspire our commanders both by land and sea, and all under them, with that wisdom and fortitude which may render them fit instruments, under the providence of Almighty God, to secure for these United States the greatest of all blessings: independence and peace."

For precious life itself in this great nation—under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all—we thank thee, O Father. Amen.

Michelle Malkin is author of Invasion: How America Still Welcomes Terrorists, Criminals, and Other Foreign Menaces to Our Shores. Click here for Michelle Malkin's website.

Copyright 2002 Creators Syndicate, INC.

This holiday thread will run through Sunday, November 30th.
Please drop by when time permits and share a cup of fellowship
with us. New FRiends and old FRiends are always welcome at
our cyber table. So, pull up a chair ~ we are glad you are here.

We now return to our regularly scheduled program...

To you and your family,
from the "Finest" hostesses ~
Billie, Mama_Bear, Dansangel, Dutchess, Aquamarine

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 11-24-03...Military Monday 11-25-03...Countdown To The Holidays 11-26-03...Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse

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

Click on the photo to view the album. To
submit your photo, please contact danangel or .45man at danbh59@yahoo.com
and include Freeper Photo Album in subject line.

[MEG33]

May your Thanksgiving day be blessed!

[xp38]

Happy Thanksgiving to all.

[dansangel]

Thank you (((((((Spookie))))))))

A very Blessed and Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours, as well. Make it a great day! :-)

[dansangel]

A Very Blessed and Happy Thanksgiving to you and your loved ones, as well (((((xp38)))))

[SpookBrat]

What are y'all doing right now? I guess I'll get up since everyone else around this place is smart and slept in. LOL I can't sleep in. My brain wakes up early. Guess I'll get off here and go finish getting ready. I had to make a second pecan pie this morning because the other one had an accident last night.

Love and hugs!

Oh, Dansangel, will you be passing through Jax on your way this holiday season? I empathize with your longing to "go home". I feel the same way about Texas. Sniff.

[Teacup]

Here's wishing everyone a great and Happy Thanksgiving. Now, I'm off to start all the cooking, watch some football, and eat.

[dansangel]

(((((Teacup))))))

A Blessed and Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours - enjoy your day (it sounds like you have plans to do exactly that!)

[dansangel]

My brain wakes up early.

Mine, too, usually. But, .45MAN actually had to get me up at 7 to post - I'm *shocked* I tell ya! :-)

Oh, Dansangel, will you be passing through Jax on your way this holiday season? I empathize with your longing to "go home". I feel the same way about Texas. Sniff.

Actually, we come straight down I-75. I prefer I-95, but it's out of the way by an hour or so, and every hour counts when our total trip is 10 hours.

I pray you'll be able to return to TX one day. Like you, I know what being homesick feels like!

.45MAN is starting his "killer" dressing - it sure smells good here! We're just having a turkey breast, but he's doing it up "Texas-Style" - LOL!

[MEG33]

I'm not cooking,I just clean up the kitchen today!I know what it's like to want to go home for the holidays!Your pecan pie had an accident...humans eating accident?

One year when I lived in California I made a a lemon pudding cake in a Bundt pan and forgot to flour the pan.The result was what I called Earthquake cake when I turned over the pan to remove the cake.

[dixie sass]

Have a wonderful day. Off to the cousins to help with the aunt and have some good food!

Hugs to all of the finest - May the LORD bless you and keep you and your families safe this wonderful day. May the LORD bless those who wear the uniforms of this country and serve to keep us free. May the LORD bless the Leaders of this Country and help them in their daily decision and lead this country safely. MAY the LORD bless us, each and everyone, now and forever.

Amen

[dixie sass]

Turkeys Up to you to Leni! Happy Thanksgiving!!

[MEG33]

Happy and blessed Thanksgiving to you,Dixie.

[SpookBrat]

One more song, then I've got to get.

"What a friend we have in Jesus" reminds me of this older Philipino woman I sometimes sit with at church. This song makes her cry and bless her heart, she sits there and tries to sing through her tears with her big heavy accent. I'm always going to remember her passion for the rest of my life when I hear this song.

<-----click

Here are the Lyrics:

What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He'll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.

Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burdens bear
May we ever, Lord, be bringing all to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright unclouded there will be no need for prayer
Rapture, praise and endless worship will be our sweet portion there.

Words by Joseph Medlicott Scriven, 1855
Music by Charles Crozat Converse, 1868

Scriven wrote this hymn to comfort his mother, who was across the sea from him in Ireland. It was originally published anonymously, and Scriven did not receive full credit for almost 30 years.

Converse originally named the score after the town of Erie, Pennsylvania. In World War I, the tune was paired with the words to "When This Bloody War is Over."

[dansangel]

Amen (((((((dixie sass))))))))

May you have a Blessed Day and enjoy being with your family.

[dansangel]

Thank you for that beautiful and heartfelt post. I have it playing in the background and it *is* a very heavily emotional hymn.

Enjoy your day and thank you for being a part of the Finest!

[SpookBrat]

Well, sometimes when the custard in my pie isn't set yet, I'll put it in a cake pan with a little water and put it back in the oven (with the heat turned off), for about 20 more minutes. When I was pulling it out of the oven, water got into the pie. This morning, it was pecan pie slush. It never set, so I guess more water got in there than I thought. Sigh.

Oh well. At least I had enough pecans for another pie. I would have boycotted today without a pecan pie. It just ain't right, ya know? You gotta have pecan pie.

[SpookBrat]

You're welcome. I sat here starting to choke up myself this morning. The older I get, the more the lyrics ring true. Why do I worry so much??? I forfeit so much peace, ya know?

Anyway, I need to go get my muffins done. I'll try to get back in here before we leave the house.

Cowboy, I should have pinged you to #33, but I didn't know you were around. I know you probably can't see the picture or hear the song, but I hope you can at least read the words.

Blessings!!!!!

[Molly Pitcher]

To Everyone at the Finest Thread

[MEG33]

May your Thanksgiving be a blessed one.

[MinuteGal]

Thanksgiving blessings back to you, Dixie.

My bakery makes a wickedly-delicious pumpkin pie, so I'm just going to put real whipped cream on it and garnish it with a little candy pumpkin in the center and pecan halves all around (pecans from South Carolina, of course!)

Leni