A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....05-11-04....Let's Be Eight Again!

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.

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

It's "Travelin' Stay at Home Tuesday"...

Normally on this day we would be visiting another state, but the 'Finest Tour Bus' is in the shop for maintenance. So, we will be staying home and having a Finest "play day" instead.

For those of you who have already packed and have your heart set on traveling, you are welcome to re-visit any of our Finest states below..... :-)

05-23-03 Alabama 06-27-03 Maryland 07-11-03 Vermont 07-25-03 Utah 08-05-03 Texas 08-22-03 Nevada 08-26-03 Wash DC 09-05-03 Tennessee 09-17-03 Florida 09-19-03 Minnesota 10-03-03 New Mexico 10-14-03 Georgia

10-17-03 Louisiana 10-22-03 Michigan 11-04-03 South Dakota 11-14-03 California 01-09-04 South Carolina 02-06-04 West Virginia 02-20-04 Oregon 03-09-04 Pennsylvania 03-30-04 Wyoming 04-13-04 Mississippi 04-27-04 Missouri

...the rest of us will
stay here and have a






Being 8 Years Old Again

I am hereby officially tendering my resignation as an adult. I have decided I would like to accept the responsibilities of an 8 year-old again.

• I want to go to McDonald's and think that it's a four star restaurant.
• I want to sail sticks across a fresh mud puddle and make a sidewalk with rocks.
• I want to think M&Ms are better than money because you can eat them.
• I want to lie under a big oak tree and run a lemonade stand with my friends on a hot summer's day.
• I want to return to a time when life was simple. When all you knew were colors, multiplication tables, and nursery rhymes, but that didn't bother you, because you didn't know what you didn't know and you didn't care. All you knew was to be happy because you were blissfully unaware of all the things that should make you worried or upset.
• I want to think the world is fair. That everyone is honest and good.
• I want to believe that anything is possible.
• I want to be oblivious to the complexities of life and be overly excited by the little things again.
• I want to live simple again. I don't want my day to consist of computer crashes, mountains of paperwork, depressing news, how to survive more days in the month than there is money in the bank, doctor bills, gossip, illness, and loss of loved ones.
• I want to believe in the power of smiles, hugs, a kind word, truth, justice, peace, dreams, the imagination, mankind, and making angels in the snow.

So, here's my checkbook and my car-keys, my credit card bills and my 401K statements. I am officially resigning from adulthood. And if you want to discuss this further, you'll have to catch me first, 'cause...

"Tag! You're it!"

Set aside some time today and everyday
to play like an eight year old.

Have a terrific Tuesday!

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 05-10-04...Military Monday

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

[Mama_Bear]

[Mama_Bear]

If you would like to be added to or removed from the Finest Ping List, freepmail me.

[Mama_Bear]

Time to turn the lights off here. I'll be back later.

[cgk]

be back later!

[F14 Pilot]

PING!

[Aeronaut]

Good morning Mama.

[MeekOneGOP]

Mornin', everybody ! Happy Tuesday !

Here's a Kerry pic that's a little too big to post on this thread.

[NicknamedBob]

Mmmmmm. Where am I?

And how did I get this tattoo?

[texasflower]

LOVE the flipper pic!

[GailA]

Good Morning FRineds, promising to be another beautiful sunny day in Memphis today. Today is quilt guild day.

Coffee's on

[Lakeside]

'Mornin' Gail! I didn't know you quilted along with providing us coffee and sweet rolls! I used to be part of a quilting guild at one time(long time ago!) and I loved it. Enjoy your day in sunny Memphis quilting away!

[GailA]

Besides being a FReepaholic, I'm a quiltaholic. I took up quilting about 4 years ago. See my page Gail's quilts

[Lakeside]

'Mornin' Mama_Bear. Well done! Sounds much more like the idyllic eight-year-old life my sons' had. Mine wasn't so carefree(I was one of those 6 going on 26 type children).

I wouldn't know how to play like an eight-year-old. Wait! I can clean house like one! Does that count? :-)

[Lakeside]

Wow Gail! I went to your quilt page and they were all so beautiful!! Made me wish I could do it again(sniff). I loved quilting. I've got a few unfinished projects I've taken with me everywhere I've moved. Maybe I could start again and finish them......or maybe I could just give it all to my daughter-in-law to do! She likes it, too.

[The Mayor]

Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity; for the Lord has heard the voice of my weeping. —Psalm 6:8

When life knocks you to your knees, you're in a good position to pray.

[The Mayor]

May 11, 2004

When You're Down

Read: Psalm 6

Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity; for the Lord has heard the voice of my weeping. —Psalm 6:8

Bible In One Year: 2 Kings 13-14; John 2

---

Sometimes it doesn't take much to get us down, does it? An unkind remark from a friend, bad news from the auto mechanic, a financial setback, or a misbehaving child can put a cloud of gloom over everything, even on the sunniest day. You know you should be joyful, but everything seems to be against you, making simple tasks a struggle.

David must have been feeling that way when he wrote Psalm 6. He felt weak and sickly (v.2), troubled (v.3), forsaken (v.4), weary (v.6), and grief-stricken (v.7). But he knew what to do when he was down. He looked up and trusted God to take care of him and to see him through.

When we look up and focus on God, something good happens. We get our eyes off ourselves and gain a new appreciation of Him.

Next time you're down, try looking up to God. He is sovereign (Psalm 47:8); He loves you (1 John 4:9-10); He considers you special (Matthew 6:26); He has a purpose for your trials (James 1:2-4).

Yes, life can seem unbearable at times. But don't let it keep you down. Meditate on God's goodness, talk to Him, and know that He hears you (Psalm 6:9). That will give you strength to get up when you're down. —Dave Branon

Come, ye disconsolate, where'er ye languish—
Come to the mercy seat, fervently kneel;
Here bring your wounded hearts, here tell your anguish:
Earth has no sorrow that heav'n cannot heal. —Moore

When life knocks you to your knees, you're in a good position to pray.

[GailA]

Why did you give it up?

I hand quilt even though I've got a 3 year old Pfaff sitting in my sewing room. Some times I machine quilt, like when I do the lap quilts I give to the Lady Aux American Legion, who gives them to the spinal cord unit of our VA hospital at Christmas. But other wise I hand quilt. DK built my frame and my racks for me last year. I don't do any fancy quilting, and don't like the paper piecing. I fussy cut my pieces for the most part, but do like to use the oratery cutter when possible.

I have osteo-arthritis in both hands, but refuse to stop what I love doing, just have to alternate what stages of my projects I work on to give my hands a change of repetitive motions.

I've got one on the frame, one ready for a binding, two in just the block stage, and one I'm starting to put together.

I like minis and lap quilts because they give me an excuse to try out new patterns without making a big quilt.

The one on my frame is a huge queen bed sized one. It has appliqued bears, trees on it besides the bear paw, rail fence and log cabin blocks. Red, blues, greens, gold, muslin and browns.

The one I just finished is called Morning Glory and is a flower pattern with a pieced border. My first attempt at a pieced border and I had a bobble in one side and had to end up taking out a whole block and resewing that side on. But it turned out ok in the end.

[Mo1]

So, here's my checkbook and my car-keys, my credit card bills and my 401K statements

Thanks ... I promise not to spend to much of it ... hehehe

MORNING Y'ALL

[lonestar]

"Play Day" is my kinda day!

Weinnie

[Lakeside]

Why did I give it up? The short answer is I have neurological disease which affects hand coordination. They shake. I can do a little bit of close hand work but not for very long.

I loved hand quilting,too! Much better and more precise than machine. I especially liked hand piecing, even paper piecing. I did a "Grandma's Garden" quilt block by paper piecing and thought it was nifty--so precise. Yeah, I'm cursed with the desire for absolute perfection in all my crafts! I would sew, rip out, sew, rip out until I had all the corners, etc. "just so". what *I* didn't like was appliques. Horrors!

I have all the blocks ready and waiting to put together my one and only queen-sized quilt. All in a nice neat stack in my craft room!

I also preferred little lap quilting for the same reason you do plus they were much more portable for those times you wanted to do something while waiting. Such as in a dr.'s waiting room, etc.

Please keep me up to date on your quilting projects. I would love hearing about them!

[Pippin]

PLAYTIME!!!!!

YIPPIE!!!!!!

[MeekOneGOP]

Thank you ! :^)

[Mama_Bear]

be back later!

Good morning, cgk. Hope you can find some time to play today. :-)

[Mama_Bear]

You're an F14 pilot?? Wowee! Now, that's my idea of playing! LOL! Can I play with you? We'll have jet rides on our 'play day'.

I was just saying the other day how much I would love to go for a ride in a military jet. :-)

Thanks for calling people over. Have a fun day!

[F14 Pilot]

You are welcome!

[Mama_Bear]

Good morning, Aeronaut. Fly safe!

I have an idea, since today is a 'play day', can we all take turns riding in your plane? :-)

[Mama_Bear]

"They call him Flipper". Clever! LOL!!

Mornin', Meekie.

[Temple Owl]

Good morning FReepers everywhere. Great post, I love it. Tag you're it.

[Mama_Bear]

Mmmmmm. Where am I? And how did I get this tattoo?

LOL! Hmmmmmmmm.......where have you been playing?

Remember, I am not responsible for any trouble y'all get into today. LOL.

[Mama_Bear]

Good morning, texasflower. MeekOne is becoming very good at making those graphics.

We know how to have fun, don't we, Meekie? I think that making graphics is addicting. :-)

[Mama_Bear]

Hi, Gail! Oh, you brought those yummy carbs this morning. I'll take one of those cinnamon rolls, thank you. :-)

Looks like it is going to be a lovely day here on the left coast too.

[Mama_Bear]

Quilting looks like so much fun. I wish I knew how to do it. Just as soon as I finish up all my half finished crocheting projects, I might give it a try. :-)

[Mama_Bear]

Sounds much more like the idyllic eight-year-old life my sons' had. Mine wasn't so carefree(I was one of those 6 going on 26 type children).

You sound like a great mom! I bet you learned to play when your kids were young. I loved having an excuse to go to the park and play with my son when he was little......making clover chain necklaces and finding animal shapes in the clouds.

We have a park right behind us, but I never go over there. I don't know why I feel like I need a kid to take with me. :-)

[Diver Dave]

Eight Again, eh? How about Six?...

TO BE SIX AGAIN

A man asked his wife what she'd like for her birthday.

"I'd love to be six again, " she replied.

On the morning of her birthday, he arose early, got up made her a nice big bowl of Lucky Charms and then took her off to the local theme park.

What a day!

He put her on every ride in the park: the Death Slide, the Wall of Fear, the Screaming Monster Roller Coaster, everything there was.

Five hours later she staggered out of the theme park.

Her head was reeling and her stomach felt upside down.

Right away, they journeyed to a McDonald's where her loving husband ordered her a Happy Meal with extra fries and a refreshing chocolate shake.

Then it was off to a movie to see the latest blockbuster, a hot-dog, popcorn, a soda pop, and her favorite candy, M&M's.

What a fabulous adventure!

Finally she wobbled home with her husband and collapsed into bed exhausted.

He leaned over his precious wife with a big smile and lovingly asked, "Well, Dear, what was it like being six again?"

Her eyes slowly opened and her _expression suddenly changed. "You idiot, I meant my dress size!"

The moral of the story: Even when a man is listening, he's gonna get it wrong.

[Aeronaut]

I have an idea, since today is a 'play day', can we all take turns riding in your plane? :-)

I'll get out the big Cessna and we can all go at once.

[Mama_Bear]

When life knocks you to your knees, you're in a good position to pray.

Excellent observation!

Good morning, Rus. Hope you have a wonderful day.

[Mama_Bear]

LOL!! After you get through maxing out my credit card, let me know what I bought. ;-)

Great to see you this morning on our Finest playground, Mo1.

[Mama_Bear]

Dear Weinie, you always make me smile. :-)

[dutchess]

Hi Lori. Great thread today! Unfortunately my play day won't start until 4:30 (course I might sneak in a half an hour at lunch!)

I used to love to make necklaces out of dandilions. Hated when my dad started treating the lawn :o)

[dutchess]

I'll get out the big Cessna and we can all go at once

I landed all by myself Sunday....can I co-pilot????? :o)

[Mama_Bear]

Hiya (((((((Pip))))))))! Welcome to our Finest Playground! I hope you can come back and spend some time with us after you get home from work.

[dutchess]

Cute story Dave!!!!!

[dutchess]

Okay...I got carried away at the playground....time to get back to work! Back later!

[Aeronaut]

I landed all by myself Sunday....can I co-pilot????? :o)

Congratulations, way to go!!! Solo soon? Of course you can 'co'.

[Mama_Bear]

Even when a man is listening, he's gonna get it wrong.

LOL!! But, bless his heart for trying!

Mornin' Dave. I bet you have tons of fun playing with your grandbabies. They keep us young, don't they?....when we are not feeling so old trying to keep up with them. LOL. I'm sure I don't have to tell you how fortunate you and Mrs. DD are to have them close to you.

[NicknamedBob]

All I remember, is raising my arm and saying some words ...

Fortunately, I didn't wake up married -- I don't think my wife would understand!

[Mama_Bear]

I'll get out the big Cessna and we can all go at once.

Oh, wow! Do we get to wear parachutes? Will there be lunch? Unlike many people, I actually do like airplane food. ;-)

[Aeronaut]

Of course there'll be lunch...

[Mama_Bear]

Morning, ((((((((Sis)))))))))!

I used to love to make necklaces out of dandilions.

That's one of my best memories from childhood, that and rollerskates and playing four square and pick-up sticks and jacks and marbles. I wonder if kids do those things anymore? They probably don't think they are having fun unless they are playing a video game. I am glad I was a kid then and not now. :-)

[jwfiv]

Good morning, Mama_Bear ... a delightful proposition, "Let's Be Eight Again" ... )

That's not such a jump for me, as I've been fourteen years old for 40 years now.

I like the thought that M & Ms are better than money ... and, I'm still afraid of girls.