Hi, (((Billie)))!
I posted this late on yesterday's thread
Hope Y'all had a SUPER GREAT Thanksgiving! :O)
Sorry I wasn't around much durning the Holiday and the weekend, but I was busy.
I have lots to catch up here on FR.
I was lurking on the Holiday/Weekend thread and saw quite a few new "faces"
WELCOME Y'ALL!
So Friday was Dutchess's birthday!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DUTCHESS!!!!
And CC is back!
WELCOME HOME CC and Thanks for your service to our country!
If I may post a few words about Thanksgiving, which I intended to either on Thanksgiving Day or on Friday, but I got distracted.
First of all, though I did a lot of whining about the election and living amongst liberals and having to endure the Bush-Bashing, I decided to cease at once on dwelling on the negatives and go for the positive.
There were quite a few positives in 2004 and lots to be thankful to God for.
First of all, Even if we do disagree politically quite a bit, I am truly blessed with a great family.
A mom who is special in every way and is deserving of the term "MOM" I don't say "mother" because anyone can be a "mother" but it takes a special kind of woman to be a "MOM".
My dad, even thought it's gotten to the point were he doesn't recognize any of us much, is still a good man and if he were himself I'm sure he'd be a Bush supporter big time! :o)
But the thing that makes him special is the person he was before all these other things happened to him.
Two sisters and a brother who try to help me any way they can, even though they have families and lives of thier own.
8 wonderful nieces and nephews. Two of whome, serve in our country's armed forces.
My Niece, who is in the USAirforce and is currently in Georgia, who just became a Staff Sargeant and recently graduated from a training class for Staff Sargeants. (She can't start wearing the extra stripe until it's made official.)
Also she bought a house (it was built to her specifications.) (She'll be in GA for at least 2 or 3 more years.
My nephew, stationed in S. Korea,(USArmy) met a woman from California who is also USArmy, they recently got married and had a little girl in September.
Although the baby was born in S.Korea, she was an automatic US citizen because she was born in a US military base.
HE! HE! now I can tease my brother and call him "Grampa Dave" LOL! My nephew and his family will be coming back to the States in February and will be stationed in Oklahoma! (no trips to Iraq even though if he's called to go, he would!).
Another niece also got married to a guy she has known first as a friend in school then as a boyfriend, now he's her husband, (I rather suspect he's her best friend)>
His name is Sung, he's from S. Korea but has lived in the States since his parents immagrated here with him and his siblings when he was a small child, so he basically grew up here!
He never became a citizen until he joined the USAirforce, was sent to Saudi Arabia last year but had to be sent home due to an apendix attack. but as soon as he recovered he was statio0ned stateside for a while, he has recently become naturalized in June. Married my niece about a month ago and was sent to Qatar, he came back for a short leave the he is headed to of all places, S. KOREA!
He'll be there about a year. Needless to say my niece is not too happy about that! since she can't go due to her job and further edication she needed for the field she's interested in going in.
My other nieces and nephews are also fairing pretty good too! (Y'all can tell I'm a proud aunt!)
My oldest nephew met a girl from Holland (Like his sister, he's dating someone from another country! What is it with my sister's children? can't they date Americans? LOL!) I'm sure it's unintentional! But it's funny I guess they are just following in thier grandpa's footsteps (Mom's a Canadian citizen) OH! WELL!
Well rounded folks!
Y'all wonder why I'm a bit dippy and why I don't say anything negative about Canada? now you know why!
But don't get me wrong, I'm really hoping and praying the President Bush will be safe and well protected while he's in Canada (I never thought I'd be worried about someone's safety in CANADA! Wierd!)
But I'm so very grateful for a family who may have different views that mine or each others, but also have an abundance of love and respect for each other!
I'm also grateful for a really good job and I can have a roof over my head and plenty to eat and warm clothes to wear, Not a lot of folks have that. Just walk down any stree in Baltimore or other cities or towns.
I'm grateful to God that I was born and raised in such a great and wonderful country, GOD BLESS AMERICA!.
I may live in a blue state, but at least it's in a beautiful and history filled part of this great land.
I'm also thankful for the folks here on FR, I know I said it before, but let me repeat it, GOD BLESS JIM ROBINSON and FREEREPUBLIC and ALL WHO POST AND LURK ON ALL THE THREADS HERE!
So, even if it was a really grueling and messy election and a harsh year, I found lot's to be thankful for!
In the words of President Bush,
GOD BLESS YOU ALL and GOD BLESS AMERICA!
Belated Happy Birthday to you, dutchess!
Hope y'all had a great Thanksgiving -- I sure did ;-)
God bless, and y'all have a nice day -- see you soon!
Enrique
Christmas in Australia is quite different, weather wise; although we still celebrate in the traditional way. We are now officially in summer; today we reached upwards of 100 degrees, the gardenias are blooming (when I smell them I know Christmas is just around the corner)and I am getting ready to get the Chrissie decorations up at the weekend.
My family are from England originally and even though we have lived in Australia for 30+ years my Mum still slaves over a hot stove on Christmas Day preparing our roast turkey dinner. We still have plum pudding and custard for afters as well. My Mum wouldn't have it any other way!
We always have a game of cricket in the afternoon and try to avoid getting sunstroke!
One day I would love to have the experience of celebrating a white Christmas in the northern hemisphere. I can still dream....
Christmas blessings to one and all from your friend Down Under! :0)