A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....11-24 to-27-05...Thanksgiving is GIVING Thanks!

DollyCali | November 24, 2005 | DollyCali

[DollyCali]

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, Dutchess, DollyCali, Mama_Bear, GodBlessUSA ~

THE FIRST THANKSGIVING DAY PROCLAMATION
President Abraham Lincoln, 1863

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies.

To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God.

In the midst of a civil war of unequalled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.

Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defense have not arrested the plough, the shuttle, or the ship; the axe had enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore.

Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.

No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American People.

I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.

And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and Union.

Give Thanks
Music Here

Give thanks with a grateful heart
Give thanks to the Holy One
Give thanks because He's given
Jesus Christ, His Son

(Repeat twice)

And now, Let the weak say "I am strong"
Let the poor say "I am rich"
Because of what the Lord has done for us

(Repeat twice)

Give thanks !







Count Your Blessings
Words by Johnson Oatman, 1897
Music Here

Chorus:

Count your blessings
Name them one by one
Count your blessings
See what God has done
Count your blessings
Name them one by one
Count your many blessings
See what God has done

When upon life's billows
You are tempest tossed
When you are discouraged
Thinking all is lost
Count your many blessings
Name them one by one
And it will surprise you
What the Lord has done

Chorus

Are you ever burdened
With a load of care
Does the cross seem heavy
You are called to bear
Count your many blessings
Every doubt will fly
And you will be singing
As the days go by

Chorus

When you look at others
With their lands and gold
Think that Christ has promised
You His wealth untold
Count your many blessings
Money cannot buy
Your reward in heaven
Nor your home on high

chorus

So, amid the conflict
Whether great or small
Do not be discouraged
God is over all
Count your many blessings
Angels will attend
Help and comfort give you
To your journey's end

chorus

"Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise.
Give thanks to Him and praise His name.
For the LORD is good and His love endures forever;
His faithfulness continues through all generations."
(Psalm 100:4-5)

"I do not think of all the misery,
but of the glory that remains.
Go outside into the fields, nature and the sun,
go out and seek happiness in yourself and in God.
Think of the beauty that again and again discharges itself
within and without you and be happy. Anne Frank

"Let us remember that, as much has been given us, much will be expected from us, and that true homage comes from the heart as well as from the lips, and shows itself in deeds."—1901 Theodore Roosevelt

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them."
John Fitzgerald Kennedy

"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 favor." George Washington October 3, 1789 in his first Presidential Proclamation.

Thanksgiving Links

Thanksgiving Timeline

Jackie Lawsons 2005 offering

Turkey Singin the blues

Pumpkin Pie (Jackie Lawson)

11 Commandments of a THANKSGIVING DINNER

Thanksgiving Dinner Family Debate: Liberals vs. Conservatives

09-27-05 ~ Hall of Fame #13

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 11-21-05 Military Monday 11-21-05 Giving Thanks 11-23-05 “Animals are People Too”

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' Every Thursday at the Finest The guy's good, folks!

[Jack Deth]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DUTCHESS!!




Sorry about being a day late. I'm running on kitten time.


Jack.

[The Mayor]

[lonestar]

The Mayor was nice enough to post the picture of my yard taken after Rita came through town.

[LadyX]

Thanks, Rus - I couldn't post it for lonestar, not having storage.
She had told me the picture of Weinie dutchess posted Wednesday - -

--
"shows Weinie standing where the tree trunk is laying.
[In the photograph above you posted for her!]
You will notice the trees over her right ear are gone."

================================

Praise God she and her mother had gone inland before Rita caused the tree to fall on Mom's bedroom...

[lonestar]

He told me how to do it but must have realized I'm a computer idiot and did it for me.

lonestar

The Mayor realized lonestar is an "old dog" when it comes to new tricks! hee! hee! hee!

Weinie

[DollyCali]

Thanks rus for posting the pix for lonestar. Wow. From all have heard you can read about the devastation of hurricane, that seeing is believing. I am so sorry you & so many others lost so much & experienced so much anguish Lonestar.. We do get caught up in "things". thanks to Weinie for getting the message to the "big O".. Oliver.

some random thoughts & replies/expansions on your comments & thoughts on pets, Oliver's wanderings & .

My friend who was with me did go on two of the "excursions".. this is FReeper Wheelbarrow, a family friend of many years who did his best. With shingles, advanced osteoporosis & sciatia, (not to mention being 80 years young) I felt guilty he even did those. I did a lot of calling to local friends who were outdoor activists & just got answering machines/voice mail. Bill was with me on the onset.

Interesting note on how God works in life.. Bill observed my dealing with this ... he visited at my church this AM(had for quite a few months) to be part of the joy of Ron's baptism... Now, bill (wheelbarrow) wants also to be immersed & be a Christian!!... I believe he witnessed the power of God in a remarkable way. Our Sunday school class is a storehouse of fun, sharing & love.

so he asked if I would do so(baptize him & next Sunday morning, Lord willing, Bill also will be added to the family. I explained that the Holy spirit does the actual baptism.. we as humans are the conduits. (BTW, for those who don't know.. I am ordained.. and the long/hard way.. not mail order)

My dogs are both still pretty subdued. Billie, I did hug him to pieces & kissed him .. He was also very happy to see me. I have understood (maybe you folks who have had dogs longer can help) that pets do NOT have the same concept of time.. His 6+ hour adventure did NOT seem that long to him.

Right now he is under my chair, his normal place when I FReep & Toby is nearby. Toby defers to O in position. Cali who normally on my shoulders with her front legs/paws wrapped around my neck isn't here.. need to look for her, I have two black Persians in my lap & blind kitty(Darkness) on the keyboard.

Re: household situation. I got the new washer/dryer on Fri. When I did my first load, the washer did NOT load the water.. it passed thru into the drain.. I was doing a dozen other things & noted a bubbly commode (spirits?) & found out the situation. water flooding out. doing the "appropriate" tests (involving 2 more floods) determined we have a blockage from house to septic system

That night the furnace went out & I lost two circuits on the house. This is a normal situation. I have often said that Murphy resides with me. I wouldn't mind if my residence was Ft. Knox.

My good/close friends understand this. I couldn't make these things up.

My brother thinks the home should be bulldozed. If I was extraordinarily rich, I would prolly do it. It was built in 60s .. is about 2500 sq ft.. does NOT have adequate storage.. the worst kitchen, space/storage wise I have EVER had.. I pitifully small bathrooms. My bedroom here is smaller than my bathroom in my last home.
but this is MOM's house & I want her to be able to have it as long as she lives.

This afternoon I did see Harry Potter.. is was the darkest of the series and very well done. Interesting to see the young stars growing up in the sequence of movies.

If you haven't seen it, Pride & Prejudice will appeal to those who are more of the Gone w/wind folks. Excellent in every way.

Hope all are having a good weekend.. it has been very intense here in so many ways.

[DollyCali]

Slow night here apparently & noone to chat w/so I think I will crash. I cannot find Cali.. (worry mode again begins). she is always all over me when I am at computer. She was born in 1988 ,,, Good night dear FRiends.. see you tomorrow

[snugs]

Prayers Cali turns up OK tomorrow and that you sort out the rest of your household problems.

[The Mayor]

Please join us here for Military Monday!

[lonestar]

You can tell Oliver that he isn't due here anytime soon but when that day comes, he will be processed through "Behavior Modification."

Weinie

[Kitty Mittens]

Dolly, what Wonderful News! I'm Thanking our Lord for Oliver being Allright, and for the Work He is Doing in the Lives of Tweety's Husband, and Wheelbarrow! Praise You, our King, for Your Hand of Mercies and Blessing!