A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....12-28-05....Hall of Fame #14

Billie

[Billie]

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 ~

Thank you to all our Hall of Famers and to all of you who have become part of our Finest Family ... as regular contributors and supporters who drop in every day to say hello.  We wouldn't be here without you. : )

We're THREE AND A HALF years old now! Still having fun. We hope you are. As promised, for your information and perusal, here is our fourteenth "Hall of Fame" - a list of all our threads from the very beginning ... from Monday, June 24, 2002, through yesterday, December 27, 2005.

"Getting to Know You"

Previous Hall of Fame Threads

09-23-02 .................................. HALL OF FAME #1
12-31-02 .................................. HALL OF FAME #2
03-24-03 .................................. HALL OF FAME #3
06-25-03 .................................. HALL OF FAME #4
09-30-03 .................................. HALL OF FAME #5
12-30-03 .................................. HALL OF FAME #6
03-23-04 .................................. HALL OF FAME #7
06-29-04 .................................. HALL OF FAME #8
09-28-04 .................................. HALL OF FAME #9
12-29-04 .................................. HALL OF FAME #10
03-29-05 .................................. HALL OF FAME #11
06-28-05 .................................. HALL OF FAME #12
09-27-05 .................................. HALL OF FAME #13

September 2005, October 2005

09-28-05 .......................POETRY & POTPOURRI AT THE FINEST
09-29-05 .....................................................JOHNHUANG ESSAY
09-30 THRU 10-02-05 ...............................T.G.I.F. AT THE FINEST
10-03-05 .......................................................MILITARY MONDAY
10-04-05 ........WELCOME ~ ANOTHER FASCINATING QUESTION
10-05-05.............................MOVING STORIES FROM FREEPERS
10-06-05 .....................................................JOHNHUANG ESSAY
10-07,08,09-05 ........................................T.G.I.F. AT THE FINEST
10-10-05 ......................................................MILITARY MONDAY
10-11-05 ...........................THINGS YOU LEARN IN THE MOVIES
10-12-05..................................DOGGIE TAILS:WHY DOGS BITE!
10-13-05 ....................................................JOHNHUANG ESSAY
10-14,15,16-05 .........................................T.G.I.F. AT THE FINEST
10-17-05 ......................................................MILITARY MONDAY
10-18-05 ........................POETRY & POTPOURRI AT THE FINEST
10-19-05 ......................................................NORTH TO ALASKA
10-20-05 ...........................................NORTH TO ALASKA, cont/d
10-21,22,23-05 ........................................T.G.I.F. AT THE FINEST
10-24-05 ......................................................MILITARY MONDAY
10-25-05 ...................PIPPIN'S THOUGHTS ~ "GHOST STORIES"
10-26-05 ........................................GREEN IS GREEN IS GREEN
10-27-05 ................................................WHY GOD MADE PETS
10-28,29,30-05 .............................................HALLOWEEN 2005
10-31-05 .....................................................MILITARY MONDAY

November 2005

11-01-05 ...........................................ALOHA! BACK TO HAWAII
11-02-05.................................ALOHA! BACK TO HAWAII, cont'd
11-03-05...........SQUIRREL TAILS (CAN'T WE ALL GET ALONG?)
11-04,05,06-05 .........................................T.G.I.F. AT THE FINEST
11-07-05 .......................................................MILITARY MONDAY
11-08-05 ............................A "LEFT" FANTASY ~ KERRY WON!
11-09-05 ...................A "LEFT" FANTASY ~ KERRY WON! cont'd
11-10-05 ......................................SMITHSONIAN BLING BLINGS
11-11,12,13-05 ........VETERAN'S DAY ~ HONORING VETERANS
11-14-05 ......................................................MILITARY MONDAY
11-15-05 ............................................................OH, MY EYES!
11-16-05 ...................................................OH, MY EYES! cont'd
11-17-05 ..................THANKSGIVING COUNTDOWN ~ T MINUS 7
11-18,19,20-05 .........................................T.G.I.F. AT THE FINEST
11-21-05 ......................................................MILITARY MONDAY
011-22-05 ........................................................GIVING THANKS
11-23-05 .......................................ANIMALS ARE PEOPLE TOO!
11-24 THRU 11-27-05.............THANKSGIVING IS GIVING THANKS
11-28-05 .......................................................MILITARY MONDAY
11-29-05 ..........................................LET THE HOLIDAYS BEGIN
11-30-05 ...............................LET THE HOLIDAYS BEGIN cont'd

December 2005

12-01-05.....................................................CELEBRATE LIVING
12-02,03,04-05.......................................T.G.I.F. AT THE FINEST
12-05-05.....................................................MILITARY MONDAY
12-06-05.........................FINEST CHRISTMAS TABLES, PART I
12-07-05.........................................CHRISTMAS IN NEW YORK
12-08-05 ..................................................JOHNHUANG ESSAY
12-09,10,11-05 ...EAST - WEST, FREEPERS DECORATE BEST
12-12-05....................................................MILITARY MONDAY
12-13-05 ......................FINEST CHRISTMAS TABLES, PART II
12-14-05.............FINEST CHRISTMAS TABLES, PART II, cont'd
12-15-05...................................................JOHNHUANG ESSAY
12-16,17,18-05 ................................CHRISTMAS IN THE HEART
12-19-05........ .............................................MILITARY MONDAY
12-20-05 .....................CHRISTMAS POETRY AND POTPOURRI
12-21-05 ...........................SILENT NIGHT ~ CHRISTMAS MUSIC
12-22-05 .............................IT'S A FURRY FINEST CHRISTMAS
12-23,24,25-26-05 ..........................HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
12-27-05 ....................................................MILITARY TUESDAY

We're Here Because of You.

09-27-05 ~ Hall of Fame #13

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

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

[Billie]

[Diver Dave]

Mornin' Billie. That's quite a list. Three and a half years old. KEWL!

Beautiful Pledge this morning.

[Billie]

Morning, All. This marks 3 1/2 years for The Finest, with many thanks to all of you. Take a trip down Memory Lane if you wish, as all our threads can be found on this one. Some are sweet, some are funny, some are cute, some are serious....:)

[Billie]

Hey there! Yep, we're getting old on FR - though there are still one or two older'n us. :) Glad you like the pledge. :)

[snugs]

Hello Billie

Rus asked about the 12th night traditions on yesterday's thread earlier today and I posted the history which a school in my county have put together with a very nice presentation on a website.

I will post this info here in a few minutes in case others have not seen it this morning.

[Billie]

Rus asked about the 12th night traditions on yesterday's thread earlier today and I posted the history which a school in my county have put together with a very nice presentation on a website.

I will post this info here in a few minutes in case others have not seen it this morning.

Good morning, snugs. I would like that. How are you and your dad doing?

[DollyCali]

Good morning Billie. This is such a great idea to have the hall of fame & be able to find past months/years threads & all of our work here at the Finest (since I am guessing the search functions are still not operational at FR?).

These threads are good to link to home page for ease in finding material.

Thank you sistah.. lovely thread.. now lets do a color guess.. the corduroy table is a Burgundy/wine color?

[GodBlessUSA]

Good Morning Billie

LOL!

[GodBlessUSA]

This is going to be fun going through the threads of the past. Good for learning for me too. :)

[GodBlessUSA]

Good Morning Dolly! :)

[GodBlessUSA]

Good Morning snugs! :)

[The Mayor]

December 28, 2005

Digging For Treasure

Read:
Proverbs 2:1-9

The Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. —Proverbs 2:6

Bible In One Year: Revelation 10-12

Profitable Bible study involves more than just opening to a chapter and reading what's there. Here are seven guidelines to help you make the most of your study of the Bible.

1. Set aside a regular time. Unless you schedule it, you'll neglect it.

2. Before you start reading, ask God for help and understanding.

3. Carefully think about what you are reading. Not all of the Bible's treasures lie like pebbles on the surface. To mine the gold, you have to dig.

4. Seek to understand what the author was saying to the first people who read the book or letter before you decide how to apply it today.

5. Write down at least one truth or principle you can put into practice.

6. Try different translations of the Bible. If you find yourself skimming over familiar words, a new translation may focus your mind on the passage in a new way.

7. Don't get discouraged. Some parts of the Bible are more interesting than others, and some you may not understand at all. But there's enough that you can understand, and it will revolutionize your life if you apply it.

Now read today's verses again with these principles in mind. Then try it again tomorrow. You will begin to discover the treasures in the Bible. —Haddon Robinson

When reading God's Word, take special care
To find the rich treasures hidden there;
Give thought to each line, each precept clear,
Then practice it well with godly fear. —Anon.

The Bible's treasures are found by those who dig for them.

FOR FURTHER STUDY
How Can I Understand The Bible?

[Billie]

Thank you, Dolly.

I think of burgandy as a little more bluish red than what I'm seeing in the corduroy table. To me, the color is more "wine red" or "claret red", but I do think we're pretty close in seeing the same color. :)

[Colonel_Flagg]

Good morning to you, Billie! I hope you are off to a great start today!

[DollyCali]

morning.. quick break here.. FReepmail in a few..

[Billie]

Morning, GeeBee - yes, if you have time, do look at some of the older threads. (and let me be the first to say, we have come a long way since the beginning! Some of our first threads were not nearly as *pretty* as they are now)

[snugs]

12 Days of Christmas and 12th Night Traditions, here is a link to a website done by a Junior School in Kent. From what I hear on US TV stations and from others on FR your public schools would not be able to do such a website what a shame that children are loosing traditions and religious input in education.

12th Night and 12 Days of Christmas History

Here is also a selection of information from that website which shows the 12th night and 12 days of Christmas is a lot more than just when one should take the Christmas decorations down.

The Twelve Days of Christmas
The Twelve Days of Christmas traditionally begin the day after Christmas Day, now known as Boxing Day, and end with Twelfth Night.

Twelfth Night is the evening of the 5th January and all day of 6th January ( Old Christmas Day).

When are the Twelve Days of Christmas? The Twelve Days of Christmas are the last six days of the old year (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 December ) and the first six days of the New Year (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 January). The Twelve Days of Christmas did not start on Christmas Day because Christmas Day was seen as a holy day and not one for 'partying' on.

What traditionally happened during the Twelve Days of Christmas?
The twelve days of Christmas would have been a most welcome break for the workers on the land, which in Tudor times would have been the majority of the people. All work, except for looking after the animals, would stop, restarting again on Plough Monday, the first Monday after Twelfth Night.

During the Twelve Days, people would visit their neighbours sharing and enjoying the traditional minced pie.

The Origin of the Twelve Days of Christmas Song
There is great debate as to the meaning of the carol, The Twelve Days of Christmas. One theory why we sing the song dates back to the time when Roman Catholics were not permitted to practice their faith openly (1558 until 1829). The song was written as a way of teaching young catholics and had two levels of meanings: a surface meaning and a hidden meaning known only to their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality, which the children could remember.

The "true love" of the song refers to God.
The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.
Two Turtle Doves were the Old and New Testaments.
Three French Hens stood for Faith, Hope and love.
The four Calling Birds were the four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, luke and John.
The five Golden Rings recalled the Torah or law, the first five books of the Old Testament.
The six Geese A-laying stood for the six days of creation.
Seven Swans A-swimming represented the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: Prophecy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership and Mercy.
The eight Maids A-milking were the eight beatitudes.
Nine Ladies Dancing were the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self Control.
The ten Lords A-leaping were the ten commandments.
The eleven Pipers Piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.
The twelve Drummers Drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in The Apostle's Creed.

Twelfth Night
Today, the Twelfth Night after Christmas means the day(!) we take down the decorations. Twelfth Night is the evening of the 5th January and all day of 6th January.

It was common in the olden days to start a special day at 6pm the previous evening and to have the Night or Eve coming before the Day, as in Christmas Eve or Night coming before Christmas Day and New Year's Eve before New Year's Day.

The actual date for Twelfth Night has caused much confusion for years and still does today. The fact that Twelfth Night is also part of Twelfth Day adds to the confusion.

Christmas to Epiphany
The period between Christmas and Epiphany (January 6th) was traditionally the time to celebrate. It was a time of feasting and a time when the rich were supposed to share what they had with the poor (Boxing Day).

A Time for Parties and to play Tricks
In England, people used to have parties on Twelfth Night and it was traditional to play practical jokes. These included tricks such as hiding live birds in an empty pie case, so that they flew away when your startled guests cut open the crusts (as in the nursery rhyme "Sing A Song of Sixpence" goes, "…the pie was opened and the birds began to sing".

Twelfth Night Cake - The forerunner of the modern Christmas Cake
In England, the Twelfth Night cake was a rich and dense fruitcake which traditionally contained a bean. If you got the bean then you were King or Queen of the Bean and everyone had to do what you told them to do.

The Twelfth Cake was popular during the Georgian and Regency periods

There were also other items in the cake:
If you got a clove you were a villain.
If you got a twig you were a fool.
If you got a rag you were a tarty girl.

Plays
Twelfth Night itself was a traditional day for plays or "mummings," and it is thought that Shakespeare's play took its name from the fact that it was first performed as part of Twelfth Night celebrations about 1601.

The Yule Log
The Yule log, lit on Christmas day, remained burning until Twelfth Night in order to bring good fortune to the house for the coming year. Its charred remains were kept, both to kindle the next year's Yule log, as well as to protect the house from fire and lightning.

Traditional Foods
Traditional Twelfth Night foods served in England include anything spicy or hot, like ginger snaps and spiced ale. Hence why so many items containing ginger are considered Christmasfare

January 6 is Twelfth Day
Twelfth Day is the last day of Christmas. It marks the end of the Christian festivals and is the traditional time to take down the decorations. As its name tells us, it is the sixth of January - just twelve days after Christmas Day.

This day is the feast of Epiphany. On this day we remember the visit of the Wise Men to the infant Jesus.

[Billie]

Hi, Col Flagg - great to see you first thing this morning! (I should say "first thing" on this thread - realize it's not that early in the morning!)

[GodBlessUSA]

You are all so talented. It will be so enjoyable to look through and see all the beautiful threads you all created.

[Billie]

Good morning, Rus - getting a late start here, but I didn't keep the links updated this quarter and waited until the last minute. :(

[The Mayor]

You just caught me, I will be back later to view the thread...

[Billie]

What a wealth of information you continue to share with us, snugs! Appreciate you very much, and this is such interesting reading. (That cake is beautiful, too!!)

[snugs]

I am doing fine but dad is somewhat down. It is not helping because of Christmas/New year holidays and snow arrangements for the funeral and registering the death are taking for ever.

Because mum died before 24 hours were up after entering the hospital the Coroner's Office (police) had to inform the Coroner in case they wanted to do a Post Mort em. They decided no but this took all morning (today being the first working day in Britain since Christmas). So finally hospital had death certificate ready this afternoon because of weather conditions dad asked me not to go till tomorrow when forecast is better.

I then found out you have to make an appointment to register the death you cannot just go to the registry office like you used to be able to. I cannot get them on the phone looks as if they either had an extra day off work or wherever the call centre is cannot be reached because of snow and ice.

The undertakers phone has been engaged all today, so all in all no arrangements yet done towards the funeral. Tomorrow is another day, I will collect death certificate and actually call into the the Funeral Directors shop as this is on the way home from the hospital.

Thank you for your kind thoughts everyone has helped so much.

[Aeronaut]

Good morning Billie.

[Billie]

Thank you, GeeBee. It should make you feel really good to see how much we've all learned since our first threads.

[dutchess]

Hi sistah. WOW...3 1/2 years! Wonder how many hours we have collectively spent on FR???? (yikes...never mind) As always, thanks for creating this wonder haven!!!

[Colonel_Flagg]

Actually, this is my ideal "early morning" time too!

[Aquamarine]

Good Morning Billie. This graphic is so funny and true! lol
If the posters here could only peek behind the curtain sometime they'd have a good laugh.

Thanks for keeping the links organized and updated. Only took me three days to remember to link the Christmas Music Post to Amy's (day before) thread.

[Billie]

I didn't realize there was so much red tape involved in the arrangements for a funeral there. Of course, with offices closed for Christmas it would cause more delay than usual.

We are all thinking of you and your dad - we care.

[DollyCali]

[freema]

Snugs, another commonality aside from our love of Woolworth's and our Christmas angels...

Many of us here don't take our tree or decorations down until after January 6...some of us can't get enough of Christmas!

Here, one of our parishes in the Anglican Communion celebrates The Boar's Head and Yule Log Festival
http://www.stmarys-eastcarolina.org/boar's_head_&_yule_log_festival.htm

If you scroll to the set of pictures marked:
torchbearers, skipping sprites, bejeweled kings and pages following a star and tiny angels...
you will find the first picture in this set is the Cook's Company.

The cook on the right is awfully pretty, isn't she? ; )

[Billie]

The cook on the right is awfully pretty, isn't she? ; )

And who might that cook on the right be? :)

Also, freema, thank you for locating that artwork for me to see yesterday. It was wonderful!

[Billie]

Wonder how many hours we have collectively spent on FR???? (yikes...never mind)

LOL TOO many, I am sure!

[Billie]

Actually, this is my ideal "early morning" time too!

Oh, good - then I'm not the only one who isn't a "morning person." :)

[Billie]

If the posters here could only peek behind the curtain sometime they'd have a good laugh.

Sometimes we had to laugh to keep from crying. :)

[WVNan]

My my, has it been that long? Time sure does fly when you're having fun. Congratulations to the Queen Hostess of the Finest thread on Free Republic. My favorite threads are the ones where I met and spent time with other Freeper ladies. The meeting with LadyX, the Ohio "gang", and this past summer, Mama_Bear, JustAmy, PrissyMissy, Scubachick and Babychick. Freepers are the best friends you can have. It's comforting to be with people who share your views about life. Thank you, Billie, for allowing us to meet here and become friends.

[freema]

Just browsed through a few of the profiles, what fascinating stories! Thanks!

[LUV W]

Hi, Billie...it has taken me even longer than the good Colonel to untrack this morning...my only day off this week, but the thread is so great. Love to read what was going on in years or months past. I tried to pull up the thread for the "Home for the Holidays" and it said "no such thread". Weird.

Have a great day everyone....I know I will! ((hugs))

[LUV W]

Our hearts go out to you and to your Dad during this difficult time, Snugs. The red tape involved just makes having to do all these things even harder to bear. We are with you as you go through the funeral....we'll be thinking of you and praying for you....and holding your hand in spirit.

[freema]

Oh, she's just a gal who, some would say, loves to 'stir things up'...
; )

And you're welcome about the artwork!

[WVNan]

Thank you for that interesting piece, snugs. I'm printing it out to share with my Wed. night prayer meeting tonight. It's good to know where a lot of our Christmas traditions originate. Hope you are doing well today. I suppose you made your trek in the snow without incident.

[WVNan]

Gracious, snugs. All that sounds so complicated, it makes me glad I live where the undertaker takes care of everything. He picks up the body, secures several death certificates, puts the obituary in the newspaper, etc. It's a great help to grieving families who have no idea where to start. Of course we pay through the nose for all that. I hope by tomorrow things will become easier for you.

[WVNan]

My spotlight is in Hall of Fame #2 (10-3-02). The thread of LadyX and my meeting is in #5 August - Sistahs of the Spirit. Billie did a great job on my profile, and with the help of "Maggie Malone" the Sistah's meeting is very funny.

[MEG33]

Good Afternoon to the Finest!I will enjoy reading and looking at these!

[scubachick]

Beautiful pledge, Billie! I love the lady sitting at the computer as well! The first time I stayed at Mama_Bear's house, she was up at the crack o'dawn at her computer and every minute she could, she would be there. I thought, wow, she is really into surfing, then she told me all about Free Republic! It is addicting!

[MEG33]

It is indeed!

[Billie]

Afternoon, Aeronaut - still enjoying your time off, I see. :) Just flying for fun today. :)

[WVNan]

Just think. Without Free Republic your daughter wouldn't have a Grammy and Grampy in WV. Say "thank you" Aunt Lori. (and Jim Rob and Billie).

[Billie]

Good afternoon, Rev'rund. It sure does fly cause we sure do have fun. :)

[Billie]

Just browsed through a few of the profiles, what fascinating stories! Thanks!

You are welcome - it was our pleasure to start the Finest that way - then branched out to other kinds of threads when profiles became more scarce. :)