A Few of FR's Finest...Every Day...11-21-06...Thankful to be Thankful

November 21, 2006 | 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, GodBlessUSA, JustAmy ~

Two days to go. You have worked LONG & HARD to make this a perfect day

The meal will challenge a four star restaurant; the wines perfectly match the meal; your guest rooms humble the Ritz Carleton; the TV screen is sparkling ready for the “big” game; the decorations are from House Beautiful.

But….

But - did you remember the real spirit of Thanksgiving?

Psalms 95:2 Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.

Psalms 97:12 Rejoice in the LORD, you who are righteous, and praise his holy name.

Psalms 100:4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.

Psalms 105:1 Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done.

Psalms 106:1 Praise the LORD. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

Psalms 107:1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.


Some thoughts/ideas to make this truly a THANKSGIVING…

1) Before the big meal/big games.. take all your guests to a nursing home, retirement center, homeless shelter…spend a few hours. Help feed residents, visit, serve food, read the Bible to them, pray with them.

2) Before the big meal/big game……get everyone together for a walk in nature. Enjoy beauty, find wonder, experience God.

3) Before the big meal/big game while at the dinner table – go around the table, look intently at & smile at & tell EACH person present, WHY they are so special to you & why you are thankful for them

4) Don’t worry about dishes/clean up.. Instead focus on the special people you are with this day. Give them a shoulder rub, listen to the “little people”, think of something you need to ask forgiveness regarding.

5) Pray for all your friends/family/acquaintances.

6) Be Thankful you are able to BE THANKFUL(think about this one a bit).

10-01-06 ~ Hall of Fame #17

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 11-20-06 Military Monday

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

[DollyCali]

[DollyCali]

Some thoughts with TWO DAYS TO GO

[MamaB]

Good morning.

[The Mayor]

November 21, 2006

Hearing Aid

LISTEN TO ODB RADIO: MP3

READ: 1 Samuel 3:1-10

It shall be, if He calls you, that you must say, “Speak, LORD, for Your servant hears.” —1 Samuel 3:9 Joshua, a precocious 2-year-old,  watched his mother baking cookies. “Please, may I have one?” he asked hopefully. “Not before supper,” his mother replied. Joshua ran tearfully to his room, then reappeared with this message: “Jesus just told me it’s okay to have a cookie now.” “Jesus didn’t tell me,” his mother retorted. Joshua replied, “You must not have been listening!”

Joshua’s motivation was wrong, but he was absolutely right about two things: God longs to speak to us, and we need to listen.

In 1 Samuel 3, another young boy learned those same ageless principles. When Samuel followed Eli’s counsel and prayed, “Speak, LORD, for Your servant hears,” he was open to receiving God’s powerful message (v.9). Like Samuel, we long to hear God speaking to us but often fail to discern His voice.

God spoke audibly to Samuel. Today He speaks to us by His Spirit through the Scriptures, other people, and our circumstances. But as a result of neglect and nonstop activity, some of us have become “hard of hearing.” We need a “spiritual hearing aid” like the one in Samuel’s prayer: “Speak, LORD, for Your servant hears” (v.9). This humble attitude is a real help for the spiritually hard of hearing. —Joanie Yoder

Adjusting Your Hearing Aid
Set a specific time to read God’s Word each day.
Meditate on what you have read.
Make prayer a priority throughout the day.

God speaks through His Word—take time to listen.

Bible in One Year:   Ezekiel 16-17; James 3

[The Mayor]

We are leaving for Massachusetts tomorrow morning to celebrate my Grams 100th birthday on Thanksgiving.

[no more apples]

Besides needing despirately to buy a new vacume cleaner tonight and make the bread for the stuffing, I have to empty out my old refrigerator (with all the food for Thursday, including the 20 lb. turkey) because a new one is being delivered tomorrow! Tomorrow night I'll make the pie and tidy the house.

And the best part - Thursday morning the whole family will go to Mass and let God know how thankful we really are.

Then the kids will go to one of the longest-running rivalry football games in the country, while I go home and putter in my kitchen for the rest of the day!

[DollyCali]

Good morning.. wow, what timing for a new frig~ sounds like you have a busy day ahead & a good one.

[DollyCali]

LOVE IT... as one who is "hard of hearing" in both the physical & often the spiritual.. this does speak to me!

Thank you.

Have safe travels Rus, and hopefully some pix to post over the weekend for the weekend Thanksgiving thread by Billie.. I recall last years pix (or whas it the year prior) were very touching.

Good opportunity for four generation pix!

[DollyCali]

Good mornings, Sistahs,Rus, John & Jim Rob.

Well will 'admit' to sweating bullets piling over the FReep & Email notes from Billie with "instructions" but as usual her great teaching WORKED!

Glad for that since the original thread planned did NOT work out & so scrambling was the rule & having complications with posting/formatting was NOT on the agenda at 2 am !

In/out most of day. HUGS TO ALL

[The Mayor]

We will be bringing both digital cameras... It should be a good time and everyone is looking forward to it.

Gotta go, see ya tonight.

[LUV W]

Have a good, safe weekend, Rus. As Dolly said...we want pictures! Wish everyone Happy Thanksgiving from LUV!

(((hugs)))

Thanks, also, for our beautiful lesson from God's Word!

[Anne of DC]

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

[MEG33]

Good Morning To My Finest Friends

*Wishing You A Wonderful, Thankful Holiday*

[PreviouslyA-Lurker]

Mornin Dolly! Nice graphic, puts a smile on my face!

[ConorMacNessa]

Happy Thanksgiving to the Finest! Went to the farm yesterday and picked up a freshly killed 28 lb. turkey for Thursday. Now I just have to cook it!

[PreviouslyA-Lurker]

Hi Meg! Pretty fall graphic!

: )

[MEG33]

Thank you!

Wishing all a good "get ready' day..I must 'Make Haste'!
1 have a "to do" list calling me.

[ConorMacNessa]

Thanks for our Daily Bread, Mayor.

[snugs]

Wow makes my 8 - 9lb one in the freezer for Christmas seem like a baby.

[PreviouslyA-Lurker]

Thank you Mayor.

[ConorMacNessa]

Happy Thanksgiving to the Finest!

[ConorMacNessa]

We have Thanksgiving dinner with my wife's extended family - it will all go - no leftovers.

[snugs]

I am going to join you in spirit on Thursday with roast duck and pumpkin pie for desert.

[ConorMacNessa]

Sounds good, snugs.

[ConorMacNessa]

Thanksgiving Day, 2006
November 16, 2006
A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America



As Americans gather with family and friends to celebrate Thanksgiving Day, we give thanks for the many ways that our Nation and our people have been blessed.

The Thanksgiving tradition dates back to the earliest days of our society, celebrated in decisive moments in our history and in quiet times around family tables. Nearly four centuries have passed since early settlers gave thanks for their safe arrival and pilgrims enjoyed a harvest feast to thank God for allowing them to survive a harsh winter in the New World. General George Washington observed Thanksgiving during the Revolutionary War, and in his first proclamation after becoming President, he declared November 26, 1789, a national day of "thanksgiving and prayer." During the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln revived the tradition of proclaiming a day of thanksgiving, reminding a divided Nation of its founding ideals.

At this time of great promise for America, we are grateful for the freedoms guaranteed by our Constitution and defended by our Armed Forces throughout the generations. Today, many of these courageous men and women are securing our peace in places far from home, and we pay tribute to them and to their families for their service, sacrifice, and strength. We also honor the families of the fallen and lift them up in our prayers.

Our citizens are privileged to live in the world's freest country, where the hope of the American dream is within the reach of every person. Americans share a desire to answer the universal call to serve something greater than ourselves, and we see this spirit every day in the millions of volunteers throughout our country who bring hope and healing to those in need. On this Thanksgiving Day, and throughout the year, let us show our gratitude for the blessings of freedom, family, and faith, and may God continue to bless America.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim Thursday, November 23, 2006, as a National Day of Thanksgiving. I encourage all Americans to gather together in their homes and places of worship with family, friends, and loved ones to reinforce the ties that bind us and give thanks for the freedoms and many blessings we enjoy.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand six, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-first.



GEORGE W. BUSH

[Lady Jag]

[Billie]

Good morning, Miss Dolly. Your backgrounds and opening today are SO PRETTY!!

Yep, the formatting works - we have our blockquotes back (on anything new we post anyway) Still hate our old threads look tacky, but apparently we can do nothing about them.

I do not think I'll do anymore Hall of Fame threads, because they just don't look the way they used to - the way they're supposed to. :(

On another note, I have messed up my pc royally the past two days and finally yelled "Uncle" and called my computer tech to fix it. He will be here tomorrow.

I was using my very complicated scanner on the old pc because it worked great, and it was the only thing I used on that PC. Now the pc has died completely, and no amount of effort could revive it. I thought surely I could install the scanner here myself. WRONG!!! It won't even begin to talk to me here!

I'll be here early Thursday morning to post the Thanksgiving weekend thread which will run through Sunday.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Second C-5M Super Galaxy takes flight
The second fully modernized Lockheed Martin C-5M Super Galaxy test aircraft makes its first flight Nov. 17 from Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga. (Lockheed Martin photo)

An F-16 Fighting Falcon from Balad Air Base, Iraq, takes fuel from a KC-10 Extender over Iraq Nov. 20. The KC-10 refueled two jets that afternoon in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The KC-10 aircrew is deployed in support of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Justin T. Watson)

061120-N-8547M-408 Arabian Sea (Nov. 20, 2006) - The guided-missile cruiser USS Anzio (CG 68), the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), and amphibious assault ship USS Saipan (LHA 2) sail in formation during a photographic exercise (PHOTOEX). Saipan is currently on deployment in the 5th Fleet area of responsibility conducting maritime security operations (MSO). U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Patrick W. Mullen III (RELEASED)

060914-M-9057K-011 Pacific Ocean (Sept. 14, 2006) - Marines assigned to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit 1st Force Reconnaissance Company, conduct a helo-cast from a CH-53E Sea Stallion off the coast of Hawaii followed by a 750 meter swim. The helo-cast is one of the many ways the Marines can be stealthily inserted into an objective. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. T.G. Kessler (RELEASED)

[ConorMacNessa]

Excellant pics, Excuse!

[La Enchiladita]

We are leaving for Massachusetts tomorrow morning to celebrate my Grams 100th birthday on Thanksgiving.

Oh, how wonderful, Rus. God Bless Grams. She is SPECIAL...!!!

[La Enchiladita]

Beautiful thread, Dolly!!! Thank you for the "reminders" and thank you for YOU.

[La Enchiladita]

I think you like Thanksgiving, Conor .....

Hmmm...?

[ConorMacNessa]

Guilty!!

[NicknamedBob]

Thanksgiving Day Dinner

We have our family gathered here,
To talk about another year,
Of children’s teeth and strength of limb,
And who gave birth to another him.

The table almost makes a sound,
As yet more burden is inbound,
A noble bird makes its last flight,
And joins us for a feast tonight.

With mashed potatoes, candied yams,
Peas and corn, and sugared hams,
Cranberry sauce to please the eye,
And don’t forget the pumpkin pie.

A bowl of gravy, steaming hot,
And Grandmom’s soup in the old stewpot,
Some buttered rolls and special bread,
But not a bite ‘til Grace is said.

Before you help to pass the bowls,
The One Who helped you reach your goals,
Is listening for your voices clear,
To give Him thanks is why we’re here.

Please just be patient for a mite,
And hold in check your appetite,
The Lord will get His just desserts,
With each strong voice that Love asserts.


NicknamedBob . . . . . November 21, 2004

[NicknamedBob]

Oops! Forgot to center.

I'm giving special thanks for all the beautiful stuff I'm "borrowing!"

Thanks, Meg! Thanks, Conor!

And Thanks, Norman!

[DollyCali]

Thanks, Meg! Thanks, Conor! Thanks Bob! And Thanks, Norman!

always appreciate your contributions.

[Majie Purple]

TPartyType...My real life Brother introduced me to this great place on Jan.9,06 I signed on as a member that very day... Yay!

Hope You/you have a wonderfilled Thanksgiving my Fam/Friends/FRiends! & All!

Alamo Girl

No other Site on the WWW has meant as much to me as my time spent on FR with all I’m getting to know and experience here!Thanks Robinson Crew...so much!

Kitty Mittens

ST.LOUIE1

GodBlessUSA

InHisHands

VictoriaDelSoul

Including Any I’ve pinged or posted to whose S N doesn’t fit within this spelled out phrase!(ie MamaBear;Jkphoto;Meg;Rus;CMac... and, and, and...)

Neverending Threads to partake in Faves for me The Finest & The Dose are both close to my heart. So in those to spot’s I always start my FR day & end my FR night allotted hours.

Gif gift treasure hunts to FReep post and ping, very exiting!

Billie

La Enchiladita

ExcuseMyBellicosity

Silent JONNY

Snugs

I wouldn’t want to have missed this joy!

No More Apples

GretchenM

SnarlinCubBear

[DollyCali]

Let's Say Thanks Program

This is a great idea. It only takes a minute, it's free, it's simple,and it will help support our soldiers in a much more personal way. Itsnot a hoax. Its an honest, legitimate program, sponsored by Xerox.

Try this from Xerox.

If you go to this web site,

Let's Give Thanks

, you can pick out a thank you card and Xerox will print it and it will be sent to a soldier that is currently serving in Iraq.

You can't pick out who gets it, but it will go to some member of the Armed Services.

Please send a card. It is FREE and it only takes a second. Wouldn't it be wonderful if our soldiers received bunches of these? Our TROOPS need to know we are behind them!

[Majie Purple]

Beatiful Header Dolly & giving thanks inclusions are really special...

[PreviouslyA-Lurker]

: )

You too!

[DollyCali]

You are welcome Maj! Leaving shortly for evening.. I will put you in charge, okay?

;^)

[Majie Purple]

Lovely post and wishes at 13 Dear Meg same to You & yours!
My Thanksgiving Greeting will post on Thurs since it's just me;myself & I Here that day...I'll have time then.

[gulfcoast6]

NOW it just dawned on me why my turkey runs from me, really runs, THANKSGIVING!!!!

[DollyCali]

Thank you EMB.. if the Mrs. hasn't bought the turkey yet, here is a message I was asked to spread

[DollyCali]

see next post Toby!!!!

[Majie Purple]

Thanks ever so CMac for your great pic pings!
Since I am alone this Thanksgiving I will post my greeting back to you & others on Thurs./Thanksgiving Day.
I'll have oodles of time to do so.
In between meal prep devouring LOL!
I will be watching parades but no football...

[Majie Purple]

T Y Pal!
Another greeting coming on Thanksgiving...
Since I'm single & no Fam will be Here I can post a greeting on the actual day too!
;OD

[PreviouslyA-Lurker]

I only have internet at work, so I will have to wait till Monday to view it.

[MEG33]

You put it all together beautifully..with your lovely poem..Thank you,Bob.

[MEG33]

Thank you, Majie!
I'll probaly post another...The family all arrives Thanksgiving day..