A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....12-23,24,25,26-04...Let Us Rejoice (Our Christmas Thread)

Billie

[Billie]

(The following excerpts are from Better Homes & Gardens 1993
"Holiday Celebrations"; information & Christmas Cards furnished
by Hallmark Cards, Inc.)

Although the Christmas season has been celebrated for centuries, it wasn't until the last half of the 19th century that printed cards were widely exchanged. Until that time, only a few people sent hand-written Christmas messages - those who could read and write, and afford to pay a messenger. This changed in the mid-1800s, when many people were learning to read and write through free public schools.

The passage of the Penny Postage Act in England in 1840 finally put the price of mailing letters within almost everyone's reach.

The idea of Christmas cards came only three years after England's postal reform. Henry Cole, a London businessman, originated the practice in 1843 when he asked John Calcott Horsley, an artist in the Royal Academy, to design a card conveying his Christmas wishes. The card is believed to be the first commercially-printed Christmas card.

The first-known Christmas card, designed in 1843 by British
artist John Horsley. Only a dozen specimens of the first card
are known to exist. Two of these, including one that has never
been used, are part of the Hallmark Historical Collection in
Kansas City, Missouri.

Several of England's early greeting card companies were established in the 1860s. Cards manufactured from 1860 theough the 1890s by Publisher Charles Goodall & Son and other English competitors - Marcus Ward & Co., De La Rue & Co., and Raphael Tuck & Co. (later called Raphael Tuck & Sons) - are highly sought by collectors because of their limited availability. These cars were exported to the United States and are usually as easy to find here as the domestic cards of the same period.

Sending holiday greeting cards was slow to spread to America. For more than 30 years, the only ones available in this country were imported. Then in 1875, German immigrant Louis Prang, of Boston, began publishing an American version of the popular English missives. By 1881, only six years after the production of his first Christmas cards, Prang was printing 5 million cards a year - most of them Christmas cards. In order to acquire excellent designs, he sponsored contests for artists, with prizes up to $4,000!

Louis Prang, the "father of the American Christmas card",
published this sweet child gracing the cover of a collection
of hymns in 1888.

Prang is credited with establishing card designs with which
we're familiar today. His cards were works of art, often
incorporating as many as 20 different colors.

In the 1890s, the penny-postcard craze hit America, and soon inexpensive German-made postcards flooded the market. Although the cards were crude, the price was right. Until World War I, Germany monopolized the business.

This penny postcard, published in Germany in 1909, features
robins - popular because, according to legend, a small brown
bird fanned a fire to keep the Christ child warm. During the
vigil, the bird's breast was seared scarlet.

The modern greeting card industry began in the early 1900s with the birth of such companies as Hallmark Cards (then known as Hall brothers, Inc.), Rustcraft, Buzza, and American Greetings. Even during the Depression, printed greetings were popular. Money was scarce, so many people sent cards instead of gifts.

World War II shortages curtailed the paper supply. Giltter became more scarce than gold, but still greeting cards survived. The cards became very patriotic - the use of the flag was popular, and even often carried by Santa. Special cards were created for soldiers overseas. "Across the miles" and "Missing you" sentiments reflected the somber reality of the day.

The American flag and the Statute of Liberty are united
for freedom in this inspiring 1942 greeting card.

The Christmas card custom has weathered war, economic turmoil, and social changes spanning well over a century. It serves the timeless human need to stay close, to share special thoughts with friends far and near during our most cherished holiday seasons.

Cards have come a long way since 1843. Designs are more sophisticated; production processes have been refined. But the message on that first Christmas card is as relevant today as it was then ..... "A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you".

From all of us to all of you, it is our wish that this Christmas is your best one yet; that your blessings are many; your loved ones are with you; and most of all, that Christ is in your heart.

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 12-20-04 Military Monday 12-21-04 Welcome Home, Allegra 12-22-04 Deck The Finest Halls!

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[kassie]

My son was given this picture as a puzzle years ago. When we unpacked this past fall, several pieces were missing. Just made me sick.

[austingirl]

Merry Christmas and get well wishes. I have bronchitis. It is tough to be sick on Christmas.

[JimRed]

Merry Christmas, a safe, happy and prosperous New Year, and thanks for all you do!

[The Mayor]

So you feel just like I feel..

That is what I thought I had, but the doctor said no.
Anyway they are treated the same, antibiotics, rest, cough syrup, actifed, asprin and any other thing I can find to help.

I hope and Pray you feel better soon too.
bad time of year to be sick.
Last time I was this sick I was watching President Bush Inauguration while laying in bed. 4 years ago..

[austingirl]

Thank you for the support. I still have so many things to be grateful for this sacred season that I am counting my blessings. Hope you recover enough to enjoy your family gathering.

[Temple Owl]

Have a "Best one yet" Christmas and a wonderful 2005.

[crabbie]

Absolutely gorgeous, thank you for this wonderful thread!

My warmest wishes for a blessed Christmas and a healthy , peaceful New Year to all my FReeper friends.

[crabbie]

Merry Christmas to you and yours and may God especially bless our troops and their families.

[The Mayor]

Thank you Temple..

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year to you and yours!

[The Mayor]

Amen Crabbie!

May your Christmas be a wonderful celebration of the birth of Our Savior in your home!

[LadyX]

~ ~ ~ Christmas Eve at The Finest ~~ ~

To Billie, our hostesses and hosts, Finest Family and all who come here, on Christmas Eve I ask the Lord God to bestow upon you special blessings in the Name of His Son, Jesus Christ - our provision to freely be given His grace and salvation!

May He through the Holy Spirit fill you with peace and joy - - a sense of His purpose for you ---- courage and strength for whatever you face -- the comfort you might need -- and good health for you and all those you love.

Billie, we are blessed indeed that you had the vision to create this gathering place that has become a true Home to us. Thank you so much for your dedication to being God's vehicle.

We thus are able to honor our brave military men and women; those who have served in other days; dwell upon the Finest Things in Life; interact with all brought here (surely by the Holy Spirit), and have an opportunity to offer prayers and support and genuine caring -- embellished at times with humor...|:>)

My gratitude for all of you is hereby expressed.
You each are part of the reason this Christmas is
the most wonderful one of my lifetime,
and I do, Billie, truly

[LadyX]

Special prayers for you, Rus, that you may recover speedily from the pneumonia, and that God will very soon move in a mighty and positive way in the life of you and Jul and your family ---
Amen.

[The Mayor]

Merry Christmas Maggie!

You are a very special part of all our lives.
God Bless you!

[luvie]

Hope you are feeling better this morning!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

[The Mayor]

Thank you!

The Lord is working in our lives everyday.

[TexasCowboy]

"It was one of the hottest days of the dry season. We had not seen rain in almost a month. The crops were dying. Cows had stopped giving milk. The creeks and streams were long gone back into the earth. It was a dry season that would bankrupt several farmers before it was through.

Every day, my husband and his brothers would go about the arduous process of trying to get water to the fields. Lately this process had involved taking a truck to the local water rendering plant and filling it up with water. But severe rationing had cut everyone off. If we didn't see some rain soon...we would lose everything.

It was on this day that I learned the true lesson of sharing and witnessed the only miracle I have seen with my own eyes. I was in the kitchen making lunch for my husband and his brothers when I saw my six-year-old son, Billy, walking toward the woods. He wasn't walking with the usual carefree abandon of a youth but with a serious purpose.
I could only see his back. He was obviously walking with a great effort ... trying to be as still as possible. Minutes after he disappeared into the woods, he came running out again, toward the house. I went back to making sandwiches; thinking that whatever task he had been doing was completed.

Moments later, however, he was once again walking in that slow purposeful stride toward the woods. This activity went on for an hour: walk carefully to the woods, run back to the house. Finally I couldn't take it any longer and I crept out of the house and followed him on his journey (being very careful not to be seen... as he was obviously doing important work and didn't need his Mommy checking up on him).
He was cupping both hands in front of him as he walked, being very careful not to spill the water he held in them ... maybe two or three tablespoons were held in his tiny hands.

I sneaked close as he went into the woods. Branches and thorns slapped his little face, but he did not try to avoid them. He had a much higher purpose. As I leaned in to spy on him, I saw the most amazing site. Several large deer loomed in front of him. Billy walked right up to them. I almost screamed for him to get away. A huge buck with elaborate antlers was dangerously close. But the buck did not threaten him...he didn't even move as Billy knelt down.
And I saw a tiny fawn laying on the ground, obviously suffering from dehydration and heat exhaustion, lift its head with great effort to lap up the water cupped in my beautiful boy's hand.

When the water was gone, Billy jumped up to run back to the house and I hid behind a tree. I followed him back to the house to a spigot to which we had shut off the water. Billy opened it all the way up and a small trickle began to creep out. He knelt there, letting the drip, drip slowly fill up his makeshift "cup," as the sun beat down on his little back.
And it came clear to me: The trouble he had gotten into for playing with the hose the week before. The lecture he had received about the importance of not wasting water. The reason he didn't ask me to help him.

It took almost twenty minutes for the drops to fill his hands. When he stood up and began the trek back, I was there in front of him. His little eyes just filled with tears. "I'm not wasting," was all he said. As he began his walk, I joined him...with a small pot of water from the Kitchen.
I let him tend to the fawn. I stayed away. It was his job. I stood on the edge of the woods watching the most beautiful heart I have ever known working so hard to save another life.

As the tears that rolled down my face began to hit the ground, they were suddenly joined by other drops...and more drops...and more. I looked up at the sky. It was as if God, himself, was weeping with pride.
Some will probably say that this was all just a huge coincidence. That miracles don't really exist. That it was bound to rain sometime. And I can't argue with that... I'm not going to try. All I can say is that the rain that came that day saved our farm...just like the actions of one little boy saved another.

I don't know if anyone will read this...but I had to send it out. To honor the memory of my beautiful Billy, who was taken from me much too soon... But not before showing me the true face of God, in a little, sunburned body.

THAT'S GOD ~*

Have you ever been just sitting there and all of a sudden you feel like doing something nice for someone you care for. . . THAT'S GOD.. .. He talks to you through the Holy Spirit.

Have you ever been down and out and nobody seems to be around for you to talk to. ... THAT'S GOD .. .He wants you to talk to Him.

Have you ever been thinking about somebody that you haven't seen in a long time and then next thing you know you see them or receive a phone call from them. . . THAT'S GOD ... there is no such thing as coincidence.

Have you ever received something wonderful that you didn't even ask for, like money in the mail, a debt that had mysteriously been cleared, or a coupon to a department store where you had just seen something you wanted, but couldn't afford. .... THAT'S GOD. He knows the desires of your heart.

Have you ever been in a situation and you had no clue how it is going to get better, but now you look back on it. . . THAT'S GOD........He passes us through tribulation to see a brighter day.

In all that we do, we should totally give HIM thanks and our blessings will continue to multiply.
NOW THAT'S GOD!!!!!!!!

Don't tell GOD how big your storm is. Tell the storm how big your GOD is!"

Isaiah 9:6 - "For unto us a Child is born. Unto us a Son is given;

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

[luvie]

ALL THE BEST TO EVERYONE WHO GOES HERE
MAY ALL YOUR DREAMS AND WISHES COME TRUE!

[luvie]

God bless you for that sweet story! Now, I have cried yet again today! Merry Christmas from a fellow Texan.

[Billie]

To all of you who have visited our Christmas thread, and to those who may visit later, I wish you the best Christmas ever, and want you to know how much you are appreciated.

[The Mayor]

Merry Christmas

From our House, to Yours!


Mrs Mayor painted this manger for the front of our house.