Christmas/ Hannukah/ holidays

[RedhairNFreckles]

My daughter, son-in-law and their 3 kids are all down from NC to spend Christmas with me. We just got home from driving thru a nearby area where for the past 5 years all of the homes are decorated with festive lights, animated characters, music, and those inflatable snowglobes. Every year this neighborhood decorates to the max to honor the wonderful organization of Hospice. As we, and dozens of others, were cruising thru the neighborhood looking at all of the decorations, there were many people standing on their sidewalks waving and saying "Merry Christmas" and even a few "Happy Hannukkah" to each and every car driving by. One child about 10 yrs. old had brought her keyboard out to the sidewalk and was playing Christmas carols on it. You know, this experience tonight has really reminded me how very fortunate we are to live in a country where we are free to express our beliefs during the holiday season and can gather together in one place to enjoy it without any fear of reprisal. God Bless the USA..... :flag:

[watcher]

I agree RedHairNFreckles!!! Have a wonderful holiday with your family, however you choose to celebrate it, and wherever you are! Happy Kwanzaa, Banksy!

Merry Christmas! Happy Hannukah! I think I've already said that a few times, but I still like saying it!! :thumb:

[Rick]

Merry Christmas to all my friends here on the forum :fogey: .. And thanks, Rick for a place to log our opinions :guns: .. Ho Ho Ho..

Right Back at ya, Robbuck...

Merry Christmas to all!!!

-Rick

[Bill Latchford]

It is crazy that people have taken this so far. I do remember walking down through town and saying Merry Christmas and hearing it back. It is what really makes me feel we are caring for one another with that small gesture. The happy holidays thing is all fine and good, if it were really meant to make people feel good, but what it boils right down to is people are saying that to keep out of trouble. It is a real shame. I know I don't feel right saying Happy Holidays...It just feels like a way out. I have been so tempted to try and find one of those pins that say "You can say Merry Christmas to me". I have no problem with saying Happy Holidays, but how long will it be before we can't say that? What about our rights to want to say Merry Christmas? I just don't get this and maybe I don't want to lower myself to the point of getting it. I really do feel sad for those that are so easily offended by such a kind gesture as saying Merry Christmas. I would like to extend a Merry Christmas to all those who don't mind that and to all those easily offended I extend to you a Happy Holidays from the heart.

[Butterball]

I saw a large group of people Wednesday night in a medium sized white bus out singing Christmas carols and it looked like they were giving food to the family they were singing to. That is the type of things that happen in a small town like Tyrone.... People caring for people!

[banksy]

I saw a large group of people Wednesday night in a medium sized white bus out singing Christmas carols and it looked like they were giving food to the family they were singing to. That is the type of things that happen in a small town like Tyrone.... People caring for people!

It happens here too in Cleveland.... it is that time of year.

[Butterball]

Another Christmas Story From a Friend.

Ode To Dead Mice
‘Tis the season of Christmas
And smells waft through our house
Is that cinnamon and evergreen?
No, it is dead mouse!

They had pooped on our counters,
Raided our drawers,
Disguised as stuffed animals,
They resisted our lures.

From cheddar to jiffy,
From sticky to snap,
We exhausted our weapons,
And still - an empty trap!

‘Twas driving us crazy
Enough of this strife!
We set out the poison
And went on with our life.

Christmastime was knocking,
So much to decorate,
Martha would be proud of us,
Our tree was stinkin’ great!

Oh, speakin’ of stinkin‘,
One evening I reclined
To gaze upon the beauty
Of the tree that was all mine

When to my nose’s horror,
A smell--it did arise
This was no pleasant odor
It almost hurt my eyes!

I sniffed in all the cushions,
I sniffed in the toy bin.
My sniffer sniffed to no avail
The stench was from within!

Down in the depths of our old house,
Where no eye can see,
Those dead mice are rotting now
In death they’re taunting me!

The battle was fierce,
we thought that we’d won
But those little buggers
Are still having fun!

I longed for sweet aromas
To meet folks at my door,
Instead, they’ll hold their noses
So what was my hard work for?

God used the mice to teach me
To take a whiff of my own heart
Is something rotting way down there
With which I will not part?

Perhaps a prideful spirit,
A sense of deep unrest?
A stinky lack of self-control
Diverts me from God’s best.

His nostrils are a-twitching,
As He takes a whiff of these,
Only He can eliminate
What’s left there by Febreze.

So, my friend search inward
And see what is true:
Despite all your beauty,
Is there a dead mouse in you?

What overcomes people
As they walk through your door
The fruit of the Spirit,
Or an attitude that’s poor?

God of mice and men doth wait
To purify you and me,
This Christmas He will deodorize
And make you truly free.

[watcher]

I LOVE it! This is great, Butterball! EXCELLENT reminder to all of us, and me especially, to check what's rotten in Denmark, or your cupboards, and soul!!! Thanks again! Can you post this in the poetry section too, PLEASE! Thanks,

watcher

[My2Cents]

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY !!! :thumb: