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	<title>Ask Mrs Figgins &#187; One Village</title>
	<atom:link href="http://askmrsfiggins.com/category/one-village/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://askmrsfiggins.com</link>
	<description>Free Advice &#38; opinion on everyday issues - marriage, children, friendship, love, etiquette, politics &#38;  faith - dispensed by Mrs Figgins with common sense &#38; good old-fashioned-values!</description>
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		<title>There is no greater charge than protecting the children.</title>
		<link>http://askmrsfiggins.com/we-have-no-greater-charge-than-protecting-the-children/</link>
		<comments>http://askmrsfiggins.com/we-have-no-greater-charge-than-protecting-the-children/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 21 May 2011 11:27:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mrs. Figgins</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Children Issues]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Love]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[One Village]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Topics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Protect children against sexual abuse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Protect children against sexual predator in family]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.askdrromance.com/?p=806</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[We have no greater charge than protecting the children.    Dear Mrs. Figgins: I am a mother of 2.  I was sexually molested when I was 11 years old by my brother who was 13.   It continued until I was 13.    While there was no outright rape, it was fondling.  That fondling wasn’t just a moment that [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h5 class="mceTemp">
<dl id="attachment_814" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 160px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-814" title="Protect The Children" src="http://www.askdrromance.com/wp-content/uploads/Protect-The-Children-150x150.jpg" alt="Protect The Children 150x150 There is no greater charge than protecting the children." width="150" height="150" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #000000;">We have no greater charge than protecting the children.</span></dd>
</dl>
</h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"> </h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="color: #000000;"> </span></span><span style="color: #000000;">Dear Mrs. Figgins:</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #000000;">I am a mother of 2.  I was sexually molested when I was 11 years old by my brother who was 13.   It continued until I was 13.    While there was no outright rape, it was fondling.  That fondling wasn’t just a moment that could be misinterpreted or taken as a child’s cruel dream.</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #000000;">We are grown and each have our own small children.  Since our first year in college my brother and I have lived in separate states.  He and his family are moving close by and want to start doing things together as a family.  </span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #000000;">My mind tells me that he was just a kid himself when this happened and I should forgive and forget.   My gut tells me that allowing a relationship with him again is a very bad idea.  </span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #000000;">Trying to do the right thing.</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #000000;"> </span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #800000;">D</span><span style="color: #800000;">ear Trying:</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #800000;">There is only one right thing:   PROTECT THE CHILDREN. </span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #800000;">Under no circumstances ever leave any or all of your kids with your brother, at his house or anywhere he might be, where your kids can be out of your direct eyesight. </span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #800000;">Decline any personal invitations from him for any reason. Forever.</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #800000;">If you must attend a family gathering such as a wedding, make certain the kids are never out of your reach. </span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #800000;">You are correct.  There</span><span style="color: #800000;"> is no misinterpreting what happened to you.   It wasn’t a mere bad dream, it was a cruel reality at the hands of your brother, and he should not be trusted alone with any child.    </span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #800000;">Showing compassion to evil does not make us better people and certainly doesn&#8217;t serve us well in protecting the innocent.</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #800000;"><span style="color: #800000;">As a child you were powerless to protect yourself, but as a parent you and your husband have the power and the responsibility.   There is no greater charge than protecting your children.   </span></span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #800000;">Mrs. Figgins</span></h5>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Nephew 37, Gay  &amp; A Good Son</title>
		<link>http://askmrsfiggins.com/414/</link>
		<comments>http://askmrsfiggins.com/414/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 09 Mar 2011 00:53:45 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mrs. Figgins</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Love]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[One Village]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Topics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Gay]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.askdrromance.com/?p=414</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Think again.                 Dear Mrs. Figgins: I have a nephew who is 37, and gay.   His life revolves around his Mother.  He is constantly worried about  “Mummy”.   He rushes to do her grocery shopping each week, buys her flowers, opens the doors for her, washes her car, kisses [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h4 class="mceTemp mceIEcenter">
<dl id="attachment_428" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 160px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt">
<h4><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-428 " title="thinker" src="http://www.askdrromance.com/wp-content/uploads/thinker3-150x150.jpg" alt="thinker3 150x150 Nephew 37, Gay  &amp; A Good Son" width="150" height="150" /></h4>
</dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd">
<h4><span style="color: #800000;">Think again.</span></h4>
</dd>
</dl>
</h4>
<h5><span style="color: #000000;"> </span></h5>
<h5><span style="color: #000000;"> </span></h5>
<h5><span style="color: #000000;"> </span></h5>
<h5><span style="color: #000000;"> </span></h5>
<h5><span style="color: #000000;"> </span></h5>
<h5><span style="color: #000000;"> </span></h5>
<h5><span style="color: #000000;"> </span></h5>
<h5><span style="color: #000000;"> </span></h5>
<h5><span style="color: #000000;">Dear Mrs. Figgins:</span></h5>
<h5><span style="color: #000000;">I have a nephew who is 37, and gay.   </span></h5>
<h5><span style="color: #000000;">His life revolves around his Mother.  He is constantly worried about  “Mummy”.   </span></h5>
<h5><span style="color: #000000;">He rushes to do her grocery shopping each week, buys her flowers, opens the doors for her, washes her car, kisses and hugs her non-stop.  </span></h5>
<h5><span style="color: #000000;">Is this normal? I understand that he loves his mother, but don&#8217;t you think he should be more focused on his own life?    After all, he has a wonderful lover .   Shouldn&#8217;t he consider his partners feelings?       </span></h5>
<h5><span style="color: #000000;">Concerned Auntie.</span></h5>
<h5><span style="color: #000000;"> </span></h5>
<h5><span style="color: #800000;"> </span></h5>
<h5><span style="color: #800000;">Dear Concerned:   </span></h5>
<h5><span style="color: #800000;">My goodness, aren’t you lucky (and take it from me!).    &#8220;Good son&#8221; usually translates to  -  good husband &#8211; good lover -  most important of all,  good man.   </span></h5>
<h5><span style="color: #800000;">What an a terrific young man you’ve each been blessed with.   Mummy is to be saluted for an job well done.  Now,  do the right thing and focus on what a good kid he turned out to be &#8211; and maybe find a  new hobby to keep you occupied.</span></h5>
<h5><span style="color: #800000;">Mrs. Figgins</span></h5>
]]></content:encoded>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>&quot;And I think to myself&#8230;what a wonderful world!&quot;</title>
		<link>http://askmrsfiggins.com/welcome/</link>
		<comments>http://askmrsfiggins.com/welcome/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 17 Jul 2010 18:49:25 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mrs. Figgins</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Love]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[One Village]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Topics]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.askdrromance.com/?p=1</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[     “I am gay,” she said, and paused while we collectively stopped breathing.  she continued, “I am lesbian. I am black. I am white.  I am Native American. I am Christian. I am Jew. I am Muslim.” Dr. Maya Angelou      ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h5 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #993300;"></p>
<div id="attachment_487" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 310px"><img class="size-medium wp-image-487" title="Unlikely Friends 1" src="http://www.askdrromance.com/wp-content/uploads/Untitled-1-300x225.jpg" alt="Untitled 1 300x225 &quot;And I think to myself...what a wonderful world!&quot;" width="300" height="225" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Lets Be Friends!</p></div>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> <span style="color: #993300;">“I am gay,” she said, </span></p>
<h5 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #993300;">and paused while we collectively stopped breathing.  </span></h5>
<h5 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #993300;">she continued, </span></h5>
<h5 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #993300;">“I am lesbian. I am black. I am white.  </span><span style="color: #993300;">I am Native American. </span></h5>
<h5 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #993300;">I am Christian. I am Jew. I am Muslim.”</span></h5>
<h6 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #993300;">Dr. Maya Angelou</span></h6>
<h4 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #993300;"> </span></h4>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p></span></h5>
]]></content:encoded>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Merry Christmas to all &#8211; and to all&#8230;a good night.</title>
		<link>http://askmrsfiggins.com/merry-christmas-to-all-and-to-all-a-good-night/</link>
		<comments>http://askmrsfiggins.com/merry-christmas-to-all-and-to-all-a-good-night/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 25 Dec 2009 05:01:50 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mrs. Figgins</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Children Issues]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Faith]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Favorite Finds]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Love]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[One Village]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Topics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Blessings on this Christmas day and always]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Christmas wishes from Mrs. Figgins]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Merry Christmas to all - and to all - a good night]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.askdrromance.com/?p=2534</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[GOD&#8217;S blessings to you and yours.   Mrs. Figgins Relationship advice:  www.askdrromance.com]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h1 class="mceTemp">
<dl id="attachment_2533" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 534px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a href="http://www.askdrromance.com/wp-content/uploads/Merry_Christmas-to-all-Mrs.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-2533   " title="Merry_Christmas to all Mrs" src="http://www.askdrromance.com/wp-content/uploads/Merry_Christmas-to-all-Mrs.jpg" alt="Merry Christmas to all Mrs Merry Christmas to all   and to all...a good night." width="524" height="393" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd">
<h1><span style="color: #800000;">GOD&#8217;S blessings to you and yours.</span></h1>
</dd>
</dl>
</h1>
<p> </p>
<p>Mrs. Figgins</p>
<p><span style="color: #000080;">Relationship advice:  </span><a href="http://www.askdrromance.com/"><span style="color: #000080;">www.askdrromance.com</span></a></p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Twas the night before Christmas &#8211; I sprang to see what was the matter?</title>
		<link>http://askmrsfiggins.com/twas-the-night-before-christmas-i-sprang-to-see-what-was-the-matter/</link>
		<comments>http://askmrsfiggins.com/twas-the-night-before-christmas-i-sprang-to-see-what-was-the-matter/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 24 Dec 2009 15:04:46 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mrs. Figgins</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Children Issues]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Favorite Finds]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Love]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[More Finds]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[One Village]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[A Christmas story - the night before]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Not a creature was stirring - not even a mouse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Twas the night before Christmas]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Twas the night before Christmas - I sprang to see what was the matter?]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.askdrromance.com/?p=2488</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[  Not a creature was stirring &#8211; not even a mouse!   Throughout this week Mrs. Figgins will share a few of the most loved poems and stories of the Christmas season.    Next installment shown below. From our family to yours, Merry Christmas and Wishes for a Blessed New Year! Mrs. Figgins &#38; Family   Clement Clarke [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><span style="color: #800000;"> </span></div>
<p><span style="color: #800000;"></p>
<h5 class="mceTemp">
<dl id="attachment_2518" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 280px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt"><span style="color: #003300;"><img class="size-full wp-image-2518 " title="111 Not a Creature" src="http://www.askdrromance.com/wp-content/uploads/111-Not-a-Creature1.jpg" alt="111 Not a Creature1 Twas the night before Christmas   I sprang to see what was the matter?" width="270" height="226" /></span></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd"><span style="color: #003300;">Not a creature was stirring &#8211; not even a mouse!</span></dd>
</dl>
</h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #800000;"> </span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #800000;">Throughout this week Mrs. Figgins will share a few of the most loved poems and stories of the Christmas season.    </span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #800000;">Next installment shown below.</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #800000;">From our family to yours,</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #800000;">Merry Christmas and Wishes for a Blessed New Year!</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #800000;">Mrs. Figgins &amp; Family</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #800000;"> </span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #000080;">Clement Clarke Moore (1779 &#8211; 1863) wrote the poem “Twas the night before Christmas” (also called “A Visit from St. Nicholas&#8221; in 1822.   </span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #000080;">Mr. Moore came from a prominent family and his father Benjamin Moore was the Bishop of New York who was famous for officiating at the inauguration of George Washington.</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #000080;">It has long become the tradition in many American families to read the poem every Christmas Eve &#8211; and has redefined the image of Christmas and even Santa Claus.</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #000080;">Before the creation of the story of “Twas the night before Christmas”, St. Nicholas, the patron saint of children, had never been associated with a sleigh or reindeers!</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #000080;">The author of the poem “Twas the night before Christmas” was a reticent man and it is believed that a family friend, Miss H. Butler, sent a copy of the poem to the New York Sentinel who published the poem.</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #000080;">The condition of publication was that the author of “Twas the night before Christmas” was to remain anonymous.</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #000080;">The first publication date was 23rd December 1823 and it was an immediate success.</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #000080;">It was not until 1844 that Clement Clarke Moore claimed ownership when the work was included in a book of his poetry.</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #800000;"> </span></h5>
<h3 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #800000;">&#8216;<span style="color: #003300;">Twas the night before Christmas</span></span></h3>
<h3 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #800000;"><span style="color: #000080;"><em>by Clement Clarke Moore</em></span></span></h3>
<h5 class="mceTemp">&#8216;<span style="color: #000000;">T</span><span style="color: #000000;">was the night before Christmas, when all through the house</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #000000;">Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #000000;">The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #000000;">In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #000000;">The children were nestled all snug in their beds,</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #000000;">While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #000000;">And mamma in her &#8216;kerchief, and I in my cap,</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #000000;">Had just settled down for a long winter&#8217;s nap,</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #000000;">When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #000000;">I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #000000;">Away to the window I flew like a flash,</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #000000;">Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #000000;">The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #000000;">Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #000000;">When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #000000;">But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #000000;">With a little old driver, so lively and quick,</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #000000;">I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #000000;">More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #000000;">And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #000000;">&#8220;Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #000000;">On, Comet! on Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #000000;">To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #000000;">Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!&#8221;</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #000000;">As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #000000;">When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #000000;">So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #000000;">With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #000000;">And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #000000;">The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #000000;">As I drew in my head, and was turning around,</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #000000;">Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #000000;">He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #000000;">And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #000000;">A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #000000;">And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #000000;">His eyes &#8212; how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #000000;">His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #000000;">His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #000000;">And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #000000;">The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #000000;">And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #000000;">He had a broad face and a little round belly,</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #000000;">That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #000000;">He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #000000;">And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #000000;">A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #000000;">Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #000000;">He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #000000;">And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #000000;">And laying his finger aside of his nose,</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #000000;">And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #000000;">He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #000000;">And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #000000;">But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #800000;">&#8220;Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night.&#8221;</span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #800000;"> </span></h5>
<h5 class="mceTemp"><span style="color: #800000;"><a href="http://www.askdrromance.com"><span style="color: #000080;">www.askdrromance.com</span></a><span style="color: #000080;">     Free Relationship Advice   </span></span></h5>
<p></span></p>
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		<title>GOD is all colors</title>
		<link>http://askmrsfiggins.com/god-is-all-colors/</link>
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		<pubDate>Thu, 24 Dec 2009 06:21:39 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mrs. Figgins</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Children Issues]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Faith]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA['tis love that's born this Christmas night]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GOD is all colors]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Some Children See Him - by Alfred Burt]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[We're all GOD'S children - no matter what]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.askdrromance.com/?p=2464</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[    Some Children See Him By Alfred Burt Some children see Him lily white the infant Jesus born this night Some children see Him lily white with tresses soft and fair Some children see Him bronzed and brown the Lord of heav&#8217;n to earth come down Some children see Him bronzed and brown with [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="color: #003300;"></p>
<h3>
<p><div id="attachment_2510" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 310px"><img class="size-full wp-image-2510" title="The same no matter what..." src="http://www.askdrromance.com/wp-content/uploads/The-same-no-matter-what....jpg" alt="The same no matter what... GOD is all colors" width="300" height="75" /><p class="wp-caption-text">We&#39;re all the same no matter what...</p></div></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #003300;"> </span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #003300;"> </span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #003300;">S</span><span style="color: #003300;">ome Children See Him</span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #000080;"><span lang="GA">By </span>Alfred Burt</span></h3>
<h5 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #000000;">Some children see Him lily white<br />
the infant Jesus born this night<br />
Some children see Him lily white<br />
with tresses soft and fair</span></h5>
<h5 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #000000;">Some children see Him bronzed and brown<br />
the Lord of heav&#8217;n to earth come down<br />
Some children see Him bronzed and brown<br />
with dark and heavy hair  (with dark and heavy hair!)</span></h5>
<h5 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #000000;">Some children see Him almond-eyed<br />
This Saviour whom we kneel beside<br />
Some children see Him almond-eyed<br />
With skin of yellow hue!</span></h5>
<h5 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #000000;">Some children see Him dark as they<br />
Sweet Mary&#8217;s Son to whom we pray<br />
Some children see Him dark as they<br />
And, ah! they love Him so!</span></h5>
<h5 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #000000;">The children in each different place<br />
Will see the Baby Jesus&#8217; face<br />
Like theirs but bright with heav&#8217;nly grace<br />
And filled with holy light!</span></h5>
<h5 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #000000;">O lay aside each earthly thing<br />
and with thy heart as offering<br />
Come worship now the infant King<br />
&#8217;tis love that&#8217;s born tonight!</span></h5>
<h5 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #000000;">&#8217;tis love that&#8217;s born tonight!</span></h5>
<h5 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #000000;"> </span></h5>
<h5 style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.askdrromance.com/"><span style="color: #000080;">www.askdrromance.com</span></a><span style="color: #000080;">     Free Relationship Advice</span></h5>
<p></span></p>
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		<title>The Little Match Seller &#8211; Hans Christian Andersen</title>
		<link>http://askmrsfiggins.com/the-little-match-seller-hans-christian-andersen/</link>
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		<pubDate>Tue, 22 Dec 2009 06:14:45 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mrs. Figgins</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Children Issues]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Favorite Finds]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Love]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[One Village]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Little Match-Seller by Hans Christian Andersen]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Little Match-Seller under the Christmas tree]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[when a star falls a soul was going up to GOD]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.askdrromance.com/?p=2454</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Little Match-Seller   Throughout this week Mrs. Figgins will be sharing a few of the most loved poems and stories of the Christmas season.    Next installment shown below. From our family to yours, Merry Christmas and Wishes for a Blessed New Year! Mrs. Figgins &#38; Family   The Little Match-Seller by Hans Christian Andersen   It was [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="color: #800000;"></p>
<h3 class="mceTemp">
<dl id="attachment_2459" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 250px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt"><img class="size-medium wp-image-2459 " title="The Little Match-Seller" src="http://www.askdrromance.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Little-Match-Seller-300x300.jpg" alt="The Little Match Seller 300x300 The Little Match Seller   Hans Christian Andersen" width="240" height="240" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd">The Little Match-Seller</dd>
</dl>
</h3>
<h5><span style="color: #800000;"> </span></h5>
<h5><span style="color: #800000;">Throughout this week Mrs. Figgins will be sharing a few of the most loved poems and stories of the Christmas season.    </span></h5>
<h5><span style="color: #800000;">Next installment shown below.</span></h5>
<h5><span style="color: #800000;">From our family to yours,</span></h5>
<h5><span style="color: #800000;">Merry Christmas and Wishes for a Blessed New Year!</span></h5>
<h5><span style="color: #800000;">Mrs. Figgins &amp; Family</span></h5>
<h5 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800000;"><span style="color: #003300;"> </span></span></h5>
<h5 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800000;"><span style="color: #003300;">The Little Match-Seller</span><br />
</span></h5>
<h5 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="color: #000080;">by</span></span></h5>
<h5 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="color: #000080;">Hans Christian Andersen</span></span></h5>
<h5 style="text-align: center;"> </h5>
<h5 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #000000;">It was terribly cold and nearly dark on the last evening of the old year, and the snow was falling fast. </span></h5>
<h5 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #000000;">In the cold and the darkness, a poor little girl, with bare head and naked feet, roamed through the streets. It is true she had on a pair of slippers when she left home, but they were not of much use. </span></h5>
<h5 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #000000;">They were very large, so large, indeed, that they had belonged to her mother, and the poor little creature had lost them in running across the street to avoid two carriages that were rolling along at a terrible rate. </span></h5>
<h5 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #000000;">One of the slippers she could not find, and a boy seized upon the other and ran away with it, saying that he could use it as a cradle, when he had children of his own. </span></h5>
<h5 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #000000;">So the little girl went on with her little naked feet, which were quite red and blue with the cold. </span></h5>
<h5 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #000000;">In an old apron she carried a number of matches, and had a bundle of them in her hands. No one had bought anything of her the whole day, nor had anyone given her even a penny. Shivering with cold and hunger, she crept along; poor little child, she looked the picture of misery. </span></h5>
<h5 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #000000;">The snowflakes fell on her long, fair hair, which hung in curls on her shoulders, but she regarded them not.</span></h5>
<h5 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #000000;">Lights were shining from every window, and there was a savory smell of roast goose, for it was New-year&#8217;s eve—yes, she remembered that. In a corner, between two houses, one of which projected beyond the other, she sank down and huddled herself together. </span></h5>
<h5 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #000000;">She had drawn her little feet under her, but she could not keep off the cold; and she dared not go home, for she had sold no matches, and could not take home even a penny of money. </span></h5>
<h5 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #000000;">Her father would certainly beat her; besides, it was almost as cold at home as here, for they had only the roof to cover them, through which the wind howled, although the largest holes had been stopped up with straw and rags. </span></h5>
<h5 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #000000;">Her little hands were almost frozen with the cold. Ah! perhaps a burning match might be some good, if she could draw it from the bundle and strike it against the wall, just to warm her fingers. She drew one out—“scratch!” how it sputtered as it burnt! It gave a warm, bright light, like a little candle, as she held her hand over it. It was really a wonderful light. It seemed to the little girl that she was sitting by a large iron stove, with polished brass feet and a brass ornament. </span></h5>
<h5 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #000000;">How the fire burned! and seemed so beautifully warm that the child stretched out her feet as if to warm them, when, lo! the flame of the match went out, the stove vanished, and she had only the remains of the half-burnt match in her hand.</span></h5>
<h5 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #000000;">She rubbed another match on the wall. It burst into a flame, and where its light fell upon the wall it became as transparent as a veil, and she could see into the room. </span></h5>
<h5 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #000000;">The table was covered with a snowy white table-cloth, on which stood a splendid dinner service, and a steaming roast goose, stuffed with apples and dried plums. And what was still more wonderful, the goose jumped down from the dish and waddled across the floor, with a knife and fork in its breast, to the little girl. </span></h5>
<h5 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #000000;">Then the match went out, and there remained nothing but the thick, damp, cold wall before her.</span></h5>
<h5 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #000000;">She lighted another match, and then she found herself sitting under a beautiful Christmas-tree. It was larger and more beautifully decorated than the one which she had seen through the glass door at the rich merchant&#8217;s. Thousands of tapers were burning upon the green branches, and colored pictures, like those she had seen in the show-windows, looked down upon it all. The little one stretched out her hand towards them, and the match went out.</span></h5>
<h5 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #000000;">The Christmas lights rose higher and higher, till they looked to her like the stars in the sky. Then she saw a star fall, leaving behind it a bright streak of fire. “Someone is dying,” thought the little girl, for her old grandmother, the only one who had ever loved her, and who was now dead, had told her that when a star falls, a soul was going up to God.</span></h5>
<h5 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #000000;">She again rubbed a match on the wall, and the light shone round her; in the brightness stood her old grandmother, clear and shining, yet mild and loving in her appearance. “Grandmother,” cried the little one, “O take me with you; I know you will go away when the match burns out; you will vanish like the warm stove, the roast goose, and the large, glorious Christmas-tree.” And she made haste to light the whole bundle of matches, for she wished to keep her grandmother there. And the matches glowed with a light that was brighter than the noon-day, and her grandmother had never appeared so large or so beautiful. </span></h5>
<h5 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #000000;">She took the little girl in her arms, and they both flew upwards in brightness and joy far above the earth, where there was neither cold nor hunger nor pain, for they were with God.</span></h5>
<h5 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #000000;">In the dawn of morning there lay the poor little one, with pale cheeks and smiling mouth, leaning against the wall; she had been frozen to death on the last evening of the year; and the New-year&#8217;s sun rose and shone upon a little corpse! </span></h5>
<h5 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #000000;">The child still sat, in the stiffness of death, holding the matches in her hand, one bundle of which was burnt. “She tried to warm herself,” said some. </span></h5>
<h5 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #000000;">No one imagined what beautiful things she had seen, nor into what glory she had entered with her grandmother, on New-year&#8217;s day</span></h5>
<p></span></p>
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		<title>There really is a Santa Claus</title>
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		<pubDate>Mon, 21 Dec 2009 03:02:50 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mrs. Figgins</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Children Issues]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[More Finds]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Best loved Christmas stories & poems]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[There is a Santa Claus]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[There really is a Santa Claus]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Virginia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Yes]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.askdrromance.com/?p=2447</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[  Throughout this week Mrs. Figgins will be sharing a few of the most loved poems and stories of the Christmas season.    The first installment shown below. From our family to yours, Merry Christmas and Wishes for a Blessed New Year! Mrs. Figgins &#38; Family   Eight-year-old Virginia O&#8217;Hanlon wrote a letter to the editor of New [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h5><span style="color: #800000;"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-2451" title="OldFashionedSantaClause copy" src="http://www.askdrromance.com/wp-content/uploads/OldFashionedSantaClause-copy-300x251.jpg" alt="OldFashionedSantaClause copy 300x251 There really is a Santa Claus" width="300" height="251" /></span></h5>
<h5><span style="color: #800000;"> </span></h5>
<h5><span style="color: #800000;">Throughout this week Mrs. Figgins will be sharing a few of the most loved poems and stories of the Christmas season.    </span></h5>
<h5><span style="color: #800000;">The first installment shown below.</span></h5>
<h5><span style="color: #800000;">From our family to yours,</span></h5>
<h5><span style="color: #800000;">Merry Christmas and Wishes for a Blessed New Year!</span></h5>
<h5><span style="color: #800000;">Mrs. Figgins &amp; Family</span></h5>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="color: #000080;">Eight-year-old Virginia O&#8217;Hanlon wrote a letter to the editor of New York&#8217;s <em>Sun</em>, and the quick response was printed as an unsigned editorial Sept. 21, 1897. The work of veteran newsman Francis Pharcellus Church has since become history&#8217;s most reprinted newspaper editorial, appearing in part or whole in dozens of languages in books, movies, and other editorials, and on posters and stamps.</span></p>
<h3><span style="color: #003300;"><span style="color: #800000;">Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus<br />
</span>The New York Sun &#8211; 1897</span></h3>
<h5><span style="color: #003300;">We take pleasure in answering thus prominently the communication below, expressing at the same time our great gratification that its faithful author is numbered among the friends of The Sun: </span><span style="color: #000000;"> </span></h5>
<h5><span style="color: #000000;">&#8220;DEAR EDITOR: I am 8 years old.<br />
&#8220;Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.<br />
&#8220;Papa says, &#8216;If you see it in THE SUN it&#8217;s so.&#8217;<br />
&#8220;Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?&#8221;VIRGINIA O&#8217;HANLON.<br />
&#8220;115 WEST NINETY-FIFTH STREET.&#8221;</p>
<div><span style="color: #000080;"> </span></div>
<div><span style="color: #000080;">VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except [what] they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men&#8217;s or children&#8217;s, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.</span></div>
<div><span style="color: #000080;">Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.</span></div>
<div><span style="color: #000080;">Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that&#8217;s no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.</span></div>
<p><span style="color: #000080;">You may tear apart the baby&#8217;s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, VIRGINIA, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.</p>
<p>No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood. </p>
<div id="attachment_2449" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 275px"><img class="size-large wp-image-2449" title="Yes Virginia" src="http://www.askdrromance.com/wp-content/uploads/Yes-Virginia-265x1024.jpg" alt="Yes Virginia 265x1024 There really is a Santa Claus" width="265" height="1024" /><p class="wp-caption-text">&quot;Believe!&quot;</p></div>
<p> </p>
<p></span></span></h5>
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		<title>Support our troops &#8211; Freedom Alliance</title>
		<link>http://askmrsfiggins.com/support-our-troops-freedom-alliance/</link>
		<comments>http://askmrsfiggins.com/support-our-troops-freedom-alliance/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 14 Dec 2009 16:23:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mrs. Figgins</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[How To]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Love]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[One Village]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Opinion & Politics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Topics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aid our military]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Gifts for our military]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Support our troops thru Freedom Alliance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Support our troops!]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Troop appreciation]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Support our troops!   Dear Mrs. Figgins: We read your column and know how much you honor our troops.  If at all possible, please share this wonderful organization with your readers:  the Freedom Alliance, founded by Lt. Col Oliver North The Freedom Alliance Support Our Troops program supports our wounded and recuperating troops. There are more [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="color: #000000;"></p>
<h4 class="mceTemp">
<dl id="attachment_2404" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 150px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt"><img class="size-full wp-image-2404" title="freedomalliance" src="http://www.askdrromance.com/wp-content/uploads/freedomalliance.jpg" alt="freedomalliance Support our troops   Freedom Alliance" width="140" height="140" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd"><span style="color: #000080;">Support our troops!</span></dd>
</dl>
</h4>
<h5><span style="color: #000000;"> </span></h5>
<p></span></p>
<h5 class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; background: white; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 5;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Dear Mrs. Figgins:</span></h5>
<h5 class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; background: white; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 5;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">We read your column and know how much you honor our troops. </span></h5>
<h5 class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; background: white; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 5;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">If at all possible, please share this wonderful organization with your readers:  the Freedom Alliance, founded by Lt. Col Oliver North</span></h5>
<h5 class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; background: white; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 5;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">The Freedom Alliance Support Our Troops program supports our wounded and recuperating troops. There are more than 12,000 servicemen and women in Warrior Transition Units on military bases all around the country.  American heroes are recovering from their injuries and many will return to active duty; others will transition to civilian life.</span></h5>
<h5 class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; background: white; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 5;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Hosting Troop Appreciation Events, including dinners and Christmas parties for combat-wounded troops and their families stationed at military bases and Wounded Warrior Transition Units around the country to show them how truly grateful our country is for their sacrifice.</span></h5>
<h5 class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; background: white; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 5;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Freedom Alliance delivers Christmas gifts to military families who need our help at this special time of year.  Last year, through the generosity of Freedom Alliance supporters gave over 5,000 Christmas gift bags to our wounded service members and their families. </span></h5>
<h5 class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; background: white; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 5;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Freedom Alliance provides financial aid grants and gift cards to servicemen and women in need.  Last year, Freedom Alliance supporters made it possible to provide over $225,000 in financial aid grants to our brave defenders of freedom in military hospitals around the United States.</span></h5>
<h5 class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; background: white; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 5;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Freedom Alliance “Gifts from Home” project ships care packages to our troops serving overseas.  During the Christmas season, they will ship hundreds of “Gifts from Home” boxes containing thousands of requested and needed items, including prepaid international calling cards, candy, toiletries, games, non-perishable food, Germ-X hand sanitizer, books, magazines, DVDs, CDs and so much more!</span></h5>
<h5 class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; background: white; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 5;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Freedom Alliance provides support for military families through “Adopt-A-Military Family” project, which brings Holiday joy to families in need, with Christmas gifts they might not otherwise afford – all wrapped and delivered to their homes before Christmas.</span></h5>
<h5 class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; background: white; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 5;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">For your readers who may want to help support our troops this holiday season, please provide this link:</span></h5>
<h5 class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; background: white; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 5;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><a href="https://www.ifr-ors.com/ors_2_live/clients/freedom_alliance/SupportTroops/index.cfm?A=1218&amp;L=NULL&amp;P=NULL"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">https://www.ifr-ors.com/ors_2_live/clients/freedom_alliance/SupportTroops/index.cfm?A=1218&amp;L=NULL&amp;P=NULL</span></a></span></h5>
<h5 class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; background: white; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 5;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> Freedom Alliance will make a difference for our injured heroes.</span></h5>
<h5 class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; background: white; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 5;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Thank You for your support, Mrs. Figgins</span></h5>
<h5 class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; background: white; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 5;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Missy and Buck Olsen</span></h5>
<h5 class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; background: white; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 5;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></h5>
<h5 class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; background: white; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 5;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: maroon; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Dear Missy and Buck:</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></h5>
<h5 class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; background: white; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 5;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: maroon; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">THANK YOU for sharing this wonderful organization with all of us. </span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></h5>
<h5 class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; background: white; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 5;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: maroon; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Our prayers are with the troops and their families.  We are blessed with their sacrifices.  </span></h5>
<h5 class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; background: white; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 5;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: maroon; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">May GOD Bless each one of our soldiers and bring them home safely.</span></h5>
<h5 class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; background: white; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 5;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: maroon; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">With heartfelt appreciation,</span></h5>
<h5 class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; background: white; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 5;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: maroon; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Mrs. Figgins</span></h5>
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		<title>Sexual orientation &#8211; not a personal choice.</title>
		<link>http://askmrsfiggins.com/sexual-orientation-not-a-personal-choice/</link>
		<comments>http://askmrsfiggins.com/sexual-orientation-not-a-personal-choice/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 13 Nov 2009 23:15:20 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mrs. Figgins</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Love]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[One Village]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Topics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sexual orientation not a personal choice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sexuality is part of who we are]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Worried kids chose to be gay]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.askdrromance.com/?p=1891</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[  Dear Mrs. Figgins: My brother and his wife are a great couple.  They are loving dedicate parents, with five kids.     Two of the kids are college graduates, two will be graduating in the next two years, and one is still in high school. Three years ago my niece, a college graduate, announced she [...]]]></description>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt"><img class="size-full wp-image-1893" title="Acceptance" src="http://www.askdrromance.com/wp-content/uploads/Acceptance.jpg" alt="Acceptance Sexual orientation   not a personal choice." width="176" height="95" /></dt>
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<h5><span style="color: #000000;"> </span></h5>
<h5><span style="color: #000000;">Dear Mrs. Figgins:</span></h5>
<h5><span style="color: #000000;">My brother and his wife are a great couple.  They are loving dedicate parents, with five kids.    </span></h5>
<h5><span style="color: #000000;">Two of the kids are college graduates, two will be graduating in the next two years, and one is still in high school.</span></h5>
<h5><span style="color: #000000;">Three years ago my niece, a college graduate, announced she is gay.  A few months ago,  my nephew, who “was” engaged, announced he is gay.  Yet, he remains best of friends with his former fiancé!   </span></h5>
<h5><span style="color: #000000;">My brother and sister-in-law have handled this with tremendous grace, and everyone seems to be one happy family.  The brothers and sisters are very supportive of each other and closer than ever. </span></h5>
<h5><span style="color: #000000;">Meanwhile, the rest of us have been left shattered and confused.</span></h5>
<h5><span style="color: #000000;">How can this wonderful family can end up with two gay kids?  They always seemed so “together”.  What would make these two kids want to go in this direction?  </span></h5>
<h5><span style="color: #000000;">What went wrong?  What are we all missing?     What can I do?</span><span style="color: #000000;"> </span></h5>
<h5><span style="color: #000000;">Family Members In Disbelief</span></h5>
<h5><span style="color: #000000;"> </span></h5>
<h5><span style="color: #800000;">Dear Family In Disbelief:</span></h5>
<h5><span style="color: #800000;">Your brother and his family are not missing a thing.  By the sounds of it, they’re quite “together”.  </span></h5>
<h5><span style="color: #800000;">Sexuality is an important part of who we are as humans.  Sexual orientation is not a personal choice.   It is a matter of genetics. </span></h5>
<h5><span style="color: #800000;">The only thing wrong is the hardship any person endures as a result of prejudicial attitudes or misinformation.</span></h5>
<h5><span style="color: #800000;">The best thing you can do is be non-judgmental, supportive and loving.   </span></h5>
<h5><span style="color: #800000;">You have a wonderful family.    Make each moment count.</span></h5>
<h5><span style="color: #800000;">Mrs. Figgins</span></h5>
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