laugh for Christmas

I've seen this clip so many times, and I laugh every time I see it!
Justin Timberlake as a dancing gingerbread man on Ellen - soooo funny!!

This was a good one!

I took the girls and one of their friends to a movie yesterday afternoon...

Ramona & Beezus!







All four of us really enjoyed it - Nicole & her friends burst from the theater door saying it was the best movie they had seen in a long time! Wow, now there's a good review.

I loved John Corbett as the dad, and the loving portrayal of a crazy, fun family. I was very pleased with the way the loveable character of Ramona was translated to screen.

After seeing it, I realized that technology was not really part of this family's lives - Beezus didn't have a cell phone with a texting plan (nor did her friends), there was no computer in the house, no big screen tv & game system in the living room. Refreshing... for once a movie not telling my kids "Everyone else does this all the time!"

Full of lots of laughs and a few tears along the way... I know I'll be picking this one up on DVD!

it's a dad's life

If you have a dad or a husband or a brother or a son, this video is for you. And him. Send it to him, make his day. I laughed to the point of tears!

can you feel the love tonight?

My big treat for the girls on this trip to Vegas was taking them to see The Lion King Musical! It is the big show at the hotel where we stayed, which made it easier to choose which show to see. There are so many great options to choose from in Vegas, but traveling between Strip hotels is somewhat of a pain with little people.

The other deciding factor was, interestingly, watching clips from the shows I was trying to decide from, on youtube, getting a better feel for how the girls would like it.

Here's one of the clips that helped me decide on The Lion King:




I did not show the girls the online clips, because I wanted them to be totally surprised. This paid off - their eyes were as big as saucers as they watched this opening live and in person, and they were captivated for the rest of the show.

Hands down the most creative, fun, enjoyable musical I've seen! If you ever have a chance to go for yourself, my review is - "Totally worth it!"

A Bend In the Road

by Helen Steiner Rice

When we feel we have nothing left to give
And we are sure that the song has ended,
When our day seems over and the shadows fall
And the darkness of night has descended,
Where can we go to find the strength
To valiantly keep on trying?
Where can we find the hand that will dry
The tears that the heart is crying?

There's but one place to go and that is to God,
And, dropping all pretense and pride,
We can pour out our problems without restraint
And gain strength with Him at our side.
And together we stand at life's crossroads
And view what we think is the end,
But God has a much bigger vision,
And He tells us it's only a bend.

For the road goes on and is smoother,
And the pause in the song is a rest,
And the part that's unsung and unfinished
Is the sweetest and richest and best.
So rest and relax and grow stronger,
Let go and let God share your load.
Your work is not finished or ended,
You've just come to a bend in the road.

Julie & Julia

If this movie is half as funny as the preview, I'm going to really enjoy it!

Up

We took the girls to see "Up" yesterday. We really didn't know a whole lot about the story or what to expect, but we heard on the radio that pluggedinonline gave it a great review so we were confident it would be fun!

This movie was fantastic! The first 10 minutes or so are truly touching, establishing that this movie is not just a bunch of empty-headed humor to make kids laugh.

The characters of Carl & Russell are wonderful, the dog Doug is hilarious, and the floating house is just too fantastical for words! If you want a good movie with great content (not just pratfalls and potty jokes) take your kids to see "Up"!

do re me fa so la ti do

Only press play if you enjoy the uplifting fun of the Sound of Music...
otherwise, move on before you end up smiling...

{ lose my soul }

loved this song since the cd came out... just saw the video yesterday & love it just as much!





(this is the only version I could find that could be embedded on a blog - sorry about the annoying graphics someone put at the top & bottom)

I also just bought a cd from Mandisa, who is featured in this video, and love it... it's in my sidebar.

arise my love

For me, Easter is far more significant than Christmas. I know we all love the Christmas season, but without Easter, Christmas was pointless. Without Jesus Christ's death and resurrection, and the salvation we all can have because of it, His birth would have been insignificant.

The following song represents more to me than just Jesus death and resurrection. As I listen to the words, and hear the Father say, "Arise, My Love!" I know these words were meant for me, and for you, because we are the love of God's life, the desire of His heart.



arise, my love
the grave no longer has a hold on you!
no more death's sting
no more suffering
arise,
arise, my love!

Kari Jobe

Last night, we went to a CD release party for Kari Jobe, a worship leader from our church, who has a new CD coming out tomorrow on the Integrity label... Sony has picked it up, too, and it will be available at Target, Walmart, etc.

Anyway, Kari is so lovely, inside and out - her voice is like crystal clear water, and her worship comes straight from a heart in love with God. My girls were enamored by her, which was so sweet to me because, truthfully, Kari is the kind of young woman I want my girls looking up to. My hope is that one day, no matter what they are doing with their lives, my girls' eyes will shine with the love of Jesus the way Kari shines.



I bought my copy of Kari's new CD last night - truly beautiful! So full of her heart and God's as well...

I also have one of her songs on my playlist in the sidebar of this blog, if you want to hear more.

Visit Kari's site here...

Marley & Me

I read the book well before I saw the movie! I loved it, John Grogan is a great writer - he captures hilarious moments and poignant ones equally well. I was eager to see the movie because the book was so great, and I figured even if the movie was only half as good as the book, I'd enjoy it.

I was right - I enjoyed the movie so much - and it kept very well to the book. There is a lot that had to be eliminated from the book text - there was just too much to tell in the time a movie allows. There were a few added things, but they were very minor, and seemed to allow the plot to move along more smoothly to make up for what had to be cut out.

It is worth reading "Marley and Me" if you want to have lots more of what was so enjoyable about the movie!

As far as age-appropriate-ness of the movie - I considered taking my girls, but changed my mind after reading the full review on pluggedinonline. There is some language and some mild intimate scenes & discussions (that would probably fly right over the girls' heads, but still.)

**spoiler!** The most difficult thing for me in considering taking my kids was there is a scene showing him being put to sleep because he is old and sick. I know this is part of life, having put a dog to sleep when our kids were younger - they still miss her. But this scene, as well as the burial/saying goodbye scene, were so moving - I cried, my sister-in-law who was with me cried, I heard sniffles all around the theater - I am glad I didn't take my girls, or they would have been bawling. So maybe this movie is best for older kids, those who are more prepared to handle the emotional level of the sad goodbye.

Overall - a good movie and a great book!

ten things off the top of your head

Nic's top-ten-off-the-top-of-your-head game has only one rule:
"it HAS to be off the top of your head...no scouring the internet for all-time-best-character lists."
She picked the top ten best male movie characters.

so here we have it - off the top of my head and in no particular order,

top ten memorable child movie characters

Lucy Diamond Dawson (Dakota Fanning) in I Am Sam
Charlie Bucket (Freddie Highmore) in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
David (Ben Tibber) in I Am David
Annie (Aileen Quinn) in Annie
Fern Arable (Dakota Fanning) in Charlotte's Web
Walter (Haley Joel Osment) in Secondhand Lions
Peter Llewelyn Davies (Freddie Highmore) in Finding Neverland
Jo March (Winona Rider) in Little Women (this is a stretch, I know, b/c she's a teen, but she's such a great character)
Nat Cooper (Elijah Wood) in Forever Young
Elliot (Henry Thomas) in E.T.

Feeling Sluggish?

It's one of those days - I've already done so many things, with many left to go... I need something to keep me hopping, so I'll just press play...

I need some more toe-tapping tunes... any suggestions?

Mosaic

There is a distinct line in my life that was drawn the first time I heard a song from Amy Grant. After that time, I was inexplicably drawn to her music, her voice, her lyrics. I even had a perm during my grade school years because I wanted to look like Amy. But it was more than a kid's fascination with someone famous - I was never able to explain why, really, but I loved Amy and her beautiful music.

And I still do.

That's why, when I saw this book on the "New" shelf at our library, I snatched it up.

Mosaic - Pieces of My Life So Far

Reading this book was something like being invited in to sit with Amy while she talked about her life with me. What an honor, especially when I realized what a down-to-earth, real person she is, just like the rest of us. I was constantly touched by her honesty, the depth of her revelations, and her sweet, humble heart. I was brought to tears many times, both in empathetic sadness, and in laughter. This is one book I read in bits and pieces, savoring the bits of wisdom and beauty that came from each story.

This book is filled with short stories and memories from her life, sometimes followed by one of her songs or poems that she wrote during or about the time she references in that story. I know many of Amy's songs by heart, and have my own memories associated with them, so to read her memories that go with the same songs is surreal. I found it intriguing that she wrote as a memory came, not necessarily in chronological order - this gave the book even more of a personal feel.

Now more than ever, I hope to one day see Amy perform in person (I never have, despite wishing I could after I heard her singing on the radio that first time when I was 7 years old.) I know one day I will for certain, when we're seated at Jesus' feet for a time of old-fashioned hymns while she strums her guitar.


"If I do not have a unique stage persona that differs from the me who shows up at the grocery store, it's because I've never felt any demarcation between life and art, faith and day-to-day living."
-- Amy Grant, Mosaic, Pieces of My Life So Far

Are you a MOM?

Here's a peppy toe-tapping tune for all you hard-working moms out there, to help you get through the day (or a long night!)

On Aging

I occurred to me this morning
   as I washed this face of mine,
How quickly come the changes
   with a little passing time.
A wrinkle here, a hair turned gray,
   a not so lilting step.
I see me growing older,
   but I don't quite feel it yet.
At times I nearly feel my age,
   at others I'm sixteen,
So full am I of all the thoughts
   and feelings in between.

Who would have thought the road of life
Would twist and turn so much?
The journey makes me strong and weak and
   tender to the touch.
And so this day I face the choice
   that I have faced each day,
Will I be open? Teachable?
Unafraid of change?
   Yes.

I will embrace the moment.
Forgive my past mistakes.
And remember that just showing up is
   sometimes all it takes.
I'll seek the kind of beauty
   that time cannot erase,
Wisdom and experience resting on my face.

a poem by Amy Grant, from Mosaic - Pieces of My Life So Far

Classics Bookclub - Pride and Prejudice

I was quite excited to find the Classics Bookclub that was started up by 5 Minutes For Books, especially after my dive back into the reading world this summer.

I was even more excited to read one of Jane Austen's books for the first time - Pride and Prejudice.

I have loved (and own!) the major theater releases that came from Jane Austen's books - as well as watching the entire series of Jane Austen productions shown on PBS this past spring. But for some reason that I cannot explain, I had never read anything Austen had written. It was about time.



I enjoyed the book immensely, and am glad to have read it. I can see now why many devoted fans of the book were upset that the 2006 movie did not follow the book as well as other productions. In this case, I have to say I did not mind, though, especially when you consider what the 2006 version was able to fit into 2 hours. There is so much more to the book (isn't that always the case?), and I enjoyed reading about elements left out of the film, such as quiet Mary, Caroline's conpiritory ways, Lizzie's extended family, and more of her her mother's neurotic and absurd behavior that makes me laugh out loud.

I marvel at what life was like for women in that time, and am thankful that I was able to marry for love. I especially appreciate the seemingly forgotten concept in our "modern" world, of respect leading to love, and love leading to self-sacrifice.

The entire time I read this book, the screen actors and their voices were in my head, reciting the lines that were taken directly from the book to the screen - especially Brenda Blethyn (again with Lizzie's zany mother!) As much as I wanted to pop the DVD in every day, I made myself wait until I had finished the book. I even found some of the music to add to my playlist (left sidebar)!

Part of the way through the book, since I was immersed in an Austen world, I rented Becoming Jane, which I thoroughly enjoyed (despite it's own tragedy). I found it interesting how much the people and events in Jane's life shadowed people and events found in all of her written works. That makes her writing so much more interesting to me, to know that characters were colored by her own personal experience and not just her imagination.

Still one of my favorite movies... the scene where he is walking to meet her in the misty morning, coat blowing in the wind, makes my heart flutter in my throat every time.

share what you read this summer!

Welcome, welcome - all my Summer Reading Groupies friends! Now that the kids are back in school, and Labor Day weekend is almost here, summer is drawing to a close, and it's time to share what we read this summer. To join in, leave a comment about your reading goals & what you accomplished, or feel free to post on your blog and leave a comment with the link to your summer reading wrap-up post.

=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=

When I started with my goal of 3 books for the summer, I had no idea I would end up reading as much as I did, especially with the move from our house into this apartment. But I guess apartment living and poolside relaxation allowed more reading than I thought possible. I blasted past my 3 book goal, and I'm still going - thank goodness for the library!

Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
Anne Frank, The Diary of A Young Girl - Anne Frank
Sam's Letters For Jennifer - James Patterson
Suzanne's Diary For Nicholas - James Patterson
Miracle on the 34th Green - James Patterson
And The Shofar Blew - Francine Rivers
Sundays At Tiffany's - James Patterson & Gabrielle Charbonnet
Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen

I used the Random Number Generator to draw the winner of the bookmarker (made by me!): post #9 - Laurie of Kandy Kisses Boutique! Congratulations, Laurie! Send me an email so I can mail your prize to you!

I also started participating in 5 Minutes For Books' Classics Reading Club, which is what spurred me to read Pride and Prejudice. More on that to be posted later!

I had fun, and I can't wait to read about what you have been reading!

Fireproof

I am so stinkin' excited! My cousin Craig was involved in the making of this movie! I can't wait until it comes out so I can go see it!!! So proud of you, Craig :)

Here's Craig with my sister.