1.04.2011
Thanks Hollywood...
I saw a bunch of movies last year. It's been a while since I've seen that many in a year. I remember the days when it seemed like Steve & I were seeing a movie once a week, or at least 2-3 times per month. Those were the days. We saw sooooo many. And I remember reactions to bunches of them. But in reviewing 2010, I couldn't help but come back to one thought - thanks Hollywood for the great family movies of 2010. Honestly. We saw a bunch of really great and really good movies last year that were appropriate and amazing for our family... Let's be honest - when you walk into the theater to see a kids movie you have this presumption that it's for the kids and you hope you make it through, right? These I totally would see again and again...and will...gladly!!! Did you see any of these??? Here they are in no particular order...
Tangled
I absolutely loved this one! Loved the music - the story - the animation - the characters --- loved it loved it loved it! An instant classic for sure! Can't wait for the DVD!
Ramona and Beezus
This one really caught me by surprise to be so good. I mean really good. AND... it's set in Oregon - how cool is that! Sweet story - touching. Love it! (Already have the DVD - thanks Mom!)
Toy Story 3
Sooooooooooooo worth the wait. Amazing!!! Boo-hoo-ed!! Soooooo wonderful!
Despicable Me
When I saw the commercials I was NOT looking forward to it. Then my fam saw it and loved it! Just saw it after Christmas (another Christmas DVD - thanks MOM!)... wonderful wonderful story. And with many friends adopting and bringing home babies this year... WOW! That much better!
Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader
The books are amazing, and they're doing a pretty good job with the movies to go with them... Dawn Treader is Steve's favorite of the three...and definitely a great one to see!
Other good ones: Megamind (another sleeper surprise) and How to Train Your Dragon (Noah and I are reading this series right now and loving every minute of it...) and The Karate Kid (ok, I confess I didn't see all of it --- I was on a plane when I saw it, but I did like it...)
Then there is the non-kid movie that I saw and loved... Inception. Whoa - amazing.
And then...there is the one I really wanted to see, but didn't... Secretariat.
So, Hollywood...thanks for giving us lots of options of family friendly films to enjoy this past year. Good stories, great animation or cinematography, without those "need to filter" inappropriate moments. I am truly and honestly grateful. Hopeful for what 2011 is expected to bring our way...
Cars 2 - man, I can't wait!
Hoodwinked Too! - this was supposed to be released in 2010, but wasn't. The original was an instant classic. Can't wait.
So, what was at the top of your list of great movies for 2010? What did I miss? What are you looking forward to (movie-wise) for 2011??
1.03.2011
A new show --- and it surprised me...
1.02.2011
I know I said I would...
:)
1.01.2011
2011...
I guess that's my point. This year --- 2011 --- in as deliberate as I am about longing to be a good wife and mom and friend and student and youth pastor and whatever else is a role I have... I want to be a good me. I want to learn a little about what really makes me tick - re-discover things that I just like to do for fun (sorry babe --- it's not a bowling league). Actually it's bigger than that (although I think that's part of it). There were many times in the latter part of this year when I was challenged about what I do that I just like to do... or fills my tank... what do I do for Sabbath-rest. What do I do that allows me to turn off for a while and just refuel? Hmmmm... it's bigger than "just" reading my Bible and praying... I think I've almost lost that ability to "rest" --- to just "be" --- to do things I just like to do... I feel a little like I'm rambling, because I'm still working through it in my head... but I know that I need to. Which I guess means I need to be introspective...
I raised the idea of the 40-days of blogging again to my friends and fam at dinner New Years Eve. I needed a kick-start to get back at it. But it's funny --- there's a part of me that doesn't want it to just be 40-days. I'm thinking 60... 90... And just like I want to be committed to doing this...I want to be committed to, in the midst of all this year brings my way, introspection...goal-setting...resting... I saw the question somewhere this week of "how are you different today than you were a year ago?" The non-introspective me doesn't exactly know how to answer that question... The thinking-I-need-to-be-introspective me believes I want to know how to answer that question... Maybe next year I'll just be the able-to-answer-that-question me ...
So...2011. Day 1 is done. 364 left. I wonder what's in store for us... I'm not sure what is in store for me this year. I can look ahead and see lots of great opportunities of fun and amazing things to do with family and friends... I see finishing my bachelor's degree - finally... I see things that are going to be bumpy roads where I'll need to hold on tight to Him to get through (ok, so I need to hold on tight to Him in those fun amazing times as well!)... So, here we go. Along for the ride, together...to embrace and live and reflect on whatever it is that God brings our way this year...
10.04.2010
While I'm Waiting...
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait
I will move ahead, bold and confident
Takeing every step in obedience
While I'm waiting
I will serve You
While I'm waiting
I will worship
While I'm waiting
I will not faint
I'll be running the race
Even while I wait
I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it's not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve you while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting on You, Lord
9.15.2010
The answers...
9.07.2010
Whatcha think?? (A few guesses from you first...)
9.06.2010
It comes...and it goes... and I didn't even realize it...
Long and short of it is lots has happened over the last 40 days... and lots will continue to happen. The next couple of weeks are just FULL of crazy and cool and fun things going on. And... I'm going to keep blogging about it. I don't know that it will be every day, but I hope it will be. Is there something you want me to blog about? Something you want me to answer?? Suggestions of changes I could make?? Let me know. Thanks for joining me in the blogging journey... hope we keep traveling it together...
9.04.2010
It's a little surreal...
Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens. Your faithfulness to the skies. (Psalm 36:5)
For as amazing and big and vast and awe-inspiring and mesmerizing and beautiful this sky is... God's love is bigger. And just when I think I can focus on how big it is, God's love is bigger still. And then you think of 1 Corinthians 13 that says Love is patient. Love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast. It is not proud. It is not rude or self-seeking. It is not easily angered. It keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth. It always trusts, always protects, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
Then... I think about it again but every time I say the word Love or It, I put in God's name... Or Jesus' Name... And then I stare up at this big ol sky and go ... Wow!! Thanks God for loving me this much. Thanks for loving me regardless, in spite of my faults, through good times and bad...and so on.
Maybe you can go take a peak outside tonight or tomorrow night and catch a glimpse of how big the sky is...and how big His love for you is... It's a lil surreal...
9.03.2010
A confession...
Somehow during high school I never learned a foreign language. Nope. I got to use my extra elective credits to do more music classes, and yearbook. Last part of my Senior year I had Orchestra, Jazz Lab, Symphonic Band, English, Band Assistant, and Yearbook. That was a rockin' schedule!! Anyway --- I'm "old" enough that foreign language was covered under my humanities credits, and all these music classes got me through.
Now, I wish I'd had the foreign languge. It's weird that everyone else pretty much knows one except me (or at least seems that way). I can say I've learned txt msg language - I can say I've created my own new words, many a time... but no foreign language. I even have to ask friends to help me understand Geek Speak, but there are many times I'm lost by techno-talk that is above my head (I'm a techie-wanna-be...not a techie pro...).
Yesterday in staff coffee this youtube clip was shared. A complete foreign film. Watch and let me know what you think... I'm sure you'll probably understand every single word. (yeah, right! really...watch it right now... please???)