Day 7:Favorite Movies

Favorite Movies

The Lion King was my first favorite Disney...although I think my sisters would argue it was Bambi...but I don't remember that. I use to come home every day after school in Jr.High and watch it for weeks on end. I loved it that much.





High School Musical. The family I nannied for before we moved here got me hooked on this series of movies. Honestly, at first, I thought the first one was a little pathetic...I thought the acting was so silly. But somehow I have become hooked and I just adore these movies.




Ahhh..Penelope! I love that this movie has such a good message.





What's not to love about this movie??? Seriously! It's so good and clean and just a really feel good movie about 2 villains...now who can honestly do that???




Aunty Carolyn introduced us to this particular movie when we were just kids. We use to go up to see her in Edmonton for a week in the summer and one summer she showed us the BBC version of this. When I heard it was coming out a few years ago, I wondered how much better they would be able to make it...I know, lame ...because the BBC version (after watching it after the newer one) is really bad! bad acting, the animatronics for Aslan was horrible! But that's the one we grew up with. Anyways, I love these movies.





Prince Caspian was a great one too. I love that Lucy got to use her knife and was actually included in some of the fighting in this one...unlike the previous one she didn't get much.





Voyage of the Dawn treader is my fave! I can't say enough about this movie. Not as dark as Prince Caspian. Although it does have the sea serpent they fight and that's pretty ugly (I mean the serpent itself is ugly). But I just loved the clear messages in it.






Dirty Dancing...this was a movie my Mom did not like us to watch and although when we were children and watched it at our neighbors (thanks Kara) and didn't think our Mom knew, I'm sure she knew because we would quote it and talk about it. We ALWAYS watched the part when Patrick jumps off the stage in reverse because to our childish mind, it was HILARIOUS to watch him "jump back on the stage in reverse motion". Good times, good times.

5 for Friday

5 general rules I have in my life:

1. Always try your best

2. Life is all about choices

3. Drink lots of water

4. Be punctual

5. Be honest

This week has been a not so great one. Probably one of the most stressful, overwhelming weeks I've had. Even more so than when Tanner was born. I am looking forward with hope that next week will be better.

Matt and I were not able to go to the temple yesterday because we were waiting around for the paper delivery guy to bring the papers. I guess his car broke down (poor him, but not poor us because we got called by some of our customers asking where their paper was) and they didn't show up until 5 o'clock. By then, Matt was at work and I didn't get home until 10pm. So they got delivered with today's papers. But we did get to go out for lunch together. We were going to go to the golf course but the road looked like it was rained out so we chose the Chinese food place. We ended up running into someone we hadn't seen in years and chatted with her so although it was nice to catch up, we didn't really get a "date". So I guess that means we'll get to go out again...right? lol

We will go to the temple next weekend. I planned a temporary alternate day this month. I'm not sure why I did, but I felt I should. It's a good thing I did.

I watched the movie "When in Rome" with Susanne last night. It was a good movie, but I probably wouldn't recommend it for the fact that it has sketch nudity in it. Think Titanic...when he sketches her naked. Although that may not phase other people, it does me. The story was cute and there was no swearing otherwise. It might make me a prude, but I just would rather not watch that stuff if I can help it. It's hard to know sometimes with movies. You live and you learn.

Glee...have you seen this show? I haven't and I would like to see one episode to see what the hype is about. Is it really any good? I imagine it's a bit like High School Musical crossed with Grease. Maybe I'm totally off base, but that's what it seems like.

I have been taking pictures for my "My life in Photographs" project...if that's what you can call it. It's kind of fun actually. It makes you really think about your life. I've always tried to keep a journal and although I'm not super faithful at it, I do try. Not too long ago, life seemed simpler and it was easy for me to keep up in my journal writing, but now it's not so easy.

Cleaning for other people has really taught me a lot. About myself and about what I want. I really enjoy cleaning for other people because I love seeing the end result and I love helping other people out.

Parenthood is HARD! I knew it was going to be hard but lately I feel like "what do I have to offer". Why did Tanner and/or the Lord choose me to be the parent of Tanner? Because I feel like I'm doing the worst job EVER! I'm glad that he's in Calgary right now because I really needed the break. Why don't parents ever get to have a "grandma" break? lol

The weather...although it has rained and rained, the prediction is that it's suppose to be a hot, dry summer and if that's true, we are all going to be wishing and praying for the rain. I know it may ruin farmers fields and even our own gardens, but this is the time to prepare. We need to stop being so complacent in our thoughts that we'll always have what we need and prepare now for the things that lie ahead of us. Storms are just the beginning. If we have poor fields, food is going to start to be scarce and then what? If we don't have what we have been told we need, then we have only ourselves to blame. So take this time and make sure you are at least prepared with 72 hour kits as a start. I know we have some work to do with our own 72 hour kits. We don't all have all the things we need. We have a large amount, but we are working toward having all of it.




Well, I'm off to clean my own house now. I hope everyone has a terrific weekend and I'll be back on Monday with "My life in Photographs".

295

I have 295 posts...so my account tells me. I'm thinking of giving something away for the 300th post but wondered if any of you have any ideas. If I did a give away, what would you like to get if the winner is you?






We saw the movie Shrek 4 on Saturday. It was really a cute movie. Tanner wasn't a big fan of the 3-D glasses but he said he really liked the movie anyways.

He was stalling when going to bed last night and finally I shut off the lights and said no more dilly dallying around...time for bed. Then he came into our room and said "I have to say goodnight and give a true loves kiss to you Mom". Man, that boy can have me wrapped around his finger in no time when he says stuff like that. How can you not love a boy so cute?

Today we had a regional conference and it was great except for the fact that people, today, seem to have forgotten what reverence is. It was so difficult to concentrate on the messages or to even hear them. Everywhere I looked, there seemed to be pockets of noise/distractions. I need to learn how to shut out the outside distractions but sometimes it's hard. For example, if I'm on the phone and Matt's trying to tell me to ask the person I'm talking to a question, I have to stop my phone conversation to hear what Matt is asking. My Mom can talk and listen to 2 different conversations at the same time. I don't know how, but I clearly do not posses that talent.

Well, I hope everyone has a great week!

Footloose

Thanks to my dear friend, Susanne, I will be watching Footloose for the first time ever. I am so excited! There are several movies that I have never seen that I need to see to be one who can say "oh yeah, I know that movie". I'll let you know how I like it when I see it.

What to say, what to say...

I haven't had a super eventful or exciting life the last week and a bit. Tanner was home sick all last week. He had a really high fever and I finally took him to the Doctor and he said it was just something viral. A lot of it is going around right now so I kept him home. I am REALLY busy making Christmas cards for the Christmas craft and bake sale on December 5th. I want to have 150 cards and I'm at 54 right now. I'm duplicating now. That's much quicker than coming up with 150 different cards. So that's time consuming. Then after that I get to assemble my 54 cards for our family and friends. I decided to something super easy that I could cut out and assemble later so it won't take too long to do that.

There's a movie that we rented at the Library that I have to strongly recommend to people. It's called Forever Strong. It's a really good movie. It's rated 14A but there was no swearing or sex. I think it had to do with thematic things. There's a scene in it where the kids are at a party and there's alcohol but to me, that isn't a reason to rate a movie 14A. It was really inspiring and it's based on a Rugby team in Highland, Utah.

Halloween is this week and I'm not really that excited. I don't know why. I should try to get more excited so Tanner gets more excited about it.


(This is him on Halloween night)




(We went as a Pioneer family to our ward family Halloween party)


I'm more excited for Christmas. I can NOT wait to give all my gifts to my family and few friends I buy for.

I bought one of those gifts today. I bought tickets to the "So You Think You Can Dance Canada" tour in Calgary!!! I called up my friend this morning at 7AM and told her the good news! So December 2nd we're off to Calgary to enjoy a fun night. We have reasonably good tickets. It's 7th row in the lower section (not floor). It's going to be so much fun!


(Us on the big night!)

Well, not much else is new. Have a great day!

This one's for you Lahni

The article that refers to what I'm talking about is here:


Although it doesn't specifically say "no Lingerie", it does say that we should not find reason to remove them and to me it is finding reason to remove them to put something immodest on (weather it be in your own home or not, it is still immodest) when we take them off to put on lingerie.
This is clearly my opinion and I'm not trying to say anyone is right or wrong. But I DO feel like (and again, this is MY FEELINGS and opinion) it is defiling the garments when anyone takes them off for lingerie. Of course you have to take them off for swimming. I don't wear mine when I swim. I don't know anyone that does. Anyway, the article is worth the read and everyone will read it differently and that's okay. But that's what I based my opinion and feelings on. So take it for what it is. I'm not here to say I'm right and everyone else is wrong. I'm also not blogging about this to start a huge debate on something that is personal to each individual. I'm just making myself clear on where I'm coming from.

On another note...Tanner and Matt had a great time at the father/son camp. They left really early on Friday and left me all alone...lol. I ended up going swimming with my best friend and her sister and their children. It was a blast! Then on Saturday, I went to Sharon's to hold her baby. Oh so little and cute. I never really understood the phrase "I could eat him up" until I became a parent. But it's true. We had a great Sabbath. We had a wonderful dinner at the Burton's and then came home and hung out and watched Joseph, prince of dreams. We only allow Tanner and ourselves to watch church movies on Sunday. So we have a few of them. I'd like to get more adult ones. We have a bunch of the living scripture ones. I'd love to get the "Liken" series. They look amazing and I think Tanner would really enjoy them. WE are kind of strict on Sunday's about our activities (if you can call them that). We never have big meals or play outside. We are together as a family and read, or play church games (we have a couple of them) or watch a movie or nap or visit people. I know, we're so boring, but I believe that it's part of keeping the Sabbath Day holy.

My MIL is coming this week and we are looking forward to that. There's also the Primary annual swim party. It is always fun except this year we only get the pool for one hour instead of the two that we normally have because of how much the pool costs. It should be fun, none the less.

I can't believe that July is almost over! Where does the time go. We ended up getting a family swim pass so we can go as often as we want. It is perfect in the hot weather we are having lately. I love getting into the cool water and just relaxing.

Anyway, that's about it for now. I hope everyone is having a great day.

Gone with the WInd

You would think that by now I'd be use to the wind but this morning...it's a bit wild. Anyways, what's been happening the last month. I went to my first book club/discussion group. It was pretty good. I enjoyed the book and hearing what other people got out of it. The following is my favorite quote of the book and my possibly be my favorite quote in life right now:

It is not enough for us to be convinced by the gospel; we must act and think so that we are converted by it. In contrast to the institutions of the world, which teach us to know something, the gospel of Jesus Christ challenges us to become something...The final judgement is not just an evaluation of the sum total of good and evil acts-what we have done. It is an acknowledgment of the final effect of our acts and thoughts-what we have become. It is not enough for anyone just to go through the motions. The commandments, ordinances and covenants of the gospel are not a list of deposits required to be made in some heavenly account. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a plan that shows us how to become what our Heavenly Father desires us to become. Dallin H. Oaks

How true is that? It is so important to not just do what is right but do it because we want to do it. There are so many people who live the gospel for "show". They do what they think is right to look good. But then there's those who live and breathe the gospel who desire to do what's right because they know and believe that it will make them a better person and trust in the Lord and do His will. I hope that makes sense. There are the doers and then there are the believers.

Let's see, what else have we been up to? I finished the Book of Mormon for the 3rd time 2 weeks ago. I started reading it again right away. The more I read the Book of Mormon, the more I love it. I feel like I get to know the people better each time I read it.

Tanner is happy and healthy. He had a really bad cold a couple weeks ago and then had it again last weekend. I'm a bad Mom and kept him home last Monday from school because I felt it was more important for him to rest than to go to school. I remember as a child and especially as a teenager, my older and younger sister and I practically had to be dying or throwing up all over for my Mom to allow us to stay home from school. But my little sister, Melany....she could complain that she had a "tummyache or sore throat" and she got to stay home, no questions asked. And she didn't have the same rules as us. We had to lie in our beds or on the couch and rest. There was no watching t.v. or reading or anything like that. The only way I can get Tanner to rest is if we watch movies. Otherwise, he runs around the house and plays and doesn't rest. I guess every child is different.

The problem I'm having right now in life is constantly feeling judged. Like I'm not a good enough Mom, or that I'm not strict enough, or that my child isn't good enough or well behaved enough or that I'm too laid back. Parenting is such a tricky thing sometimes. And not feeling like a good Mom, for me, makes me feel like a bad person. It's something that is hard for me because I have felt judged my whole life because of my past and I am really trying hard to be a better person and not be that girl I was 10-15 years ago that people strongly disliked. I've spent a lot of time on my knees because I know it comes down to forgiving myself. I can't make people like me or see me the way I would like them to see me. I can only be responsible for me and how I act and treat other people. It's a growing and learning process. That's life, I guess.

Anyways, I should go. Thanks for letting me open myself up to my vulnerability.

Do you have time?

So much to tell and so little time...lol.

First, Tanner had this little school project they did. They all got a turn taking a little stuffed owl home for a sleepover and they had to find a fact about the owl and take it back the next day to school. Well, Tanner was the first one and he had it for 4 days because they sent it home with him on Wednesday and he didn't go back to school until the Monday. He loved that little owl, named Percy, like it was his own real pet. It was so cute. The fact that he choose was to say that Percy was a spotted owl and spotted owls are endangered because people keep cutting down their homes.









Second, Halloween. It was fantastic! Tanner was so cute. He had his school party on the Wednesday and he dressed up as a cowboy. He took his bullseye horse to school and that was a big hit. They had asked me to come and help in the class room so I did. Tanner loves when I volunteer. I like it too. Then that night our ward had it's annual pie and chili cook off. It was really good and Tanner loved the fishing game they had. He got a pack of 3 cars. The kids all got treat bags from the Primary so it was more candy for him. Then of Friday my Mom came down for Halloween and to go to the temple the next day. He was SO adorable the night of Halloween. He was a chef for that night and he was so cute...if I do say so myself, but you be the judge of that....








Thirdly, I have really been into old movies. Movies like Casablanca, Funny Face, and Paris in April. I just rented Gone with the Wind and can't wait to watch them. There is something so wonderful about the older movies. I love all the dancing and singing. Such good movies.

Fourthly, my new favorite household item is a bottle brush. It works wonders to clean my cheese grater. It takes the cheese right off. And we are big cheese eaters so we use it a lot.

And lastly, meals. I have made quite a few new meals and we are loving it. We just had this amazing chicken pot pie tonight. Last night we had this tex mex chicken casserole thing that was soooooo yummy, and last week we tried Lynn's supper in a soup can. SO EASY! I of course being a cheese lover am going to double the cheese. It calls for 4 slices, but I would for sure do more to add a little more cheese flavor.

So that's the latest tidbits on me. One cute thing that Tanner said last week was when he was laying in my bed while I was "asleep". Matt had come in the room to get dressed and he said very forcefully, but while whispering "Daddy, get out of Mommy's room right now. Mommy is sleeping. Shhhh". He is so cute and is growing like a weed.

Well, I think that's it for now. Until next time, have a great week.

Kindred Spirits

If you have ever seen the movie "Anne of Green Gables", you know what I'm talking about. If not, then you should watch it because it's a really great movie.

Anyways, when I was younger and watched that movie I always wished I had a friendship like Anne and Diana's. They were kindred spirits. My sister's all seemed to find their kindred spirits while we were younger but I hadn't. Although I have always had one or two best friends in my life, I have never felt like we were kindred spirits. Don't get me wrong, I love all my friends but there's a different kind of connection with someone that you consider a kindred spirit. There's something about having and being part of a kindred spirit kind of friendship that is hard to explain to someone who's never felt that way. I didn't really feel like I had a kindred spirit until just recently. Now, I'm not going to reveal who this person is because I don't feel it necessary to do so. I LOVE ALL MY FRIENDS unconditionally.

Sometimes you just find a friend that you connect with on a different level than you do with your other friends. A friend that fits into your life like a puzzle piece that you didn't know was missing. Someone that you feel a deeper connection to than someone that maybe you've known for a long time. It's hard to explain in words what makes a friend not just a friend but a kindred spirit. It's like my friend and I were made to be friends.

I have a handful of friends that I love and adore sooooo much. Friends that I try hard to stay in contact with because of distance. Friends that I love to be with and hang out with. Friends that love me. Friends that I really would willingly give up my life for in a split second no questions asked. Friends that mean everything to me. Friends that I could not imagine my life without. I value and love and treasure deeply all my friends and the friendships I have with those I call my friend.

But this friend is someone that happened to come into my life in the most natural, unprovoked way. I'm not even sure either one of us was seeking the other out to friendship.

I always sort of envied people that had that kind of relationship with each other. You know that kind where when you see them together, you just know they are meant to be friends. The kind of friendship that last forever. The kind of friendship that when you're with the person everything else that might be wrong in your life is okay. The kind of friendship that has an unspoken comfortableness. The kind where even if you're not talking and silent, you still feel connected in the heart and soul. She (this friend) is like a sister to me.

A friendship like Anne and Diana's or Lorelei and Suki from Gilmore girls or Meredith and Cristina from Grey's Anatomy, or Monica and Rachel from Friends, or Ruth and Naomi from the Bible. A true, honest, unfailing, spirit to spirit kind of friendship.

I am so glad that I found my kindred spirit and that we have the rest of our lives to be that way. I am at total peace and comfort when we are together. And that's the kind of friendship that you never let go of.

Movie Review

Last night Matt and I went on a date! Yes, that's right. It's been a very long time because of the money thing but we had a nice dinner and rented 2 really great movies that I would highly recommend. Both are very clean and don't have language.




This one is very relateable for me because of the facial deformity issue. Of course I am pretty sure I'm not the kind of mother that Cathrine O'Hara's character is. But I really loved this one. Plus James McAvoy is in it and I really enjoy him in movies.






This one was pretty funny. I really love Donny Osmond's character. So much fun! Anyways, it is rated G...after all it's Disney that does it, so it was clean. I wonder if all fathers feel this way about their little girls.

So enjoy the movies if you choose to watch them. They are both very good.

Ready to move on

Do you ever feel like you don't have any clear direction on what you're suppose to be doing in life? I totally feel that way right now. And the hard part about this whole thing is that when I pray about it, I feel even more confused and that makes me even more frustrated and makes me feel like I want to pray less because I feel so frustrated. I know this weighs heavily on Matt and I feel like I can't do anything to lift that burden on him. I believe in Matt so much...it's just me that I don't. I don't know what to do for him. I feel like I don't know how to be supportive. And then it makes me feel like I don't know how to be a good person, a good mother, a good friend, a good anything. I have all these mixed feelings that are just sitting there and by writing this post I'm letting the feelings spill out a bit, but not totally, and I want to just dump them out completely. But sometimes it's hard because if I talk to certain people, I know and can hear the disappointment in their voice. Like somehow it's mine or Matt's fault that he doesn't have a job right now. I don't know what will happen at the end of this month because as of July 2nd if he doesn't have a job, we'll be in serious, serious financial trouble. We are going to have to apply for welfare this week because I heard it can be a lengthy process, so it's better to have that in the works than not at all. I know this is a test of our faith, but I don't think I have enough of it to get the things we need right now.

Anyways, I'm ready to move on but clearly the Lord has different plans that we can't figure out right now.

On a side note, we borrowed the movie No Reservations. It was pretty cute. There was one very mildly suggestive part where he kisses the woman on the neck, but other than that, it was very clean. There have been some blogs that have some negative movie reviews so thank you to those of you who wrote them. It's nice to know what movies are not worth seeing and which are. Maybe I'll add a side bar with movie reviews on it. That might be a good idea....hmmmm.....

We are very much enjoying the rain. A lot of people stay inside when it rains, but NOT US! We LOVE the rain and love to jump in the puddles and play in the mud. I never want to limit my child to only dry weather playing. It would be no fun and crazy to keep Tanner inside when it rains all the time. If he didn't like the rain, then of course I wouldn't force him out, but if he wants to I let him. I even encourage him to. He gets a bit buggy if he's inside all the time. Why not? It's only rain...water dries and mud comes out if you rinse right away. Anyways, that's my feelings on the rain. A log of people hate the rain, but we don't. Plus, it keeps us from having to remember to water our garden so that's always nice.


Until next time.

May I recommend...

Normally, I don't really care for Nicolas Cage, but I really enjoy these movies. We just saw the second one tonight and it was really good. I like that the movies are clean and don't have suggestive language in them. They're one of those rare movies that you don't have to say "it was good except..." It stinks when you watch a movie and someone asks if it's good and you have to say yeah, but... It's really rare to find movies that you don't have to say that about.
I think my next thing I really need to work on is watching movies that aren't like that. I know that really limits my choices and even movies that I currently own would have to be taken out of the home, but it's something to work towards. Movies like Moulin Rouge, Mean Girls (I have the lamest reasoning for keeping that movie and it is that if I ever had girls I would have them watch the movie and discuss how inappropriate that behavior is...lame, I know) or even The Fast and the Furious. We don't honestly have a lot of movies like "that", but if I were on a "righteous" rampage, those are the movies I would get rid of right away. But I'm not on a rampage so it's fine...lol
Anyway, I just wanted to share that I liked this movie and would recommend it to anyone.

Family Day

We had a great family day today. We went with my friend and her work to the movie "The Bee Movie". It was pretty cute. Then we got a few groceries and then we cleaned up the house. I also did all my laundry. I just have to wait to fold it and put it away tomorrow. I hang my clothes to dry so it take about 24 hours to dry all the way and then fold it and put it away.
The weather has been really great here. A lot of melting...which equals high potential for flooding when it gets really warm out for a long stretch. We didn't have any at our place last year but there were a few that I know that did.
I was relaxing today with Tanner and I realized that Matt had cleaned most of the house and also was getting dinner ready. I was really surprised and happy that I didn't have to do much. Matt is such a great husband and an especially great father. I'm just really grateful for him.
Anyways, not much to write about. I'm up to running for 6 minutes at a time. I know, I went from 3 last week to 6 this week. I need to get up to 20 minutes in 3 more weeks so I really have to get going. It feels amazing to run that long right now. I thought I'd be exhausted, but it actually gives me more energy. So, that's it for now.