Cry me a river!

My family and I saw “Marley and Me” the other night and let me say between the 4 of us and the rest of the theater, the water works were on flood mode!! Think Old Yeller 2008! Pheeew!!

Yet despite the saddness, I still very much enjoyed this film, but it was far from what I thought it would be based on the previews I saw. It definitely is NOT a feel good cheery li’l Christmas film as its’ been marketed. It’s a much deeper movie that burrows into your soul and relentlessly pulls and tugs on your heart strings until you have no choice but to cry, weep, sob, bawl, whatever you want to call it. Especially for anyone who has or had a pet, no matter how hard you fight it, be forewarned, the tears will come! And I’m not normally a cryer at movies, maybe a tear or too, but I couldn’t control them during this film. It really was a good movie about real life situations involving love, life, and death. It depicted how joy and sorrow mix all the time in life. Each experience reintroduces us to the reality that the circle of life involves birth, relationships, death, and so much more. Maybe the tears came because it mirrored many events in my own life. Who knows, but all I know is that I was a wreck at the end of it. Some people presume it's only about an unruly dog, however it's so much more than that. It embraces and celebrates unconditional love and how that can and does impact everyone.

"Marley & Me" is about a couple (John and Jen) getting through the struggles of life as they have three kids and move a number of times, but as the family gets bigger Marley’s role gets smaller and the focus of John and Jen turn to their kids and John’s job. The movie intricately weaves a web for the audience to fall in love with Marley despite his issues, so you end up loving him especially as he gets older and is less of a troublemaker.

The only thing I had an issue with is the PG rating of the film. Based on the adult content and inappropriate language, it should have been rated PG-13. I also think this is one of the reasons the film has been getting poor reviews along with the misleading marketing. It's sometimes hard for people to embrace a film when they're emotionally expecting one thing (fun, uplifting ending) and end up with something much different (heartwrenching and a sad ending.) It's almost like a set-up and betrayal. Even so, I still very much liked this film and so appreciate the surprising depth it offered. I definitely would see it again, but this time prepared with a box of tissues instead of crunchy movie napkins! ; ) I really encourage you to see this movie! http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1809995057/info

Cake wrecks anyone?

Seriously there's an actual blog that's devoted to posting about cake wrecks and it's ridiculously laugh out loud funny!! Seriously!!

Check this out:

http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com/2008/09/mixed-signals.html

http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com/2008/08/cake-wreckin-under-achievers-unite.html

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JESUS!!!

Merry Christmas blogging friends and family!! : D

You've come a long way, Apple!

Kind of neat to see Apple's li'l evolution from 1976 - today!

Let me just say....ewwwwwwww!!!

Apparently the creative minds over at Burger King have a special creepy treat to offer us this holiday season: “Flame” the new body spray inspired by The King with a hint of flame-broiled meat. At first I thought it was a joke, but this actually is a real product with its' own special website http://www.firemeetsdesire.com/ (hence where the creepy king pic came from) and you can order it online for $3.99 HERE (now there's a royal bargain!) So if you have any friends or family members that like gag gifts, or really, genuinely would like to smell like meat, than you've found the perfect gift. But seriously, what person (in their right mind, of course) wants to smell like meat??! Unless of course they're looking to be chased down by the neighborhood dogs. I just don't know....the whole thing just creeps me out!

Cans 4 Comments

Here’s an uber cool idea I found on another blog: Cans 4 Comments! I so wish I had found this sooner though. I will donate one can of food to a foodbank for each comment that is left on this blog post. All comments that are posted before January 1st will count. So comment, comment, comment! And if you have your own blog, I challenge you to hold your own Cans 4 Comments!

Go ahead and say it!

Some will tell you there are only 9 more shopping days left until Christmas. But I'm choosing to look at it differently. Forget the shopping. Instead focus on the fact that there are still 9 days left for you to say Merry Christmas!!! Say it loud, say it with awe and wonder, say it with hope and feeling; say it with the joy and anticipation of a 5 year old; say it like you've never said it before...just say it!! Merry Christmas! MERRY CHRISTMAS! Merry Merry Merry Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas!!!!

Thank you, God for re-framing my picture!

Warning, warning....Random ramblings and rants, proceed with caution....

If you read this, I can at least promise I won't be throwing any shoes at you! (Target practice on Bush, what the heck?! The guy just can't get a break. Hmmm, I guess I'm glad he ducked in time? ; )

Okay...I've spent a large portion of my afternoon writing Christmas cards and wrapping gifts and I'm still not half way done! I'm trying to accomplish a lot in a little amount of time because we're leaving for Disneyland on the 21st (it's hard for me to be excited about visiting the "happiest place on earth" when I'm not feeling too happy. Just call me Disney Scrooge!) Needless to say this excessive crunch and stress I'm feeling to get everything done by this coming week is just plain self-imposed and unrealistic of course no thanks to my Martha nature - Martha as in the Bible, not Martha as in Stewart (how I wish!) These are the times I so wish I could adopt a Mary state of mind as does my family! : 0 Seriously I've been behind ever since Thanksgiving and unfortunately I'm hitting that proverbial brick wall!! But you know what, in an odd, demented sort of way it actually feels good to have something to run into to stop the insanity and to finally say "enough" and admit that I'm maxed out, and I surrender (I love that word right now.) There's a reason we all hit our walls....sometimes that's the only way God can get my attention (my density level is well, pretty dense.)

Anyway, all that to say God is trying to tell me I need to be okay with slowing down, having and setting limits and that even if I don't get everyone's gifts to them in time for Christmas, the sky won't fall and chicken little will still be chicken little (where'd that come from?!), they'll understand and most importantly they'll still like me. And even if they don't understand, I have a Father who knows that sometimes my heart and intentions are bigger than my ability to carry them all out.

Onward with more ramblings....

~ I recently learned from my doctor that I have tennis elbow. For the life of me I couldn't figure out the weird swelling I was having that made my arm look somewhat deformed and out of proportion to my other arm. Trust me, it looked pretty freaky! But here's the funny thing, I haven't played tennis in years with the exception of Wii tennis (and I must admit I do make those balls smoke on the court!! BAM!!!) But I haven't played that in a while. So the only thing I could surmise was the combination of a recent intensive arm workout followed by no recovery time (dumb on my part) so I could get back to painting 20 foot walls. So maybe I really have "Painter's arm" instead!

~ While shopping at Walmart, I was told I looked like I worked there. I'm still trying to figure out if that was a back handed compliment or just someone a wee bit confused. I think I'll go with the latter and give this guy the benefit of the doubt. It was a little old man who came up to me while I was passing through the men's section and asked where he could find the gold toe black socks. After an awkward silence and my attempt to be helpful by pointing and saying they'd probably be in the sock section, it occurred to him "oh, you don't work here do you, but you sure look like you do." REally?! Gee, thanks...

~ New check out lane policy. I bet you didn't know this, but if you step out of a check out line to go to another opened lane, it's perfectly okay to go back to the original lane cutting back in front of everyone to your original place toward the front of the lane. Apparently I've been living in a cave and just didn't know this. Two ladies did this to me the other day and this is how the convo went: We're standing in a backed-up check out lane (lane #2). Next an announcement was made that Lane #1 was now open in which these two ladies made a bee line for it. I moved forward in my lane only to find these two ladies coming back and pushing their way in front of me. "Sorry, we're just getting back in line because Lane #1's cash register isn't working. Do you mind moving your items off the conveyer?" WHAT?? I was in disbelief and was more than a little annoyed. All I could muster sarcastically which went completely over these broads' heads was "Certainly! As long as you think it's appropriate and fair. Afterall, I guess lane hopping is now the politically correct thing to do especially at this time of year!" Still both were oblivious to what I said. Then I overhead a little girl behind me say really loud to her mom, "Oooooh mommy those ladies is cutting! That's not fair, is it mommy?" Oh out of the mouths of babes! Somehow I managed to keep my cool although the thoughts that danced in my head weren't very Jesus like.

~ New phrase being used by my children that is driving me to the brink of insanity!

Me: "Please take out the trash."

Child #1: "What do you meeeean?"

Me: "Please take the dog out."

Child #1: "What do you meeean?"

Me: "Can I see the work you did on your homework?"

Child #2: "What do you meeean?"

On and on and on....I thought my requests were pretty self-explanatory. Apparently not.

~ Solo parenting while spouse is in Telluride hitting the slopes. Something is askew with that picture alright!

~ Kitty decides to kill a birdy for a snack tonight and it's on our walkway! Yuck! And to make matters worse, no spouse to clean it up!

One dollar a day....

Two California high school teachers, Christopher Greenslate and Kerri Leonard, decided to conduct an experiment to live one month on a diet that costs one dollar a day, and see if it was possible to do and to eat healthy. For details on their One Dollar Diet Project, you can check out their blog. They lived mostly on dried beans, rice, cornmeal, and oatmeal they bought in bulk. They also baked their own bread and made their own tortillas. Here's what they ate for thirty (30) days:
Breakfast: 1 cup cooked oatmeal ($.06)
Lunch: PB & J sandwiches ($.36) and two cups air-popped popcorn ($.07).
Dinner: 2 bean and rice burritos (beans - $0.07, rice -$0.11, tortillas - $.05 each, small strips of lettuce - $.07, 1 tablespoon taco sauce - $.12)
Dessert:1 tablespoon of peanut butter ($.05).
Beverage: Tang for vitamin C

The couple discovered that lack of money is a huge issue when it comes to a nutritious diet. They also realized this experiment was a luxury for them, considering they chose to eat for a dollar a day — most people don't have that choice.

Guys, you really need to watch this as it's really thought provoking and challenges us to really think about how much we spend on food and beyond that, the implications it has on those locally and globally who don't have access to food, let alone healthy food. Wow, it's really making me re-think some things....
http://www.foxnews.com/video2/video08.html?maven_referralObject=3287685&maven_referralPlaylistId=&sRevUrl=http://www.foxnews.com/foxfriends/index.html

And somewhat related, please check out this non-profit organization. This is the first I've heard of them and I don't think they have any sites in AZ as of yet.
http://www.angelfoodministries.com/ http://www.squidoo.com/AngelFoodMinistries

What was I thinking?!

I had read some where that you can hard boil eggs in the microwave. Of course I'm always game for trying time-saving techniques in the kitchen so I thought I'd give it a try. Word to the wise...it doesn't work (eventhough I followed the instructions to a T!) I really had such high hopes, until I heard that "kaboom" and I knew it was bad news. Now all I have to show for my efforts is a ridiculously egged microwave! And so concludes today's cooking exploits with Romi...

PS: Who needs Crazy Glue when you've got exploded egg. Seriously, this egg stuff is nasty to remove.

Cool clothes, cool concept, cool cause!

Jedidiah Clothing: Who We Are from Jedidiah Clothing on Vimeo.


Jedidiah Community from Jedidiah Clothing on Vimeo.

Toms Shoes Update

Just wanted to share the cool news....Toms shoes is halfway to their goal of giving 30,000 pairs of shoes! Please keep this ministry in your prayers and consider gifting a pair of "swanky cool" shoes for someone in your life and in turn giving a gift to someone in the world in need of shoes and hope! Thanks everyone! : )
http://www.tomsshoes.com/

Back on my feet

I recently learned about this amazing non-profit organization called Back On My Feet and I really hope you'll take the time to check it out! It's truly one of the more innovative ways to help empower the homeless and help them literally and figuratively back on their feet!

http://backonmyfeet.org/main/areas/about.us/overview.html
And please check out the video link below of the founder, Anne Mahlum. She's somebody I would love to see speak at Leadership Summit!!

Go Brandon!!

Seriously, how can you NOT love this guy (and I'm not talking just his music!)
: D You'll see it in the video, but the Pankcake Pantry is to die for and an absolutely necessary stop when in Nashtown!!



And here's another uber fun video w/ Brandon surprising someone!



Njoy the clips!! : )

Happy Buy Nothing Day!

Just something to think about...

This is only a test!

When you were a kid, remember being annoyed whenever your favorite tv show was interrupted for 30 seconds by "This is a test of the Emergency Broadcast System. This is only a test. The broadcasters of your area in voluntary cooperation with the FCC and other authorities have developed this system to keep you informed in the event of an emergency. If this had been an actual emergency, the Attention Signal you just heard would have been followed by official information, news or instructions. This concludes this test of the Emergency Broadcast System." Blah, blah, blah...how that drove me nuts! Can anyone else relate?

But you know, those emergency system tests are a lot like the trials that come into our lives. They're unscheduled, usually unwelcome interruptions, and they always seem to come at the worst possible time. But unlike the test patterns on tv, life's trials don't last for 30 seconds and then disappear (how I wish, huh?!) Nope, they can last for days, weeks, even years. And the exact reason for them may never be completely clear to us. Trials can make us feel helpless, but we do have control over one vital element of a trial - how we respond to it. But the reality is as trials are indispensable to our spiritual growth. We cannot grow as we should without them, as much as we wish we could.

Paul writes, "Every detail works to your advantage and to God's glory: more and more grace...more and more praise! So we're not giving up. Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace" (2Co4:15-18 TM). And Job adds "But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold" (Job 23:10 NIV). It takes a lot more heat to produce gold than it does tin. Looks like we're going for the gold!

Little kingdoms

This is such a great piece by Dan Edelen I had to share here. It really hits home that we all have our own little kingdoms to contend with, don’t we. How I hate this little kingdom of mine. I once heard someone say, "The Kingdom of God will either expand you or break you." May His Kingdom expand so much within me and you, there is no room left for my/your little kingdom anymore!

"In my little kingdom, I ride my little pony over my little rainbow. Every day is my day, every event my event.

In my little kingdom, we build on a foundation that is me. We do this because only I am worthy.

In my little kingdom, I never have to sacrifice, though you do. You’re a peasant, remember, but I’m a king.

In my little kingdom, the easiest way to make things happen is to throw a tantrum. Because nothing beats a spectacle when attempting to prove one’s royal lineage.

In my little kingdom, the littleness of it all means there’s just enough room for me. Let’s not even consider making room for those people.

In my little kingdom, nothing is more important than making me feel good about myself. Of course, this means that I will have to make other people feel bad about themselves. (That’s just the way it works. Sorry.)

In my little kingdom, we do what I want and not what you want. In fact, in my little kingdom, as far as I’m concerned, there is no you.

In my little kingdom, I’ve heard peasants talk of being “the bigger person.” I have no idea what that means, though.

And sometimes, the best place for me to pull out my little kingdom for all to see is when I interact with other people. Funny thing is, when I’m with others, it seems like each person has his own little kingdom. Except those other little kingdoms don’t matter as much as mine.

I once heard of a place where another Kingdom reigned. In that other Kingdom, everyone is a servant, yet no one complains. In fact, people serve gratefully.

In that other Kingdom, people aren’t peasants, but children of the King. And the children treat each other as if each is the most important person in the world.

In that other Kingdom, no room for little kingdoms exists. That’s not because the Kingdom is too small, but because it’s too large.

In that other Kingdom, in times of lack, all lack together, and in times of plenty, all enjoy plenty together. The children even believe that giving their blessings away is better than keeping them all to themselves.

In that other Kingdom, it isn’t about living, but about dying. And no one would have it any other way.

In that other Kingdom, when one rejoices, all rejoice. Also, as unbelievable as it may sound, when one hurts, all hurt.

In that other Kingdom, all can become children of the King. Even those people.

In that other Kingdom, helping others become part of the Kingdom drives the children. Some even die so that others might come to live in the Kingdom.

In that other Kingdom, the foundation is the King. And He is love.

In that other Kingdom, one glimpses true meaning. Some even say that eternal life is found in the King of that Kingdom and in surrendering all to Him.

Hmm…
Sometimes, when all is quiet and I have to be alone with myself, I think about that other Kingdom and mine doesn’t seem so wonderful anymore."