I have gotten so side tracked with the wonders of Face Book that I rarely update my blog these days. Not alot going on. My job at the dentist office is going well. I am falling into a routine, but I must say my house suffers these days. One starts to realize what is important and what isn't. Sometimes that dusting can wait in order to sit down over a cup of coffee with a good friend.

Last weekend we helped out Aaron's family with his Great Uncle Joe's estate auction. The work we put in was minute compared to Aaron's mom & aunt...they have true organizational skills! :) The day went well, despite the rain.

The school season is winding down, and with that there are only two more weeks of youth group. I will be bowing out for the time being. I Will miss the kids, but feel that I am being spiritually unproductive in that area, so on to the next. For now, I will probably use Wednesday evenings to plant and maintain a small garden again. Beyond that, I am not sure what God wants me to be involved with. There are times in life when He calls us to "be still and know that He is God". I haven't been doing so well with devotions and prayer life, so that may be exactly what He is wanting from me at this present time. I cannot minister effectively to others when I am spiritually drained myself.

I do not know what the summer holds this year. Probably work, yard work, a few days at the lake, hopefully a visit to our little sister in Lincoln, church and fire department functions, some good books, and family and friends. I am hoping and praying for a few happy surprises along the way. As Kristy Dupeire wrote on Facebook the other day “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him” (I Corinthians 2:9).

As for today, I am galavanting down town to look for a one year birthday gift for a precious little miracle named Mason and maybe a little something for our mom's for mothers day, seeing as this is the weekend.

I stand upon the holy mountain
Overlooking the horizon of Your glory
Longing to stretch out my arms and fly
Up into the intense blue
Higher and higher
Lord fill my desire
I want to be consumed by You
Illumination of my face
Echoes of Your love resound
Slowly I am drenched in grace
I find myself falling down
Into Your arms I descend
This is the beginning of the end
Say goodbye to sinful self
Transformation-my mind made new
Beloved Redeemer, never let me go
I give my all to you
-Erica Greene

He's Just Not That Into You

This movie focuses on the story of several different relationships, with brief interludes of "street interviews" of people's opinions & experiences in their own relationships. One of the relationships is a couple who has been living together for 7 years, and the man has no interest in marriage, and even believes that marriage is a recipe for disaster. Another couple appears to be happily married, but as the movie goes on, the husband has an illicit affair and lies to his wife. Another young woman is on the quest for that perfect man, and in the process sleeps with most of her dates, and sits by the phone, longing for one of them to call her back. When it boils down to it, basically the message of the movie is, there is no wrong way to have a relationship and all are imperfect. While I agree with the fact that there is no such thing as a perfect relationship, I disagree with the thought that there is no wrong way to be in a relationship. There is God's way, and that is the only right way. Purity, commitment, respect, faithfulness, love (1 Corinthians 13).
Let's just say that what it boils down to is this: I am just not into "He's Just Not That Into You". It had a few laughs, but did not uphold faithfulness, commitment, & purity in the least. I shouldn't have been suprised...it is Hollywood after all, but it was disheartening to see that the theatre crowd was made up of mostly teenagers. It is sad to see them being influenced strongly with the message that anything goes when it comes to relationships. I have seen worse movies, but I have seen much better.

Marley & Me

I have not read the book "Marley & Me, so am not able to compare the movie to the book, but I felt that this was an excellent movie, particularly if you have a love for animals. I was pleasantly suprised to see that the movie not only featured the life of a family pet, but also featured the ups and downs of marriage, commitment, family and real life. I am not a huge Owen Wilson fan, but he really pulled it off in this one. The character suits him well. I thoroughly enjoyed this film and would gladly watch it again. Even though it has a PG rating, there are some thematic elements that kids might not understand, or that may make them sad. Very small children probably won't be entertained much by it at all. Be ready to talk openly with your kids at the end of the movie as it is sure to spark some questions.
Also, keep in mind: I love dogs and totally understand the bond that is created between dog and owner. Those who dislike dogs strongly will probably think the entire theme of the movie is unnecessary. :)

Selling Formal dresses

F.Y.I. If you know anyone looking to find a bargain for a prom dress this year, contact me! I have three dresses for sale. Two of them are navy/dark blue one of them is a dark green color. Ranging in sizes 10-11/12. All three are simple, elegant, timeless and floor length. I figure they would be better off going to someone who can use them as opposed to sitting in my closet for the next 50 years. :) I am asking $25.00 a piece.

Updates

My apologies for not updating my blog! My new job is going well, but keeping me on my toes. I work for the dental office on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, and the video store on Monday evenings, Wednesday and Friday. Plus Steve has been gone for a couple weekends, so I have worked several weeks through. I am enjoying this weekend off! :) I wonder sometimes how I went from no job, to part time, to practically full time. It is definitely keeping me on the go, and time flies by so fast when one is busy! I am also gaining a huge appreciation for the time that I have at home.
Aaron is busy running to and fro between work and a couple other computer projects he has going on. Plus several weekends away this month for fireman training weekends. One in a while he stops to take a breath. :)
Other than that, it has been pretty much the norm around here. We are planning on going to our church Valentine's Banquet this weekend, so maybe will have a few pictures to post of the change of pace!
I hope all of my friends and family have a Happy Valentine's Day and remember that Jesus gave us the greatest Valentine of all: His life. John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life."

Movie Review: "The Changeling"

The Changeling is a true story, directed by Clint Eastwood, set in 1928 Los Angeles. It centers on one woman's perserverence to find her missing son, and her stand against a very corrupt L.A. police force. The strength of Christine Collins (Angeline Jolie), in light of the persecution she faced, was incredible.

Because of the talented acting, historical settings and costumes, it felt as though I was being pulled into the 1920's. I can't really say I "enjoyed" the movie because of its sad nature, but I feel that it tastefully and accurately tells a story that deserves to be told. I will note that because several elements of the actual story is so horrific, Clint Eastwood took great measures to tone things down for the screen. I am very impressed by his directing skills. Here is an account of true life events: (Spoiler Alert) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christine_Collins#Christine_and_Walter_Collins

I like true accounts and dramas that make me contemplate human nature..."The Changeling" did that. It also made me wonder: "If the L.A. police department was so horribly corrupt in 1928, how much worse is our system now?" As for my recommendation, it depends on if you like this genre of movie or not. Many people do not like to view the grit of real human nature and the grief it can cause. On that note, I must warn my readers that this is an R rated movie. There are a couple scenes involving/implying murder, brief nudity during a hose down at a mental facility, and moments of strong language. Please refer to this website for a detailed description of content. Ihttp://www.pluggedinonline.com/movies/movies/a0004331.cfm