A Variety of Smiles

I hope to give you at least a few different reasons to smile today! Of course, every day is a day to smile when you live in the awareness that you are loved by God. =)

• "If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day, so I never have to live without you." ~Winnie the Pooh (A.A. Milne)

We have the quote above in a small frame we keep in our living room, and I think it is so precious. If Winnie the Pooh doesn't put a smile on your face, I don't know what will!

And for those of you who remember playing the Oregon Trail computer game, I highly recommend that you click HERE. This video on YouTube has a couple of crude moments, but it is ever so funny if you used to play the computer game, and if you remember having to choose your occupation, rafting down the river, and shooting your own food! I first saw this a few days ago embedded on a literary agent's blog, and it really made me laugh! The video is very well done and quite hilarious!

Finally, the following picture was taken on our last vacation, after we had played a round of miniature golf and we were looking at one of the of the other courses. If you watched the Oregon Trail clip above, then you could say I'm the kid who should have been more careful not to get a snakebite! ;) It's a good thing that's not a real snake, because 1) it's huge!!! and 2) my sister doesn't seem to care that I'm getting bit by a humongous rattlesnake! No worries, though--I would never look that happy if I saw a real snake like that!

Feel free to comment on anything and everything--even something completely random that made you smile recently! =)

Movie Review: Made of Honor

Here's the description of the movie from Amazon.com: "For Tom (Patrick Dempsey), life is good: he's sexy, successful, has great luck with the ladies, and knows he can always rely on Hannah (Michelle Monaghan), his delightful best friend and the one constant in his life. It's the perfect setup until Hannah goes overseas to Scotland on a six-week business trip... and Tom is stunned to realize how empty his life is without her. He resolves that when she gets back, he'll ask Hannah to marry him -- but is floored when he learns that she has become engaged to a handsome and wealthy Scotsman and plans to move overseas. When Hannah asks Tom to be her "maid" of honor, he reluctantly agrees to fill the role... but only so he can attempt to woo Hannah and stop the wedding before it's too late."

My Review:

I am sorry to say that there were few redeeming qualities to this film--the bad far outweighed the good, in my opinion. While the idea of a male Maid of Honor, who's best friends with the bride but then realizes he loves her, is a good premise for a romance story, I didn't think it was played out well at all.

For starters, this movie is rated PG-13, and with good reason. The promiscuous behavior of Tom at the beginning of the movie is horrible, and as his friend it was surprising to see Hannah treat it so lightly. It was an accepted fact that he was a philanderer. The crude sexual content throughout the movie was anything but charming, and it most certainly detracted from any enjoyment to be found in the storyline.

While the movie is geared to have the viewers cheer for Tom, it was hard not to cheer for the Scottish man Hannah planned to marry. As far as I could tell, he was honorable and he loved her. There was a crude scene that kind of marred my thoughts about him, but it really wasn't his fault. There was one point where I was disappointed in something he did, but for the most part I just saw his "problem" as being too traditional.

So while I think it's great to be in love with someone who is your best friend, it's hard not to question Tom's motives. Tom took the advice of his questionable male friends rather often, and I can't help but wonder how much of his pursuit was based off of selfishness rather than true, sacrificial love.

Overall, this is not a movie I would recommend. The film disregards morality, and in my opinion it is shallow and unrealistic. There was not much that I enjoyed about it, and it didn't even leave me with a happy-ending feeling, which good "chick flicks" ought to do. If you're looking for a clean, romantic movie with Patrick Dempsey in it, I would go with Enchanted and bypass this one.

True Love Tuesday

Based on the poll I had going the last few days, I think you can guess what today's topic is: the "Love Finds You" series!

There's so much to love about the "Love Finds You" books! Not only do they take us to various locations across the United States, to places with great and memorable names, but they also take us through various periods of time, from the Old West to World War II to modern day. And the overall message of the series title is a lovely reminder: "Love Finds You" anywhere!

God's love is not limited by either time or space (or anything else, for that matter!). Our love for each other should be unlimited, as well. If we truly love someone else, we'll love them no matter how far away they are and no matter how much time goes by, because love "beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things" (1 Corinthians 13:7).

Of all the "Love Finds You" books I've read, I think my two favorites so far are Love Finds You in Hershey, Pennsylvania and Love Finds You in Lahaina, Hawaii.

Love Finds You in Hershey, Pennsylvania reminds us that true love forgives and doesn't give up on the other person. Yes, we hurt each other. We all mess up; we all sin. But just as God forgives us, so we must forgive each other. That's a wonderful lesson to learn, and one I need to remember to take to heart!

To read my review of this great book, click HERE.

Love Finds You in Lahaina, Hawaii reminds us (at least through the contemporary strand) that true love sees the person for who they really are. Love should look at who the person is in their soul; love should not focus primarily on the outward appearances. First Samuel 16: 7 says, "But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart." And that's what we should strive to do, as well. Again, it's easier said than done, but we should always try our best, through God's grace, to love as He loves.

To read my review of this enthralling book, click HERE. (Because there are two strands--contemporary and historical--in this story, there's lots to take from it, so I just picked one idea!)

I'm excited because I have two more "Love Finds You" books already in my TBR stack! I'm planning on starting Love Finds You in Victory Heights, Washington next. I love these stories, and I'm curious: which "Love Finds You" books are your favorites so far? What have you learned about true love from them?

Oh, and I'll share the poll results with you! The question was: "Which state would you like to see as the next setting for a 'Love Finds You' book?" The results were as follows:

• Arizona (0--0%)
• Louisiana (2--40%)
• Maine (1--1%)
• New York (1--20%)
• Wyoming (0--0%)
• Other (1--20%)

I guess we have so many of those wonderful Wild Wests settings that we are curious to hear more about those Southern and Eastern states! ;) Louisiana won, and I have to say that I wouldn't mind a "Love Finds You" book with some Cajun flavor!

If the person who voted "Other" is willing, I'm interested to see what other state you had in mind!

Can't wait to hear your thoughts on true love and the "Love Finds You" series!

Monday for the Military

The United States military is such a wonderful example of honor and sacrifice. Throughout the years, throughout all of the wars the United States has been in, the military has fought for freedom--for the people who they loved and the people who loved them.

From World War II (which my great uncle Robert died in), to the Korean War ("The Forgotten War" which my grandfather was in), to the Vietnam War (which my father was in)--I am reminded of the lives that have been lost, the lives that have been saved, and the love that has been shown. I'm so proud of my family, both those members which have been in the military and those members which have had to stay at home and let go of loved ones.

And now we are part of a new generation. As a young adult, I have friends and acquaintances that have recently joined the U.S. military. From people I knew in martial arts classes, to one of my good friends and neighbor, along with his older brother (who both joined the Marines), I have seen people go off to bootcamp and off to war, ready and willing to make sacrifices for their country and demonstrate courage.

Today let us think of all those we know who are in the military, who are veterans of the military, and who have had to stay at home and watch others go as part of the military. May we pray for them and thank them for all they have done and will do.

My Review of Angel Song by Sheila Walsh & Kathryn Cushman

My Rating: Spring/Summer

My Review:
With characters so real they almost fly off the pages and with such a moving storyline, Angel Song really drew me in and captured my attention. Ann Fletcher suffers through a horrible tragedy right at the very beginning of the novel, and from then on Ann’s life changes forever. She shares a special bond with Keith, a boy with Down Syndrome, and it’s what they can both hear that follows Ann throughout the whole book.

Walsh and Cushman do such a wonderful job of bringing Ann to life. From her job and all the dilemmas it created, to her uncertain feelings about her hometown, Ann is someone the reader can sympathize with. Her questions and fears are authentic, and I truly appreciate that. I also appreciate the various secondary characters who add another layer to the story, including a romantic element that I quite enjoyed.

The book was well-written, but I wished that the focus would have been more on God rather than His angels. Based off of the title alone, it’s obvious that angels play a big role in the story, which isn’t bad at all. I just would have liked it to be a bit clearer on where the power and the comfort really comes from—the Lord. Overall, though, this book did a great job of affecting my emotions (especially at the end) and warming my heart.

*With thanks to Thomas Nelson Publishing for sending me a free copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion.*

~ Also, I must say that I found it interesting that the back cover spells the protagonist’s name as “Anne,” but throughout the book her name is either “Ann” or “Annie”—not “Anne.” Just an observation! ~

Sunday by the Sea

Looking out at the sea, it's moving to take in the sheer vastness of it all. Our own vision is limited so much, but isn't it wonderful to know that we can't see the ocean in its entirety from our position on the shore or even on the deck of a ship? We can glance around us and know that there are opportunities for adventure out there just beyond the horizon.

Author Cerella Sechrist wrote a post on this subject several months ago, and I remember how inspired I was by it. This subject, the idea of the distant horizon, is a hopeful one, and one I love to contemplate. When Captain Jack Sparrow says, "Now, bring me that horizon," he's reaching out for all the possibilities his journey on the sea can bring. The ending of Pirates of the Caribbean is beautiful because the ocean stretches out before the crew, and Captain Jack is heading for those open waters--the mysterious and wondrous unknown.

I love that element of adventure in MaryLu Tyndall's books, as well. Her books are enchanting, and I'm drawn to that horizon of the imagination, where stories set sail and take on life. Tyndall really captures that feeling of excitement--the thrill of being on the sea. Her first book, The Redemption, is full of life and the grandeur of far off places, and ever since reading it I've been eager to read each new book she writes.

Oh, to be able to write like that . . . to be able to live like that! When we have the hope of home--in heaven with the Lord, someday--then this life really can be an adventure. When we are at rest in the Lord's grace, why worry about the temporary aspects of this life? I know that it's one of those things that's easier said than done. I worry, but I have no need to do so. My life is a journey. I'm not home yet, but because I have the hope of going home, I have the inspiration to truly live.

I love what MaryLu Tyndall writes at the end of her e-mails: "Live in the awareness of your eternal destiny." What a stunning word of encouragement! God's plans are so much grander and so much more meaningful than anything we could think up. For God, He sees all that ocean of time out there and yet knows the specific horizon each of us sees from our perspective on the beach. And He whispers to our hearts that there's a whole ocean out there He wants to show us. So let's raise the sails, step on that ship, and agree with Jack: "Now, bring me that horizon."

"But I am the Lord thy God, that divided the sea, whose waves roared: The Lord of hosts is his name." Isaiah 51:15

(The picture above is of my sister. =) Special thanks to authors Cerella Sechrist and MaryLu Tyndall for inspiring me!)

Winner of Abbie Ann!

Congratulations to Carole!!!

Here's the randomized list from Random.org if anyone cares to see where they placed. =)



"There were 9 items in your list. Here they are in random order:

1. Carole
2. Merry
3. Ariel
4. Karen
5. Barbara
6. Katie
7. Maureen
8. Sheri
9. Carmen

Timestamp: 2010-08-07 06:57:26 UTC"

Be on the lookout for my e-mail, Carole!

Thank you all for entering the drawing and for participating in "Reading Retreats" Week. It was a blast, and I hope you all enjoyed it!

This upcoming week will be my first trial run of the "New Normal Weekly Schedule" (as posted in the sidebar). I'll be interested to hear your thoughts on the new schedule! The two weeks following that will be more themed fun, so I hope to see ya'll there!

I'll also be putting up a new poll soon, so if you could vote on that I would appreciate it! Thank you, and have a wonderful weekend!