The Impossible

If you haven't had a chance to watch this movie yet, you really should.  I know it's just another disaster film, but yet, this one is real.  It's also a tear jerker and man...so many painful parts!!

I'm a fan of Ewan McGregor, and he does a great job in this.  I guess if you wanted to pick it apart you could tell it was a little lower budget film, but it's still amazing.  I think it does a much better job than that other film I did a review of, the Fifth Quarter.   

So anyway - if you want something that reminds you how wonderful and important your family is, how people can pull together in a crisis, this is a must see.

It reminds me how once again, we're stuck in a place where we can't help anyone.  We couldn't help with Haiti, we couldn't help with Katrina, the tornado in Oklahoma, sigh.  We pray for them, we support financially when we can, and we donate blood.  

Sometimes it just doesn't feel like enough.

It also makes me wonder what it's going to be like when it's us.  When the end is closer and we have some kind of disaster of our own.  Are we going to feel like we're living in a movie?

Only time will tell.

At least we got rain today!!  Much cooler temps so it's a bit nicer weather.  Have a good one.  Tell the ones in your family that you love them.

Looking for the Stillness

Well, I told you how we now have a house full of people.  We haven't been this full since like....2005?  Actually, I guess we've never been THIS full, but it makes life interesting.

It also makes it a necessity to find whatever spots of peace that we can.  To enjoy every bit of joy that we can find.  The other night, for example; my son-in-law was taking care of his daughter after a bath.  They were talking, he was reading her a story, and her little voice was so sweet.  Then mom (my daughter) came in, and they were all three of them a spot of peace in the chaos that had been the weekend.  It was a moment I wished I'd been able to get on video.  This is one of my favorite shots of them.

Sunday was my youngest daughter's bday.  Her sister's were two weeks before, but things being what they are, no one has had a proper celebration at the house.  So, Sunday was kind of a combination for the 2 of them.  I made three smaller cakes, one for each of the girls, in hopefully the flavor they wanted, lol, and then one big one for everyone else.

I hope the youngest doesn't feel like she was just thrown in with the crowd again...because I was worried about it.  I tried to make her cake the center and more decorated...sigh.  Our weekends are so crazy lately though, that I don't think she had very much fun.  I did make her waffles for breakfast, at least.  And she asked for lasagna for dinner which we did dutch oven style and seemed to turn out okay.  She liked it, so that's all that matters.  ;)

My little granddaughter is growing up so fast!  She seems to be like a sweet weed...just shooting up!  And so smart!  We were slightly worried that she wasn't talking much.  That is not a problem any more.  I think she has an amazing vocabulary.  She still will stay stuff that's a little gibberish sometimes, but usually it's pretty clear.  It was really sweet when my in-laws were over and she came and grabbed GG Dahl's hand and said "come play!"

We have been extremely blessed with moisture the past week and today.  It hasn't poured so much (except for Saturday, of course) but it's been sooo needed.  I am so Thankful!!!  Our lawn is past saving at this point, but at least we do have some green spots.  ;)

I can't believe that I'm coming up on only having a month left before going back to work!!!  ARGH.  The summer is never long enough.  I'm really wishing I could just stay home, I have so much that I want to do!  But, the need is still pretty high for me to work, so I am thankful that at least I can work part time, and it's a great job.  And the ladies I work with are awesome.  So, if you got to work, it's not bad...lol

Anyway - off to try and get something accomplished for the day, since the house is VERY quiet today...odd...Hope you have a great day!

Weren't we supposed to be empty nesters by now???

Okay -  I have to admit, I've looked forward to the time when it would just be my hubby and me in the house.  (well, okay, we knew we'd probably have Randy for the rest of our lives, but he doesn't make much noise and we don't have to do much for him...lol)  We have a couple of dogs we'd have to walk, cats to feed, a garden to take care of, a yard that's too big, and the house to maintain.  That's plenty, don't you think??

But the kids just won't go!!  First, our second twin moves out and then back and then out, has child, gets married and is now back. in. our. house.  With hubby and baby, thank heavens, and two dogs...  sigh.  But, really?  and two turtles and three two fish...

Second, oldest twin, moves out, gets kicked out of that apartment, then another one, and ends up moving home.  with dog.  Look like a pattern yet?

Oldest son joins the Army, leaves home for boot camp and training.  Comes home, never finds a job...moves out with friends.  Gets married, moves back home, we kick him and wife out...  don't see them for two years, and now he's back with the second twin, as he'd been living with them....at least he didn't bring any animals.

Youngest daughter has yet to leave home....at least she's going to school full time and working full time...;)  and doesn't own any pets outside the cats that roam the yard...

Second oldest son goes on mission and comes home and takes forever to find a job, I'm not sure if he's really going to be going to school in the fall, but he's still here....no animals either, lol.

Youngest two are just here.  The very youngest is going to be a senior!!  sigh.  So, there is a chance he'll be out of the house in a year or so.  Maybe he'll take a cat with him.

Anyway, what I'm saying is that in the past week we went from a household of 7 to a household of 11!!!  ARGH.  Okay...I'm calm.

We spent our holiday weekend cleaning out rooms to make space for everyone.  We have now shifted our workout area to the old workshop, which is going to be handy.  There was just a lot of stuff in there that we still need to take care of...lots of visits to the dump.  Hubby didn't get much rest, and he's trying to get a paper rewritten for school.  Nothing trivial...

So, hope you had a great 4th.  The day itself was pretty good, nice bbq and fireworks!!  My favorite thing about this week??  RAIN!!  we've had rain almost every day (or night...)  it's been wonderful.

Hope you had a great one!!

it's a crazy world

wow.  I tell ya, life is totally insane.  I was reading an insert for the cover of an album of Simon and Garfunkel...(please tell me you've heard of them) and how they were a calming soundtrack to the troubled times of the 60's and early 70's.

Troubled times???  Okay, so I guess I was young, but I remember growing up in the 60's and 70's.  I grew up with Abba and rock and roll, back when it was recent, not golden oldies.  I remember wanting Nixon to be re-elected...and being heart broken when he messed up and resigned...  I remember Carter and the people lining up for gas.  I wasn't driving, so it didn't mean as much to me as others, but I remember it.  I also remember gas being .60 a gallon...but that's beside the point.

I'm sure there were many that experienced more of the troublesome times.  I know there was a lot going on with Vietnam and all that.

But I want to point out today.  I think today's youth have much more to deal with than I did.  I remember when my husband and I were engaged and we were commenting on something to my mom, and she said she had the same challenges when she was getting married.  Everyone has the same challenges, it's just a different generation.

Well, I hate to disagree with her (especially since she's passed on and can't rebut my statements, lol) but I think there is a definite challenge that the youth of today face.  It's much more than I ever dreamed of.  There is SO much more for them to process, for them to do, for them to decide on, than I ever thought would happen.

I mean, there was no such things as computers, cell phones, video games, etc.  We played games outside.  We had video arcades, but I never went there.  We had TV, and we watched cartoons on Saturday morning, and then American Bandstand when they ended with Dick Clark.  Porn was something we heard about existing, but it wasn't constantly in the face.  I don't remember ever seeing a commercial for tampons on the TV, or women's underwear.  Most bathing suits were one piece, the bikini was something that only the skinny girls and those who weren't LDS wore.  (oh well)  Movies would be in theaters for months at a time, and it was an event to go to them, not something that we did every week.  I remember watching the Wonderful World of Disney every Sunday.

Today's world is a whole different animal.  Not only are the youth of today thrust into the reality of porn every time they turn around, but they have access to the world at their fingertips.  The chaos that is our world of today is every day a new storm, devastation, war, killing, drowning, natural disaster, etc.  It makes me sad.

I have begun to pray for the return of our Lord and Savior.  I don't want my grandchildren to be raised in this world.  It's bad enough my own children have to struggle so hard.  I can't even imagine what it's going to be like in 10 to 15 years.

It's a blessing that at least we have the gospel and hope for a better future...

Keep smiling and keep your home strong.  Take care.