FacebookXInstagramPinterestTiktok

The Help

Back when I was watching TV I saw a guy named Myq Kaplan on last comic standing. I remember this hilarious joke he had about movies vs books. He says “Every book’s made into a movie. You should go see the movie; you don’t have to read a book. But book people are getting smart, they’re called authors, they’ll re-release the book when a movie comes out. Put a picture of the actor on the cover: trick people who like movies into buying the books. Like, ‘Fight Club’ is a movie made out of a book; they re-released it, people are like, ‘Oh, Brad Pitt’s in this book!” He actings like he thumbing through a book and says “Hmmm…So far just words.”

J’s sisters had all read The Help and one of them tossed me a copy and said here you will love it. I read the back, shrugged and said I will give it a try. She almost snatched the book out of my hands like I wasn’t giving their beloved novel a fair chance. I assured her that I would read it and a week later I had the book back in her hands and gave her my review which was “YOU WERE RIGHT! I LOVED IT!”

The last couple days of reading I crammed in a few hundred pages because I knew my friend wanted to see the movie and I wasn’t about to watch it without finishing the book. The movie was good, really, but the book was better. I don’t know how many times I’ve head that line about various movies, but I think it’s the first time I’ve ever uttered those words, except for maybe Marley in Me, which I didn’t really read (I had the audio version). Now I understand why the book is always better. I spent over a dozen hours reading over descriptions of various scenes, the characters inner thoughts and emotions, and the background or history behind the storyline. The movie however is out of your imagination and into the hands of the directors, producers, and actors all trying to cram 500+ pages into a couple hours. “The Help” movie was 2 1/2 hours long and they still cut out a lot of stuff! They also changed some parts to be a little more of a heroic happy ending, but also more predictable if you ask me. I won’t mention specifics to avoid spoiling the story.
My friend Amy and I have a habit of conversing through blog comments. So regarding your last comment Amy, I would go ahead and read the book even though you have seen the movie because it’s worth it!
By |2015-05-14T23:15:44+00:00September 9, 2011|Uncategorized|1 Comment
Read More

Documentary Love

Thanks to leaving my laptop in my friends car last night I am a little late to join the Top Ten Tuesday party. Although this list is really more of a “the first ten documentaries that come to mind” than it is a TOP ten anyway. Here goes-

1. Babies

I’ve blogged about this one. I loved this film that follows 4 babies from different parts of the world and shows life from their perspective for their first year. Super cute film to watch by yourself because the culture nudity could be awkward with certain company. Moving on…

This movie probably isn’t as pertinent now as it was when I saw it 5 years ago because we are making some headway in auto industry to allow for some alternative fuel and hybrid vehicles. It’s still a very interesting film though.
Even though this was more of a lower budget documentary as mac lovers my family and I really enjoyed this film that explores how it all began and what it has become of the Macintosh brand.
I love creation science and learning about the mystery behind how we all got here. Ben Stein does an excellent job exposing how the scientific research groups over the years have ostracized anyone who embraces intelligent design. It’s a fascinating watch.
This film will leave you with your jaw on the floor when you see the absolute knock down, drag out, competitiveness of some upper crust parents from Manhattan trying to get their toddlers into the most elite daycare program. It’s so ridiculous you will think it’s a joke.
I love penguins, so when this film debuted in 2005 I was anxious to find out when the first showing was at the Magnolia theater in Dallas. Being in the right place at the right time got me into a special private screening. That is probably why this academy award winning documentary will always be one of my faves.
Let’s see, there is this one, King Corn and, Food inc. which are all good movies that make me disgusted with what I eat for a couple hours before I have another kit kat craving. Or most recently J watch a documentary called Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead. Thanks to that netfix rental we are slurping down kale, celery, apples and whatever else we can juice, but actually I’ve been enjoying it.
It’s been almost 10 years since this film about the 1999 national spelling bee came out, but it’s such a classic. It’s real, it’s quirky, and I love it.
This story of Arthur Blessit’s quest to carry a 12 foot cross around the world is adventurous, touching, and inspiring. My mom got to meet Blessit at the airport one day and was able to share how much we have all been “bless-ed” by his courage and obedience.

When I stumbled upon this movie about the public education system in some of the more underprivileged areas of America I didn’t realize what I was getting into. It made me grateful for the opportunities I’ve had. It also made me desire to do more to create change. Oh, and it made me cry. So yeah, you need to watch it.
Those are the first 10 documentaries to pop in my head, but I am sure all week long I will probably be thinking of ones that should have been on the list. Tell me your favorites. The best ones come through recommendations!
By |2015-05-14T23:15:44+00:00September 7, 2011|Uncategorized|2 Comments
Read More

Television Confession

I have a confession to make. It’s something that might label me as an outsider. It sets me apart in some ways from most of my family and friends, and most of the modern world. I hope that you won’t judge me for it. The fact of the matter is, I don’t watch TV. Not only that, but I rarely even watch movies.
I used to be addicted to the television. I had certain shows that would keep me company morning, noon, evening, and late into the night. I never had cable, but it didn’t stop me from having the bedroom and living room TV on all the time. But, somewhere in between kids, and trials in my marriage and my own personal life I started to become disgusted with some of what I was seeing. My eyes were being opened to the deception that I had been desensitized to and none of the messages that were being projected through the house were resonating with the message that I am trying to project through my life with Christ. Now hear me out, this wasn’t some kind of religious media diet where I decide to quit watching certain things so that I could be holy. I liken it to my beverage diet. I used to drink sodas. Around 12 years ago I stopped and I just don’t like them now. I don’t turn up my nose when people drink Dr. Pepper. That would be hypocritical of me because I still drink milkshakes and sugary coffee drinks. I am not trying to be anything I am just doing what works for me.
That’s about it, there are no anti TV rules here, but I just lost my appetite for most of it. J and I used to be on different pages about the matter, but he has found himself feeling the same way I do and that’s where we are at for now. We do watch episodes of Monk on Netflix every once in a while and J loves football. I try to limit Z’s TV time, but there are so many great children’s movies out there and PBS kids too. We also love documentaries. For movies I try to look them up on Pluggedin.com before I watch. They have reviews for every movie and list out any content that might not be family friendly.

So there you have it. I gave birth in my bathtub, I go to a charismatic church, I don’t pay for haircuts, and now you can add I don’t watch TV. So if you thought I was normal, sorry to disappoint. I will say though that even though my standards are so strict that there is very little left in popular entertainment that I find appealing, I do watch some movies and you’ll find out what later this week. Once again, I really don’t want to come across as self righteous or legalistic. All I know is that I’ve been down both roads and for me the one less traveled has been incredible!
By |2015-05-14T23:15:44+00:00September 5, 2011|Uncategorized|2 Comments
Read More

Little Accomplishments

For those that do not know about H.E.B let me just start by saying, I am sorry. It’s just a grocery store, but for some of us it is a cult like movement. I remember being 15 and hearing some of the older ladies at my church buzzing with excitement over the new H.E.B. that was coming to the area. It all sounded like a bunch of blah blah blah to me. How could people be so boring? Now I am that age, and I understand the impact that a decent grocery store can have on your life. And apparently my kids love it too. One time Z was throwing a fit in the car and I threatened to take him to Wal-mart and he said “No mommy! I want to go to H.E.B!” That’s what I call a chip off the old block.
Z and H.E.B. go way back. He’s been collecting their buddy bucks for years literally. These little reward bucks are given away at the checkout and can go toward a vending machine game that dispenses stickers.

The stickers are worth a certain number of points that can be collected in a booklet and turned in for prizes.

It’s elaborate, I know, but now you see one of the reasons why some people are in love with this place. Z eventually got hundreds of points that he turned in for a bunch of prizes that are now either lost or broken, but it’s not really about the prizes.

He accomplished something.
When our church presented the annual fundraiser for the local women’s center I though it would be something that Z could get into. The goal is to fill a baby bottle with loose change or donations as an easy way to support the work that they are doing at the women’s resource center. I explained to Z that we were raising money for babies in need and any time we got some coins we could put them in the bottle. Since then he comes to me enthusiastically with any money that he finds around the house or from his grandparents so that he can drop it in the little plastic bottle.

This week we topped off the bank with what amounted to $25.00. It may not be an earth shattering donation, but I think it’s a great start for a little boy with a big heart.

By |2015-05-14T23:15:44+00:00September 1, 2011|Uncategorized|3 Comments
Read More

What Is A Google?

You have to watch everything you say around here because there is a little boy that hears it all even when you don’t think he listening.

I’ll be giving J a recap of the day and suddenly we’ll hear a voice come from the other room “yes I did make a mess and mommy was not happy.”
This morning during a conversation with J, a word catches Z’s ear and he chimes in “what’s google“? I said “It’s a search engine” and inevitably I hear “what does search engine mean?” I know he knows what the internet is so I tell him “it is the little box on the computer screen that you type words into so that you can find the information, video, or website that you are looking for. That’s why it is called search, because you are searching, and engine because it is like a machine that needs power to run.” After dissecting the words he is satisfied with that answer and he goes back to his toys.
We have 3 days until his 4th birthday and I can tell because he is starting to enter the question stage and I love it! Learning that the cow goes moo is adorable and I love that too, but asking questions and learning about the farmer’s market (which is where we went on Saturday) is a little more exciting. When Z was playing with Mr. Potato head the other day he mimicked a scene from Toy Story where he scrambles up all the facial pieces on the potato and says “look I’m a Picasso”. This opened the door for me to teach him about the real Picasso and my heart started dancing. I can’t believe he is getting to the age where we can have a discussion about Picasso, albeit an elementary one. That’s good though, because I enjoy art, but I am not an expert by any means.
Speaking of not being an expert, have you seen all the children shows that teach spanish? I live in Texas and so I am around the Latino community quite a bit, but my spanish is un poquito, so the other day when Z started singing some spanglish song from Go Diego Go, I thought oh snap! I know amigo, ayudame, and vamos, but what the heck is res-ahh-tay? It turned out he was singing “al rescate amigos” which as the song says means “to the rescue my friends”.
While I really do look forward to this next developmental stage, he is learning and changing so rapidly that I do get a little nervous that he will pass me up and I won’t be able to answer his questions. I guess I can always just google it, which is what I did in the case of rescate. After all, that is what a search engine is for.
By |2015-05-14T23:15:44+00:00September 1, 2011|Uncategorized|4 Comments
Read More

Boys Will Be…

Boys will be dare devils. Boys will be super heroes. Boys will be army men. Boys will be boys. Of course sometimes these imaginative adventures come at a price.
On Thursday night I decided to head outside and enjoy some left overs in my favorite Adirondack chair while the kids ran around and got some fresh air. This summer has been so extraordinarily hot that we have to wait until dusk before it’s even bearable. It was 8:15 pm when I watched Z fall out of a tree and gash his shin open on the little branch that came down with him. He was only about 4 feet up and it wasn’t a bad fall, but it all happened in such a way that the wound was extremely deep and we had to take him to the ER where they administered 5 stitches.

It was not easy to comfort him as they held him down and stuck a needle through his numbed skin. He looked at me with buckets of tears dumping out of his eyes screaming “Make them stop. Owww! Mommy hold me!” I tried to keep it together, but it was too much for me to watch and I had a few tears sneak out as I told him how it was all going to be okay and that we would go get some ice cream when it was all done. Ice cream makes everything better, or maybe that’s just me.

I can only hope that these hospital visits are coincidental and not a foreshadowing of our future. Z has had surgery, a broken collar bone, a ripped off toenail, and now 5 stitches all before his 4th birthday! I have never experienced any of these things and I am almost 30. He always bounces back quickly, but at the rate we are going we would be able to send him to the college of his choice with the amount that we are spending on medical bills.
Any advice from mothers of boys or girls with a history of injury? I think I am going to need your wise council, that or I just need to hire a full time doctor.
By |2015-05-14T23:15:44+00:00August 29, 2011|Uncategorized|3 Comments
Read More

LOL

I love words. That’s what I’ve been talking about this week. I just like reading and writing, even though I am not that great at grammar or spelling. The other day I had to fill out a questionnaire using pen and paper and it was so hard to have to rely on the spell check in my brain! Seriously, I am ever so grateful for the little red lines under my words that indicate that questionnaire is not spelled questionaire (I’m using a real life example here).

My love of words is probably why I am not a huge fan of texting abbreviations or initialisms. Although I do use them some, I am pretty old fashioned. I wrote a post about this once called textiquette. Times are changing though and these initialisms are becoming more acceptable. They are even starting to show up in the dictionary. I don’t really know why. The should have a separate dictionary for acronyms because they are not really words, they are letters that represent several words. It could be called the all caps dictionary. But no one consulted me about this and so we are officially introducing several new acronyms into the Oxford dictionary such as LOL and OMG.
It was no more than 10 years ago I remember chatting with a couple of friends debating the meaning of the term LOL. One of them said it was laugh out loud. I said I thought it meant lots of love, and the other girl said we were both wrong and confidently declared that it stood for little old lady. After some research I found out that we were all right, and lots of luck could been thrown in there too. LOL began in the 1960’s and did in fact mean little old lady, but for the current generation it obviously means laugh out loud and if you don’t believe me you can look it up in the dictionary along with sexting and wassup. To be honest, it kind of irks me that misspellings and initialisms are making their way into the beautiful English language. I’ll probably come around, I usually do (like with texting in general), but can’t smiley faces be right side up? I drove past a car that someone had written on with shoe polish and it had a message followed by a colon and parenthesis, or in other words :). I totally understand using this emoticon when typing and maybe she was just trying to be cute, but my fear is that the next generation will not even know that smiley faces are not supposed to be sideways!!! I digress.
I am not trying to be a LOL, but does anyone else wonder if electronic communications will change the way we speak and write forever?
By |2015-05-14T23:15:44+00:00August 26, 2011|Uncategorized|8 Comments
Read More

What’s the Word

We know the English language is constantly evolving. Especially in the digital era that we live in new words and trendy phrases are popping up left and right. But when does a new word actually become a word, like a real word? I hunted around the web for a while and made some new discoveries about this process, particularly from merriam-webster.com. Believe it or not there are actually people that get paid to spend hours reading magazines, books, and other published materials in search of new words. I can picture it now “Honey, would you get your nose out of the sports section and take out the garbage!” “Quiet, I am tying to work over here!”At the Merriam-Webster office they call this activity “reading and marking”. If they find a new word or new variation of a word they mark it along with what context it is written in. Then the word gets put into a computer as a citation. From there it is reviewed by someone called the “definer”. Once the word is used in a substantial number of citations, that come from a wide range of sources, over the course of several years, then the definer determines it’s meaning and whether or not it should be added to the dictionary. It’s serious business, but there area also a few exceptions. If a word makes a enough of an impact to look like it is going to be an important word that is likely to last it just might get to skip the lengthy process and jump right into the dictionary. This was the case with the word AIDS in the 1980’s. So we know that new words are making their way into our modern vocabulary, but what about the old words, do they ever die off? Absolutely. Take Snollygoster for example. Snollygoster was removed from the dictionary almost a decade ago and it means “a shrewd, unprincipled person, especially a politician”or at least that is what it USED to mean, if you know what I mean.

By |2015-05-14T23:15:44+00:00August 24, 2011|Uncategorized|2 Comments
Read More

Learning a Language

Me: Z, it’s time to get your shoes on.



Z: I will, I will, I promise!


Me: Do you even know what that word means? (I asked him because at that time he was “promising” everything!)


Z: Yes. A promise means that I will give you your satchel back.
He had been watching Tangled and there is a scene where Rapunzel says she always keeps her promises and she promises to return Flynn’s satchel.

Obviously Z didn’t get the definition quite right, but he was starting to implement a new word and piecing together how it is used.
I love watching this process happen right before my eyes. Last week I had another little conversation and I posted it on Facebook. I got such a great response from it that I thought I should share it on here too.
Z and J were sitting on the bed and I walked in the room and started putting laundry away.


Z: “Mommy you are interesting.”


Me: “Yeah, I am pretty complicated.”


Z: “Daddy, this could be difficult for us.”
That kid just cracks me up! I remember when he was barely one he said the word “appeased.”He was just parroting me, but still, it caught my attention. Same thing when he verbalized his feelings at age two by telling me he was “disappointed”. Although, he is almost 4 now and he sounds like he is two when he has a temper tantrum, but for the most part he takes after his mama in his love for words.
On the other hand SJ is still not interested in using words. We try and coax her to talk, but we’ll just have to wait until she is ready. She points a lot and she can say mama and bubba (for brother), but she doesn’t even do that all the time and she is a year and a half. That’s okay though. I am totally comfortable with them learning at their own pace.
I think language, expression, and communication are fascinating and beautiful. My children may develop in these areas in different ways, but either way as a parent it is a joy and a privilege for me to get to watch it happen.
What about your kids? Did it feel like they were never going to start talking or that they were never going to STOP talking, and did they learn at the same age?
By |2015-05-14T23:15:44+00:00August 23, 2011|Uncategorized|2 Comments
Read More

3rd Annual Blogiversary Poem Part 4

At the end of March spring was in bloom and I was all about fun in the sun

First I wrote about baby clothes then showed a pic of baby with none

In April we experienced a little torndado and worked on entering the gardening scene

And then I talked about some new additions and ways that we are going green

I loved visiting to Austin Texas with J and two of our closest friends

Then the next week I talked about art and I just didn’t want the fun to end

Week 41 we got a new roof and learned some lessons in patience and stealing

Then a lesson in grief when a baby chick died which for a while left me reeling

Then I talked about packing and showed some pics of what I wore when I was gone

Z had been learning lots of new things and that’s what I talked about all week long

After that I did a little series about my perspective as a pastor’s wife

Then I shared about loosing my brother and the impact that he had on my life

I turned 29 , had some birthday fun and gave a glimpse of our urban farming

In July we were gone for several weeks and traveled a distance that could seem alarming

When I finally got home it was really hot, but I still felt like it was good to be back

Now it’s time to for another year of blogging because blog writing is where it’s at!

By |2015-05-14T23:15:44+00:00August 21, 2011|Uncategorized|2 Comments
Read More
Go to Top