Review:::Race To Witch Mountain & Orphan

Race to Witch Mountain is a great family movie! I rented this for the kids - thinking Myles would like the car chases and Jordan would appreciate that it wasn't just a cartoon. What I didn't expect was that Terrance would be the one that was most "in to" the movie. lol! When I would try to say something to the kids, he would say, "Keep it down! I'm trying to watch the movie!" Love it!!

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson plays a helpful cab driver that reluctantly helps two "kids" - that end up being adolescent aliens from another planet. This is a remake of the Disney classic Escape to Witch Mountain. I loved that the kids from the original movie, Kim Richards and Ike Eisenmann, are both featured in the movie. They portray the waitress and the sheriff of a small town.



Orphan had an ending that I was totally not expecting. For that...I really liked it. I love it when a suspense/horror/thriller type movie can actually surprise me. Orphan was more suspense/thriller than horror. I thought it moved a little slow at first - but I'm sure that was just meant to be build-up to the climax.

After the tragic death of their youngest child, Kate and John Coleman (Vera Farmiga and Peter Sarsgaard) decide to adopt a child. They choose 9-year old Esther from a local orphanage. It doesn't take long for Kate to see through Esther's angelic facade. When John brushes Kate's suspicions off as paranoid, Esther begins to wreak havoc on those around her.

Monday Reflection

Church was good yesterday - the sermon really hit home in several areas. But, before the sermon, some of our music team got up to perform the offertory song.

Sometimes, it is hard to focus during the offertory...offering baskets being passed - kids dropping money in and getting so excited, etc. So, I am so glad I was tuned in enough yesterday to listen. They sang Press On - by Selah. I wish I could post a link to their actual singing - they did a phenomenal job! I know I've heard it before - but I don't think I've ever paid attention to the lyrics before now.

When the valley is deep

When the mountain is steep

When the body is weary

When we stumble and fall

When the choices are hard

When we're battered and scarred

When we've spent our resources

When we've given our all

Chorus:

In Jesus' name, we press on

In Jesus' name, we press on

Dear Lord, with the prize

Clear before our eyes

We find the strength to press on

In Jesus' name, we press on

In Jesus' name, we press on

Dear Lord, with the prize

Clear before our eyes

We find the strength to press on

To press on

I just really needed to hear that.

Friday Felicities ~ November 6, 2009

Things that make me happy:

::: Friday's!!!

::: Being flu free in (what seems like) a sea of sickness

::: Recovering from ear surgery

::: Finally being able to sleep on my right side (since said ear surgery)

::: Thanksgiving month!! My favorite holiday

::: Hot and Spicy Chex Mix...yum.

::: A dear hubby that pulled in behind me today and offered to pump my gas...it was cold this morning. :)

Link up over at Becky's with things that make you happy.

Daybook ~ November 5, 2009

Outside My Window... It is an absolutely beautiful day. And...it's supposed to be this beautiful all weekend!

I Am Thankful For... That the flu bug that is going around has (for the most part) left us alone. We had a small bout about a month ago - but have been very healthy since then.

From The Kitchen... Pizza tonight! I have this movie from Netflix. Jordan is very excited to watch it - so I think we will have an improptu movie night tonight.

I Am Wearing... A black skirt and multi-color shirt with my black boots. My feet don't exactly hurt...but my slippers and comfys are calling my name.

I Am Reading... Almost finished with The Last Word. I've really enjoyed it. I will have to get the rest of the series.

I Am Hoping... To just get through the rest of the week...this has been a long one. Not bad...just long.

I Am Hearing... Law & Order: Special Victims Unit...watching it through Netflix. Have I mentioned how much I love Netflix!! :)

Around The House... Hopefully, not much. I just want to relax and enjoy myself tonight.

One Of My Favorite Things... Fridays!! It really has been a long week.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... I am "helping" to throw a baby shower tomorrow morning. Which means...I am bringing the flowers. Other than that - probably just tackling the laundry pile.

Here Is A Picture Thought I Am Sharing With You... Halloween pics from last week. Jordan was a punk rocker - and Myles is the Clone Trooper. Jordan went trick-or-treating with a friend from church - so Myles went with his bestest buddy...Andre - aka Wolverine. We had a good time.

Reviews ~ Blood Work & Donnie Darko

I can't believe I've watched 2 Clint Eastwood movies in the last couple of months. Normally, I don't consider myself a big Clint Eastwood fan. The squinty eyes - the gruff voice...never was a Dirty Harry-type of gal. But, I liked Gran Torino - so I thought I would give this one a try.

This one wasn't bad...a little predictable. By about 1/3 to 1/2 the way through - I had figured out "whodunit". Eastwood plays a retired FBI director named Terry McCaleb who is forced into retirement after suffering a massive heart attack while chasing down a serial killer. He ends up needing a heart transplant. He is hired by Graciela Rivers (Wanda de Jesus) to find the murderer of her sister, who, coincidentally, is the donor of his heart. He soon discovers that the serial killer he was hunting before his surgery is behind the new murders.

If you're a Clint Eastwood fan, you'd probably like it. I didn't "hate" it - but I probably won't rush to watch it again.

Ok, this movie was a little weird. Apparently, it is quite the cult-classic - but I didn't really see what all the fuss was about. The language was pretty bad. A lot of useless cursing. The kids would cuss in front of the parents and they wouldn't say anything - and sometimes laughed. That was annoying.

Jake Gyllenhaal played Donnie Darko, a teen struggling with sleep-walking and visions of a 6-foot tall, doomsday prophesizing bunny. The bunny steers Donnie through his sleep-walking to commit crimes like vandalizing the school and burning down a house.

The movie has quite the all-star cast with Drew Barrymore, Noah Wyle, Patrick Swayze and Mary MacDonnell. But, even with all of that talent, it was still a weird movie. Again, nothing that I will be clamoring to watch again.

Daybook ~ October 28, 2009

Outside my Window ... It's dark.

I am thankful for ... my dear hubby that was cleaning the kitchen and vacuuming when I got home from work. :) I'm so glad he's neater than I am. Not that I'm a slob...I'll just wait longer than he will.

From the kitchen ... Sloppy Joe's and fries tonight. Not very healthy - but good none the less.

I am wearing ... Green sweat pants and a blue shirt. I don't think I really match - but I'm comfy...and that's all that really matters.

I am reading ... The Last Word by Kathy Herman - I think it's part of a series - so I feel like I've missed something that happened in a previous book - but it's good and I hope to go back and read it.

I am hoping ... not for much. Just for my hearing to come back. :)

I am hearing ... Myles watching Monsters vs. Aliens. He really likes this movie.

Around the house ... Halloween is this weekend - so that's what we are preparing for. Hoping that it doesn't rain like it's planned to. I've rented some scary movies for me and Jordan to watch. She thinks she likes scary movies - but she's never really watched one - so I rented Poltergeist for her. I haven't seen it either - but imdb.com says that there is no nudity or cursing and that it is more suspensful than anything. Should be fun!

One of my favorite things ... picking up Myles every afternoon. He is always so excited to see me - and that just warms my heart.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week ... Just planning on Halloween-ing it and relaxing.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you ... Fall in Tennessee. The allergies might suck here - but the autumn's are beautiful.

After The Surgery...

Well, I thought it was time for an update after my surgery. The official name for the surgery was a tympanic mastoidectomy. Yeah, I didn't like the sound of it either.

My surgery was on Monday, October 12th at 9:00 am. I wasn't too nervous going into it. I had my book of favorite verses on my bed and I just kept reading them over and over. The one I read the most was Joshua 1:9: "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Every time I would read it, I could feel myself becoming calm.

The surgery ended up lasting about 6 hours. They had said that it would be anywhere from about 3 hours to as long as 8 hours. I guess it was right about in the middle.

As soon as I woke up, I puked. Not a fun feeling. I ended up throwing up about 3 times before I was allowed to leave the hospital...then I threw up again after we got home. Yuck! Apparently, when they work in your inner ear for hours on end - it can make you a little nauseous.

I have stiches inside my ear and behind it. It hurts. I feel dizzy and tired all the time. I have zero hearing on my right side now. I thought it was bad before - but I have realized that *anything* is better than nothing. It is a really weird feeling not to be able to hear anything. Terrance said the doctor told him that it could be this way for several months before the hearing starts to come back - and then it would only be back to about 45%. I guess if i get another surgery, it might come back to about 65%. Terrance is thinking that really isn't worth it. We'll have to see on that. I'm definitely not looking forward to another surgery.

I am starting to admit that all of this has gotten me kind of depressed. But, the depression is bothering me though. I try to be an upbeat-type of person. I'm kind of a "glass half-full" type of person. But, this has really knocked me down. It's been almost a week and my face is still a little swollen and the whole area around my ear is still really sore. And!...my ear sticks out! It is not cute at all! I know that sounds shallow - but I just think that on top of not being able to hear and being nauseous - it looks funny too. I hate that it is bothering me like this - but it really is. I thought it was annoying before how much I couldn't hear - but this is so much worse.

I guess I just need to give it time. Patience is something I need to work on. I know God has a plan for all of this...I just need to wait for His timing and not be so ready for "my" timing.

Daybook ~ October 8, 2009

Outside my Window ... It's dark...night has fallen.

I am thankful for ... friends that have been so wonderful and praying for me for my upcoming surgery. I love you all!!

From the kitchen ... Well, I didn't cook dinner tonight...but I did start on dinner for tomorrow night. We are having a yummy roast with carrots and potatoes! I just hope I have an appetite for it.

I am wearing ... Jammie pants and a tank top...I am so ready for bed.

I am reading ... The Knight by Steven James. I'm only a few chapters in...but it looks really good.

I am hoping ... To just survive this weekend. It's going to be crazy.

I am hearing ... Not a thing. Everyone is in bed and the tv is off!

Around the house ... I've been getting ready for Myles' first birthday party...not to confuse the facts...he is 5 years old. This is just his first "friend" party. I've been stuffing the pinata...stuffing goody bags...making sure I haven't forgotten anything - which I'm sure I have.

One of my favorite things ... Diet Dr. Thunder...I am slightly addicted to it. Mommy gets very crabby if she runs out! lol

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week ... I have my pre-op appointment at the hospital tomorrow morning, then taking Jordan to work with me so I can put her to work on my filing (lol!), Jordan has acting class on Saturday morning, Myles' friend party on Saturday afternoon, church Sunday morning, family b-day on Sunday afternoon, CRASH Sunday night - surgery on Monday...

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you ... Myles and Mama Jean made his birthday cookie today. A few days late since he's been sick...