Movie Monday: Mary & Max

The thing about summer:  I forget what day it is!  I almost missed my Movie Monday post, and I planned to feature a movie that was the reason I started this whole thing!  If you're not intimidated by difficult movies, and have a slightly off-kilter sense of humor, then this movie is for you:  Mary & Max. 

Photo courtesy of imdb.com

The film is shot in black and white and sepia tones, and is claymation.  It's the story of a young girl, Mary, and her relationship with Max, a man with Asperger's Syndrome.  Mary lives in Australia and is an outcast.  Mary doesn't see the world in quite the same way that everyone else does, and she has a large birthmark on her face.  Max lives in New York, is Jewish, and is 44 years old.  Max is voiced by Philip Seymour Hoffman.  Mary is a little girl, voiced by Toni Collette.  They become pen pals, and develop an unusual friendship.

I liked this movie more than any other movie I've seen in a long time, which is saying a lot.  It is challenging, and it has a dark humor, but I'm into that sort of thing.  Even though the characters are cartoonish, this is not a kids' film.  It's the kind of movie that older teens should see, as it portrays how our differences can alienate us from others and can keep us from the things that we desire the most.  It's a story of friendship at its core, and I think that it is wonderful.  (Mary & Max is available on Netflix).

In other news, my oldest sons are on a mission trip to Mississippi.  They come home Saturday, and I miss them like crazy.  It's too quiet around here!  I'm truly, immensely proud of them for going out on a limb to help others in need.  I can't wait to hear what the Lord shows them on their journeys.  While they're gone, Brian and I are planning a surprise for them.  I'll keep you posted...

Finally, schools are posting teaching jobs!  I've been applying for special ed. and classroom teacher jobs, and I am praying for God's guidance in finding a job for the fall.  What a crazy time to begin a career in education!

Many blessings,

Jennifer

Movie Monday: True Grit

I finally had the opportunity to see the new movie True Grit, starring Jeff Bridges.  It was really good.  I enjoy westerns, and I am a fan of Mr. Bridges, so I was predisposed to like it.  Matt Damon played the part of LaBoeuf, originally played by Glen Campbell.  He provided levity to the dark story of a young woman who sets out to avenge the murder of her father.  Hailee Stanfield, the young actress who plays the lead character, Mattie Ross, is excellent in a very demanding role.

It's been a while since I've seen the original movie starring John Wayne.  There are some changes, as I recall.  I would like to read the book that the movies are based upon by Charles Portis.  At any rate, the movie is excellent.  The movie was shot in Granger, TX and in New Mexico. 

The plot centers around Mattie.  She is searching for a U.S. Marshall of 'true grit' to aid her in capturing her father's killer, Tom Chaney.  She settles on Rooster Cogburn, played by Mr. Bridges.  Through the course of the journey, it is discovered that the marshal isn't the only one with true grit, as Mattie herself possesses it in spades.  The use of language in this movie is amazing.  Though the setting is in the south, specifically Arkansas, the characters are not seen as hicks with a twang.  The language is formal--no contractions of any kind are used, even by the outlaws.  Cursing and foul language are kept to a minimum. 

Mattie wants justice, and she is single-minded in her determination to obtain it.  The murderer is seen from the different perspectives of his pursuer.  Mattie views him as slow-witted, while LaBoeuf sees him as calculating.  Mr. Cogburn cares very little for the character of the man who has committed this and other crimes; he is interested in the reward for his capture.  Cogburn and LaBoeuf are changed by Mattie, and she learns a lot about how our decisions can have unforeseen consequences. 

There are a number of religious motifs throughout the film.  The hymn"Leaning on the Everlasting Arms" plays throughout.  The movie begins with a quote from Proverbs.  The movie asks the viewer to consider justice.  The Bible says that vengeance is the Lord's.  Man is not to take revenge.  Mattie pursues revenge and it costs her dearly.  It is not clear whether Mattie's vengeance gives her a sense of peace.  That is left to the imagination of the viewer.

True Grit is available at local Redbox locations and on DVD/Blue ray.

Many blessings,

Jennifer

Greetings from Perrin, TX!

Tonight the kids and I are spending the night with my parents.  Brian and a friend drove down to Austin to see Rush in concert.  Rush is Brian's favorite band, and he goes to see them in concert any chance he gets.  In the meantime, I loaded up the kids and the dog and we headed to Perrin. 

My parents have an offer on their land, and it is a good one.  They have accepted it, and so the next thing that they have to do is find a new place to live.  We will drive down towards Waco tomorrow to scout out some land that my parents are interested in.  They want to downsize to 2 or 3 acres, and have been looking online at places that are near to my brother and his family and that have lots of trees.  They will move their double-wide mobile home down that way.  The trick is to find the right place, at the right price.  The kids and I are looking forward to helping out with the search.  It is the beginning of a new adventure.

This evening, we walked out with the dogs and the kids looked for grasshoppers.  There is quite an abundance here, it seems.  Jesse is at the age in which collecting curious objects is an enjoyable pastime.  He picked up rocks and chased grasshoppers to his heart's content.  Right now, there is a jar teeming with grasshoppers in all different shapes and shades on my parents' dining room table.  Mom's cat is lurking nearby, fascinated.

There is something about the country in summer that is absolutely enchanting.  Wide open spaces, the sound of cicadas, the buzz of dragonflies--it's heaven to me.  It pleases me so much to see my children run and play in the setting sun.  They don't seem to have a care in the world, and this is just as it should be.

Tonight, I sat on the porch and watched the children chase our dog, Blizzard, in the red sand in front of my parents' house.  At twilight, Lily and I sat watching the woods and listening to the sounds of summer:  Cicadas, crickets, and rustling leaves.  The moon was almost full and so bright.  We looked for the first star and made a wish.  Lily scooted in close to me and I looked into her dark eyes and noticed that her face was filthy with dirt.  She looked like a little raccoon.  My little redneck princess.  She had been chasing bugs and dogs just like the boys.  Being here is rest to my weary soul.  Sometimes the concrete and congestion is just too much, and I long to be away from the city.  Even though the setting may change, I'm pleased for my parents.  They are looking forward to being closer to family.  I'm looking forward to making new memories with them. 

Many blessings,

Jennifer

End of School and some DIY

The 2010-11 school year is coming to a close.  For our family, this means that Lily has completed Kindergarten, Jesse has completed 2nd grade, Matthew has completed 7th grade, and Jacob has (hopefully) completed 10th grade ( Jacob has not finished taking exams, yet.).  Lily had her Kindergarten graduation today, and I was subbing, so Brian attended to cheer her on.  They had a great time.

I helped out in the office of one of the elementary schools yesterday and today.  There is a lot to do to get ready for summer, so I assisted however they needed, from packing up classrooms to shredding papers.  I've also been putting together teacher gifts the past few days, so I've had my embroidery machine out.  I like to embroider personalized hand towels, so I made a couple for the kids' teachers.  Here's one:

My friend, Michele, sells Mary Kay, so I purchased Satin Hands sets for Jesse and Lily's teachers and did embroidered hand towels to go with them.  Mrs. Z's towel is actually the second one.  I threaded the machine the wrong way and messed up the name on the first one.  I ended up cutting off the name and sewed on a gold band from a remnant of fabric that I have.

I hate to throw away a perfectly good towel, even if I did mess up.  I finished it and hung it up in the upstairs bathroom.  And since I was already sewing gifts, I thought I'd stitch up something fun for the kids...

The kids' bathroom is called the "Monkey Bathroom".  The inspiration came from this sign I found in Fredericksburg, TX:

So, I purchased a shower curtain from Target, hung up my cute embroidered towel, et voila!

I purchased both the monkey and crown embroidery designs from Urban Threads.  The Lil' Monkey design would be cute on onesies or baby blankets.  If you're interested in custom embroidered items, message me. 

In other news, Brian starts a new job July 1.  He'll be working at a construction company in Dallas.  This new company is slightly larger than the one he works for now.  It was a good offer and he has his present employer's blessing.  God is good, and though this is another change in our lives, we trust that this is a good opportunity for Brian and will be a blessing to our family.

Many blessings,

Jennifer

Movie Monday

I've decided to start a new feature on this blog, one I've been thinking about for a while.  I enjoy watching movies, especially ones that are not highly publicized.  I'm a fan of foreign films and documentaries.  I'll be featuring thought-provoking films that I've watched each Monday.  You're welcome to comment on the films I feature and to link to your own blog posts, if you are doing a post on movies, as well.

For this week, I am featuring the movie Forgiving Mengele.  This documentary was made in 2006 about Holocaust survivor Eva Kor.  Ms. Kor and her twin sister, Miriam, were selected by Dr. Mengele to participate in genetic experiments while at the Auschwitz concentration camp.  Twins were forced to endure blood withdrawals and injections of unknown substances, in addition to the emotional torture of the concentration camp.  Ms. Kor's determination to survive is admirable, and her decision to forgive her tormentors is controversial, as is shown in the film. 

The story of Eva Kor raises difficult questions about forgiveness:  What does it mean to forgive?  (This question is asked of Ms. Kor repeatedly.)  Does forgiveness need to be earned?  Can forgiveness be given on behalf of dead loved ones?  Is it right for a human being to forgive; isn't this the sole right of God?  These questions are asked, but not necessarily answered in the course of the film.  The survivors of Holocaust atrocities who live daily with the effects of the torment they endured at the hands of the Nazis are split with regard to Ms. Kor's offer of forgiveness.  Many are openly hostile towards her.  Jewish scholars are seen challenging her decision to forgive. 

The most interesting aspect of the film comes toward the end, as Ms. Kor meets with a group of Palestinian professors who want to discuss their own wounds at the hands of Israelis.  Ms. Kor's reaction to the Palestinians reveals the complicated nature of human forgiveness.  She is willing to forgive the Germans, but is not willing to ask for forgiveness from the Palestinians for the wrongs that they have experienced at the hands of the Israelis (Ms. Kor is a Romanian Jew, living in Terre Haute, Indiana.).  She says that she could not hear their stories of trauma and terror because "it is too much."  The bloodshed is happening now, and she cannot bear to hear their stories.  It is unclear whether or not she feels that the Palestinians are experiencing oppression.  She is clearly uncomfortable and fears for her safety, so she is eager to leave the meeting.

For Christians, we are commanded to forgive.  Jesus said in Luke 6:37:  "Forgive, and you will be forgiven."  We have been forgiven of our sins through the atoning death of Jesus Christ.  The Jewish scholars discuss the idea of atonement as it relates to forgiveness, and this is a significant stumbling block to their ability to forgive.  They sincerely do not feel that the Germans are worthy of forgiveness, because they have not atoned for their wrongdoings. 

I like that this movie forces the viewer to really contemplate the notion of forgiveness.  What does it mean to forgive?  The central focus of this question is the concern for justice.  Does forgiving someone mean that the wrong that they have done is forgotten, or that it is acceptable?  I take my view of forgiveness from Scripture.  Colossians 3:13 says, "Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you."  In other words, we do not hold that person's sin, or wrongdoing, against them.  We do not expect retribution or vengeance.  Essentially, when we forgive, we do not consider the other person's actions worthy of punishment.  It is an action that enables us to move on from the injury and thwarts bitterness.  It is an act of cleansing--a cleansing of our hearts and minds from the idea of revenge.  (Let me also say that this does not mean that I do not believe in punishment.  I also believe in justice strongly.  However, I believe that forgiveness is a conscious determination of our will.  It is like love, in that it is not a feeling, but an action.  It is something we do to prevent bitterness from taking root.)

Forgiving Mengele is available on Netflix.  If you watch it, let me know your thoughts.  I'm curious to know what others' opinions are on this subject of forgiveness.

Many blessings,

Jennifer

Happy Memorial Day & Metamorphosis Monday!

In keeping with the Memorial Day holiday, I wanted to write a post that both honors the memory of my family members who served in the military and shows a transformation in my home.  The above picture is the tableau I put together yesterday.  The small picture in front of the Americana angels is my grandfather, James F. Pierce.

My grandpa served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War.  This picture was taken during his tenure as a high school construction trades teacher.  I have so many fond memories of my grandpa.  My dad is an only child, so my brother and I were his only grandchildren.  Everyone should be loved the way that my grandpa loved us.

Let me show you how this tableau began:

This little Ikea desk came from my son, Jacob's room.  Jacob no longer wants it, so I decided to repurpose it.  I began by covering it with a goldenrod tablecloth that I got several years ago at Bed, Bath, & Beyond.  It matches the wall color in my dining room.

The tablecloth has a hole in it, and a stain.  However, folding it in half effectively covers both.  I tucked the desk into the corner and set about deciding what to do with it next. 

I got the tin rooster tray at Fred's in Perrin, TX, near where my parents live.  It's a discount store.  The mosaic candleholder was purchased at Ross.  I decided that I didn't like the candleholder/vase in that spot, so I moved it here:

I tried a couple of baskets before I settled on the one that I liked best.  I added the angels and the picture of Grandpa, and I have the arrangement that is most pleasing to me, and that is seen in the beginning of this post.  Here is how it looks as you come in my front door:

 

As a bonus, I can also store seasonal items under the desk. I can also serve from this table when using this room.  We usually eat in the kitchen. :)



Here are some pictures of my family members in uniform:

My papaw is second from left in the picture on the left.  To the right of him is my uncle Ben.  I don't know who the other gentlemen are.  The soldier in the picture on the right is my mamaw's brother.  The inscription says : "To Sis from Brother  Jan. 1, 1944, England".

Last, but not least, my dad:

(Daddy looking fierce, getting ready to shoot skeet.  Perrin, TX, March, 2011.)

My dad, Jonathan David Pierce, served in the U.S. Navy after high school.  He enlisted during the Vietnam War, and served as a corpsman.  He and my mother were stationed on Guam, and he worked in the Naval Hospital, helping the wounded.  I'm so grateful for his service to our country, especially at such a difficult time. 

I don't have a recent picture of Brian's brother, Bradley Keith Cottle.  He served in the U.S. Army, and parachuted into Granada.  He made that jump unarmed, as I'm told.  That takes a lot of guts.  I want to also mention my uncle, L.G. Crum (retired from U.S. Army); my cousin, Barry Crum (Lt. Col, U.S. Army (retired)), and my cousin, Kevin Crum.  Kevin is currently serving in the U.S. Navy.

God bless America, and God bless our brothers and sisters in service to our country!

Many blessings,

Jennifer

P.S. I'm participating in Metamorphosis Monday at http://www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/. 

De-Stressing

I haven't posted in a while.  Blogging is something that I enjoy for a number of reasons, but there are times when I just can't write about what is going on in my life.  There are some things which must stay private.  In a way, this saddens me, because the things that we struggle through privately are often the very things that minister to others the most when we share them.  As we are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, so to speak, I want to share a few of the things that I've learned over the last several weeks.

I've come to realize that a subtle pressure has crept into our lives.  I've congratulated myself over the years that we've resisted the pressure to have our children 'compete' on the world's arena.  We gave up soccer leagues and sports associations years ago, determining that these were not conducive to our family and its health.  Well, at least, until last year.  I've also resisted the temptation to push academics, or so I thought.  I've come to realize that the pressures our children face in school to succeed are greater than I imagined.  As a Christian, I tell my children--and myself--that the world and its values are not our benchmark.  We don't measure our success by how well we do in our culture, because that definition changes.  Our success is to be measured by how well we glorify God.  Somehow, in our home, that definition of success had started to slip.  Without realizing it, Brian and I had allowed some very unhealthy attitudes to creep into our home.

While it is good to plan for the future, God's Word is clear that He holds the future.  Proverbs 16:9 says, "We make our own plans, but the Lord decides where we will go." (CEV)  The schools encourage our children to take Pre-AP classes in middle school and AP classes in high school in preparation of college.  I am not advocating against offering these courses, but for us, we've come to the realization that these courses should be taken in moderation--extreme moderation.  I failed to remember that the AP English course I took in high school was essentially a college-level course.  I took the one course my senior year, and it was tough.  I spent a lot of hours on that one class.  Matthew already takes Pre-AP courses in middle school, and Jacob has been taking them for a while.  It occurred to me these last few months--with the counsel of others--that the push to take advanced classes, get excellent grades, and to compete for college admissions is taking a toll on our kids.  So, we've backed off on those.  Going back to the verse in Proverbs, while we may plan for our kids to go to college (and I hope that they do), the reality is that God knows the plans He has for our kids.  Planning for the future and scorching the earth of the 'right now' is no good.  Lesson number one that I have learned these last several weeks:  Kids need to be kids.  A very kind police officer was telling me one evening that teens in the metroplex are taking their lives due to stress.  Not simply due to bullying.  Not due to drugs or alcohol, necessarily.  Stress.  They simply don't see an escape from it. 

We often forget how 'in the moment' young people are.  If a smart, young woman sees that her workload in school is overwhelming her, then realizes that she faces the same--if not more--in college, she may feel hopeless.  Those kids that are able to manage the stress of a full load at school without getting discouraged are probably blessed with an extraordinary gift of organization.  They are probably also blessed with a sense of when to take a break.  I hate to say it, but we've had to learn this!  I tend to go full-tilt all the time.  I have backed off lately, and so has Brian.  We're learning temperance, I supppose.  We're getting snow cones, playing in the park, taking breaks.  We're learning to relax.  Shocking.

I've come to realize that I was wrong about some things.  I tend to blame everything on myself:  It must be that I'm working that the kids are stressed.  It must be my fault that the house is a mess.  I have to do better...  I've had to relinquish some of my duties to Brian.  He gets the kids up in the morning now and helps with dishes more.  To be honest, he didn't know I needed him to.  The kids help out with chores.  I was doing more than necessary.  So, I asked for help.  When I saw that one of my kids was struggling, my first thought was that it was my fault.  Then, I got smart and realized I needed to get some help, so we did.  There's no shame in asking for advice, or for seeking counsel. 

Yesterday, the weather was gorgeous.  Lily was playing at a friend's house, so I decided to walk over to pick her up, rather than drive over.  I enjoyed the sunshine, the birds' song, the flowers, and the breeze.  It took a few minutes more to walk than drive, but the world didn't fall apart because I took a few extra minutes.  Lily and I walked in the sunshine and talked and I felt so blessed.  It felt like the weight of the last couple of months had lifted. 

It's taken me forty years to learn how to lighten up....

Many blessings,

Jennifer