Sweet: Julie & Julia

A friend who knows my love of cooking sent this movie from across the Pacific, all the way from Cambodia. 

Like, a year ago or something! Then I put it away and immediately forgot where I put it. And I've been looking for it for, like, a year. 

Then, while going through a desk drawer a week or two ago, what do you think I found? Sure enough; there it was!

So I watched it, and wow! I didn't even realize until later that I was watching a true story about something that had actually happened! The movie chronicles Julie Powell's journey of spending a year cooking through her hero Julia Child's book Mastering the Art of French Cooking. It also follows Julia Child during her time in France that inspired her to write the cookbook. 

But the movie's not just about cooking; it's also about writing and international travel, and it gives a poignant glimpse into the two women's marriages. I'd call it an emotional masterpiece!

Disclaimer: In addition to a little bit of cussing, the movie contains a couple of dirty scenes; so I don't recommend it for kids. Although I liked the movie in general, there were 2 or 3 things - they weren't TOO bad - that I feel should have been left out.

Books don't have scenes, though; so now I've really gotta read the book! :)

October . . .

Happy October, everyone! :) It's a special month for me. Not only is it part of my favorite movie, October Baby.

It's also part of a book I really like, October Song, of whom I recently got to meet the author.

What's more, it's the month of my accident. 

Why does that make it special? Well, let me explain. A lot of people don't like storms, even in nature. And while I'm not saying I like unnatural storms - I definitely don't - I do absolutely love the natural kind! They really show how big God is, and they seem SO happy to me! Good smells, sounds, everything! I know there can be disastrous storms, but I've not been around for very many at all.

For the Christian, no storm is disastrous, but every storm is just one more thing God is busy working for our good! So one day, we will thank Him for it, as hard as that may be to imagine right now. Some are calling my accident a "storm." It was certainly difficult for my family, and there are things about my life now that I could wish were different. But I already know a little (not all!) of why He allowed it.

1. This summer one of the times I gave my testimony at camp, I found out later that a girl trusted Christ that night.

2. He showed my family the body of Christ in action like they had never quite seen it before.

3. He showered me with expressions of His love so that I could never, ever doubt it. 

a. the ambulance right behind me when I wrecked

b. a whole plethora of cards, letters, and visitors - bringing flowers, CDs, and my favorite ice cream

c. thousands praying for me from at least 4 continents, including people I didn't know

d. et cetera, et cetera!

I get to see life through different eyes, and I know more about how to interact with disabled people (#1 - they're still people!). Strange as it may sound, I'm very thankful for my accident and feel like I have a rare privilege. I should add that it is one that I hope nobody who reads this gets to share with me! :) Anyway . . . that's why October is such a special month for me. :)

Martin Chuzzlewit

The longest Dickens novel I have read, and the best! The theme is selfishness, and Mr. Dickens describes it thoroughly with many very different obnoxious characters as well as its antonym through some very charming ones. Some characters change, which is all the better. Most don't, which is very realistic. If you don't have time to read a several hundred page book, at least watch the 1994 BBC version on youtube.com. I believe it's 6 hours long. Many scenes had to be cut out, but nothing was altered. They brought the story to life very well.

Mr. Pecksniff and "decrepit" Mr. Chuzzlewit

Merry Pecksniff and her mercenary fiance

Martin and Mary

Faith Like Potatoes

My family doesn't watch TV much, but we love a good movie. Thankfully, in the last few years Christians have been producing more and more of them. So when we saw a review for Faith Like Potatoes at the end of as great a movie as Fireproof, our expectations were high.

After waiting several months, we finally rented it from Blockbuster and watched it. Unfortunately, it didn't meet our expectations and I want to encourage you to save your money for something better. Or else just save it for the sake of saving it.

There was nothing particularly exciting about the begining of the movie, and it stayed relatively boring throughout. By itself, this doesn't make it a bad movie, but I'd much rather watch an interesting good movie than a boring one!

It wasn't just boring, however. The main character cusses throughout, as do other people. Not the worst of American cuss words, but "bloody" and euphemisms for the "d" and "h" words.

The main character's wife dresses immodestly, with tight tops and cleavage showing. My dad used the word "Barbie." Other women occasionally wear similar clothing. And the main character himself takes a phone call wearing nothing but his boxers.

There are also several theological problems throughout, such as viewing personal devotions as church, a confusing "conversion experience," and a charismatic doctrine of physical healing and even raising people from the dead.

All in all, it didn't really meet our standards of a Christian movie. Here are some better ideas:

Fireproof

Facing the Giants

Timechanger

Sheffey