Life Lessons from The Lorax

On the flight home from London, while browsing the endless movie selections, I decided to watch Dr. Seuss' The Lorax. I'm a Dr. Seuss fan, and had missed this one when it was out. And I knew I wouldn't have to think too hard to watch it [because I was up at 4am and the last thing I wanted was a heavy drama!]. But I was surprised by how this movie did make me think.

The story is clearly aimed at environmental protection issues, as the main character lives in a town of all plastic, where all the trees have been destroyed and fresh air is bottled & sold. The boy, Ted, hears about a real tree, and sets off to bring one back for the girl of his dreams. Along the way, he mets the Once-lor, who tells him how through greed & materialism the trees & the air were destroyed.

Now I'm sure by this point, many people were rolling their eyes at heavy-handed agenda pushing in a children's film. But I wasn't. The character, The Lorax, the One Who Speaks for the Trees, had some pretty wise statements in the film that didn't remind me of tree hugging, but in fact, this fight against human trafficking. He says, "Which way does a tree fall? Whichever way it leans. Be careful which way you lean." I don't think people just fall into bad decisions overnight, nor does slavery & oppression appear overnight. But it comes from a lifetime of leaning. Which am I leaning? I aim to lean towards freedom, justice & truth, with the hopes that that is where I will fall. 

As Ted was complaining about not being able to change the situation in the town with the trees, the Once-lor tells him, "Unless someone like you cares a whole lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not.". Everyone has a voice, and every single person can be part of demanding a better world. I'm not saying everyone has to pick up the fight against trafficking, because God has broken each of our hearts differently. For some of my friends it's hunger & clean water issues around the world, for others its the HIV/AIDS pandemic, and for others it's the orphan crisis. Whatever it is, don't be silent. Care about something. Talk about something. Change something.

As Ted announced before planting the last remaining tree seed, "My name is Ted, and I speak for the trees!", I challenge you to speak for something. "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, ensuring justice for those who are perishing. Yes, speak up for the poor & helpless and see that they get justice." - Proverbs 31:8-9.

So, "My name is Joy and I speak for the enslaved!"

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God in Hollywood

Every week here at YWAM Orlando, we as a base do something called "Worship & Warfare". It's a chance for us corporately to get together and worship and pray for a nation, an issue or an injustice. I look forward to these days each week, because its when we get to pray what is on God's heart for these places and people. And also I just love learning about countries and how to pray for them! This quarter we've focused on Libya, Ukraine, China, West Bank/Palestine, and more. But today was my favorite Worship & Warfare. We didn't focus on a country, but a sphere of influence that is heavy on my heart...Arts & Entertainment, specifically Hollywood. Almost any conversation with me will reveal my love of movies, music, TV and entertainment. I even keep up with my own entertainment-focused blog just for fun! So when I heard we were praying for this city and this industry, my heart was immediately captivated. Here's some things I learned today...

-Back in the 1920's, when Hollywood was putting together the MPAA [the people who rate our movies], church leaders and pastors were invited to be part of the board. Hollywood looked to the church for input on content and morality. It was the church leaders who backed away from this commitment, seeing it as 'secular'. What a lost opportunity...

-There are Christian talent agencies in Hollywood! Believers who are committed to the arts and having an impact on Hollywood are helping upcoming actors, models and talent find work and get their start in the industry. AMTC is well-respected in Hollywood for locating quality talent.

-Los Angeles, translates to "The Angels" or"Message Bearers". Sadly, the message they bear today is one of immorality, pride, promiscuity, and idolatry. But wouldn't it be amazing if the message they could bring instead was one of truth, humility, glory & reverence to God. That's what we prayed for today.

We also prayed for celebrities in Hollywood right now that are believers. There are actually some there!

Tony Hale, best known for his role as Buster Bluth on Arrested Development [one of my FAVORITE shows] is a believer in the entertainment industry. He is an extremely skilled actor and is open about his Christian beliefs. Here's a quote he said in an interview: "...The majority of my conversations are about breaking down stereotypes. Unfortunately there’s been a lot of abuse of Christianity. But I’m excited to help break down those stereotypes. Even if it’s just to say, “I understand. Most of the Christians with the microphones are the wrong people to have the microphones. But if we’re going to talk about Christianity, let’s talk about Jesus: who he was and what he taught. Because that’s who I follow.”



Zachary Levi, star of NBC's Chuck, is also a Christian in the industry. Here's some of this thoughts on living out his faith in Hollywood. "The atmosphere in Hollywood in general is very anti-conservative, very anti-Christian. The liberal segment of Hollywood, which is 80 percent of it if not more, they look at Christians as hypocrites that are false and fake. The tough part is that in many cases I can’t argue with them. My job on my set, I believe, is to first just love people and gain that trust with people where they know that I really do love them and care about their well-being, so that when they are running into problems, they will hopefully, at some point, come to me and ask me, “What is your peace all about? What is your comfort all about? Where do you get your love? Where do you get your talents? And I can turn to them and say without blinking, “Jesus Christ.” You can’t just come out there and say “Hey, I’m a Christian, and I’m gonna beat you into thinking the way that I do.” You can’t do that. It’s not about manipulation so much as it’s about getting in on someone’s life on the ground floor. So more than anything, that’s what I’m trying to do now. Just build relationships with everyone that I work with."

There's obviously more Christians in Hollywood, many we don't even know that are doing what God has called them to do in this city of darkness. If you'd like to join with me to continue to pray for Hollywood, check out the Hollywood Prayer Network for directed prayer topics, people, and issues straight from Hollywood. And let's watch God do miracles in this city! Continue reading →

The Big Apple

Just back from a whirlwind vacation through New York City. My family and I spent four days cramming in as much sightseeing as possible. And we were pretty successful! We arrived early Thursday morning [on St. Patrick's Day, and yes I wore green!] and after a harrowing van ride, we were in Manhattan before lunch. To avoid the craziness of the midtown parade, we took the subway down to Greenwich Village, Chinatown, and Little Italy. Those neighborhoods are not only completely different from each other, but also from the rest of Manhattan. It was so fun just walking the streets and taking in all the new sights. While in Greenwich, we did find the FRIENDS building from one of my favorite TV shows of all time as well! So exciting! After dinner, my sister Stephanie and I went out to see more of the city, and we found the awesome Apple Store on 5th Avenue. It was every bit of exciting as I had hoped! On Friday, we explored more of midtown. Starting at the Rockefeller Center, we went straight to the top for an incredible view of the city. While at Rockefeller, I couldn't help think of my new favorite show, 30 Rock, and took tons of pictures seen in the opening credits! Highlight of this day: celebrity sighting! Matt Bomer, from Chuck and White Collar was filming a segment on the Today show, and we got to see him. YAY! Afterward, Steph and I continued out on our way. I had a total Project Runway afternoon...from Parsons School of Design where each episode is filmed, to Mood Designer Fabrics where the contestants shop every episode, to Bryant Park where Fashion Week is held, I was pretty much in heaven! I loved Fashion District.





































We then went back downtown for a water taxi tour around the Statue of Liberty. So cool! We walked Wall Street and the Financial District and saw all the sights. That night, we saw The Lion King on Broadway. It's a show I've seen before and loved. Having just returned form Africa, I looked at the animals with new appreciation. It was a fantastic show! On Saturday, we started the day in Central Park. Walking past famous movie landmarks like Wollman Rink [Serendipity], Loeb's Boathouse [27 Dresses], and Bethesda Fountain [One Fine Day, Gossip Girl], it was a great day. We then took a carriage ride through the park, and enjoyed the other sights that our driver pointed out. We then shopped like kids....FAO Schwartz then Dylan's Candy Bar! After shopping, Stephanie and I got our fill of culture, with tours of both the Guggenheim Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. We saw originals from famous artists such as Picasso, Monet, Van Gogh, Pollock, Dali and Warhol. It ended up being one of my favorite parts of the trip.

We crashed into bed at the end of this very long day. Sunday morning we had a few hours to kill before heading to the airport, so went back down to Greenwich, enjoyed some cupcakes from Magnolia Bakery, and took a tour of the NBC studios. It was a full, but exciting four days to say the least. We saw a ton of things, and had a blast doing it. But, I'm happy to be home and excited about my next adventure...School of Ministry Development with YWAM Orlando starting in just 7 days!!

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Me & My Toys

I saw Toy Story 3 this weekend. Leave it to Pixar to just tug away at those emotional heart strings! As I watched teenage Andy deal with leaving his toys behind as he went off to college, I began to look back on my past play things.

As a kid, I grew pretty attached to inanimate objects. From a traffic cone in 6th grade to a 10 year movie stub collection, I had my share of weird attachments. I also had some favorite toys over the years too. I had a stuffed lion that I named Lance. I had CareBears and My Little Ponies galore. I was obsessed with Pound Puppies.


But my favorite toy was Kristy. She was a blue bunny, with a white belly and pink and yellow ears. I remember getting Kristy in my Easter basket one year. I was so excited to get her. My parents hid her in what would be my new baby brother’s room. From then on, her and I were inseparable. I remember one night, I couldn’t find her…I freaked out and tore my closet apart until I did. But eventually, I grew up and I put her in the closet, and left her there. I moved in and out of my parents house, and every time I did, I would see Kristy and smile.


After seeing Toy Story 3, I came home and got Kristy down from my closet. It's funny the feelings we have towards our toys. She’s still in pretty good shape for the 22 years I’ve had her. Maybe I’ll have to save her for the kid I just might have one day…

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Victim of Emotional Pornography

I recently ran across an article in Relevant Magazine called The Dangers of Emotional Pornography. I just stopped and had to read it. The title just grabbed me, and its probably why you clicked on my blog. Pornography we can define, but what is emotional pornography?

Cole NeSmith, who wrote the Relevant article, had this to say. “There’s certainly a war against the prevalence of visual pornography in many corners of our society—especially in the Christian culture. There is an attempt to expose pornography for its promotion of unrealistic sexual expectations and exploitation of human sexuality. And that attempt is a very necessary one. But what about the unhealthy emotional and relational expectations portrayed in so much of our media? Is there really much of a difference in the hyperbolized sexual imagery of typical pornography and the hyperbolized momentary emotional high felt in a romance film or romantic comedy that sends us looking for a “love” that doesn’t exist?”

And it completely made sense. Over and over again, I see my girlfriends get sucked into a TV show, a movie, or a book series because they are just so invested in the character’s relationships. I think the whole world witnessed this as the Twilight series has taken over the world. My first exposure to Twilight wasn’t from people telling me how great the books were, but from Facebook posts from people who wished a) Edward Cullen was real b) their boyfriend/husband was more like Edward Cullen or c) they could become a vampire to be with Edward Cullen. And I was seriously like who is this guy?! A fictional [stalker-ish] vampire!?! [BTW, I'm not judging these fans, because I, myself, am a fan. Just wanted to throw that out there.] But hundreds of thousands of women were invested in this series for the relationship between Edward and Bella. Women, by nature, are emotional creatures.

I share this my students in the classroom regularly. We compare men to microwaves and women to crockpots. We talk about how men are visually stimulated, and it really doesn’t even take that long for a man to be visually stimulated. A woman can walk by in a revealing outfit, or they can see a pop ad on a computer and be sexually stimulated. I challenge the girls in the class to think about modesty, how they dress and what effect it can have on guys. We are able to talk about some of the dangers of pornography and some its lasting effects. And then we talk about women, and how we are crockpots. This is because women are stimulated by the emotional or caring parts of a relationship. It’s why we fantasize not about what the perfect guy looks like [OK, probably a little bit], but how romantic he will be, or how he will treat us. I then get to encourage the guys in the classroom to be careful with their words and how they talk to girls, because girls are emotional and look for connections in those words. It’s a great activity that brings about some great conversation.

But I never saw it in my own life. Am I a victim of emotional pornography? Absolutely. Whether it’s fantasizing over fictional male leads in romantic comedies or imagining myself as the heroine of a romantic story, I’ve been there. And I have to remind myself to be careful.

Philippians 4:8 says “Finally, brothers [and sisters], whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” These are the things I need to be focusing on. Not unrealistic emotional standards that no real-life man will measure up to. And not the fact that I’m in my late twenties and still single. I need the constant reminder on where and on who to focus my thoughts. Because the temptation to indulge on emotional pornography is everywhere. But I don’t have to be a victim anymore. Continue reading →

Monday Morning Loves

1. Damask patterns. OK, this is a random one for sure. But it's true! I love a black and white damask pattern. I think its super classy and elegant, but can totally be fun and funky. I have bought several yards of fabric with this pattern for bags and whatnot, and I even picked up some ribbon to class up some Mason jar flower vases! A damask pattern always makes something better!

2. Wall-E. I put this on my list awhile back, but I was reminded how much I truly loved this movie when I re-watched it just the other day. It's simple, yet clever, it's childlike, yet profound, and all in all, just plain enjoyable. Wall-E, set in the "distant" future, is the lone robot left to clean up the earth after humans have left it behind and began living aboard a spaceship. Wall-E entertains himself with showtunes, odd objects, and a cockroach pal. Until his routine is interrupted by a flashing red dot and a white robot named Eve. She's sleek and sophisticated, and Wall-E is instantly smitten. I think I love Wall-E so much because it's just a love story. My favorite part is the first 45 minutes when Wall-E and Eve explore Earth together, and are then taken aboard the spaceship. It's Pixar at its best, and I can't say enough about how much I love this movie! Wall-E's just too cute for words!


3. Monster Trail Mix. I'm a huge fan of trail mix in general, but my favorite is Archer Farms Monster Trail Mix. It's a yummy combination of peanuts, M&M's, chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, and raisins! It's delicious!

4. Flight of the Conchords. As both a band and a TV show, Flight of the Conchords is fantastic! Bret and Jermaine, two folk musicians from New Zealand, created a TV show that aired on HBO about Bret & Jermaine, two folk musicians from New Zealand. It's brilliant. They are ridiculously funny, and super talented. The show featured them in crazy random situations, and their crazy random songs were the backdrops. I got to see Flight of the Conchords live when they came through Tampa last year. And they were just as entertaining then, as on TV.

5. Amy Butler. Since I mentioned damask patterns that I love so much, I thought I'd also show some love to my all-time fabric designer, Amy Butler. Her designs are so colorful and so fresh. They make any quilt, pillow, bag, or blanket truly pop. Not only is she a fantastic fabric designer, her patterns are super cute too! I've made countless items from her books and patterns. As a beginner seamstress, I appreciate simple, yet awesome, designs to create for myself. For the more advanced, Amy has plenty to offer as well! Continue reading →

The Movies and My Life

I’m such a movie freak. Movies are seriously one of my favorite things. And as a result, I get real excited when I can go somewhere a movie was filmed! I did this in New York, in L.A., and even in Savannah, GA. I don’t even really know why it’s so exciting. But for some reason it is!

Hello Rodeo Drive!

Hotel del Coronado in San Diego, CA, seen in Some Like it Hot

Yummy Serendipity Cafe, as seen in the movie Serendipity

Bethesda Fountain in Central Park, NYC, seen in One Fine Day [and more!]

Trinity Church, NYC, seen in National Treasure

Mercer-Williams home, featured in Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil

Washington Monument, Forrest Gump & Wedding Crashers

Recently, I had the reverse experience. I watched a movie that was filmed somewhere I had already been, and a part of me was left there. I watched the movie “Holly”, set in Cambodia. With each scene, I was reminded of my time there. It’s the story of a young girl, Holly, and her life as a young sex slave in Svay Pak. The movie begins right in the midst of her turmoil, as she tries to escape her captors. When she does not, it seems that life is about to get much worse for Holly. But she befriends an American traveler, Patrick [played by Office Space’s Ron Livingston], who’s interest in Holly is far from sexual, but more paternal. He sees past her pretty face, and into her deep hurting eyes, and he longs to take Holly from that place. But Patrick is a troubled soul himself, who’s life in Southeast Asia appears to be something less than legit. His partner in crime is played by the late Chris Penn, brother to Sean Penn. When Patrick finally realizes how he wants to save Holly, it seems to be too late, as she’s been sold to another brothel and on her way to Siem Reap. Patrick attempts to track her down. But Holly has taken things into her own hands and gets herself far from the traffickers and onto a boat to Battambang, where she can only hope to be safe. Or is she?

Needless to say, I loved this film solely because it was set in Cambodia! I was flooded with memories from my time there. The red plastic chairs…the Ramen noodle like breakfast…the 2 liters full of gasoline…the poverty and hardship that breaks your heart…glimpses of joy that cause your spirit to soar. The film itself showed several sides of the issue as well, from the traffickers, to the johns, to the victims, to law enforcement, and to the aid workers. I really struggled to like the character of Patrick. He seemed to be full of good intentions, but his own confusion causes some confusion within the viewer as well. Is rescuing Holly a selfish attempt at atonement for past sins? Or is there more to their relationship that meets the eye? I was glad that “Holly” did not go the route of excessive and needless violence, but I also felt the travesty of this injustice was downplayed. The only true moment of horror was when Patrick was led into a brothel, and was subsequently propositioned by 5 and 6-year-old girls. I cheered quietly for the character of Marie, a French relief worker, tirelessly fighting against the scum that invades the country and restoring the victims it claims. I saw some of myself in that moment. However flawed, I’m thankful for the conversation that it starts and the awareness that it raises for the country I’ve grown to love.

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Reading Challenge of 2010: February

Well through the month of February I was able to read books 6 - 10 of my great 50 books in 2010 challenge. It's been a lot of fun so far. My friend Becca has been joining me as well! I am finding that I have to force myself to read something other than fiction though. Towards the end of the month I was feeling under the weather and decided to delve into some easy fiction. But I have some good reads planned for March! Stay tuned and feel free to suggest some books!

Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane

I knew I wanted to read this book as soon as I saw the movie trailer. I know most people get more excited about a movie than a book, but I just love immersing myself in a story, so rich and so engaging, that no movie will ever do it justice. And I'm so glad I immersed myself in the tale of Shutter Island. What began as a hunt for a missing patient in a hospital for a criminally insane on a lone island in the Boston Harbor, ended as something much bigger. I feel that I can't even talk about the story without giving away the plot. But I will definitely say it's a must read and probably a must see, with the caliber of Martin Scorsese, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Mark Ruffalo bringing this mind-bending visual story to life. Dennis Lehane is a fantastic, witty writer who I will be sure to revisit in the coming months. So if you want a page-turning, can't put it down, kind of read...pick up Shutter Island. I did end up seeing this movie and was quite pleased with the interpretation. Scorsese truly captured the eerie feel of the island and it's inhabitants. Great casting, although I don't know if DiCaprio really pulled off Daniel's dark side very well. I still enjoyed the book better, with all it's details and character development. The Chuck character was so witty in the book, and I felt that it was left out of Ruffalo's character. Also, the ending of the movie was a bit more ambiguous than the ending of the book. Not sure if I liked or disliked that, but I did have to reread the last chapter of the book to make sure I didn't miss something! Overall, great flick and a better book!



She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb

This book was chosen for this month's book club and I really didn't know much about it when I picked it up. It's the story of Dolores Price, and her evolution from child, to teen, to woman. Dolores experiences hurt and pain, love and pleasure and isn't sure which is which sometimes. The first part of the book is her struggle with weight gain, lack of social acceptance, loss of innocence, and medication by TV. The second part of the book felt like a different story. She desperately tries to create a new life, which both works and backfires. Yet the end is satisfying. The story has hard to read at times, as you so did not want Dolores to feel the way she did. Or at times I wanted to shake her and point out a different life she could have. I loved/hated this character. Because Lamb wrote this in a first person narrative, it's easy to get immersed in the character. But Dolores is NOTHING like me, so it was hard to read someone whom I was so invested in and then disagree with every decision she makes. While I loved the book for how it was written, the detail, the character development, and whatnot, I did struggle with the story itself. I don't think I liked the actual story. It's very depressing, but thankfully has a “redeeming” ending which allows me to not hate the book entirely. It's the same mixed emotions you have when watching a movie that you cry the entire time but love in the end. After pondering this book for a day or so, I finally discovered why it didn't sit well with me. I really struggled reading a story so intimately of someone who faced such hardships without God. It made her story even harder to bear, knowing there was no anchor of peace or control in her life. Dolores had nothing to put her hope in, but herself, and it was no wonder she went off the deep end...literally. I would recommend this book to psychology or counseling majors, as it really delves in the world of mental health. The book's title comes from the 1960's band The Guess Who's song “Undun”, which lyrically fits the book well and sits well with the 1950's – 1980's setting of story.



The Year of Living Biblically by A.J. Jacobs

I was very excited to read this book. It's the account of the author, A.J. Jacobs, who decided for a year he would follow all the laws in the Bible. As a Christian, I know this is no easy task. But Jacobs was agnostic. Born Jewish, he considers himself as Jewish as the Olive Garden is Italian, so not really. He set out to discover how religion changes people's lives. He wanted to see what he missed out on growing up without religion. He spent 9 months following the ancient Jewish rules...wear garments of white, stone adulterers, don't touch women, don't shave the beard, don't wear clothes of mixed fibers, and the Ten Commandments and more. He only spent 3 months following the New Testament laws. It seemed a little lopsided to me. I know the Old Testament is longer than the New Testament, and much of the Old Testament is laws, but I felt he should have given more time to the New Testament. He found freedom in the customs and rituals of God, but fear in the relationship with God. To his credit, he definitely did his research, and truly sought out experts on many different facets of faith. Jacobs spent time with the Amish, with the Orthodox Jews, with Jerry Falwell's church, with the Red Letter Christians, and with snake handlers in Tennessee. I appreciated his outsider looking in point of view on the Scripture. But as a believer, I can't help but feel he only paid lip service to my faith. By not having a conversion experience, he missed out on the glory of the Bible. Maybe he lives his life with more thanksgiving and lying less, but is that the point of God's Word? I'm glad I read the book, Jacobs is a very witty writer and I loved trying to visual him in his white shepherd's robe walking through Times Square and carrying his portable seat as not to accidentally sit where an “unclean” woman has sat. It made me think about the Bible's impact on my own life, and how much does it effect my day to day living. But I couldn't help feeling sad for Jacob's in the end. To be so close to truth and to grasp it, but not hold onto it and let it truly transform him...more than a beard ever could.



Rules of Prey by John Sandford

I have a book weakness, a genre that I will return to over and over again because it just entertains me. It's the procedural murder mystery. I'm a junkie for a good Michael Connelly or Douglas Preston/Lincoln Child book. Especially ones with reoccurring characters...like Connelly's Detective Bosch or Preston/Child's Agent Pendergast. So when I was itching for a new murder mystery to dig into, I used the Literature Map and discovered author John Sandford and his Lucas Davenport series, a Minneapolis cop who's bit of a wild card on the force, as well as an internet role-play games creator. Rules of Prey was the first in the series, and it proved to be an interesting and engaging enough read. It's the story of a serial killer who happens to be a lawyer, and with each kill he leaves the rules by which he kills by. I was drawn to it because of my love for Dexter [Showtime series star Miami cop/serial killer] I definitely liked it, but didn't love it. These types of stories are a dime a dozen, so when I choose a series/author to commit too, good writing plays a big part in my decision. And to me, Sandford didn't cut it. His writing is littered with excessive profanity and overly detailed sexual crimes. I understand that the grotesqueness is part of the storytelling of this genre, but there is a point of overdone. At least to me. Others may not have the same complaint as I do with Sandford, but I know I might just wait to pick up number 2 in the Lucas Davenport series, because I know that there is better reading out there.



Killing Floor by Lee Child

For the second time this month I delved back into the murder mystery genre. These easy quick reads are just the right remedy when I'm feeling under the weather. I didn't want to read another new author after having failed with Sandford previously. But several Borders customers had recommended Child while I was still working there. So I took a chance. And I'm glad I did. What Lee Child did with Killing Floor reminded me why I love the procedural murder mysteries so much! It was intriguing and complex. It was non-stop, page turning action. The hero, Jack Reacher, is ex-military who finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time....smack dab in the middle of the biggest conspiracy this sleepy Georgia town had ever seen. It's a story of corruption through and through, with greed at its very core. The story is filled with twists and turns, and you're never really sure who to trust. It's Child's first Reacher novel, a character with 12 more compelling tales that follow. I will definitely be following Child & Reacher through more adventures and can't wait for the ride. Continue reading →

Perfectly Lonely

Oh, Valentine's Day. Tis the season for chocolate & hearts, red & pink, first dates and fiftieth dates. I have an appropriately themed iTunes playlist...complete with Buble, Sinatra, Connick, Mayer, Swift, and GaGa. But, if you're like me, this day is less special when spending it alone. I've done the bitter “I Hate Valentine's Day” thing, and I've shared this day with someone special as well. This year I fall somewhere in between. I heard someone talk about the holiday and she suggested that if you aren't spending it with a significant other, instead of focusing on what you don't have, focus on what you do have. So that's my plan for this year. Focus on the love I already have in my life, not the love I'm “missing”.

I got to attend a ladies luncheon with my job at A Woman's Place. It was a chance to get a little fancy and celebrate God's love with a group of women. The keynote speaker was fantastic, her testimony was just so inspiring. It was real encouraging to be around of group of women who were all there to love life, and to work towards saving lives.

That night, I spent time with friends from church, helping our dear pastor's family move into a new home. I love my Watermark family so much, and this church has meant the world to me over the past 2 years. I love the chance to lend a hand when needed, and I got to build a dresser! Or more accurately, I read the instructions to the people actually building the dresser. But that kinda counts...right?

I was able to see one of my music loves, Harry Connick, Jr. live in concert with my best friend. It was a phenomenal show! He is so incredibly talented and witty and gorgeous. I was in awe of the performance. There were times it felt like he wasn't even playing for the crowd, it was just him and his boys jamming on stage. Then apparently he'd been sick and was on some medicine that made him “loopy”, but I just thought he was hilarious! The music he sings is timeless, and I loved that he doesn't need the shock & awe of a performer to be entertaining. Just his voice and a piano were exquisite. Good music always puts me in a good mood, and I left there feeling pretty happy. I know that was a rare experience we had that night!

I saw “Valentine's Day” the movie with my mom and sister. It was an all-star cast that made for an enjoyable popcorn flick, filled with the right ups and downs of a romantic comedy. I do love that I get to spend my last year living with my family before I move overseas. My sister is a senior high school this year and this might be one of the last times we're all under one roof. Although if my sister is anything like me, she'll still be living here when she's 27 as well. Let's hope not anyway! That afternoon/evening I was able to spend with my little valentine, Preson. He is the precious almost-one-year-old son of my pastor and his wife. Since they are in moving mode, I went over to hang with P so they could move and pack without the little guy under their feet. His smile melts my heart every time and I loved spending the day with him.

My mom has always made holidays special, and this year was no exception. I woke up to a bag full of candy and trail mix [that Target Archer Farms stuff is the bomb!] and Starbucks gift card. Church is the one place I always feel loved, and that was true again today as well. It was beautiful chilly morning with heart shaped cookies and I was able to tell my friends how happy I was to see them. I got the best Valentine from a great friend who knows me all too well....Twilight's Jasper candy hearts! That night I had a “galentine's” evening out, as Amy Poheler would say. What's more fun than sushi and movie with a bunch of single girls on Valentine's Day?? Well, I'm sure there's plenty of things, but I had a great time and it capped off the eventful, love filled weekend I had very well.

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Goobye 2009, Hello 2010.

Since I am blogging this year, I thought it would be a good place to be reflective. 2009 was an interesting year to say the least! I think it was the first full year that I lived on my own, which is exciting. I had the same job for the whole year, which is unique as well. I started out living with dear friends who moved away early in 2009, which left me without a home and sad. But my new place worked out well and my new roommate was great. As the pop culture aficionado that I claim to be, I read a whole lot of new books [Harry Potter...finally!], watched a crazy amount of TV [still reeling from seasons of Mad Men and Dexter], and even more crazy amount of movies. I decided to count all the movies I watched in 2009, and the grand total was....98! [My top 3 films in case you care: Up, 500 Days of Summer, and Sherlock Holmes.] I got much more involved in my church and have really started to find some deep & meaningful relationships there. Biggest purchase of 2009 would be a tie between the iPod touch and my Kindle. Best concert of the year would hands down be Ray Lamontagne. I have loved him for years now, and to finally see him live...so exciting! Another unique 2009 experience was the film festivals I was part of. I volunteered with the Gasparilla FilmFestival, which is one of Tampa's larger film festivals. And then I was on the board for Motion Film Festival, which was a brand new festival featuring short films from around the country. I really enjoyed that experience. I even got to create some art and display it at a local art show! I was able to witness weddings & births, and love, both new and old. Probably the most exciting part of 2009 was Cambodia. I remember at Christmas 2008, I was talking with a good friend about our lives and the direction they were headed. He reminded me about my dreams of Cambodia and what I wanted to do there. So it was then that I researching the trip. Wasn't long before I found it, and even sooner that I was there. I knew it would change my life, and it did. It has altered 2010 and the rest of my life. The majority of 2010 will be spent saving money, fundraising more money, living with my parents, and saying goodbye to friends. I will begin training in 2010 and once again, travel overseas. So as I say goodbye to 2009, I am grateful for the experiences, but am really excited for 2010. A few resolutions...to read 50 books this year, to pay off my credit card, to pay off my car, to finally get in shape, and to continue to grow in my relationship with God. I can't wait to see what happens!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!! Continue reading →

Festive Films!

I am admittedly a movie snob. I think there are a lot of great films out there which allow me not to have to sit through a bad movie. And I feel the exact same way about Christmas movies! I feel compelled to share with you The Top 4 Christmas Movies According to Joy [and why]. So enjoy!

1. White Christmas
This movie is a classic. Singing! Dancing! Bing Crosby! Snow! My mom and I watch it every year, and the past few years, we've been going down the Tampa Theatre to catch their showing of it. It's even better on the big screen. In case you've lived under a hole for 50 years, and somehow missed this gem, here's a recap. It stars army buddies/entertaining duo Wallace & Davis [Bing Crosby & Danny Kaye] who are taking their act on the road. It's on the road they meet the ever-so-lovely showstopping Haynes sisters [Vera Ellen & Rosemary Clooney]. Smitten, Davis convinces Wallace to follow the girls to Vermont for some fun in the snow. To their dismay, Vermont is a bit greener than they had hoped, but determined to make the best of a bad situation, they check into the gorgeous mountain inn the Haynes sisters were booked to perform. It happens to be ran by none other than Wallace & Davis' former Army General, a man they had great respect for. Seeing him in a state of retirement, the guys decide to give him one heck of a retirement party! Cue the singing and dancing! There's love and romance, and toe-tapping fun!



2. Elf
I know, it's Will Ferrell. I'm even shocked I love this one! But Will Ferrell as Buddy the Elf makes for one great holiday movie experience! Buddy, a human, was raised by elves, and soon(ish) realizes he's not like the other elves. Like a man on a mission, Buddy sets off for the magical land of New York City to find his long lost dad. But things in the Big Apple aren't quite like the North Pole, and Buddy finds himself in some laugh out loud situations. His cheery disposition doesn't sit well with everyone, but he does finally find his family and a girl of his own. It's funny, it's touching, it's...well...one of the greatest things I've ever seen



3. Love Actually
This British holiday love story weaves the lives of 16 different characters in the weeks leading up until Christmas. Some are finding love, some are losing love. Some don't want love, some are trying desperately to find it. As fading rocker Billy Mack tries so hard to have the number 1 Christmas single, this beautiful story unfolds and we discover that love actually is all around.



4. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
Dysfunctional families? Check. Dead pets? Check. Unwanted Rodents? Check. Kidnapping? Check. The most memorable Christmas movie ever? Check. In yet another tale of Clark Griswold's hopes to create the perfect family memories, things go disastrously wrong. Uninvited relatives, a scrooge of a boss, and Christmas lights galore come together to make a memorable and quotable movie experience.



So there ya have it! The Top 4 Christmas Movies According to Joy. Some honorable mentions: It's A Wonderful Life, Home Alone, and Serendipity (in my head it's a Christmas movie!).

What are your favorites? Continue reading →

A Travelogue of Dangerous Moviegoing

f you've ever held a 5 minute conversation with me, you know I love movies. Drama, comedy, romance, action, documentary….they're all great! And growing up in a Christian environment, I was taught that movies were worldly and movies were bad. So I was always confused. There were some truly great movies out there. But they didn't talk about God. And usually ones that did talk about God were cheesy. Was I supposed to love those anyway? It seemed like somebody was ripping God off, giving him the crappy seconds of our artistic, story-telling talent. I thought for so long, Am I alone? Can I be the only Christian who enjoys good movies? Is something wrong with my walk with God? This past month I realized that overwhelming, no, I am not alone. I just finished reading Jeffrey Overstreet's book Through A Scanner Darkly: Looking Closer at Beauty, Truth, and Evil in the Movies. Not only was it a great book, I also felt he had somehow gotten inside of my head for awhile, and wrote about what I loved, thought or feared.

I knew as soon as I read the opening quote by Frederick Buechner I was going to love this book. "The world speaks of the holy in the only language it knows, which is a worldly language." WOW! And then, Overstreet challenged me in the first chapter with "Art needs time to settle in our minds and hearts so that the process of contemplation, discussion and ongoing exploration can open up possibilities that never occurred to us in the theater". There are several times that I've watched a movie and couldn't even give an opinion until after I had mulled it over, thought through its plot, its characters, and its themes.

Overstreet devotes the first section of the book to how we watch movies, and recognizing what movies had a significant impact on our lives. "It's possible we will glimpse the glow of glory, truth that cannot be reduced to a simple paraphrase glimmering through a screen darkly." We all watch movies for different reasons…to be entertained, to be educated, to escape, or even to live vicariously (trust me, every time I watch Center Stage, I live vicariously!) But occasionally we get more than we bargained for, and more than we expected. We get a glimpse into a reality we didn't realize about ourselves or mankind or God, and it's powerful.

Overstreet had a great analogy on watching film. It's a little long, but so worth it! He calls it a "feast of movies". He equates movie watching habits to eating habits, something we all are familiar with. There is the child movie watcher, grabbing whatever passes by with no thought to harm, only to have someone reach out and take it from him until he's ready. Things that were tough are digest are replaced with easy, manageable portions. Then there's the reactionary diner. This type of viewer labels everything by just sampling. If one bite is too spicy, the entire dish is ruined. This viewer writes off an entire film because the opening burst of violence. Then you have the casual diner. This viewer is aware of reviews and previews, and in attempt to satisfy new hungers, he goes after what he wants when he wants it. This often leads to the road of the glutton. Consume, consume, consume. Quantity not quality. A literal walking Blockbuster. If living in this space too long, it can lead to becoming an addict, and no addiction is ever healthy. Viewers also suffer from cinematic allergies, by avoiding films of certain subjects. When 9/11 movies started coming in, several people debated whether it was too soon to release a film dramatizing it or not. Being a rape victim may steer you away from a storyline of sexual assault. Viewers that are seduced by nudity, clothing, product placement, or materialism live here. Overstreet relates this to food quite well. "If your friend has a peanut allergy, don't serve him a peanut butter sandwich. At the same time, don't protest the stores that sell peanut butter….The goal should be growth and strength, not mere safety." By watching movies in fear, you risk becoming phobic. It's easy to look at the ungodliness in movies and be afraid it will corrupt us as Christians. But as the Word states "Solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to know good from evil" (Hebrews 15:4) and "Everything is permissible to me - but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible for me - but I will not be mastered by anything." (I Corinthians 6:12) Learning how to listen to your conscience and develop your artistic discernment will allow you view without fear, and move into the healthy stage of movie watching, the nutritionist. Like being able to eat a balanced diet, it's just as much a necessity to watch movies with a balanced diet. In learning the difference between "Sofia Coppola's sauces, the exquisite wines of Eric Rohmer and the finer points of Martin Scoreses's pasta", comes true enjoyment and true health. "If dining at the table of movies becomes my primary focus, I am forgetting the purpose of the meal. It is served to give me strength so that I can return to my life stronger, healthier, and closer to being whole."

The book continues on with this intensity of movies and the heart of God that became such a spiritual experience for me. Overstreet recommends title after title, director after director, all the while spurring me on to my hidden dream of becoming a film critic one day! Perhaps one of my favorite thoughts in this book is this "I have a strange compulsion to sit down between Christian culture and secular culture, trying to help them understand each other - and, ultimately, God - better through a shared experience of art." And in that moment I got it. It resonated in my soul in a way I could never articulate and I am forever grateful to have found this book.

For more on Jeffrey Overstreet, see his blog: Looking Closer Continue reading →