Happy Birthday to Alex...and Me!

(So this pic is because I realized I didn't have any recent pics of Alex and I together, so it was spur-of-the-moment at  midnight. He looks great, I look like...it's been a long day, an even longer week, and it's LATE. LOL)

Happy 17th Birthday to my brother Alex! How many seven-year-olds get a baby for their birthday present? It's been so much fun sharing birthdays for the past seventeen years, and I'm so proud of the wonderful young man he's become! Happy Birthday!

(And in case you couldn't do the math above...I'm a year away from a quarter-of-a-century now. Yikes. At eight (or eighteen, for that matter) the thought of twenty-four was...really, really, really old. And when I really think about it, it feels slightly old. LOL. But it's good. Life is much, much different than I thought it would be  (I think the plans were married with at least two kids, hehe), but I wouldn't have it any other way! :))

Happy Mother's Day

 

Mom and I, 1992

Before I took a breath,

 Before I took a step 

Unnumbered prayers were spoken-- 

Were spoken just for me. 

And as I rested peacefully 

There in your loving arms, 

You dreamed of what my future would bring 

And what tomorrow would bring.

My childhood days are gone, 

And time keeps moving on. 

It seems as though the months, the years 

Quickly slip away. 

The life of faith you offered, 

Examples of God's love, 

Is the life I long to share 

With my children someday.

You watched me as each tiny step grew stronger, 

You guided me through choices I would make. 

And though I didn't know the road that I would walk, 

Your prayers would always light the path I take. 

Your arms reached down to lift me when I'd fallen, 

Your arms would hold me when I felt afraid. 

Your eyes could see right through the dark and stormy clouds 

And point me to a brighter day. 

Your steps would set the path that I would follow, 

Your words of hope my broken dreams could mend. 

Your heart of love would always show me Jesus, 

But it was your life that led me to Him. 

("It Was Your Life")

"Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates."--Proverbs 31:28-31

 Happy Mother's Day to the best mother in the world! Thank you so much for all you've done and all you continue to do for us every day! I love you!

Childhood Memories Tag

So I won't even go into the whole "I've been busy" thing. Just figure that if I'm not on here, I'm insanely busy. ;) HOWEVER. I really wanted to do this tag from Hayden's blog, soooo...here it is!

First: name 5 childhood memories that bring a smile to your face.

1.  1997-1999. We moved to North Carolina so my dad could attend Bible college and lived on a street where all the families were going to the same Bible college, right next to a trailer park where all the families were going to the same Bible college. It was like a 50's TV show...thirty-odd kids playing outside together every day, making forts, playing Cowboys and Indians, playing in the woods and the creek behind our house...the most idyllic childhood EVER.
2.  The Beanie Baby games my siblings and I did. During the height of the craze, we must have collected several hundred between my three brothers and I, and we'd spread them all out in our den and made several-day-long stories of this community of Beanie Babies. 
3.  When I was in a church play when I was nine. I was certain it was the start of a long, illustrious career on the stage. Hehe.
4. The time the neighbor boy rescued me from the rooster that was attacking me. It was flying at me, pecking and being really scary while I was screaming for help, when I heard "Hold on, I'm coming!" and the neighbor boy came bounding over the fence and threw the offending rooster back into its coop. In my nine-year-old mind, it was a literal knight in shining armor moment, and that started my seven-year-crush. :)
5. The games we played on our first computer when I was...five or so. Reaaaaaally simply by today's standards, but we loved them. :)

Now: answer the questions.

1. Was there a particular game that you played with your siblings all the time?

An orphanage game we made up with a mean "orphanage lady" that involved escapes from the orphanage, each time very different. Being that no one wanted to be the matron, we all grew very experienced in the art of acting against and talking to invisible people. I'm ready for acting against green screen, people. I'm experienced. ;) Now that I think about it, all our stories were about orphans...it was just so much easier than having parents to worry about...you could go across the world and do all sorts of stuff without worrying about asking first or getting home in time for dinner. 

2. Did you have a special toy/item that you dragged around everywhere you went?

Books. I've always had a book with me since I first learned to read. That's why I love huuuuge purses. But yes, I always had a book on me.

3. What was a movie/ TV show that you were obsessed with as a child?

Cinderella and other Disney stuff early on, and those 90's shows like Lamb Chops and Barney and Mr. Rodgers and what-not. We went through a phase of no TV/very limited movies for a while in my later childhood through my early teens, although Davy Crockett was a favorite with all the kids on the block. Anne of Green Gables was one I was obsessed with my entire life. 

4. Did you have an imaginary friend?

A whole world of them. Still do, to be honest. ;)

5. What did you want to be when you grew up?

This question was on a paper at Sunday School when I was four, and I confidently wrote that I wanted to be  "a Hollywood star". It was my (not so) secret dream all through my childhood, though I loved writing as well. Blame it on parents who both were involved in theater and growing up on Anne Shirley and Jo March, writers who wanted to be actresses. 

6. Who was president when you were born?

Um...George Bush. The first. 

7. Any song associated with your childhood?

My dad made up a song he called "Ally-Oop" that was about me...and my mom used to sing "You are my Sunshine". And "I Wanna Cancel Christmas", because it was my big solo. :)

8. Something that scared you as a child?

 
This guy. Blind Pew from Muppet Treasure Island. Worst childhood nightmare. We had a fan in the hallway outside my bedroom and the pull thingies would click together when it was running just like the taps when he's approaching the inn. I lived in terror every time that the door would fly open and there he'd be. And now he's one of my favorite characters in the film. Funny how that changes. Other runner-ups were the Child Catcher in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Ursula in The Little Mermaid (one of my favorite villainesses now!), the Siamese Cats from Lady and the Tramp, Kaa in The Jungle Book and probably the most bizarre of all, Maa from Babe.

9. What’s the food that you like now but back then just wouldn’t eat?

Broccoli. Celery. Most vegetables, really. Most fish and seafood (silly me). I love anything now and was a bit of a picky eater then...so ya know. 

10. Was there any Christmas or birthday gift that you really, really wanted and went crazy about?
My American Girl doll Felicity. The first of four I would eventually get...the other three I saved for, haha. But I was absolutely crazy about her. I was six. I don't really recommend six-year-olds get American Girl dolls unless they're really careful six-year-olds, though. I still have her, huge bald spots, loose head and missing arm nonetheless. :) And I had her books, which I was crazy about. AG was definitely my absolute biggest childhood obsession. :)

TSP1982 Trailer!!!

So Acorn Media is releasing The Scarlet Pimpernel on DVD again...hurrah! Those of us who love the movie rejoice because it means no more pirated Chinese copies! An actual DVD that doesn't cost $60 or more! Circulation! Being able to recommend it to our friends and actually be able to find a copy!

Anyway. I posted more about it here, including where to find it...so anyway. BUT! Today they released the trailer!!! And it's awesome! I'm so happy!!!!

Enjoy....

He's Very Real to Me, as Real as Life Itself...

So last year during her Hero Week, Anne-girl declared that April 27th was officially to be Sir Percy Blakeney day from now on. Thanks to Eowyn for remembering - to my shame, I almost forgot! :)

 

Unfortunately today is a very busy day (recital tonight...), so I don't have the time I'd like to pay tribute to my favorite, but really, what have I not said? :) Ever since I first laid eyes on Anthony Andrews' impeccable take on the character, he has been #1 on my list of heroes. I've blogged on the deep, dark reasons why he is my favorite, I've repeated over and over just how heroic and awesome he is, I've gushed about the incredible passionate romance between him and his wife, and why I don't have any qualms about the fact that he's slightly influenced the way I look at men. ;) It's been seven years, and still, despite the many other great heroes I've "met" and fangirled over, none (no, not even The Doctor ;)) can match up to my rabid adoration for Sir Percy Blakeney. All it takes is watching the film or reading one of the TSP books for me to get all swoony again. :)

All thanks to Baroness Orczy for her absolute genius in creating the greatest hero to ever tread the pages of literature. As trivial as it is in  the big picture of life, a large part of who I am wouldn't exist without it. (Visions of a It's a Wonderful Life-esque "What your life would be like without Percy" sequence going through my head...)

So to celebrate, here's a video, showing all the total epicness that is Sir Percy, set to one of the most epic songs in the musical version. :)

Marguerite bowed her head in silence. There was nothing more she could say, no plea that she could urge. Indeed, she had understood, as he had begged her to understand. She understood that long ago he had mapped out the course of his life, and now that the course happened to lead up to a Calvary of humiliation and suffering he was not likely to turn back, even though, on the summit, death was all ready waiting and beckoning with no uncertain hand; not until he could murmur, in the wake of the great and divine sacrifice, the sublime words, “It is accomplished.” - El Dorado: The Further Adventures of The Scarlet Pimpernel

I'm Alive, I'm Alive, I Am So Alive and Tagged!

Hello, darlingettes! I'm still very here, just very busy. :) The vlog is recorded and I'm editing the video between the busy bits of life, which is why it isn't up yet. And I got strep throat last week while at my grandma's and so spent a week quarantined there without internet. :)

But until theeeeennnnn...I was tagged by Bella Rose, so I thought I'd do that to tide you over. :)

1. Phantom of the Opera or Les Miserables?
Weeeeell......for a while Phantom was definitely my favorite. And it still is. But after seeing the film version of Les Mis...well...it may just be tied. Because it just reminds one of why it is so completely epic. It brought a whole new layer to the story that just made it even more incredible to me. And my favorite character was finally done to complete tragic perfection. So it's tied. :)

2. Have you ever climbed trees in a skirt?
Hmmm...looooong time ago.

3. Did you ever own play handcuffs - and put them to good use?
My brothers did long ago. I used to chain annoying brothers to the dining room table. That was about it.

4. When was the last time you went swimming in the snow?
It's been a few years since I intentionally went out to play in the snow. Horrid, I know.

5. Did you ever make your own bows and arrows?
Yup. Many moons ago. ;)

6. Were the witches in your childhood games ever good witches?
Always bad. Always.

7. Did you ever create a fantasy world into which you could escape?
Oh my gosh, always. It wasn't "fantasy" in the traditional sense of the word (it was in the U.S. ;)), but I've always had a "dream world" going. :)

8. Do you dream in color or black and white?
Color.

9. Cake or pie?
Depends.

10. Are you a) 'early to bed early to rise' b) 'late to bed, late to rise' c) Late to bed early to rise.
Late to bed late to rise is ideal...but my life is usually late to bed, early to rise. :)

11. When you hear the word "magnificent" what's the first thing you think?
Said in a French accent. ;)

Herein is Love

"When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost." John 19:30

"In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." 1 John 4:9-10