1987

This movie was my first glimpse at the "rivalry" boys and girls were supposed to have. Funny the things the Chipmunks can teach you.




The second one is probably why to this day I love animals. It also explains why I pretended my stuffed animals were babies for so long...

Christmas is quickly approaching (8 more days) and although snow will never be seen it feels like Christmas. (Even with 70 degree weather :( Guess it isn't that bad...
Can't wait for next week and the time when the family sits down to watch this (complete w/ 1980's commercials)

(and NO kidding. This is the exact commercial that is on the old tape version!)

a night fit for fun...

...and the joy of taking pizza to the park for a last minute picnic.
...and the weather being warm enough still to do so.

after this picture i thought out loud, "wow, we might
miss these days in the very far future when a kid might arrive."
and maybe its true...

but time is something we definitely have.

"So don't wait For someone to tell you it's too late Cause these are the best days There's always something tomorrow So I say let's make the best of tonight Here comes the rest of our lives " -graham colton

On another note...
Johnny and I had a blast at our second costume party.
This is becoming quite a tradition w/ us...
in public or not in public :)

Oct. 2006:
As Jack and Kate from Lost
Wow. We were but mere children a year ago
Oct. 2007
Ha.
We went as Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash
We had even practiced the song "Jackson" and were reering to go if need be...
alas, they had no 'Jackson' on karaoke, but only "Ring of Fire"
So we sang...

Oh Ohio, place I once lived....

Place I will always miss...

Gathering Leaves
by Robert Frost

Spades take up leaves
No better than spoons,
And bags full of leaves
Are light as balloons.

I make a great noise
Of rustling all day
Like rabbit and deer
Running away.

But the mountains I raise
Elude my embrace,
Flowing over my arms
And into my face.

I may load and unload
Again and again
Till I fill the whole shed,
And what have I then?

Next to nothing for weight,
And since they grew duller
From contact with earth,
Next to nothing for color.

Next to nothing for use.
But a crop is a crop,
And who's to say where
The harvest shall stop?

//
We traveled East for my brother Andy's wedding.
It was beautiful.She came down the isle to "Wildflowers" by Tom Petty.
We visited with cousins,
...saw a childhood friend, Holly
Ate at Coney Island,
and drove by the house I spent my childhood in,
It was one of the best visits I've ever had. We walked around our old neighborhood. Holly and I told our men about the adventures we had there and how things had changed.
It's normally weird to return to a place that hold so many great memories, but this time it was more like seeing a picture of a place that holds so much meaning and being able to enjoy it all over again.

bit of movie trivia...

It's been a while since I've seen "All Dogs Go to Heaven." In fact, probably about fifteen years, but somehow I still remembered the song that the little girl sang during the movie. Weird, how childhood memories like that never seem to go away.

As great as watching the movie was I was really disturbed to find out whatever happened to the voice of little Anne Marie...apparently she was shot when she was ten by her crazy dad and then he set the house on fire. Crazy. It was interesting to put a name with a face that I had grown up with...


Judith Barsi also played the voice of Ducky


Here is a bit of weirdness to go with it...the voice of Little Foot was Gabriel Damon Most of us know him as Spot from Newsies....

Well looky where he is now...
kinda gross just to be honest.

ok, I'm done.

Last week I was reminded that I haven't blogged in a very, very long time. I think a lot has happened in the last year, but there has not been a lack inspiration. No, no, dear friends. If anything there has been a TON of inspiration....I'm married to a writer after all...so here we go. It's been a while.

I traveled north to Seattle last week...
While I was there I had a magical time visiting old friends,

Made a new one,

And visited one of THE most beautiful places on earth....

I still missed this guy a bit...

(he got this black eye from when I accidentally whacked him w/ my elbow. woops.)

I love when the seasons change. Granted, I live in Phoenix so the changes are hardly visible, but where they do change is where my heart longs to be. I like the way the leaves fall and the snow packs and slushes. The way the trees bloom and everything feels lighter. I love the summer nights when you can feel the heat from the cement and the way fireflies dance around you. I like these changes and that is probably all I like of change.

A lot of change is going on and like every other time change happens I start to freak out. I wish it didn't make me squirm like a toddler in an airplane, but it does.
I guess there's a saying for this,

"obla di obla da." life goes on.

Save the date. We'd love to see you. It's comin' just around the corner. (and just barely. only 73 days left)

Life these days mostly consist of work, planning, house renovations, talking, laughing, driving, long phone conversations with distant friends, bridesmaids measurements, visa invitation letter, music brain storming, asking for help, practicing, sharing, growing, being tired, eating pizza rolls, painting bathrooms and making websites. It's one of the most fun times in my entire life.

WIsh you were all here to share in the craziness!

It's all happening!!!!!!!!!!

Well. It happened. I am officially engaged and will wed this incredible side kick and love. It was one of the most amazing and romantic times in my entire life (well, probably THE most, actually. Since I've never been proposed to before) and the Journey that the Lord has for us will be the biggest adventure of my life.

The wedding is June 2nd in the evening...I'd love to see so many of you there.

And we all know...to live, is an awfully big adventure.

"Michigan seems like a dream to me now..."

"...it took me four days to hitch hike from Saginaw."


That's right, I was so close to Saginaw I could smell it. And I could see how it would take four days to hitch hike through it. It was beautiful. It captured an essence of freedom I hadn't felt in a while. Somewhere in the midst of Michigan, I found a side of the man, whom I love greatly, that he hadn't been able to show me. It was this nature that couldn't break free because of careers, mortgage payments, sinus infections, and busy cities, but there...I saw it. It was like this whole other relationship was illuminated, one that couldn't have been illuminated, perhaps, if we hadn't traveled to Michigan. We visited his family and played with his nephews and nieces and took late night tours around his tiny hometown. I believe he showed me every, single inch of that city and it was like opening a gift every second of it. I saw his entire childhood in his gaze as he reminisced about different things and watched his heart soften. I could see his mischievous character when he was in grade school, the class clown and show off. I saw his relationship with his siblings and parents and the genuine love that filled his childhood home. Oh, and you better believe we had some great music to drive around to. It was...kind of pretty much like ...magic.

Life has been flying by and I can barely reach the coat tails that swing behind. It's an exciting adventure, of course. It's been a blessing...a long journey that Jesus has been so consistant in leading me through. I haven't written on here for a long time, but I figure it might be worth updating.

Someday, I wanna take the Greyhound from Pittsburgh and hitchhike through Michigan. And laugh on the bus. And play games with the faces.

"...I said, "be careful his bowtie is really a camera."

This is one of my favorite Christmas memories.

It's been way too long since I updated this. My apologies. But man, these past few months have flown. So much has happened. But just enjoy the movie :)

Merry Christmas!!!!!

CHRONICLING EVENTS AND EXPERIENCES
OF THE LAST FEW DAYS…

Sometimes you hear...things that settle deeper than most things. For some, this happens often. Probably because they look for them. These quotes sort of just fell into my lap in these last few days. Fell isn't really the right word. Were Placed sounds better. Well, that and a ton of great music.

Just a bit thought provoking...
"Something changed inside me broke wide open all spilled out ...till I had no doubt that something changed Never would have believed it till I felt it in my own heart in the deepest part the healing came..." -Sara Groves


"And while we yet were sinners, Christ died for us. He did not leave us alone. He stepped into our condition to bring us back to God. To bring us back to what was intended. The divine, bearing all of depravity. The most horrific of collisions. The most tragic and beautiful. The breaking is glorious and loud. We have won. It might not feel like it. You might not see it just yet. But the reality of our situation is that rescue is present. Every second of life is spent in the very presence of God. There is not a second of human history that he has not been present. Majesty is here. And it is coming. Finally. Just be quiet. And wait."- David Crowder


"I used to think discipline and self-control was a natural by-product of a supernatural holiness and revival. but now I see that lack of self-discipline is keeping my holiness (which I already have in Jesus) from controlling my life and coming to the surface. This is a brand-new view, and I believe I've isolated the enemy's greatest stronghold in my life at this time... Discipline is not holiness--nor the way to holiness--it just helps you maintain it."
(Keith Green, 1980)


life is good. God is glorious.

Season 3 in 26 Days

YOU KNOW YOUR ADDICTED TO LOST WHEN

- you are glad your weekend is over because LOST is on in three days

- you recruit new viewers as if it was your job

- your at the beach and it's time to leave but the cars a long walk and you say, "Lets just build a raft out of some trees nearby."

- you see smoke in the sky and you scream, "THE OTHERS ARE COMING!"

- you refuse to watch anything with Michelle Rodriguez in it because you're:
a. upset at her for killing Shannon
b. upset at her for being a bitch to Sayid
c. upset at her for sleeping with Sawyer
d. upset at her for getting Libby in a drunk driving scandal forcing the producers to kill them off.

- your answering machine says "sorry I can't come to the phone, I'm either in school, working, or watching lost"

- something scary happens and you count, "1...2...3...4...5"

- you think Sawyer's glasses rock...and you wouldn't mind owning a pair just like them

- teddy bears are now totally creepy and sweat spots are cool

- The season two release, and the season premier is: In your calendar, daily planner, and cell phone.

- 4 8 15 16 23 42 is a password for something.

- You consider the people you don't know in your school "the others"

- you buy the soundtrack

- You drop $60.00 on the DVD when you watched every show for free on your T.V.

- "You All Everybody" is your ringtone

- Someone gets smart with you, you start waiving your hands and go, "Whatever you say MR. Locke, Why don't you go on a Walkabout!"

- Someone says you can't do something you immediately think and say out loud "Don't Tell Me What I Can't Do!!!!"

- Someone doesn't like the Food your cooking you reply, "sure beats the sea urchin from Jin, I mean when was the last time we had some bore meat."

- Someone says the baby, you get that Claire accent and repeat The BABY.

- You've run out of snacks so you eat imaginary peanut butter.

- You get on a plane and almost wish it would crash so you can make rafts and huts and awesome adventures.

- Winning the lottery suddenly doesn't sound so good.

- you have the cable guy on speed dial - just in case it gets fuzzy while you're watching...and he recognizes your voice

- people who hear you talk about the characters think they are people you know (non-Lost watchers)

- you instantly feel a close connection with anyone who knows who Eko is

- you're still trying to figure out how anna lucia got a dui since she's dead

- you're sure they make it off the island because you've seen them in magazines (can't separate reality from the show)

- you've pee'd your pants because you can't miss one second of that hour

- you yell at anyone who come into your room while you're watching LOST

- you read about John Locke for history class and immediately picture him as a bald guy who hunts boar!

- You see the pilot episode (again) and sigh... they were so young and naive...

This post is much delayed. I should have done it the day I saw this film. Funnily enough, however...I am not surprised that I saw a post on three other people's blogs before I got around to finally doing this

...Let me start with the music:
It's delightful..like a piece of everything someone could want in something they enjoy. Devotchka is ridiculously talented. The music kept the story flowing even when they were silently driving and adding a bit of Sufjan in there was a brilliant idea. I love the line in Chicago when it says, "I drove to New York in a van, with my friend. We slept in parking lots...I don't mind, I don't mind. I was in love with a place, in my mind...in my mind." Oh silly Sufjan. (he could come to our Christmas party as well, Kate :) The rest of the music was beautiful. I especially enjoyed the song that played during/after the credits.

Next..the story line...what beauty, simplicity, complexity, brokeness, and humaness all at the same time. I loved it. I thought the character growth was brilliant and the family was so dynamic (like most families are, let's just admit..)

oh, yeah, i'd totally see it again. It's even a good movie to see by yourself. kind of like bon said...when you see it you wish you could stick every single person that is important to you in the theater with you and watch this movie bring them the same kind of joy that it brought you.

The Word from Ukraine...

Last night I was reading through the journal I wrote while I was in Ukraine. While doing that I decided three things.

1. I think too much.
2. I think too much.
3. I felt a lot of things then that I almost forgot, but should always remember.

//One of the entries went like this..
Dec. 14 2005..
I want to trust You, never doubt.
I want to love You, never ceasing.
I want to please You, but not through works.
I want to worship You, but not for all others to see.
I want to serve You, but not for my benefit.
I just want to praise You.
I just want to learn I can't lose Your love and that it is unending.

It's one of those things that one might pray about and then later forget you asked for. He's beginning to unveil it. And it's beautiful.

On a slightly lighter note, I got an email from Andrey (for your Bible schoolers) and it went a bit like this..

Greetings Melanie.
Now I can communicate with you through the Internet because have connected
it to the computer. I'm fine. The wife and the daughter feel like perfectly.
I have finished the first rate of university and have passed on the second.
Write to me I wait for news from you.

I love how Russian translates into English.

It's 83 degrees in Phoenix! Up the ladder with another platter, it's boss!

Another fun-filled evening on the telly with my crony Rachel. We talked of almost everything (as we do most late nights) and that particular night there was a thunderstorm outside of my window. Two hours into my future Rachel was at her home in Kansas mulling over her evening and thinking outloud. I love it when we can do that.

The lights were off in my room and my window was open. The lightning danced in front of me and I began to doze off. In the middle of a sentence I heard myself say words I didn't mean to say,

"They just need clean up their toys, they should just clean up their toys." As soon as I had said it we both stopped talking and Rachel said with a grin. I really should leave work at work.

"What did you just say?" We both burst into hysteric fits of laughter.

"That's it, you can never make fun of me for falling asleep on the phone because you...you just SPOKE in your sleep on the phone...about nothing subject related!" She said through her audible laughter.

I laughed too, turned on my light and said goodnight to my thunderstorm.

I miss my pal. Rachel, come to visit soon please.

Time between Christmas and my Birthday

I decided this music video was share-able just because this lady has caught my listening ears. Spiro, I remember when you asked me if I knew her while I was in Ukraine...I didn't fully understand that question until I realized she was from Russia....ooooh...

I remember when the most important part of my year was the short time span between Christmas and my birthday. When I was a kid it was like the time between meshed together. Those two days of celebration were the only things that really mattered. Oh that and when I was going to go on vacation to visit my cousins. Today at work the kids were having their normal four year old conversations (burping the ABC's, who's going to beat up who and who liked girls...yeah, at four, can you imagine?) One of the girls named Samantha looked up at me and says "After my birthday its Christmas!" I smiled nostalgically at that because I recalled that same exact feeling of excitement for those two days. I nodded my head and for all I knew her birthday was in August.

Being around him is like living in the thrilling time between Christmas and my birthday...enjoying the time but looking forward to the next time. I enjoy his company just as much as I enjoyed those two days. Maybe even a little bit more.

I've lived in Phoenix for approximately two years now and so many wild changes have been thrown in my direction. Times have been hard, horrible, good, funny, crazy, and lonely. I've felt about every emotion possible in the last two years...I've felt things I never thought I would have to feel and new things I had never felt before. But that's really besides the point. When I first moved here it was hard for me to adjust to having my family in every direction I turned. I had cousins that I had missed and loved since I was a kid and now, they were surrounding me. It was weird to adjust to talking with them, seeing them and beginning to view them as friends rather than simply the family connection we shared. There are a few reasons why I love those cousins. One of them is this picture. My cousin Jason sent it to me today. I had been driving in mad havoc to get to the bank and back to work all in my lunch hour. I stopped at home to get a check and saw this in my mail box. Who does this? He brought a smile to my face, full of laughter and joy...realizing how great his humor is and how without him even realizing it, he could brighten my entire day (not like I have some crazy mad for Colin Firth or anything...but hello, look at that picture, its hilarious.)

The other is a picture of my 4th of July and the excitement you can have with just a people who share a deep similarity but all contain these wild and crazy imaginations. That was one of the funnest times of this year...and let's face it, how often do we see rain here in Phoenix? Next to never. This is our attempt (we didn't have the right resources) for a Lost picture. That's me on the far left corner with Vincent. :) Err....Indiana.

This is Abbie and I just messing around...as if we were on a deserted island or something...

Balle Balle

Gracie this one is for you...

Lostpedia

...So lately I've kind of entered into a sort of imagination-stretching experience. I started watching Lost a few months ago with my cousin and haven't really had time to stop...this show is incredible. It's really mind blowing.

I found a website that explains a lot of confusing stuff that goes on...if you haven't had a chance to dive into it and you have a free weekend I suggest you just buy the first season and go for it...give it a chance and let me know your thoughts on it.

Also and just for fun, I found this video a couple months back and I found it outright hillllarious...

Enjoy.

Kajra Re

Rachel, check this out. This is my new fun past time. Of course when Abbie and I do this it looks nothing like it, but we're learning. This is my favorite song. When Grace was here we listened to this again and again on the way to Cali and back. Thought you might enjoy it.

This Is Brilliant

For those of you that...loved Titanic when it first came out (for most of the people that read this blog, it totally applies to you) Please check this out. Whoever did this quite a good job editing in all the films, and its really hilarious...I have no idea how I came across this.
Peace.