Movie Review: Pirates III

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End

* My kids saw this movie and loved it! My oldest will be writing his first movie review later this week. Check back.

Save your money and don't waste your time. If you're dying to see it, or like pirate movies or are such a big Disney fan that you must see it (I fall into the last category) then wait for video.
Where Spiderman 3 was a 2 hour movie done in 2.5 hours, Pirates 3 was a 2 hour movie done is 3 hours!! *after picking up my kids from the movies I realized it wasn't 3 hours- but it seemed like it!

Did you fully get that. Three. Hours.

I slept a few times, just to rest my eyes- we went to the 8:30 so that meant by 10:30 we still had an hour to go, zzzzz. I can sleep in a movie and not feel guilty, afterall I don't get much uninterrupted time with my hubby!

I'm still a bit confused on the plot and am sure my kids could have come up with a better one that wasn't so confusing and random.

Pirate action was great! The swash buckling, rope swinging, sword fighting, cannon blasting, boat sinking was everything the first two were and more! So much more that it's when I chose to catch some shut-eye.

A bit of a dark side with Tia, the voodoo priestess; however it opens my eyes to the darkness of the pirate life and the dark side that currently exists in the islands as well as other places.

My favorite character from the ride made an appearance, you know the little dog with the keys ring in his mouth, Elizabeth is perhaps the greatest pirate ever; girl power on the high seas at it's best, and as crazy and off the wall as Jack Sparrow is- you just can't help but like the guy! our favorite monkey and his side kick the parrot had a larger role and make for some of the best scenes.

So all in all, I recommend you save your money and time and skip this one all together; however if you must and have the self-control wait for this one to come out on video! Your wallet will thank you.
-Michelle
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I'm Believin' God

I'm believing' God.
It's the name of the study I did last summer with a close friend.
I didn't realize then what my now would contain.
We're in a place with our business and the county that could be a set back. The news hit hard and I didn't know what to feel. I trusted God but was in a bit of a shock/confusion.

Praise God, when I got home He showed me this:
"Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you." Jeremiah 32:17
(here's verses 16-19- they're good too)

This became my mantra, then it happened. I'm not sure exactly what but it was a blow from the enemy and the next thing I know I was thinking the worst and feeling rather down. feeling. My grandmother gives me a "tsk, tsk" when I bring up how I feel. Many times my feelings are self motivated, not motivated by the Spirit but by my own inner selfish, self.

Prasie the Lord O my soul! All my inmost being praise His holy name! Psalm 103:1

Then I made up some new scripture cards, and began repeating them and praying them. I grabbed my cards and headed to a friends house. I prayed that God would turn my insides back toward Him.
You know what.
He did.
That's why I'm believin' God.
He's the healer of the broken.
The fount of Living Water.
My thirst quencher. My all.
So this whole thing with the business, God's got us covered.

I set up my stone today and name it Ebenezer, saying, "Thus far the LORD has helped us." 1 Samuel 7:12.

When I did that study on believing God, each night before we went to bed we did a "God Stop".
Savoring
the
Observable
Presence
God Stop.

Anyway, each night we had to journal, list or write how we saw God work THAT DAY in our lives! It is so much nicer when we record His goodness as it happens. It helps me to: #1. think on the whatsoevers; whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are noble,...Phil. 8:8 and #2 puts my focus on the goodness of God NOW, TODAY; He's the same yesterday, today and tomorrow- too often I forget the today part. I'm too busy whinning about today instead of enjoying it.

This is the day that the Lord had made, let us rejoice and be glad in it! Psalm 118:24 (emphasis mine)

here are a few of today's God Stops:
smooth sailing through the bank line, twice
a friends children home from the hospital and recovering nicely
a bad attitude turned good
free food
my friend's 15-month old's laughter and curiosity
kittens

-Michelle
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Last Night Ramblings

Tonight was the last night of the Monday night small group I facilitate.

Well, we're actually meeting over the summer but tonight we finished our Loving Your Husband study. The group that did this study had been together since September 2006. I'm gonna miss our little group, although I am looking forward to the new group, but this group of ladies is special. We've been through a lot these last months; and I've gotten to actually know, and make myself known to the ladies in this group.

It's hard. The whole getting to know one another.

A friend from New Hampshire recently visited and we got talking about church and religion. "Too many hypocrites and snobs" she said. That was her reason for not going to church. "Why do I want to go and be around a bunch of people who talk one way and then I see them act another. They put on the appearance of a wonderful, trouble-free life when I know it's not true"

When I hear this excuse I can't help but think about myself. I'm a regular church goer, am I a hypocrite? Webster defines hypocrite as:
1 : a person who puts on a false appearance of virtue or religion
2 : a person who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings

My first instinct is to answer yes I am a hypocrite; my actions do not always line up with my beliefs. Like when bad news comes my way and I begin to fuss and worry. I see things from my point of view, from the eyes of an earthling instead of seeing things through God's eyes and His ways. I am a hypocrite when I say I believe God and then proceed to feel hopeless. "Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you." Jeremiah 32:17. If I believe that then why would I worry or see no hope, or be convinced something can't be done? Even God said "I am the LORD, the God of mankind. Is there anything too hard for me?" Jeremiah 32:27

I also say no, I'm not a hypocrite, I'm a sinner. Period.

Perhaps it's the honesty about our sin, or the lack thereof, that makes one think the church is full of hypocrites.

No I don't think sharing all our details about our daily sins and problems is the answer but I do think honesty is.

"How are you doing"

"Fine"

no

"Good"

no

"OK"

well...

"I had a rough week,
my kids didn't listen,
my husband and I fought all week,
I got frustrated for no reason,
I yelled- a lot,
I kicked a hole in my wall,
I spiked a telephone,
I went shopping to feel better,
I ate a gallon of ice cream,
my marriage is a mess,
I picked up smoking again,
I ran to alcohol when times got tough,
I'm stressed at work...."

Those are the real answers, the non-hypocritical ones, the honest ones.

When we answer honestly people can pray for us, come along side us, help bear our burdens.

When we see people for who they are, they're not hypocrites, they're just like us, just like me. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. romans 3:23.

So take a chance and get to know each other, be honest, be open. God gave us each other to build one another up- how can we do that if we don't share our tough times, our broken down times, the times when we need to be built up?

That's what my small group has done. We've become honest, real. There's no hypocrites around these parts anymore. Come join us one week if you're in the area. We're a mess, but we've got each other and more importantly we've got Jesus and we'll point you and your mess to HIM.

So as I venture out into another study I say farewell to my Monday Night Girls who bared through this study of loving your husband, which by the way had nothing to do with our husbands and everything to do with us. It was hard for some, one even refused to write her answers in her book, but she, well we persevered.

Enjoy this photo of the gift they all gave me as a thank you. It wasn't planned out or thought through, they each dug through their purses and pulled something out last minute, but hey I love it even more because it's part of them. It's real, it's honest.

That's Nerds Rope candy, a pen, a bandaid, a lolly-pop, snickers bar and yes some dental floss and no I won't use it, the dental floss. The chocolate's in the fridge for breakfast tomorrow and the nerds rope will make a nice snack. I love a good pen and who doesn't need a bandaid?Actually the dental floss was pulled out and teased about giving it to me then put back in the purse, I wonder if she is going to use it?? Nevertheless, I had to pull some out for the photo.


-Michelle
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Mother's Day Recap, A Bit Late

So I have to tell you about Mother's Day!

My family really knows me and loves me.

First, I didn't have to cook. They know me.

Second, they took me outside, hiking. They know me.

Third, they went with me. They love me.

After church, which I skipped, we went to my favorite deli and got a delicious sandwich with chips and chocolate. Yum.

Then with the dog and boys in tow, we headed to the Ocala National Forest. Before getting there we made a stop at this state park. It was neat and free and not crowed. We hiked around and found a cool tree, climbed up the side of a cabin to see the inside and giggled 'til we almost wet ourselves. Well at least Night Owl and I did, Steve and Early Bird tend to be more serious.

We travel to the Ocala NF, but so did some bad weather, so our hiking there consisted of letting the dog out to play fetch.

On our way home we stopped by my favorite store. An outdoor one with lots of outdoor gadgets and statues and things one doesn't need but will certainly buy or dream about buying as I have done for 13 years. So we stopped there and had a blast with the yard ornaments and I picked out yet another mexican painted sink- something I 've done since we discovered the place 13 years ago.

We came home and relaxed.

My brother-in-law called and wished me a happy Mother's Day, he lived in our garage and on our sofa for some time so he has that obligation right to call me. Anyway he asked if I got breakfast in bed or a card or flowers. I said no that my family together was enough. Well, that and the fact that they put up with me.

I love my family.

They rock!

My family

Night Owl and his mama bird

very cool tree to climb on

Michelle

Overall park rating a "B". Neat for the boat ride and the one tree in the pictures. Not much to do, only a hort sandy road that leads to cabin camping- although to be honest it began to storm so we could have missed some stuff- but I doubt it.

Short and Sweet

In the car today:

Me: "He created the animals and then needed someone to watch over them, He created man."

Night Owl: "Yeh and then He saw that man needed someone to watch over him, He created women."

Me: "Amen to that!"

-Michelle
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I Chose...

We're in such a new place in life right now.
Relying on God like never before.
I like it,
and
I don't.

I like the peace, the assurance, the knowledge that no matter what I see here with my human eyes it'll be alright. God's got us covered. I like the truth in God's Word. When a situation or feeling arises and and we seek Him and His word then the situation takes on a whole new light. His light.

I don't like not knowing.
I don't like not getting my way
and
I don't like where I'm at, it's uncomfortable, it's foreign and it stinks.

But,
I accept it.
I accept it happily and with joy somedays and other days, well let's just say other days I feed my self more than I feed my spirit.

I chose to focus on the positive, on the truth and on the promises of God.
I chose to do the right thing.
I chose God.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9

-Michelle
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I Feel Spiderman's Pain

This is from my myspace blog. I prefer blogger over myspace and have used it for longer... but all my friends use myspace to blog, so I do too!
anyway...

So Lisa has commented twice on the fact that I've posted 2 locked blogs.
Here is why, I don't mind sharing, especially since I'm going to post this blog!
Basically God is really stretching my faith. Ouch, stretching hurts. Joyce Myer said once that when God takes you to a new level in your walk or faith in Him, then the devil will have to come at you in a new way, new level, new devil.
Today I was having a bit of an inner crisis, and sharing my struggle with my boys when they each spoke up in such an encouraging way. Night Owl first of all said the first chance he got "Mom I have been praying for us.".
Early Bird then points out that I was on the due date for my memorization of Psalm 103. "You have 3 verses to go int he chapter"- God's calling you to a new place in Him, satan doesn't like that.
Night Owl then assured me it's be alright, God loves us and has always been good to us. He then prayed and the rest of the day turned out nice. Well, I still had to seek God as the struggle persisted, but the battle belongs to the Lord and victory is won in Christ, so knowing that made things much better.
As we tucked them into bed we thanked God for His love and His peace, we thanked Him for the mindset to seek Him.

Here's what promoted the Psalm 103 Memorization:
A few months back I felt led to memorize more scripture, starting with Psalm 103- a whole chapter!
I originally started off with no deadline but after being challenged by our Pastor to make 4 changes over 4 weeks, 2 for the good and get rid of 2 bad. So I partnered up with another lady in my small group for accountability. One of the things I chose to do for the positive was memorize Psalm 103 by today!!
As I said the whole Psalm this afternoon and tonight to Steve, my witness; the words comforted my soul. What a perfect God we serve.
So as I face change in my life, and I don't like change, I move ahead trusting Christ. This change in faith is good change, I can do that. Cause God knows I've done it enough on my own, I pray I will rely solely on HIM.
Praise the Lord Oh my soul, all my inmost being praise His holy name.


-Michelle
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Spiderman 3 Review

Overall a good movie. I like comics, I like Spidey, so it was entertaining.

This was a 2 hour movie done in 2.5 hours.

Although there were the usual comic book-to-movie mistakes I enjoyed the storyline. The good versus evil both bond together by their enduring of hardship and both fueled by love, justice and revenge.

Peter Parker takes on the "New Goblin"/Harry Osborn to pick up from Spidey 2. In the end the two join forces to save Mary Jane, kind of lame I thought. Spidey also takes on the black suit/the battle within himself as well as Venom and the Sandman.

As in the other Spidey's I'm shocked that Mary Jane and Peter Parker stayed together all this time, their characters have no sparkle, no chemistry. After their scenes I found myself saying, what? Although MJ being a red-head has always won points with me and the nerdy Peter getting the girl puts a smile on my nerd loving face *smile*

The black suit really kept my interest. I thought it was a good illustration of our fleshly battle within each of us. We all have a black Spidey suit, our flesh that calls from it's trunk, that feeds off our fleshly desires and thrives on our self. Peter overcomes his black suit just like we can overcome our own through Christ. It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.

Venom, aside from the falsehood on how Venom came to be, was excellent. The transformation was cool- I loved the graphics, and his freaky, sharp, layered mouth was right out of the comic book! Great job on this guy, just could have seen more of him.

As for the Sandman, who was played by the same actor who played the mechanic on the old TV show Wings, I'm not exactly sure why he was terrorizing NYC? His graphics and transformation were pretty cool too. When he first came to be I couldn't help but think of how that is where we came from, the dirt and dust. I wonder how that was, the creation of man. Formed from the dust of the ground, molded by God's hands to be just so. I bet it was awesome!

Graphically this movie rock! The transformations we awesome. The Sandman's birth out of a pile of sand was so realistic, it convinced me. Then there was the black icky symbiote and it's growth into the black Spiderman suit and Venom. The movement of the symbiote reminded me of a slim session from Nickelodeon in the '80's- it really appeared to be alive.

Overall good movie- go see it! Good villains, good comic book high swing fights, not good for little eyes- head the PG-13 rating.

I recommend Spiderman 3 and give it 2 thumbs up.

Peter Parker, from Spiderman 3: "Whatever battles we have raging inside us, we always have a choice. It's the choices that make us who we are and we can always choose to do what's right."


-Michelle
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