Proposed future development..

My dad is always talking about what technical advances to the human body we will have in the future and I thought I'd propose one. I would like to get equipped with a device that would project music from me according to my emotions, like a person in a movie. When I am sad, a sad theme song would play. When I am feeling crazy, maybe a rock or techno song...you get the picture. So if anyone out there in the void of blogging is considering creating this technology, you have my vote.

Husbands Birthday

We had a birthday party for my husband yesterday. We had a lot of fun. We had some old friends come that we haven't seen in years, so it was nice to get reacquainted with them and see their kids. We also had family from both sides there, which is always interesting. 

After eating and hanging out awhile, we played guys against girls Pictionary, losers clean up, to get everyone in the party mood. It was a lot of fun. Surprisingly, both my girls were great guessers! My oldest (8), even guessed pelican off of a drawing that looked...well, maybe like a starfish throwing up. When she said, "Pelican!" and the drawer, not naming names, said, "Yes! Pelican!" we lost it. 

After Pictionary, the girls cleaned up (having lost) while everyone took potty breaks, had some cake, and got drinks. We set up the stage and I changed for the interpretive dance my mother and I had planned. The title was, "The Sniffles, narrated by (My Mom)". We both sat on chairs next to each other and I curled up into a ball on mine. Slowly I let my leg start dropping down, then my mom sniffed in (using the microphone for emphasis) and I pulled my leg up. We continued with this, me pulling my leg up subtly with small sniffs and fast and dramatically with deep determined sniffs. Some people, like my sister and brother in law, got it right away, and were laughing. Some people were just waiting for something to happen, probably thinking we were off our rocker. Just before we ended with our big sneeze, my husband told the other half of the people that I was the snot, and then they laughed. My mom sneezed and I flew off the chair for the big finale. 

Then we played some improv. games and told embarrassing stories. By that time it was late and people started to leave. It was a fun night. Looking forward to some more Saturday night drama.     

PRINCE CASPIAN REVIEW

Today our whole family arrived at the local theater to the first showing of the day to see "Prince Caspian". We went to the 11:45am showing and I was surprised at the lack of a crowd. My husband pointed out that not everyone is a stay at home mom that can go to the movies in the middle of the day. Huh. 

Well, we were full of anticipation, excited to see our beloved book on film...and were completely let down. The movie was horrible. So horrible that I am tempted to seek out the director and slap him in the face. Too harsh? Well, you might feel the same way if you were a lover of the book. It was so far from the original that I don't think they should be able to call it "Prince Caspian". They completely changed the story, leaving out crucial information, not building characters at all, and adding scenes and circumstances that weren't even a part of the book. They even added Queen Susan and Prince Caspian falling in love with each other!!!! They even kissed at the end. That wasn't even a thought in the book!!! Peter was a whiny brat throughout the whole movie, whereas in the book he is noble and acts like the high king, and he and Caspian got into a full blowout, even drawing swords on each other. I left the theater enraged at the sheer gull of the director. It was like he said, "C. S. Lewis didn't know what he was talking about. Let me change it into something to get ratings." A side note: It was really for a little older crowd as it was scary and there was a lot of killing.

So, I'm sure you know this by now, but I would not waste my money on seeing it. Even if you've never read the book, it wasn't done well enough to pay $9 to see it. Rent it from a Red Box for a dollar when it comes out.

Family Time

We had a great Mother's Day with our family. My sister and her husband came over as well as my grandmother and father, my mother already being here. We ate a great meal, played boys against girls Pictionary, went to the park and played softball, came home and roasted marshmallows and made smores with our new fire pit, 

 bathed the kids and put a movie on for them while we went in the spa and settled into a good conversation. Everyone left between nine and ten at night. It was a great day spent with family. 

We are starting a Saturday night gathering and we are calling it "Embrace the Drama". We are all excited about this! This week we are building a stage and hanging lights and lanterns to set the scene. Every Saturday night will be a different theme. To start, this Saturday we are having an open mic night. This is to kick things off. It is also a celebration for DH 29th birthday. Other themes we are considering: Poetry night, blockbuster night, interpretive dance night, music night, public service announcements to be done randomly, karaoke, improv night, lip sinc and air guitar night, stand up comedy, etc...  I just love fellowship with other people. Relationships are what life is about and I feel so much more alive when I live in that purpose. 

Opening Night

Last night my mom and I went to the opening night of "The Merc". Merc is short for mercantile and is a new music hot spot for Temecula. Three different music groups played, all high schoolers. The first one was a guy that played a jazz, rock, blues type tune on his electric guitar and had his computer as a band. Never seen someone perform like that and he was great! He lacked a little stage presence, but I think that will probably come with time as he is more and more exposed to audiences. 

The second group was a 16 year old singer/songwriter and her acoustic guitar guy and electric guitar guy. Her songs were great! Radio worthy writing, really. I was impressed. Her voice could use some training and she needs a good sound guy, but otherwise, very promising. She could submit her songs to some singers and probably have a number one single. 

The third group, complete with dad living through his kids guy running the video camera and setting up sound, was an all male rock band that looked goofy, but when they started playing they were great! They surprised me with their mature sound and the singer had a great voice...was not expecting that. Great music overall for the entire night.

The Merc has a little work to do before they can be great. They served drinks and cookies before the show, which was a little elementary, but then had no drinks (not even water) for the rest of the night. That's a long time to be at a place with no refreshments. They said they are working on getting their food service license. I think putting a coffee house in the front part of the building would boost their attendance big time and they have the room. Maybe I'll call someone. I also think leaving the doors open so people walking by can hear the music would boost attendance. Last night it was mostly the band's family and friends that were there and these bands definitely deserved an audience. No pictures, sorry. I forgot my camera. I did take some with my phone, so if I figure out how to get those onto my blog, I'll post them.      

Living in the moment

I find myself feeling overwhelmed with life and all there is in it. The world of things to do and learn is massive and interesting. There are all the household chores which, in reality, could take up an entire lifetime in themselves. Then there are the responsibilities of being a mom. I want to nurture and love my children making sure not to ignore any of them and give them what each of them needs individually. I want to spend individual time with each of them and show them love in the individual way that they receive it. Then there is school. I want my children to love learning and just drink it up. I love to learn and want that for them. Of course they need to know Math, English, Science, Social studies, and Health in grades 1-6. Then there is being a wife, and I want to be the best wife there is for my husband. Then, there's all the things I want to learn and do like music, and photography, and writing, and painting, and reading, and dancing, and going to film festivals and art museums. Let's not forget that I must do this all responsibly too. All this can get completely overwhelming! So, I bring this to God and He says, -Live in the present moment. This will greatly simplify your life. Be thankful and grateful. Notice the little things. Spend time with people. Spend time with your children. Find joy in the little things and stop waiting for large events. Lots of little things add up to big things. Do the little things well and precise and with pleasure and you will live in joy. You will be able to see the beauty in everything and nurture your kids in small moments that would normally pass you by.

Thanks Lord. Another fire extinguished. Live in the moment and all my borrowed worries go away. Jesus says, "Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow has enough worries of it's own." Amen to that. So, I'm off to do the things I have planned to do today, and I going to try not to think about what I'll do when my kids are in high school, or even what I'll do if my kids get offered a spot at the charter. Today I am a homeschooler, wife, musician, mother and a beautiful woman.   

Fully Loved

I am sad and confused right now. I was somewhat de-validated, if that's a word, about something I heard from God from someone I respect spiritually. I know the obvious thing would be to listen to God, but it brings doubts into my mind about whether or not I heard God right. This is very hard and discouraging. It makes me feel like I am so easily swayed. I hate feeling this way. I hate that I care so much about what other people think of me. I hate that other people's opinions sway me so much! Oh that the Lord would free me from this. I know that if I could be brought to a point of acceptance and understanding of His love and grace for me (real understanding where I not only know it with my head, but truly believe it in my heart), that I would be set free...free in Christ to live fully in His love. What a wonderful thing that would be. The thing I ask the Lord for almost daily is not money, or "security", or health, or acceptance by man. I ask Him for freedom! To live in freedom would be to release me from all the former and  allow me to live. To live not out of a need to exist, but out of a need to thrive, to love and to be fully expressed.