Thinking About ~ L.M. Montgomery

By Unknown author - Wikimedia

 Thinking About

Lucy Maud Montgomery

aka L.M. Montgomery

 Anyone familiar with L.M. Montgomery's works knows her as  the author of the Anne of Green Gables books. She brought Anne Shirley, that is Anne with an "e" to life, and we, the readers for several generations, were allowed to live for a time on Prince Edward Island and Green Gables home. Now I do have to admit I preferred Anne before she became a mother, I think she lost something of herself when she had her children and sort of faded into the background. But I loved the final book in the series Rilla of Ingleside though it was filled with the heartbreak of loss as the war in Europe claimed some of the characters we had come to love. 

As much as I loved Anne, Diana, Gilbert, Rilla, and Walter I have to say my favorites come from Lucy's other books. My absolute favorite is the Emily Trilogy - Emily of New Moon, Emily Climbs, and Emily's Quest. I just loved Emily, her friends Ilse, Teddy, Perry, Cousin Jimmy, Aunt Elizabeth, and Aunt Laura. Every summer I would reread these books as soon as summer vacation began. I savored life with Emily as she went from the despair of losing her father to the new life she claimed when she moved to New Moon. Emily's life touched something within and made me want to visit her every year.

I also loved the Pat of Silver Bush books - Pat of Silver Bush and Mistress Pat. Pat hates change and she wants to do everything she can to keep Silver Bush and all she holds dear the same but life brings changes as Pat all too soon discovers. Some changes are welcome while others have the potential of breaking our hearts.

There are several of Lucy's standalone novels that are also well worth reading. Kilmeny of the Orchard finds a young woman hidden away who doesn't speak - her family thinks she lives under a curse. The Blue Castle finds Valancy Stirling living life through the books of her favorite author but a terminal medical diagnosis finds her seeking to live life before she dies. 

This is by no means an exhaustive list of the works of L.M. Montgomery but these are my personal favorites that I have read multiple times and recommend often to others. There is something about her books that speaks to the reader's heart and mind. These aren't books that one outgrows but rather grows with. These are books that leave you with a feel-good feeling and with the current situation we find the world in we can all use a feel-good book or two or three.

Thinking About ~ Jesus His Life and the Provisions of God

Thinking about worry and the cares of today. Have you worried and stayed up late borrowing troubles that might come tomorrow? Well, we are told to not worry in Matthew 6:26-34:

26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

28 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. 

New King James Version (NKJV)

Now if God will care for the plants of the field and the birds that live out of doors why would He not take as much concern in our day-to-day existence when we were created in His image. Instead of worry, we should instead seek Him when the cares and pressures of life try to overwhelm us. 

When my father died, my family had many worries and concerns first how would we survive the loss of the head of our household and the loss of the family breadwinner. The assurance of this passage was one we turned to often during that first couple of years. But through small ways that wouldn't be impressive in the eyes of most, we were provided for. An old family friend whom we hadn't seen for several years called telling us about a job - one that provided an additional $150 to $300 a month. A job that involved listening to and transcribing old radio sermons - not only did this provide for our daily needs it provided for our spiritual needs as well. 

By giving tomorrow's unknown troubles to God we can rest in the assurance that He will provide if we can see that sometimes His provisions are not given with grand fanfare or even with over-abundance but rather what we need for today - just like His provision of manna for those who were wandering in the wilderness. 

When Jesus commanded Peter to "feed His lambs and care for His sheep" we can know that this care continues today and will continue into every tomorrow to come. With Easter soon upon us, it is important to remember that the greatest need we will ever have has been provided for - the gift of forgiveness and eternal life.

  

Jesus: His Life Featurette:  

Synopsis:

“Jesus: His Life” explores the story of Jesus Christ through a unique lens: the people in his life who were closest to him. Each of the eight chapters is told from the perspective of different biblical figures, all of whom played a pivotal role in Jesus’ life including Joseph, John the Baptist, Mary Mother of Jesus, Caiaphas, Judas Iscariot, Pontius Pilate, Mary Magdalene and Peter.

Each figure takes a turn guiding viewers through the emotional and epic story of the most famous man in history, through his birth, death and resurrection, all conveyed through a combination of scripted drama and interviews with prominent religious and historical experts. Utilizing some of the world’s most respected Biblical scholars, historians, faith leaders and theologians, the series weaves together the canonical Gospels, historical sources and cultural context to create a complete portrait of Jesus – the man and the Messiah.  The series finale airs this Monday, April 15 on The History Channel at 8pm ET/PT.

Sports and Moments of Inspiration

I'm not a big movie person but occasionally a movie just manages to catch my eye and one that did so was Woodlawn. This one is based on true events in early 1970s Birmingham, Alabama. What I like is that it is a time where segregation is falling to the law of the land. But change is never easy and hate and prejudices are at a high. But when the High School football team has an awakening to the fact that their preconceived notions about their fellow teammates are just that - notions without a solid foundation - the racial divides start to crumble. 

But, as with most things of importance, the changes did not happen overnight. It was a hard fought battle and one that those outside the high school even attempted to thwart. I believe that this is something that we all should strive for in this contentious time. If we all could use these events as an inspiration to effect a change in our own small corner of the world imagine what we could accomplish.

That is what I like about this movie it portrayed real events, real fears, real tensions and allowed one to see that by pushing past these feelings one is able to see beneath the surface to the person within. And beneath the surface, we all have dreams and hopes that when compared are not that different from those of others.

Do you have a favorite sport-themed movie that inspires you to push on, to strive past what you thought possible?

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About The Movie (Synopsis)

Life has become a balancing act for Adonis Creed. Between personal obligations and training for his next big fight, he is up against the challenge of his life. Facing an opponent with ties to his family's past only intensifies his impending battle in the ring. Rocky Balboa is there by his side through it all and, together, Rocky and Adonis will confront their shared legacy, question what's worth fighting for, and discover that nothing's more important than family. Creed II is about going back to basics to rediscover what made you a champion in the first place, and remembering that, no matter where you go, you can't escape your history.  The film releases in theaters on Wednesday, November 21.  #CreedII

Thoughts About Locales Exotic or Not and Smallfoot Movie Trailer

Often times people dream of exotic locales or adventure vacations. Now whether my perfect destination for exploration is exotic or not depends on one's own point of view. Exotic means originating or characteristic of a distant foreign country.

Well, how distant is distant enough to fit this definition? For me, it isn't crossing an ocean or continents. Rather it is within my own continent though not in my own country. But as to where in Canada that I'd like to explore now that is a quandary.

Images of Canada's Gros Morne National Park in Newfoundland and Labrador are so beautiful. I love the rock formations and fields, the waterways meandering and powerful, the historical aspects. And then there Banff National Park, which is the Canadian portion of the Rocky Mountains, located in Alberta. The images of the mountains and the lakes are absolutely breathtaking. I love how the water is so smooth and clear reflecting the grandeur of the mountains. I'm sure there are others who frequent and explore these places but most films and photos I've seen have seemed void of human intrusion which I have to add is part of the draw.

I'm drawn to the rugged beauty of these places and the chance to allow nature to surround and seep into the soul, a glimpse of what Heaven may be. A chance to get away from what I know and understand and just soak in what I see, what I sense without the distraction of the normal day brings.

Where do you dream of immersing yourself? Where do you want to lose yourself for a short time and just experience the world around you? Comment below and share your thoughts.

SMALLFOOT Trailer:

Synopsis: 

 An animated adventure for all ages, with original music and an all-star cast, “Smallfoot” turns a myth upside down when a bright young yeti finds something he thought didn’t exist—a human.

News of this “smallfoot” throws the simple yeti community into an uproar over what else might be out there in the big world beyond their snowy village, in an all new story about friendship, courage and the joy of discovery.

“Smallfoot” stars Channing Tatum (“The LEGO® Batman Movie,” the “Jump Street” films) , Zendaya (“Spider-Man: Homecoming”), Common (“Selma”), LeBron James (upcoming “Space Jam 2”), Danny DeVito (“The Lorax,” Oscar nominee for “Erin Brockovich”), Gina Rodriguez (“Jane the Virgin”), and Yara Shahidi (TV’s “Black-ish”).  It debuts in theaters on September 28.

                

Dog Days ~ Thoughts and Movie Trailer

There is nothing like having a dog - I should know I've never been without one and can't imagine a dogless state. When I'm feeling down they are always ready to put a smile on my face. My dogs are my best friends.

Do they have to be puppies to find a way into my heart? No, I've opened my heart and home to dogs in their teens and they have as much love to offer as the youngest ones. Do you have a bad hair day? Everything just slightly off? Your dog won't hold it against you because they aren't judging you by how you appear to others they see you with eyes of love.

Can their hearts be broken? Yes, they mourn when a loved one is lost. They feel joy at a reunion with one long absent. And they are jealous of our affection.

When I was 10 we had a stray puppy show up at our house - no one ever claimed her so Clancy joined our family. We had her almost 14 years. She moved with us through two cross-country moves. We left our human friends behind but our playmate and childhood companion came with us. She welcomed our new puppies as they came into our home becoming the big sister or substitute mom they needed as they adjusted to their new home. Clancy was the perfect dog - patient with little hands and little paws. When she got cancer she fought against its ravages until it was time to say goodbye.

Dogs can be our champions, the heroes in our lives, and the family who loves us always and forever.

Have you heard about the new upcoming movie Dog Days? 

Check out the movie trailer below

TRAILER:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAfqqHwgI1U

SYNOPSIS:  DOG DAYS is a hilarious and heartfelt ensemble comedy that follows the lives of multiple dog owners and their beloved fluffy pals.  When these human and canine’s paths start to intertwine, their lives begin changing in ways they never expected.  This is a sweet film about the joy our furry friends bring into our lives and what they can teach us about treating people with kindness and compassion.  DOG DAYS releases in theaters in August 8.

Please leave a comment about your favorite pet memory for a chance at

a gift card that will be randomly selected on August10, 2018.

Include your email like the following example to be entered.

me (at) gmail (dot) com

You'll be contacted via email so be sure to reply within 24 hours.

The Miracle Season ~ The Power of Perseverance and a Movie Trailer

The Power of Perseverance

All too often we are awed and impressed by those who have a natural ability. Those who can play by ear. Who touch a ball and seem to be able to control it with nary a thought. But there are those who may not be a master that awes the masses but they have worked to conquer and call a skill their own.

Have you ever noticed the one person who can never make a basket? Well, I was such a person. The only person who could not get the ball to the hoop much less make it whoosh as fell through the net. It wasn't for lack of trying but rather a lack of hand and eye coordination, or the mere fact that I had no athletic abilities at all could have played a factor. Rather than being known as an athlete I was known for my skill as a klutz. If klutz was a skill I had it down as a natural born talent.

But one year I was determined that I would make a basket during a game. Every day after school I would sit on the ground and practice shooting. It took determination and concentration and a good bit of encouragement to keep up my attempts to better my shooting. I had my family offer tips to better get the ball to the hoop. Adjust my throw. Change my angle. It took time and effort but eventually, I was no longer the one person in school who couldn't make a basket.

Did making a basket make me a hero? No. Did it raise my status amongst my fellow students? No. But what it did do is help me to realize that everything of value takes work. And by working one learns the value of giving your all. It is a skill that can only be learned by putting in the effort. The payoff is the satisfaction that you gave your best. This is a lesson that one can share by encouraging others - that it is the effort that is made that brings the greatest satisfaction when you achieve your goal. And this sets you for future challenges - challenges that demand dedication and drive to overcome them.


The Miracle Season

In Theaters: April 6th

Synopsis: Based on the inspiring true story of West High School girls' volleyball team.  After the tragic death of the school's star player Caroline "Line" Found, the remaining team players must band together under the guidance of their tough-love coach in hope of winning the state championship.

Director: Sean McNamara

Writers: David Aaron Cohen, Elissa Matsueda

Producers: Mickey Liddell, Pete Shilaimon, Mark Ciardi,  

                        Scott Holroyd

Genre: Drama

Cast: Helen Hunt, William Hurt, Danika Yarosh, 

            Erin Moriarty

Production Company: LD Entertainment

Distributor: LD Entertainment / Mirror

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WyHB9D2Su0&feature=youtu.be

Forever My Girl ~ Thoughts on Family and a Movie Trailer

In this world of hurry up and get on to your next task on the way to achieving one's life goals family often gets lost and forgotten in this mix. FOREVER MY GIRL is a movie about second chances and finding our way back home. But we need to remember that home isn't so much a structure as it is family.  Family is there for you when you need it most but one must make an effort to connect with those who love us.  And in this age of instant connections through social media personal meaningful connections with those closest to us are often a casualty.  

Family takes time but the love and support one receives make it worth the effort. And the memories it leaves will last a lifetime.  A simple game of hide-and-seek on a rainy afternoon in which the whole family can find safety on the family room sofa.  A board game while listening to a variety of favorite songs. The gift of a single wildflower.  The effort is easy and only costs time and thought. 

These are memories that last even as the family structure changes over time.  They provide the foundation that keeps the family together even when miles separate it.  And when one goes off leaving family and the love they offer behind these memories are what can bring one back seeking a second chance at love and family.

A swing in the tree. A walk in the park. A picnic in the backyard. An afternoon spent reading together. Looking through old photographs. Time spent together can be as simple as this - what matters is that it is time spent with those whom you love and who mean the most to you.  

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Forever My Girl tells the story of music super-star Liam Page (Alex Roe) who left his bride, Josie (Jessica Rothe), at the altar choosing fame and fortune instead. However, Liam never got over Josie, his one true love, nor did he ever forget his Southern roots in the small community where he was born and raised. When he unexpectedly returns to his hometown for the funeral of his high school best friend, Liam is suddenly faced with the consequences of all that he left behind.  

Forever My Girl is an uplifting romantic film about second chances.  It releases in theaters on January 19, 2018.

The Man Who Invented Christmas ~ Giveaway

Can you imagine Christmas without carols, giving, 

and the phrase “Bah Humbug?”  

THE MAN WHO INVENTED CHRISTMAS tells the magical journey that led to the creation of Ebenezer Scrooge, Tiny Tim and other classic characters from “A Christmas Carol.”  

This special holiday film is sure to become another Christmas classic!

In celebration of this new movie, a 3-movie DVD giveaway is taking place. Yes, that's right 3 movies! But to find out more please read through the rest of this post and enter below to join in on this early Christmas fun.



First off a little about the movie:

The Man Who Invented Christmas tells the magical journey that led to the creation of Ebenezer Scrooge (Christopher Plummer), Tiny Tim and other classic characters from A Christmas Carol. Directed by Bharat Nalluri (Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day), the film shows how Charles Dickens (Dan Stevens) mixed real-life inspirations with his vivid imagination to conjure up unforgettable characters and a timeless tale, forever changing the holiday season into the celebration we know today.

THE MAN WHO INVENTED CHRISTMAS releases in theaters on 

November 22, 2017.

That's right the movie opens the day before Thanksgiving 

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Have plans for the holiday weekend yet?

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Now when it comes to your own Christmas traditions what do you most look forward to?  Is there a favorite movie that you just have to see and enjoy with those closest to you?  For my family, there are a couple of movies we look forward to. One Magic Christmas allows a woman to see just how blessed she truly is when she thinks that she has lost everything (husband, children, home, and job). The other movie that we enjoy is The Christmas Carol, the one starring Patrick Stewart. The acting is superb and Ebenezer's transformation is truly a thing to behold from young hurting child to miser to reformed uncle. 

Unlike Scrooge, we in my household don't hold with the idea of not helping those in need and over the years have helped others through local giving to the food bank, clothing drives, and toy drives. But one of our greatest pleasures, as well as heartbreaks, has been ChildFund International. Watching these children grow and mature through years of correspondence can touch even the Scroogiest heart. And Christmas offers a chance to give them an additional gift. It is amazing how so little here can go further in another country offering the hope of an additional source of income for years to come. This was an organization that my mother supported before she and my father married and to this day my family continues to support several through it. If you are willing to stretch your heart check out this worthwhile organization. www.ChildFund.org 

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Now to the giveaway and all the fun of entering.

First off you are probably wondering what is being given away ~ Admit it even if you don't want to enter the giveaway you are curious. I know I would be. 

The DVD bundle is 

The Sound of Music (starring Christopher Plummer and Julie Andrews)

Beauty and the Beast (live-action starring Dan Stevens)

and

A Christmas Carol (starring George C. Scott)

Please enter for a chance to win

Open to residents with a US postal mailing address only 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Promise ~ Thoughts on Sacrifice

The Promise

THE PROMISE, an epic and poignant film starring Academy-Award winner Christian Bale, Oscar Isaac (Star Wars: The Force Awakens, The Nativity Story), Marwan Kenzari and Charlotte Le Bon.

The PROMISE is a touching story about sacrifice and love.  The film portrays two heroes – one with the courage to stand-up for the truth and speak out against injustice – and the other, a friend willing to pay the ultimate price to do what’s right.

Sometimes it is our friends who are the everyday and little known heroes who strengthen and nourish us.  Their presence is a blessing – whether as a shoulder to lean or as a literal lifesaver.

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Have you ever known a person in your own life who was willing to sacrifice for another? A sacrifice that affected the life of others? I have ~ here is a glimpse at what he gave.

J was faced with a decision he could reenlist or he could get out of the military. He was promised that if he reenlisted he would not be sent into the war zone. J needed this assurance with the promise of his first child on the way and his wife's fragile condition. With the assurances that he would stay where he was for the foreseeable future J signed the dotted line so to speak.

Less than a week after reenlisting J's assurances were gone and he was going to be deployed into the war hot zone. His wife was understandably distraught, but there was nothing that J could do. He had reenlisted and his future was no longer his choice.

But J had a friend - one who saw the situation J now found himself in. R was determined to do all he could to make right the situation J now found himself in. R offered to take J's place in the war and surprisingly his offer was acceptable to those who had the final say in deployment. R experienced the war that J was meant to see and to live. But R did what he did for J, his wife and the child they would soon welcome. R made it through the war but at a cost to his own health. But he did it for his friend and he never expressed a regret for the sacrifice he made. 

Sometimes a simple word of encouragement makes a world of difference in someone's day. A helping hand, a listening ear, an offer of a shared lunch, a warm pot of soup. One may never know how a simple kindness and a smile can change another's world.

“Greater love hath no man than this, 

that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

- John 15:13  (KJV)

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Synopsis:

It is 1914. As the Great War looms, the mighty Ottoman Empire is crumbling. Constantinople, the once vibrant, multicultural capital on the shores of the Bosporus, is about to be consumed by chaos.

Michael Boghosian (Oscar Isaac), arrives in the cosmopolitan hub as a medical student determined to bring modern medicine back to Siroun, his ancestral village in Southern Turkey where Turkish Muslims and Armenian Christians have lived side by side for centuries. Photo-journalist Chris Myers (Christian Bale), has come here only partly to cover geo-politics. He is mesmerized by his love for Ana (Charlotte le Bon), an Armenian artist he has accompanied from Paris after the sudden death of her father.

When Michael meets Ana, their shared Armenian heritage sparks an attraction that explodes into a romantic rivalry between the two men. As the Turks form an alliance with Germany and the Empire turns violently against its own religious and ethnic minorities, their conflicting passions must be deferred while they join forces to survive even as events threaten to overwhelm them.

Promises are made and promises are broken. The one promise that must be kept is to live on and tell the story.

THE PROMISE is directed by Academy-Award winner Terry George (Hotel Rwanda, Hart’s War).

Click here to read about the Special Vatican Screening

Movie trailer: