Monday, December 19, 2011

The 12 Days Of Christmas Movies: Christmas With The Kranks


Yes, we are going from the Griswolds to the Kranks! :)

The Movie Christmas With The Kranks is based on the Book Skipping Christmas by: John Grisham. Not Grisham's usual fare, but a good book none the less. And the Movie sticks really close to the Book. Probably closer than any other Book turned Movie I know of!


Luther & Nora's only Daughter joins the Peace Core, I think it is. And since she won't be home for Christmas they decide to take a Cruise to a tropical destination & skip Christmas all together.

Spike: You're skipping Christmas!
Isn't that against the Law?

The towns people try everything in their power, from sympathy to threats, to change their minds, to no avail.

Blair: I'm bringing home Enrique'!
Luther: What's a Reeke'?

But then a change of plans leads to all kinds of Chaos! Last minuet Party planning, decorating and shopping lends to a lot of Laughter!

Luther: What happened to the hickory honey ham?
Nora: Don't EVER say hickory honey ham again!

I have thought I'd like to just skip Christmas this year myself. Get right to the New Year & new season of our life. But Christmas isn't just about the amount of money you can spend or how many gifts you can give (or get!) But about celebrating another year together. It's about being with the ones you love. And that too is what the Kranks have to learn.

Luther: Skipping Christmas, what a stupid Idea!
Nora: Maybe next year.

Friday, December 16, 2011

The 12 Days Of Christmas Movies: Christmas Vacation


Well, you knew I'd have to get there sooner or latter, right?! And I'm sorry to say that that day has finally arrived.

That's right, National Lampoons Christmas Vacation. If you like stupid humor, this movie is for you. But, this year I'm feeling more and more like the Griswold's!

Clark: We're kicking off our fun old fashion family Christmas
by heading out into the country in the old front wheel drive sleigh
to embrace the frosty majesty of the winter landscape
and select that most important of Christmas symbols.

Audrey: We're not coming all the way out here
to get one of those stupid ties with Santa Clauses on it are we?
Clark: No, I have one of those at home.

We're gonna have the hap hap happiest Christmas
since Bing Crosby tap danced with Danny freaking Kay.


Ruby Sue: Uncle Clark, are you sure you ain't Santa Clause?
Clark: I'm sure . . . I can't even afford to be an elf.

With John & I both working retail this Christmas season, we don't have much time for much of anything else. So, we are doing things a little bit differently this year. We got our tree up, and that was about it. Just the tree. Then the next day we managed to add the lights & the pearls. Then on another day came all the rest of the ornaments!

I give you the Griswold family Christmas tree.
Lotta sap in here!
Mmmmm . . . looks great!
Little full, lotta sap.

Ellen: Welcome to our home - what's left of it.

Uncle Lewis: Hey, Grizz, Bethany and I figured out the perfect gift for you!
Clark: Aw, you didn't have to get me anything.
Uncle Lewis: Dang it, Bethany, he guessed it.

John & the boys put up our outside lights while I was at work one day. I came home to a nice surprise!

Bethany: Is your house on fire, Clark?
Clark: No, Aunt Bethany, those are the Christmas lights.

My Family always gets together to bake our Christmas Cookies together! It's always a huge mess and a lot of fun. But unfortunately this year we have to work & can't join in. But I still want my kids to have the experience & of course, we want the cookies, so we're going about it in a different & much easier way . . . ready made cookie dough & frosting! Don't tell! :)

Clark: Since this is Aunt Bethany's 80th Christmas,
I think she should lead us in the saying of Grace.
Aunt Bethany: What, dear?
Nora: Grace!
Aunt Bethany: Grace? She passed away thirty years ago.
Uncle Lewis: They want you to say Grace.
The Blessing!
Aunt Bethany: I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America
and to the republic for which it stands.
One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Clark: Amen.

And to top it all off, I'm not sending out Christmas cards this year. I LOVE Christmas cards. Picking them out (or in my case designing them with my husband!) Writing my world famous Christmas letter. (though now that I'm Blogging, do I really need to send out a letter?) It's just too costly & time consuming for us this year. So, this will have to do:


Tuesday, December 13, 2011

The 12 Days Of Christmas Movies: The Polar Express

The Polar Express came out in 2004. My girls had just turned 7 years old. It was Thanksgiving weekend, my sister in law, Debbie & I took her daughter Rachel, & my girls to see it. The theater was crowded and we found seats where Debbie & I could sit in the row right in front of the three girls. I fell in love with this Movie. At one point in the movie I turned around to look at the girls, and found all three of them staring up at the screen just in awe! It truly is visually stunning. We had to go out & get the Book as well, and of course the Bell from Santa's sleigh now hangs on our Christmas tree every year! Because we Believe!

The things about trains . . . it doesn't matter where they're going.
What matters is deciding to get on.

On Christmas Eve many years ago I laid quietly i my bed.
I did not rustle the sheets, I breathed slowly and silently.
I was listening for a sound I was afraid I'd never hear:
the sound of Santa's sleigh bells.


The Conductor: Well, ya comin?
The Boy: Where?

The Conductor: To the North Pole, of course!
This is the Polar Express!


The Boy: I'm looking for a girl.
Hobo: (burst out laughing) Well aren't we all?

There's no greater gift than friendship.

This bell is a wonderful symbol of the spirit of Christmas - as am I.
Just remember, the true spirit of Christmas lies in your heart.

At one time most of my friends could hear the bell,
but as years passed it fell silent for all of them.

Even Sarah found one Christmas
that she could no longer hear its sweet sound.

Though I've grown old the bell still rings for me,
as it does for all who truly believe.


Seeing is believing,
But sometimes the most real things in the world are the things we can't see.

Saturday, December 10, 2011

The 12 Days Of Christmas Movies: The Holiday


The next Movie on The 12 Days Of Christmas list is The Holiday. A fun, sweet Romantic Comedy in which two women, one from L.A. & one form England, do a house swap in order to take a break from their real lives for the Holidays. We follow them on their adventures in self discovery.

Hannah: I've just noticed how pathetic you are.
Iris: Really? I'm SO aware of it.


I would love to stay in either of these two houses. If you could get away for the Holidays, where would you want to go? For me, It's New York City! I heart NY! I want to Ice skate in Central Park & see the shop windows all decorated for Christmas. I've also always wanted to visit Disneyland at Christmas time. It's magical even in the summer time, just imagine it at Christmas, all decorated & lit up.

I like corny. I'm looking for corny in my life.


I need some peace and quiet . . . or whatever it is people go away for.

There are touching moments & great characters in this film. There is a sweet side story involving a neighbor at one of the houses. It's another really good movie to watch this time of year.

Arthur: In the movies we have Leading Ladies and we have the best friend.
You, I can tell, are a Leading Lady,
but for some reason you are behaving like the best friend.

Iris: You're so right,
You're supposed to be the Leading Lady in your own life!
I've been going to a therapist for 3 years,
and she's never explained anything to me that well.
That was Brilliant. Brutal but Brilliant.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

The 12 Days Of Christmas Movies: Samantha An American Girl Holiday


In my last post I mentioned the American Girl Dolls. My Daughters & I Love them! They take stories of young girls throughout American History, make Dolls of them & write books telling their stories. It inspires girls to read & to play with dolls (two of my Favorite things!) :) But my Favorite is Samantha. When my girls were little we got them the Dolls & Books of Samantha & her best Friend Nellie! The Samantha & Nellie Dolls are now retired. And though my girls are now Teenagers, they still have their American Girl Dolls & Books, and will probably have them till they have Daughters of their own to pass them on to.

A few years ago we even have had An American Girl Doll Birthday Party. Then they decided to expand & make Movies of their stories. And I must say these Movies are done so well & are all great movies! Kit is the latest one & was released in Theaters, Molly & Felicity were released on video only, like the first one they did, which is of course my favorite, It's Samantha An American Girl Holiday. And it is today's 12 Days Of Christmas Movies selection.

Set in 1904, Samantha (played by Anna Sophia Robb, of Soul Surfer) a girl of wealth who lives with her grandmother, who she calls "Grandmary" (I don't know why, but I just love that! After I read Little Women as a girl I started calling my Mom "Marmie" because they do in the book!) :) Nellie, along with her Father & 2 younger sisters move in next door as her neighbors servants. The 2 girls become fast friends. Samantha sharing her life of privilege & teaching Nellie how to read, & Nellie teaching Samantha how to do things like beat rugs, darn socks, etc. The two girls become very close.

Aunt Cornelia: They're not supposed to separate the families.
Nellie: Ma'am, they do a lot of things they're not supposed to do.

But Nellie's Father dies after an illness & she and her sisters are sent to a terrible orphanage until Samantha sneaks them out & hides them in her attic. Nellie secretly takes a job in a factory to earn money to support her & her sisters until Samantha tracks her down & speaks out against Child labor. Samantha just wants a sister for Christmas, & her uncle & his new wife adopt the girls & the best friends finally do become sisters! It is such a good Movie! (much better than I am making it sound, trust me) I highly recommend all the American Girl Doll Movies! They promote Girl Power! Which any mother of Daughters hopes to instill into her girls.

Nellie: First snow. Do you think we're dreaming?
Samantha:
If we are, I hope I never wake up.

Saturday, December 3, 2011

The 12 Days Of Christmas Movies: Miracle on 34th Street


"If you're really Santa Claus, you can get it for me. And if you can't , you're only a nice man with a white beard like mother says." Weather you prefer the Original made in 1947, or the remake from 1994, Miracle On 34th Street is a Christmas Classic. Both are great movies, in which the real Santa finds himself working, playing himself, at Macy's Department store! And ends up on trial to determine his sanity for believing he is who he says he is. And a bit of trivia for you Moms & Daughters out there, who like us, love the American Girl Dolls, if you look closely in the end of the newer version, under the Christmas Tree you will see a Kit Doll! (just thought I'd throw that in for free!) :)

Faith is believing when common sense tells you not to. Don't you see?
It's not just Kris that's on trial, it's everything he stands for.
It's kindness and joy and love and all the other intangibles.


But the real Miracle of Christmas isn't Santa being able to fly around the world on one night & fill our stockings. It's that God sent his only Son to earth to be born a baby who would grow up to be the sacrifice for our sins. So that we all could become the son's & daughters of God & have eternal life with him! And this Christmas finds us in need of a Miracle. Many of you know my Husband was laid off from his job as a Worship Pastor. In this economy, so many Churches are struggling financially. Which means the majority of Churches are using volunteers, or are only hiring part time leaders. We have sent Resume's all around the Country & are excited for the next season of Ministry in our lives. But to be totally honest with you, the longer we wait, the harder it is to stay positive. Even for a glass is half full type person like me! :) Yes, even I find myself struggling. My husband is the most talented, hardest working man I've ever known. And I question at times why would God give him so much musical talent & the skills to be a great leader only to have him standing behind a cash register?

Oh, Christmas isn't just a day, it's a frame of mind. . .
and that's what's been changing.

That's why I'm glad I'm here, maybe I can do something about it.



And I'm reminded again of that first Christmas, when God put a Star in the sky to point the Wise Men in the direction they should go to Worship. (And of course being named Star & being born on Christmas day, this part of the story has always held great meaning for me!) :) But right now, it's us who need to be pointed in the right direction. We are willing to follow. It's hard at times not to feel alone or abandoned, yet I know God is always in control. And His timing is perfect. Even though we don't understand why things happen, we can rest in the knowledge that "all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28)

This is quite an opportunity for me.
For the past 50 years or so
I've been getting more and more worried about Christmas.

Seems we're all so busy trying to beat the other fellow
in making things go faster
and look shinier and cost less
that Christmas and I are sort of getting lost in the shuffle.



And even in my struggle, I'm reminded time and again by my own kids of the Miracle of Christmas, a month or so ago my 20 year old son, Zach came to me & said "I don't need, or really want anything, so I don't want you guys to get me anything for Christmas, and I have some money, I can pitch in to help with the girls' Christmas." Then my girls went to hang out at the mall with a friend & when I picked them up they were telling me all about all the fun they had & they had used gift cards they got at their Birthday Party to buy me a Christmas present. Breaks my heart. And I came home after a long day at work to find my Husband & Sons had put up our Christmas lights. So even when things look bleak, God is Faithful.

Someday you're going to find that your way of facing
this realistic world just doesn't work.
And when you do, don't overlook those lovely intangibles.
You'll discover those are the only things that are worthwhile.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

The 12 Days Of Christmas Movies: Serendipity

Last December I thought I'd do something fun here on the Blog. Since I am a Christmas Junkie, & I LOVE all things Christmas, including Christmas Movies, I decided to do a 12 Days Of Christmas in Movies! I would pick 12 of my Favorite Christmas movies & post about them during the month of December. It was a big success. I've gotten hits all year long on those posts. People really are interested in opinions on Christmas movies I guess. So, I've decided to carry on the tradition I started . . .


The first one on the list is a good one: Serendipity. A romantic comedy starring Kate Beckinsale & John Cusack. They are shopping on Christmas Eve in New York City & both pick up the same pair of gloves, they argue over who gets them, she does, of course! So she takes him out for a Coffee to repay him for his generosity. She takes him to her favorite restaurant called Serendipity. Hence the title of the film!

Jonathan: How'd you find this place?
Sara: I first came in because of the name: Serendipity.
It's one of my favorite words.

Jonathan: It is? Why?
Sara: It's such a nice sounding work for what it means:
a fortunate accident.


They totally hit it off, but since they are both dating other people at the time, she doesn't want to pursue anything. So they decide to let "the Universe" decide for them. They put his name & phone number on a $5.00 Bill & buy some gum with it, and put her name & number in a Book she has & sells it to a used Book Store. If they find them again someday it will be fate! Well years pass & a lot of fun ensues, and well you just have to see it to find out how it ends up!

Jonathan: I hope you enjoy the gloves you bought yourself.
Sara: Oh, I'm sure I will, I usually enjoy my own thoughtfulness.


As someone who enjoys picking out her own Christmas presents, I can relate! :) I watch this movie every Christmas season. But this year was the first year my (now 14 year old) daughters watched it with me, and they really liked it too! It's a sweet movie.

Sara: well, if we're meant to meet again, we'll meet again.
It's just not the right time now.
Jonathon: Maybe we're supposed to meet on British time
and we're five hours too early.
Sara: You don't have to understand. You just have to have faith.
Jonathon: Faith in what?
Sara: Destiny

Is there really one true Soul Mate out there for each of us? If you are a romantic, you will like this movie. And if your not, well, you just might become one. Like Sara's friend Eve tells her: And if you're smart enough, you learn from your mistakes. You figure it out. You . . you think. You realize that life isn't some elaborate stage play with directions for the actors. Life's a mess, Sara. It's . . . Chaos Personified. So, Here's to some Serendipity, or fortunate accidents coming our way! We could all use some fortune, accidental or not! :)