Holly and Kelly: This will most likely be our last post of the year 2013, and my how fast it has gone! We would like to take this opportunity to reflect on what we have learned in this past year and how we have grown as humans, sisters, and Christians.
Question God: Really. In a culture that is so bent upon NOT doing such, one thing we have learned is that it is ok to have a healthy questioning of God. We remember talking to each other and asking God "is this really what you want from us?" "Do you really have our best interests at heart?" "How much longer?" Trust me; He can handle it.
Don't be afraid to say no: No is no is no is no. It is a complete sentence, thus should not require explanation. Nobody's going to hate you. Seriously.
Nothing is permanent: This is both a good thing and a bad thing.
Be open-minded to new possibilities and/or challenges: If this were not so, we would have never gotten into Doctor Who. Give things a chance; you never know what you might find. Sometimes things get rough along the way. You can either let them knock you down or you can learn from them. As a result of this, we learned how to forgive loved ones (see below) and be our own people.
The people who are with you through it all are the ones to hold onto: You may think you have known someone your whole life, but when you need them the most they are nowhere to be found. Unfortunately, we learned this truth the hard way. But we're better because of it. We've gained and lost friends along the way, but there have been those few who have been there with us for a long time. Granted we don't get to see them that often, but they have still been there. We are thankful for those people; you know who you are.
Good things come to those who do wait: And they happen in His time, not ours. Right after Kelly graduated, we found ourselves unsure of what road was next. It was a very trying and unsettling time for us, but now things are good. Really good. That doesn't mean though we still need God, because we do.
Get angry: You would be amazed how easy it is to bottle those emotions up. Sometimes a healthy session of venting is ok. Cry out; to God, a friend, someone you trust. We too, like most of these lessons, learned this the hard way. Often times we would both be so angry or frustrated with the circumstances and just blow up at each other for no reason. The moment we stopped running (or trying to run) from what we were angry and frustrated with, the easier it was to deal with it. It wasn't easy at first, but over time it did get easier. It just takes time.
Remember to have fun: Call your friends and plan random get-togethers, just for the sake of doing in. When we first got our new jobs, we would just work and work and work and work, but didn't leave a lot of room for play time. Now random get togethers, even if it's just the two of us, happen at least once a month. Don't misunderstand us; we love our jobs, but sometimes it's nice to just take a break and have fun!
Sometimes letting go is the only way to move forward: Actually, this is a direct quote from an episode of "Smallville". But in all seriousness, we learned this the hard way: earlier in the year we had a falling out from a friend that we were friends with for a long time. Normally we would have run back and tried to fix everything, but this time, we decided enough was enough. And that's that. I think we held on for so long, even though we knew things had gone wrong a while back, because we thought we could fix things. But sometimes people don't want to be fixed, and you have to accept that and move on. So we did. Of course we still think about her and, as always, we wish the best for her.
The ones we lose never really leave us. On our 23rd birthday, we learned that our grandpa had passed away. We did somewhat see it coming, but it nevertheless still saddened us. Still, to this day, we see things, hear things, say things, that remind us of him. He is with us, always, and he is with Jesus and his family, and we can't be sad about that.
Forgiveness doesn't happen overnight. We've had some pretty rough family issues this year, and it's safe to say that things will never be the same. Things have gotten better, yes, but we are still working on the forgiving aspect. We always will, I suppose. Forgiveness takes time.
You have to make time for the things that are important to you. Pretty self-explanatory. But even if it's just for five minutes, take time for yourself. In a culture that is so fast-paced, we ought to.
Goals for the next year:
Give back to God. This is something that Holly has felt on her heart for a while now, and eventually you have to put it into action. We'll see what happens, but God blesses those who give all to Him, including their finances.
Read. We've both enjoyed reading for FUN this year. Yes, an actual book. We anticipate to do more reading in the new year.
Reach out. It's amazing how quickly the time passes and it turns into months and months without hearing from friends and family. Even though it's a lame excuse, we really do get caught up in our busyness. We're hoping that our reaching out will inspire others to reach out to their own loved ones as well.
Jump in. Ever see someone do something/say something but they just keep waiting and waiting? Ever asked yourself "what am I waiting for?" Well....just do it! Don't wait; the opportunity may not come again.
Remember that we're not alone. And neither are you. God is with us, and you, and so are so many others out there. Call upon Him, your family or your friends if you're hurting or struggling. We are going to do our best to do the same.
It's been an up and down year, 2013 has. Let's all do our best in making 2014 a little bit better!
Saturday, December 28, 2013
Friday, December 20, 2013
Making the grade
Kelly: I remember growing up as a kid in elementary school and my parents having multiple conversations with various teachers. I was too young to remember these conversations, but some of them included the loosely translated "she's not going to do well in college" speech because my grades were "below average" and I had a difficult time learning. It was suggested I had a learning disability and from elementary school up through college I severely struggled with taking tests. But my parents never enrolled me to have an IEP (individualized education plan) because they didn't want me to have that label of being "different." Now PLEASE do not misunderstand me; when I look back on it now I think perhaps an IEP or a related degree would have been very beneficial for me. But my parents always told me to do my best in school, and that grades were just letters but that didn't mean I could just slack off. The value of a good and hearty education was important to them, and so was the simple fact of just trying.
College was especially difficult for me at times, because in my field of study I HAD to make certain grades in my classes in order to continue into the program. In one of my generals, I was a few points under the 77% benchmark, thus I had to repeat the course. I often found myself envious of some of my classmates who just seemed to naturally excel; those who barely opened the book yet walked away from each test passing with flying colors. I on the other hand, slaved myself at times to studying and studying. I did not have to work as hard in high school as I did in college, so this was new to me. Making straight A's and "learning how to study" is NOT something you learn in high school in my opinion; it's something you learn, over time, on your own. You learn what works for you and what doesn't. Ok, I sort of veered off course with that, so let me get back on track. I kept in mind what my parents told me; do your best and regardless, they continued to let me know how proud they were of me. Now I understand some people I know have high expectations for themselves. But just bear in mind, it is an opportunity many do not get that we have by going to college. And I am all for making the most of it, but do your best. Sometimes when you do your best and you don't feel like it was or the grade you got doesn't reflect "your best," then....well, I'm sorry about that. I really am. I'm not being brash or insensitive. You fell off the horse; dust yourself off and realize that you did do your best. Don't blame someone else, because trust me. I've tried that. I've pulled the "well they're just unfair" or "they're grading methods are unfair." It doesn't work.
I apologize in advance if I make someone angry or whatnot, but I feel that this blog is a safe place where I can freely express my opinions. It is not my intention to step on anyone's toes, and I am not saying that anyone who expects themselves to get straight A's and nothing else are stuck up and over achievers. Not even close. I honestly sometimes wish I had that motivation for myself. But just remember; in the end, all it comes down to is just....letters.
Holly: This has been on my mind for a while now, and it's come in light of finals wrapping up for students this week, both at Berea and UK (where I work). I'm being completely upfront now; I surprised myself at some of my feelings yesterday. There is some bitterness, there is some jealousy, and I know it's petty and I know it shouldn't be there. But I'm going to be full disclosure. I've accepted it and I'm going to move on from it, and I'm just going to be frank and get this all out, so I apologize if it is lengthy:
A lot of my facebook friends have been posting their final grades. Most of you have gotten A's and B's. Please let me be one of many to congratulate you. College is tough. Berea is a league of its own, if I do say so myself. You all should definitely be proud of yourselves. HOWEVER: I've also had many conversations with people about their grades. I work at UK, for goodness sake. The department has two student workers. Many of my facebook friends are still Berea students. You all GO. NUTS. over your grades. I know so many who get disappointed in themselves and beat themselves to death if they don't make straight A's. And for what? A 4.0?
Guys, I did not make A's and B's at Berea. Not even close. EVERY semester I was there I had a least one C. It sucked. It really did. I busted my butt at Berea, and every time I saw that C it sucked. It felt like I failed. And to see all of you posting your straight A's and your A's and B's...well, yeah. The jealousy comes out. My LAST semester at Berea I was in my adviser's office in tears because I had a D in my Genetics class, and I NEEDED that class to graduate; I thought my life was over, right then and there! But I learned something REALLY quickly during my time at Berea: grades are just letters. It's a letter. Nothing more. A 4.0 will not guarantee you a job after graduation. A 4.0 will not guarantee you acceptance into your dream grad school (We have a friend who graduated with a 3.9 and MIT TURNED HER DOWN. Massachusetts. Institute. of freaking. Technology. Did I stutter?). It will definitely help, I think, or at least I'd like to think it will. A 4.0 will not guarantee you those things because after graduation, there are no guarantees. There just aren't. That's the world we live in, that's the economy we live in. I don't mean to rain on everyone's parades, so let me say this: Please be proud of the grades you do get, whether they're straight A's, or alphabet soup, like mine were. A lot of young people our age don't even get the opportunity to even go to college. Can we not stress ourselves out over these letters? Do your best, in ALL areas, not just your academics. Don't stress. It's not worth it. Enjoy your college experience.; it really does go by fast (I'll be 2 years post graduation next May...woah?). I'm proud of my degree, even with the C's (and yes, the D) littered in my transcript, because I gained so much more than I could have imagined, and you can't put a numerical value on that.
College was especially difficult for me at times, because in my field of study I HAD to make certain grades in my classes in order to continue into the program. In one of my generals, I was a few points under the 77% benchmark, thus I had to repeat the course. I often found myself envious of some of my classmates who just seemed to naturally excel; those who barely opened the book yet walked away from each test passing with flying colors. I on the other hand, slaved myself at times to studying and studying. I did not have to work as hard in high school as I did in college, so this was new to me. Making straight A's and "learning how to study" is NOT something you learn in high school in my opinion; it's something you learn, over time, on your own. You learn what works for you and what doesn't. Ok, I sort of veered off course with that, so let me get back on track. I kept in mind what my parents told me; do your best and regardless, they continued to let me know how proud they were of me. Now I understand some people I know have high expectations for themselves. But just bear in mind, it is an opportunity many do not get that we have by going to college. And I am all for making the most of it, but do your best. Sometimes when you do your best and you don't feel like it was or the grade you got doesn't reflect "your best," then....well, I'm sorry about that. I really am. I'm not being brash or insensitive. You fell off the horse; dust yourself off and realize that you did do your best. Don't blame someone else, because trust me. I've tried that. I've pulled the "well they're just unfair" or "they're grading methods are unfair." It doesn't work.
I apologize in advance if I make someone angry or whatnot, but I feel that this blog is a safe place where I can freely express my opinions. It is not my intention to step on anyone's toes, and I am not saying that anyone who expects themselves to get straight A's and nothing else are stuck up and over achievers. Not even close. I honestly sometimes wish I had that motivation for myself. But just remember; in the end, all it comes down to is just....letters.
Holly: This has been on my mind for a while now, and it's come in light of finals wrapping up for students this week, both at Berea and UK (where I work). I'm being completely upfront now; I surprised myself at some of my feelings yesterday. There is some bitterness, there is some jealousy, and I know it's petty and I know it shouldn't be there. But I'm going to be full disclosure. I've accepted it and I'm going to move on from it, and I'm just going to be frank and get this all out, so I apologize if it is lengthy:
A lot of my facebook friends have been posting their final grades. Most of you have gotten A's and B's. Please let me be one of many to congratulate you. College is tough. Berea is a league of its own, if I do say so myself. You all should definitely be proud of yourselves. HOWEVER: I've also had many conversations with people about their grades. I work at UK, for goodness sake. The department has two student workers. Many of my facebook friends are still Berea students. You all GO. NUTS. over your grades. I know so many who get disappointed in themselves and beat themselves to death if they don't make straight A's. And for what? A 4.0?
Guys, I did not make A's and B's at Berea. Not even close. EVERY semester I was there I had a least one C. It sucked. It really did. I busted my butt at Berea, and every time I saw that C it sucked. It felt like I failed. And to see all of you posting your straight A's and your A's and B's...well, yeah. The jealousy comes out. My LAST semester at Berea I was in my adviser's office in tears because I had a D in my Genetics class, and I NEEDED that class to graduate; I thought my life was over, right then and there! But I learned something REALLY quickly during my time at Berea: grades are just letters. It's a letter. Nothing more. A 4.0 will not guarantee you a job after graduation. A 4.0 will not guarantee you acceptance into your dream grad school (We have a friend who graduated with a 3.9 and MIT TURNED HER DOWN. Massachusetts. Institute. of freaking. Technology. Did I stutter?). It will definitely help, I think, or at least I'd like to think it will. A 4.0 will not guarantee you those things because after graduation, there are no guarantees. There just aren't. That's the world we live in, that's the economy we live in. I don't mean to rain on everyone's parades, so let me say this: Please be proud of the grades you do get, whether they're straight A's, or alphabet soup, like mine were. A lot of young people our age don't even get the opportunity to even go to college. Can we not stress ourselves out over these letters? Do your best, in ALL areas, not just your academics. Don't stress. It's not worth it. Enjoy your college experience.; it really does go by fast (I'll be 2 years post graduation next May...woah?). I'm proud of my degree, even with the C's (and yes, the D) littered in my transcript, because I gained so much more than I could have imagined, and you can't put a numerical value on that.
Sunday, December 15, 2013
Smaug, as seen by H and K: A hasty review
DISCLAIMER: IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN "THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG" YET, PLEASE DO NOT READ ANY FURTHER. MAJOR SPOILERS LIE WITHIN. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!
Holly: I'll be totally honest, going into this I had absolutely no idea what to expect. Ok, that's not entirely true: I knew that we were going to see Smaug (I mean...duh). I knew that we were going to see Laketown. I knew there was going to be more stuff about The Ring. Aside from that, that's basically all I had to go on. There hadn't been much in terms of advertising: we watched two production blogs from Peter Jackson, one live streaming of the premiere in LA, and a couple TV spots here and there. Compared to AUJ, there was a LOT less media hype.
I'm glad there was a lot less hype. The Desolation of Smaug was leaps and bounds better than what I expected. Leaps. And. Bounds.
I'm not going to delve into all my favorite bits, because, quite frankly, that'd be a whole other post in it of itself (Yes, I really did enjoy it that much). I will share a few things I liked though:
1. SMAUG. Oh. my. gosh. Oh my gosh! Guys, I'm 23 and I was scared, ok? Benedict Cumberbatch was PERFECT. Just perfect. I looooooooooooovvvvvvvveeeeeeeeeeeeedddddddddddddd his voice. And I think a lot of people forget that he literally WAS Smaug: he wasn't just the voice, he did the movements too. So it was Benedict Cumberbatch playing, living, breathing, moving Smaug...asldkfjlakjsdf!!! To those of you who want a brilliant and scary beast, you will not be disappointed.
2. The barrels scene. It's fast-paced, it's wet, it's action-packed, it's like riding a roller coaster. A wet one, with orcs and elves and such. There's even a funny Bombur bit that had Kelly and I rolling! Honestly, that was one of the parts I was most looking forward to and, again, it did not disappoint.
3. Tauriel, the new elf character. I was VERY skeptical at first., but I liked her a lot more than I thought I did. She's fierce, she's a fighter, she kicks serious butt. But she also has a heart to her. There's a scene in Laketown where she heals Kili, and it was such a beautiful scene it brought tears to my eyes. I'm curious to see where the next movie will take her.
I could go on and on. Martin Freeman continues to shine as Bilbo; he just keeps getting better and better. What I loved the most was how he portrays the Ring already starting to take its hold on him. I won't give anything away on that, but it's enough to send a chill down your spine.
My verdict: Go see it, as soon as you are physically able to do so! There's more action, more humor, more heart, and of course, Smaug,...I don't think that you will be disappointed.
Kelly: I thought this movie was 10x better than An Unexpected Journey. I feel like that There And Back Again will be a little bit better than this one. I could be wrong. I will share one more tidbit that I really enjoyed, but also some things that didn't roll too well with me. Gosh, I know!
Holly told me about this review of the movie that said the characters lacked "development" and "heart." I have yet to find this review, but I am now offering my rebuttal. Sis touched on this briefly but I'm going to expand on it. What really hit the most with me in the movie was none of the above, but something TOTALLY unexpected. There is a scene between Kili, Oin, Fili, Bofur and Tauriel. I won't give too much away, but there is a moment between Kili and Tauriel that is NOT romantic but rather a series of beautiful encounters that just stick with me. It is by far probably one of the most beautiful pieces of a movie or TV show that I have ever seen. Ever. Like "oh my gosh my eyes were watering of the beauty" kind of beautiful.
Having said that, there was one thing I didn't really care for, which was in the beginning with Beorn. In the book, the dwarves come in in pairs every 5 minutes in an attempt to plea Beorn into letting them stay in his house. Gandalf all the while is telling their story, and the constant interruptions keep Beorn in suspense and wanting to hear the story. But in the movie, the company literally runs into the house, since Beorn is chasing them, and slams the door in his face. I understand that by sticking with the original story in the book it would have taken time, but still. Nothing similar? But overall it did not hinder from my experience of enjoying the movie, which I did.
I feel like all the actors's performances were above and beyond the first movie. I can see growth in each and every one of them, and my goodness! The roles of their lifetime! But yes, I will repeat what sis said; it is definitely worth a watch! Peter Jackson and the rest of the crew have put out yet another spectacular piece of film. You will thoroughly enjoy it!
Holly: I'll be totally honest, going into this I had absolutely no idea what to expect. Ok, that's not entirely true: I knew that we were going to see Smaug (I mean...duh). I knew that we were going to see Laketown. I knew there was going to be more stuff about The Ring. Aside from that, that's basically all I had to go on. There hadn't been much in terms of advertising: we watched two production blogs from Peter Jackson, one live streaming of the premiere in LA, and a couple TV spots here and there. Compared to AUJ, there was a LOT less media hype.
I'm glad there was a lot less hype. The Desolation of Smaug was leaps and bounds better than what I expected. Leaps. And. Bounds.
I'm not going to delve into all my favorite bits, because, quite frankly, that'd be a whole other post in it of itself (Yes, I really did enjoy it that much). I will share a few things I liked though:
1. SMAUG. Oh. my. gosh. Oh my gosh! Guys, I'm 23 and I was scared, ok? Benedict Cumberbatch was PERFECT. Just perfect. I looooooooooooovvvvvvvveeeeeeeeeeeeedddddddddddddd his voice. And I think a lot of people forget that he literally WAS Smaug: he wasn't just the voice, he did the movements too. So it was Benedict Cumberbatch playing, living, breathing, moving Smaug...asldkfjlakjsdf!!! To those of you who want a brilliant and scary beast, you will not be disappointed.
2. The barrels scene. It's fast-paced, it's wet, it's action-packed, it's like riding a roller coaster. A wet one, with orcs and elves and such. There's even a funny Bombur bit that had Kelly and I rolling! Honestly, that was one of the parts I was most looking forward to and, again, it did not disappoint.
3. Tauriel, the new elf character. I was VERY skeptical at first., but I liked her a lot more than I thought I did. She's fierce, she's a fighter, she kicks serious butt. But she also has a heart to her. There's a scene in Laketown where she heals Kili, and it was such a beautiful scene it brought tears to my eyes. I'm curious to see where the next movie will take her.
I could go on and on. Martin Freeman continues to shine as Bilbo; he just keeps getting better and better. What I loved the most was how he portrays the Ring already starting to take its hold on him. I won't give anything away on that, but it's enough to send a chill down your spine.
My verdict: Go see it, as soon as you are physically able to do so! There's more action, more humor, more heart, and of course, Smaug,...I don't think that you will be disappointed.
Kelly: I thought this movie was 10x better than An Unexpected Journey. I feel like that There And Back Again will be a little bit better than this one. I could be wrong. I will share one more tidbit that I really enjoyed, but also some things that didn't roll too well with me. Gosh, I know!
Holly told me about this review of the movie that said the characters lacked "development" and "heart." I have yet to find this review, but I am now offering my rebuttal. Sis touched on this briefly but I'm going to expand on it. What really hit the most with me in the movie was none of the above, but something TOTALLY unexpected. There is a scene between Kili, Oin, Fili, Bofur and Tauriel. I won't give too much away, but there is a moment between Kili and Tauriel that is NOT romantic but rather a series of beautiful encounters that just stick with me. It is by far probably one of the most beautiful pieces of a movie or TV show that I have ever seen. Ever. Like "oh my gosh my eyes were watering of the beauty" kind of beautiful.
Having said that, there was one thing I didn't really care for, which was in the beginning with Beorn. In the book, the dwarves come in in pairs every 5 minutes in an attempt to plea Beorn into letting them stay in his house. Gandalf all the while is telling their story, and the constant interruptions keep Beorn in suspense and wanting to hear the story. But in the movie, the company literally runs into the house, since Beorn is chasing them, and slams the door in his face. I understand that by sticking with the original story in the book it would have taken time, but still. Nothing similar? But overall it did not hinder from my experience of enjoying the movie, which I did.
I feel like all the actors's performances were above and beyond the first movie. I can see growth in each and every one of them, and my goodness! The roles of their lifetime! But yes, I will repeat what sis said; it is definitely worth a watch! Peter Jackson and the rest of the crew have put out yet another spectacular piece of film. You will thoroughly enjoy it!
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
The Hobbit: what the book and movies mean to us
Holly and Kelly: We are now 10 days away from the second movie of the Hobbit Trilogy; The Desolation of Smaug. Now I am sure that most of you are sick of seeing the stuff we keep posting on our social media sites. Here's just a few reasons why we are so excited for the upcoming flick:
*Lord of the Rings: Yep, we totally missed out on that movie trilogy. We were 11, 12 and 13 when the movies hit the big screen. I remember seeing previews for those movies and thinking how stupid they looked. Someone should have gone Sam with a frying pan to our heads.
*A story of hope, courage and inspiration: When you get past the scary Wargs, Orcs, trolls and goblins, that's exactly what this story is all about. Bilbo is basically an average Joe Hobbit who is so preoccupied with his space and things. But out of the blue, Gandalf takes all that away from him, stating in the movie "it will be very good for you." In my life, God has been the Gandalf in my life; taking away my comforts and putting me on this roller coaster that's called being in a relationship with Him. It's crazy, but worth it!
*The actors and crew: I cannot stress this enough, they really do care about their fans! Peter Jackson was quoted saying "I don't make these movies for the Oscars. I make them for the fans." He also does video blogs and hosts fan events. How many movie makers do you see doing that? Not too many. We were watching the World Premiere last night that took place in Hollywood. The actors spent a LOT of time with the fans signing things, talking to them and taking pictures with them. I will post a video at the end that brings this point home. You'll see what I mean.
*Tolkien; He was a Christian! Need I say more?! If you read the book you will see hidden Christian themes, or at least I do. My favorite is at the end when Gandalf tells Bilbo " you really don't suppose, do you, that all your adventures and escapes were managed by mere luck, just for your sole benefit?" (and yes this is straight out of the book). Bilbo then states "Thank goodness!"
*Our faith: We can honestly believe that these stories have strengthened our faith and relationship with Christ. When you read about Bilbo and his struggles, Frodo and his struggles and the other characters and their struggles, you know they're real, even though the characters are not. Let's face it; we've all dealt with fear, pride, worry and doubt, and we've all had a Sam or a Gandalf in our lives to help us fight the good fight. Accountability partners? Exactly. I read about these struggles, reflect upon mine, am inspired and I thank God for what He has brought me through and for blessing us with an author and movie director that has inspired many, ourselves included. So there. Now you have it.
Prepare to grab some tissues for this one.
*Lord of the Rings: Yep, we totally missed out on that movie trilogy. We were 11, 12 and 13 when the movies hit the big screen. I remember seeing previews for those movies and thinking how stupid they looked. Someone should have gone Sam with a frying pan to our heads.
*A story of hope, courage and inspiration: When you get past the scary Wargs, Orcs, trolls and goblins, that's exactly what this story is all about. Bilbo is basically an average Joe Hobbit who is so preoccupied with his space and things. But out of the blue, Gandalf takes all that away from him, stating in the movie "it will be very good for you." In my life, God has been the Gandalf in my life; taking away my comforts and putting me on this roller coaster that's called being in a relationship with Him. It's crazy, but worth it!
*The actors and crew: I cannot stress this enough, they really do care about their fans! Peter Jackson was quoted saying "I don't make these movies for the Oscars. I make them for the fans." He also does video blogs and hosts fan events. How many movie makers do you see doing that? Not too many. We were watching the World Premiere last night that took place in Hollywood. The actors spent a LOT of time with the fans signing things, talking to them and taking pictures with them. I will post a video at the end that brings this point home. You'll see what I mean.
*Tolkien; He was a Christian! Need I say more?! If you read the book you will see hidden Christian themes, or at least I do. My favorite is at the end when Gandalf tells Bilbo " you really don't suppose, do you, that all your adventures and escapes were managed by mere luck, just for your sole benefit?" (and yes this is straight out of the book). Bilbo then states "Thank goodness!"
*Our faith: We can honestly believe that these stories have strengthened our faith and relationship with Christ. When you read about Bilbo and his struggles, Frodo and his struggles and the other characters and their struggles, you know they're real, even though the characters are not. Let's face it; we've all dealt with fear, pride, worry and doubt, and we've all had a Sam or a Gandalf in our lives to help us fight the good fight. Accountability partners? Exactly. I read about these struggles, reflect upon mine, am inspired and I thank God for what He has brought me through and for blessing us with an author and movie director that has inspired many, ourselves included. So there. Now you have it.
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