Kelly: So before I went to bed last night, I wrote a thing. It's kind of a long thing. Bear with me, for sometimes when God speaks, He speaks volume!
If more of us valued food, cheer and song over hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.
Thorin Oakenshield utters those words to Bilbo as he takes his final breath. Prior to these words being spoken, a great battle took place in Middle Earth. But in this battle, no winner was declared. There were no victories to be celebrated. And this battle was over what? A pile of coins and perhaps a teeny bit of redemption. How often do we do this in our own life? Fight over and sometimes for things that in the end leave us with nothing? I know I have many times before, and like Thorin, I'm questioning my choices to God, because others like Bilbo along the way have showed me how much greatness God has given me. God promises us food that will never leave us hungry! In His word, constantly, all the time. His word is always there and we can go to it anytime and our hunger won't return void. It's never ending food, full of promises from THE ultimate Provider.
Philippians 4:4 says to rejoice in the Lord always. God has given you and me plenty, and over and over He has proved to me just how worthy He is. Like Gandalf says to Bilbo near the end of their journey "for you are one small hobbit in a wide world." Bilbo's response is "thank goodness!" That's exactly how I feel. I am so humbled by His grace and grateful that He is God and I am not. Thank goodness that God knows exactly what He is doing, because if it were just me on my own, I don't even know. There is absolutely no way all that has occurred in my life is mere random chance. Absolutely no way. It's God and God alone, because to me nothing else makes sense. So I have no choice but to thank Him for all He has done for me and will continue to do for me, because I sure as heck don't deserve it.
Psalm 100 says to shout for joy to the LORD all the Earth, and to worship the Lord with gladness. We are to enter his praises with thanksgiving. I've had people say to me they know I am a Christian and admire me for the way I handle certain situations. And I say it's not me; it's God in me. The way I see it is this; I can hold onto all my junk that comes my way, be angry, swing at anything that moves and hoard all my anger, frustration, bitterness, whatever, just like Thorin did with his gold. He refused to part with it, even though he promised to share in the wealth. And look what happened! He went nuts! He doubted himself, his mind, and even his own family. He reached a point where nothing or no one could be trusted, even himself. It's not easy sometimes, but instead I resound to do my best to lay it all down to God's feet and let Him deal with it. Because we can't carry all our junk to Heaven anyway, so why not do our best to just let it go? Trust me, I'm writing this for myself as much as I am to anyone who reads this. We are called to store our treasures in jars of clay so they don't collect dust or moth balls, and that we don't end up like Thorin. What treasures do you have in jars of clay? What do I have? What would you like to have stored that would please God?
These words are what Tolkien's work has done to me. Exploring hidden theology in a movie or book by digging deeper into Scripture and examining my own walk with God. I think that God wires us to like what we like. Seriously. And there are foundational reasons for our likes, but I think in everything there's perhaps something a bit deeper as well. And I think it's true when they say God is in all things; all we have to do is let Him in to all of our things. Even our love for Bilbo's adventures.
Showing posts with label The Hobbit. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Hobbit. Show all posts
Monday, December 22, 2014
Sunday, December 21, 2014
One Last Time
Holly and Kelly: Dear readers, we apologize for not updating in a while. It has been a very crazy month of going here there and everywhere. But we are fine, all is well and now we are back. Thanks for hanging tough and bearing with us.
Yesterday was the final hurrah. The big finale. The movie to end all movies. The Battle of the Five Armies. And it was glorious. It was also a time of gathering. As you all know, in September we attended ALEP (see our post on ALEP weekend here!) and met some pretty awesome people during that time. It was discussed at that time that there was a group who usually met up in December to see the current Hobbit movie in Nicholasville (about an hour from Berea). This group met up at Shaker Village the night before for a merry gathering, since it's almost Christmas. So needless to say we jumped all over that! We stayed at the village Friday night and got to meet up with some of the folks we met in September for snacks, conversation, laughing, a long slideshow and a little bit of tasty wine. Come Saturday we rolled out to Brannon's Crossing in Nickyville and gathered at the theater for pictures and a bit of singing, such as Misty Mountains and I See Fire- which was pretty incredible. Before we knew it there were other people taking pictures and videos of all of us, as the majority of the group were in costumes. It was awesome. Truly awesome. We kept saying "I love us." This group, these movies, as Kelly said, it was a celebration of the Christmas season, the love of Tolkien and Peter Jackson's work, how the books/movies have impacted us and our lives, and celebrating each other.
Now for our movie opinion; we LOVED it!!! We don't want to give too much away, because that's just not nice and we went into this movie having read no reviews, not viewed any clips, or seen anything else other than just the trailer. We expected a few things, naturally, just because we're fairly familiar with the book, but it far surpassed our expectations! There were quite a few moments that really surprised us, and of course, there were things that we weren't too thrilled with (but that's the case with the previous 2 Hobbit movies, and even LOTR too). But what really made this movie special, aside from it being the last Middle Earth hurrah, was the company that was able to witness this cinematic adventure with us. Many we met from AL3P, but we didn't get to have as many in-depth conversations and fellowship as we had wished (though there was still plenty!!), so it was really memorable to share life with these people. We all come from such different walks of life, such different parts of the world, and when we all come together united by this love for Tolkien, wonderful things happen. Now every time we see Five Armies, we'll think of this group, this family that we've been so fortunate to be welcomed into. Plus...Billy Boyd's closing song is complete perfection to the end of an incredible movie series...and to our parting. We will see each other soon, though. There is no such thing as goodbye!
So ends this day
The road is now calling
And I must away
Over hill and under tree
Through lands where light has never shone
By silver streams that run down to the Sea
Under cloud, beneath the stars
Over snow one winter's morn
I turn at last to paths that lead home
And though where the road then takes me, I cannot tell
We came all this way
But now comes the day to bid you farewell
Yesterday was the final hurrah. The big finale. The movie to end all movies. The Battle of the Five Armies. And it was glorious. It was also a time of gathering. As you all know, in September we attended ALEP (see our post on ALEP weekend here!) and met some pretty awesome people during that time. It was discussed at that time that there was a group who usually met up in December to see the current Hobbit movie in Nicholasville (about an hour from Berea). This group met up at Shaker Village the night before for a merry gathering, since it's almost Christmas. So needless to say we jumped all over that! We stayed at the village Friday night and got to meet up with some of the folks we met in September for snacks, conversation, laughing, a long slideshow and a little bit of tasty wine. Come Saturday we rolled out to Brannon's Crossing in Nickyville and gathered at the theater for pictures and a bit of singing, such as Misty Mountains and I See Fire- which was pretty incredible. Before we knew it there were other people taking pictures and videos of all of us, as the majority of the group were in costumes. It was awesome. Truly awesome. We kept saying "I love us." This group, these movies, as Kelly said, it was a celebration of the Christmas season, the love of Tolkien and Peter Jackson's work, how the books/movies have impacted us and our lives, and celebrating each other.
Now for our movie opinion; we LOVED it!!! We don't want to give too much away, because that's just not nice and we went into this movie having read no reviews, not viewed any clips, or seen anything else other than just the trailer. We expected a few things, naturally, just because we're fairly familiar with the book, but it far surpassed our expectations! There were quite a few moments that really surprised us, and of course, there were things that we weren't too thrilled with (but that's the case with the previous 2 Hobbit movies, and even LOTR too). But what really made this movie special, aside from it being the last Middle Earth hurrah, was the company that was able to witness this cinematic adventure with us. Many we met from AL3P, but we didn't get to have as many in-depth conversations and fellowship as we had wished (though there was still plenty!!), so it was really memorable to share life with these people. We all come from such different walks of life, such different parts of the world, and when we all come together united by this love for Tolkien, wonderful things happen. Now every time we see Five Armies, we'll think of this group, this family that we've been so fortunate to be welcomed into. Plus...Billy Boyd's closing song is complete perfection to the end of an incredible movie series...and to our parting. We will see each other soon, though. There is no such thing as goodbye!
So ends this day
The road is now calling
And I must away
Over hill and under tree
Through lands where light has never shone
By silver streams that run down to the Sea
Under cloud, beneath the stars
Over snow one winter's morn
I turn at last to paths that lead home
And though where the road then takes me, I cannot tell
We came all this way
But now comes the day to bid you farewell
 |
| One Last Time! (Photo c/o Kelly Gable) |
Monday, September 29, 2014
ALEP: More than just a long expected party
Holly and Kelly: I would also add sister bonding, music, weekend, unity and silly things to the labels part of this blog, but the label section cut me off after 200 characters. So much for that. Anyway, YES. This was the weekend of ALEP: A Long Expected Party. Now what was it? Fun, fellowship, geeking out, costumes, music, food, dancing, skits, workshops and PEOPLE. Lots of people! From all over the country and in some parts of the world...mostly Canada. It started this past Wednesday and concluded yesterday, and most people bought passes for the entire couple of days. As for the two of us, because we didn't know what we were going to be doing work wise and schedule wise, we opted for a Saturday day pass (bear in mind, we made these reservations 18 months ago. Not even joking. You wouldn't believe how fast spots filled up) And we're going to try and get some friends to come with us in 2017!!!!
We arrived Friday night around 7PM and checked into our room. Little did we know that's when the adventure would begin. We stayed in the West Lot Dwelling, which if you've ever been to Shaker Village, you know that....well, it's kind of out there. A mile and a half out there, away from the main part of the village. By the time we arrived it was starting to get dark. We got in the car and drove to the house, couldn't see the sign (which we figured out later that that was it) and then realized maybe we missed it and drove back to the main part of the village. We walked around for over an hour, going into the different houses where people stayed, desperately trying to find our room! Then, it dawned on me, maybe the building we saw the first time was it. So we drove allllllllllllll the way back out there (and it was dark by this point) and went to the first building we found, and sure enough, that was it. Holly's room key had two keys on it and mine only had one; the check in person at the desk said that she didn't need the second key but said to just keep it there so they wouldn't have to worry about it. We got to the West Lot house and the door was locked. I told her "try that other key the desk person said was useless" and sure enough, that spare key opened the side door. Thank GOODNESS we had it, otherwise we would have been stuck. So we moved all our stuff in, got settled and drove BACK to the main area, chilled out at the Dancing Pony, met a few people and that was the end of Friday. There were lots of catchy drinking songs; yes we have videos but they are too big and Blogger doesn't like that.
The big party was at the site where our house was we were staying at, so we took naps! The party site looked pretty much dead-on to Bilbo's birthday party in Fellowship. There was also a Bag End site that was built by two of the coordinators of ALEP. Let me tell you it is a SPOT ON replica (pictured below). Holly also did a Bag End painting about a year ago...it's in our den :)
We arrived Friday night around 7PM and checked into our room. Little did we know that's when the adventure would begin. We stayed in the West Lot Dwelling, which if you've ever been to Shaker Village, you know that....well, it's kind of out there. A mile and a half out there, away from the main part of the village. By the time we arrived it was starting to get dark. We got in the car and drove to the house, couldn't see the sign (which we figured out later that that was it) and then realized maybe we missed it and drove back to the main part of the village. We walked around for over an hour, going into the different houses where people stayed, desperately trying to find our room! Then, it dawned on me, maybe the building we saw the first time was it. So we drove allllllllllllll the way back out there (and it was dark by this point) and went to the first building we found, and sure enough, that was it. Holly's room key had two keys on it and mine only had one; the check in person at the desk said that she didn't need the second key but said to just keep it there so they wouldn't have to worry about it. We got to the West Lot house and the door was locked. I told her "try that other key the desk person said was useless" and sure enough, that spare key opened the side door. Thank GOODNESS we had it, otherwise we would have been stuck. So we moved all our stuff in, got settled and drove BACK to the main area, chilled out at the Dancing Pony, met a few people and that was the end of Friday. There were lots of catchy drinking songs; yes we have videos but they are too big and Blogger doesn't like that.
Saturday was a beautiful day! We got up early and I (Kelly) went downstairs to the kitchen and fumbled around trying to figure out how to use the complimentary coffee maker. It worked, after about 5 minutes of tinkering with it. Once we got to the main village, we just walked around, since nothing started till 10 in the morning and we got up there at like 9ish. It was nice to look around, explore and actually see all the sites in daylight! We ran into a few people we met the night before and bought some cool little trinkets (and I bought an Evenstar!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) Right before lunch time we went to a workshop by an artist who showcased various paintings and sketches of Middle Earth from the beginning of it until the fourth age (the end of Middle Earth). Oh. My Goodness. Beautiful and stunning artwork....kinda wish we would have snagged some pictures of them. After lunch was a bit of chill time before we decided to join the Hobbit choir. Our selections were May it Be and The Road Goes Ever On, which is from the musical. Yes, there is a LOTR musical and apparently will be world touring next year. Wee.
The big party was at the site where our house was we were staying at, so we took naps! The party site looked pretty much dead-on to Bilbo's birthday party in Fellowship. There was also a Bag End site that was built by two of the coordinators of ALEP. Let me tell you it is a SPOT ON replica (pictured below). Holly also did a Bag End painting about a year ago...it's in our den :)
So anyway, thus the party began. It was all outside and there were tables and chairs set up under lights and paper lanterns. Like I said, it looked exactly like Hobbiton. We were joined at a table with the only person we knew at the time and met lots of other awesome people! What was so interesting was that we were some of the youngest attendees, with the exception of a few families who brought their young children. At this party, there was AWESOME food, music (major kudos to the Great Hobbit Jam Band) and a HILARIOUS skit near the end. I would post my video, but Lord of the peepers took over and its sound quality is a bit rubbish, but I still have it for my enjoyment. Holly has a video as well, but its watchers may endure a grand mal seizure in an attempt to view it. Anyway, after the sun went down it got a bit chilly but there were gracious individuals who were warm hearted...and also had a few matches to spare for some lanterns that had tea lights in them. After a final parting song, we made our way back to the Dancing Pony again where we chatted, nibbled and had some lovely tea and used our new tea pots. Then it turned into a mini bar where a bit of drunken foolishness occurred and we left. This was at about 1AM and we got back to our room and craaaaaaaaashed.
Sunday was very lovely. We arose a bit early, packed up our room and drove to the main village again. Debbie, who we knew and goes to our church and told us about this in the first place, led a mini church service so to speak. None of us were expecting a good turnout but actually about 20 people showed up! We sang, prayed and Debbie shared a devotional that she wrote, and it was lovely. After mini church, we stayed around for a bit and watched a fan made movie called The Hunt for Gollum. For being done by fans, it was really well done! The cinematography was stunning! Then we drove home, and on the way home my GPS got a bit wonky and we ended up driving through Danville. It was a nice detour to say the least. So there you have it. ALEP in a nut shell. Overall, the time was too short. It was too fast. We met a lot of awesome people, some only briefly, but there is no doubt we will meet again. It was more than just a bunch of costumes, dancing and food. It was a retreat, so to speak. A revamping of it all, not necessarily an escape, but a respite. It was different and special. And on that note, we will close with this:
I (Holly) wrote this in my journal last night, and I think it captures the spirit and mentality of the weekend perfectly. Until 2017...
I met so many wonderful people, all from such vast and different walks of life. And yet, despite our differences, backgrounds, characters of choice, we were all bonded and united by this one love of this brilliant soul and his magical world that will forever captivate us...I pray for a continued, prolonged sense of wonder, that we will establish our own Shires, wherever we may be, and that we will never, ever lose sight of not only the time spent together this weekend, but of the One who made it all possible in the first place.
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.
Sunday, September 22, 2013
A brief, one-sided reflection of Hobbit Day
Holly: In the spirit of Hobbit Day (September 22nd, Bilbo and Frodo's birthday), with the seasons turning, cooler weather approaching, The Return of the King complete recordings playing, me halfway through Fellowship of the Ring, I feel compelled to write.
I wrote in my journal not too long ago about Lord of the Rings, Tolkien himself, and what this world, this Middle Earth, has done for me and my life. I won't divulge entirely in the details, although I may post the entire entry at some future date, but I noted that I think, through my journey to Middle Earth, through both film and book, that I feel I have drawn closer to God as a result. I feel at peace when I think of the hobbits I so relate to, of the wondrous descriptions of all the splendors Middle Earth has to offer. They taught me to trust, to love, to feel unabashedly. I draw strength from the music and from the books, and I thank God for this. He has put people in my life who love Tolkien and his world, and who introduced myself to it. I thank God because He knows how to speak to His children. I thank God for Tolkien, who was inspired to bring Middle Earth to life, a world that gives so many people hope, even so many years after his passing. I hope to someday pay my respects to Tolkien.
I think of the chaotic week that lies before me, and I have prayed fervently, and I know others have done the same for me. But as Sam so eloquently says "Even darkness must pass." And as I continue on my reading, my complete recordings listening, the open windows of my apartment letting in the cool of the day, the birds all about, the sun shining in and providing warmth to my cats, I think of what Frodo went through, what Bilbo went through, what I've gone through and what God has brought me through. I'm not where I want to be, but I'm not where I used to be. For today, I choose to just be. To just be absorbed in my own little piece of Middle Earth, to celebrate 2 hobbits I dearly cherish. "Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer."
I wrote in my journal not too long ago about Lord of the Rings, Tolkien himself, and what this world, this Middle Earth, has done for me and my life. I won't divulge entirely in the details, although I may post the entire entry at some future date, but I noted that I think, through my journey to Middle Earth, through both film and book, that I feel I have drawn closer to God as a result. I feel at peace when I think of the hobbits I so relate to, of the wondrous descriptions of all the splendors Middle Earth has to offer. They taught me to trust, to love, to feel unabashedly. I draw strength from the music and from the books, and I thank God for this. He has put people in my life who love Tolkien and his world, and who introduced myself to it. I thank God because He knows how to speak to His children. I thank God for Tolkien, who was inspired to bring Middle Earth to life, a world that gives so many people hope, even so many years after his passing. I hope to someday pay my respects to Tolkien.
I think of the chaotic week that lies before me, and I have prayed fervently, and I know others have done the same for me. But as Sam so eloquently says "Even darkness must pass." And as I continue on my reading, my complete recordings listening, the open windows of my apartment letting in the cool of the day, the birds all about, the sun shining in and providing warmth to my cats, I think of what Frodo went through, what Bilbo went through, what I've gone through and what God has brought me through. I'm not where I want to be, but I'm not where I used to be. For today, I choose to just be. To just be absorbed in my own little piece of Middle Earth, to celebrate 2 hobbits I dearly cherish. "Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer."
"We may stand, if only on one leg, or at least be left still upon our knees."
Friday, July 12, 2013
30 Days of Sherlock: Free-for-all #2
Holly and Kelly: This just in fresh from Peter Jackson's Facebook page this morning. Needless to say, we could not resist sharing. Have a happy Friday and weekend to all! :)
Saturday, June 22, 2013
I want that!/I really need that: Two girls struggling to learn the differences
Holly: The other day I was thinking of this very question, and it's really struck me ever since: If you had everything you wanted, everything you REALLY wanted...would it change anything? What struck me the most is that, for me anyway, the answer would probably be no.
Sure, if I had a million dollars, it would change my financial situation, but it wouldn't change me as a person. If Martin Freeman walked into my apartment and said "Holly, be my wife", it would change my relationship status, but it wouldn't change me as a person (Ok, maybe that's not the best example). But do you understand what I'm saying? Think about it: When you finally get something you really, really want, how does it make you feel? Probably ecstatic, at first. But feelings fade and change over time. Eventually, it just feels like another routine, another brick set into a growing wall. Something I've learned is that things don't change me: time does, experiences do, God does. I've done a lot of growing up since being on my own...probably more so in this past week alone. Eventually, when it's all said and done, I think at some point you say everything that can be said and do everything that can be done. It has to be enough. Our society is so selfish: let's see what we can do to get everyone desiring bigger, better, faster, stronger, damned if we do, damned if we don't. What's wrong with being satisfied with what you already have? Right now, there's a lot of unknowns in my life, but I'm the happiest and the most at peace I've been in a long time. I have everything I need...even if it isn't everything I necessarily want.
I think of Bilbo Baggins in his sweeping quest: something "Tookish" awakes in him and he's suddenly longing for adventure, thrills, a rip-roaring good time. But look what happens: he's attacked by trolls, spiders, elves, almost drowns, is caught in a humongous battle, among other things. Is what you REALLY want really worth the possible repercussions?
Kelly: Often the scream of protest when something goes our way, or you didn't get what you wanted...again. Life is cruel sometimes, ain't it? As a result of some events that have happened this week, I've done a lot of growing up. I suppose I'm a lot stronger than I thought I was. For the sake of privacy I'm not going to go into detail of the events, but all is well. Eventually you get to a point in which you can't say anymore or do anything else, for it has all been said and done already. You win some and you lose some. I've prayed and made my peace with the situation. Anyway, as I was thinking last night about the events of this week and other things, I realized that one thing that I needed was some sort of closure. But the more Holly and I kept talking, the more I realized that it wasn't something I needed; just something I wanted. But we continued to talk more, and I realized that I didn't even want it at all. I was somehow trying to justify something that simply cannot be. Like I said, it's all already been said and done.
Last night as I was wrapping up my daily quiet time, I wrote in my journal, thanking God for how He has blessed me lately. I closed by writing that I was thankful for always having everything that I need, and thanking Him that He did not give me everything that I wanted. That would be quite scary; me having everything I wanted. I feel if that were so, I would completely lose dependence on God...sometimes I already feel like that. It's like I feel like a child who has lost her mom in a crowded shopping mall. I then though of something else; and yes, you can't have an H and K blog post without some sort of reference. When the new Hobbit movie trailer was released, I was quite pleased with the fact that Smaug's voice still remained hidden. Leave room for a little bit of mystery come December. That's what it's like with living with God; if He granted us everything we wanted, we'd all be stagnant. The mystery that is Christ Himself would no longer be. So I'll close with this; do you really NEED what you are seeking, or do you just want it?
Sure, if I had a million dollars, it would change my financial situation, but it wouldn't change me as a person. If Martin Freeman walked into my apartment and said "Holly, be my wife", it would change my relationship status, but it wouldn't change me as a person (Ok, maybe that's not the best example). But do you understand what I'm saying? Think about it: When you finally get something you really, really want, how does it make you feel? Probably ecstatic, at first. But feelings fade and change over time. Eventually, it just feels like another routine, another brick set into a growing wall. Something I've learned is that things don't change me: time does, experiences do, God does. I've done a lot of growing up since being on my own...probably more so in this past week alone. Eventually, when it's all said and done, I think at some point you say everything that can be said and do everything that can be done. It has to be enough. Our society is so selfish: let's see what we can do to get everyone desiring bigger, better, faster, stronger, damned if we do, damned if we don't. What's wrong with being satisfied with what you already have? Right now, there's a lot of unknowns in my life, but I'm the happiest and the most at peace I've been in a long time. I have everything I need...even if it isn't everything I necessarily want.
I think of Bilbo Baggins in his sweeping quest: something "Tookish" awakes in him and he's suddenly longing for adventure, thrills, a rip-roaring good time. But look what happens: he's attacked by trolls, spiders, elves, almost drowns, is caught in a humongous battle, among other things. Is what you REALLY want really worth the possible repercussions?
Kelly: Often the scream of protest when something goes our way, or you didn't get what you wanted...again. Life is cruel sometimes, ain't it? As a result of some events that have happened this week, I've done a lot of growing up. I suppose I'm a lot stronger than I thought I was. For the sake of privacy I'm not going to go into detail of the events, but all is well. Eventually you get to a point in which you can't say anymore or do anything else, for it has all been said and done already. You win some and you lose some. I've prayed and made my peace with the situation. Anyway, as I was thinking last night about the events of this week and other things, I realized that one thing that I needed was some sort of closure. But the more Holly and I kept talking, the more I realized that it wasn't something I needed; just something I wanted. But we continued to talk more, and I realized that I didn't even want it at all. I was somehow trying to justify something that simply cannot be. Like I said, it's all already been said and done.
Last night as I was wrapping up my daily quiet time, I wrote in my journal, thanking God for how He has blessed me lately. I closed by writing that I was thankful for always having everything that I need, and thanking Him that He did not give me everything that I wanted. That would be quite scary; me having everything I wanted. I feel if that were so, I would completely lose dependence on God...sometimes I already feel like that. It's like I feel like a child who has lost her mom in a crowded shopping mall. I then though of something else; and yes, you can't have an H and K blog post without some sort of reference. When the new Hobbit movie trailer was released, I was quite pleased with the fact that Smaug's voice still remained hidden. Leave room for a little bit of mystery come December. That's what it's like with living with God; if He granted us everything we wanted, we'd all be stagnant. The mystery that is Christ Himself would no longer be. So I'll close with this; do you really NEED what you are seeking, or do you just want it?
Sunday, May 19, 2013
30 Days of Writing; Something you're excited for.
Holly and Kelly: ALEP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In case you're wondering what that means, ALEP stands for A Long Expected Party. We first heard about it from someone at church who is also a huge Ringer (bigger than us) and had a part in helping us board the LOTR bandwagon. It takes place in Harrodsburg, which lucky for us is only about an hour away from here! Though we will have to continue to wait and anticipate what joy and fun shall surely come; ALEP is not happening until next September. However we have already put our names in and are working towards paying our dues, and it's a weekend long event but due to time and $$$ we're only going for one day. If you are interested in what goes on at ALEP, I've put the website below if you want to find out more about it! We are so freaking excited and can't wait!!! (There's also a Facebook page!)
A Long Expected Party: The Road Goes Ever On
Thus concludes our 30-day writing challenge. We enjoyed it and hope you all had fun watching us partake in the writing challenges! We will resume regular blog content shortly!
In case you're wondering what that means, ALEP stands for A Long Expected Party. We first heard about it from someone at church who is also a huge Ringer (bigger than us) and had a part in helping us board the LOTR bandwagon. It takes place in Harrodsburg, which lucky for us is only about an hour away from here! Though we will have to continue to wait and anticipate what joy and fun shall surely come; ALEP is not happening until next September. However we have already put our names in and are working towards paying our dues, and it's a weekend long event but due to time and $$$ we're only going for one day. If you are interested in what goes on at ALEP, I've put the website below if you want to find out more about it! We are so freaking excited and can't wait!!! (There's also a Facebook page!)
A Long Expected Party: The Road Goes Ever On
Thus concludes our 30-day writing challenge. We enjoyed it and hope you all had fun watching us partake in the writing challenges! We will resume regular blog content shortly!
Saturday, April 13, 2013
30 Days of Writing: A book you love
Holly: It took me a long time to come up with this one because, like Kelly, there are so many books I love. Originally I was going to talk about "The Five People You Meet in Heaven", but a friend who we are inspired by chose that...didn't want to steal her thunder. You should read that, though. I mulled over a few more (eventually deciding to scrap "The Hobbit" too) until I decided on this:
Kelly: Well, this one is tricky. I mean, there are a lot of books I love. I could talk about The Bible, which would be an obvious choice, I suppose. It is a good book if you haven't had the chance to read it yet. I was going to talk about The Hobbit, but we all know I could give my LOTR/Hobbit likeness a break. So I figured I'd talk about the best of both worlds:
Holly and I found this book through our recommendations on Amazon. Having not heard of it, we decided to give it a try. We read and discussed two chapters/week, which took us about 3 months to get through the entire book. Even though it was about The Hobbit, I really enjoyed it because it helped us see so many of the Christian themes that are associated with Tolkien's writings and it connected them with Scripture. If you are a Tolkien fan, then this devotional I would definitely recommend!
It tells the story of a young student (the author) who is called to the bedside of a former mentor and professor of his, Morrie, who is suffering from the debilitating end stages of ALS. They had not seen each other since the student, now an accomplished newspaper columnist, had taken classes from him almost 20 years back.
It's a very short read (about 100 pages...I can read it in a day), but full of insight, wisdom, poignant and touching moments. Have a box of tissues handy. For me, it made me think of the professors and mentors that have influenced me and my life. I haven't read it in a while but I will again. A must-read for everyone!
It's a very short read (about 100 pages...I can read it in a day), but full of insight, wisdom, poignant and touching moments. Have a box of tissues handy. For me, it made me think of the professors and mentors that have influenced me and my life. I haven't read it in a while but I will again. A must-read for everyone!
Kelly: Well, this one is tricky. I mean, there are a lot of books I love. I could talk about The Bible, which would be an obvious choice, I suppose. It is a good book if you haven't had the chance to read it yet. I was going to talk about The Hobbit, but we all know I could give my LOTR/Hobbit likeness a break. So I figured I'd talk about the best of both worlds:
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| Walking with Bilbo; A devotional guide through The Hobbit |
Friday, February 1, 2013
"God loves to do big things through little people with big hearts."
Holly: Those were the closing lines of yet another inspiring sermon I heard this past Sunday. Throughout the 45-minute message a recurring theme played over and over in my head.....more like a question: What makes a hero? I'm sure many of you are familiar with the story of Moses. What many people don't know is prior to his divine calling he was a convicted felon (I myself did not remember this part of the story). In addition to this he was far from a public speaker, stricken with a speech impediment. During the burning bush scenario he even BEGS God to use someone else to save his people;. Yet Moses was singlehandedly responsible for one of the greatest people revolutions in history. God saw something in Moses that he didn't see in himself. And let's not forget Paul (started out persecuting Christians but later became a huge part of the New Testament), Rahab (a prostitute), Jesus' mother Mary (a teenager!!!), Peter (kind of a big doof...denied Jesus several times but later is the leader of the church in Ephesus)...I don't really think I need to continue any further.
After church I was talking to Kevin (the pastor) and I told him that I couldn't help but think of The Hobbit/LoTR. Think about it: in The Hobbit, you have Bilbo, who is very comfortable with his food, his life, his things, and out of seemingly nowhere Gandalf shows up and whisks him away on this quest with 13 grotesque, loud, boisterous burping and food-gorging dwarves in order to reclaim their lost homeland. It drags Bilbo WAY out of his comfort zone and even has the dwarves questioning why Gandalf chose this home-loving little person for such a dangerous and unpredictable quest. In LoTR, there's Frodo: a meek young hobbit who voluntarily sends himself into danger's horrendous arms, at the mercy of a powerful little golden ring and an evil eye watching him at all times. Never mind Samwise Gamgee, who decides to go with him. Also, Aragorn: for the better part of the series he's running away from his destiny, taking the form of a ranger from the north instead of the long-awaited king of Gondor. But what you see recurring in these stories is heart. Their hearts outweigh any danger they get themselves into, that despite their sizes, they wholeheartedly strive to do right and make right in the crazy worlds they live in.
Then there's me: I fold clothes at Old Navy. I'm 22 years old, single, living with my sister and another with 2 cats, a Bachelor's degree, and little else. But I speak with the utmost of confidence when I say that I have a BIG heart! I love people so much sometimes it hurts. God sees something in me, in all of us, that we don't, and He knows what he's doing. Gandalf saw something in Bilbo, and perhaps Aragorn and Frodo too. My point in all of this is keep your heart in check, keep it full of love and life, and you never know where life will take you. The Gandalf of your life could come knocking on your door whenever you least expect it.
Kelly: I instantly think of the movie Facing the Giants. One of the football players, David, is a kicker on the team and is a small guy. Throughout the movie he often doubts his performances, isn't very confident in himself and constantly wonders why he was even allowed to be on the team. His father, who can't walk and is wheelchair bound, often tries to tell him to trust God and helps him put things into perspective. But...well I won't spoil it for those who haven't seen it; just watch the movie and see what happens because he definitely redeems himself. I see a lot of David in myself. I too am a very small person. God has richly blessed me with a lot of things, but one of them was not height and that's ok. I've been in nursing school for a number of years now and am about to finish.
Things are...to be honest sort of rough right now for me. Juggling 240 clinical hours to complete, working 15 hours a week, homework and other things have put me on edge a bit. Yesterday was a particularly hard day clinical wise (read my blog about it) and I won't lie and say that we've struggled a time or two to make ends meet. But hey, who hasn't? Yet I thank God for what I do have and all He has done and all He will do, even when I'm between a rock and a hard place. Then I think of the places I've been. This time 3 years ago I was in New Orleans on a mission trip. I met all sorts of wonderful people going through different walks of life who had hearts that were just on fire for God! And these were just ordinary people who felt that God was going to do mighty things with them. And that's where I stand. I don't see it yet, I don't know it yet, but God is going to do great things to me and to those who least expect it. For all I know I could wake up tomorrow and get hit by a bus, because to be honest we never know where this life will take us as Holly said. But if we keep our eyes fixed on God, our mind open to receive what comes our way and if we trust God to give him the "bad" things, then who knows? Faith as small as a mustard seed armed with a little bit of compassion, trust and love for others could go a long way.
After church I was talking to Kevin (the pastor) and I told him that I couldn't help but think of The Hobbit/LoTR. Think about it: in The Hobbit, you have Bilbo, who is very comfortable with his food, his life, his things, and out of seemingly nowhere Gandalf shows up and whisks him away on this quest with 13 grotesque, loud, boisterous burping and food-gorging dwarves in order to reclaim their lost homeland. It drags Bilbo WAY out of his comfort zone and even has the dwarves questioning why Gandalf chose this home-loving little person for such a dangerous and unpredictable quest. In LoTR, there's Frodo: a meek young hobbit who voluntarily sends himself into danger's horrendous arms, at the mercy of a powerful little golden ring and an evil eye watching him at all times. Never mind Samwise Gamgee, who decides to go with him. Also, Aragorn: for the better part of the series he's running away from his destiny, taking the form of a ranger from the north instead of the long-awaited king of Gondor. But what you see recurring in these stories is heart. Their hearts outweigh any danger they get themselves into, that despite their sizes, they wholeheartedly strive to do right and make right in the crazy worlds they live in.
Then there's me: I fold clothes at Old Navy. I'm 22 years old, single, living with my sister and another with 2 cats, a Bachelor's degree, and little else. But I speak with the utmost of confidence when I say that I have a BIG heart! I love people so much sometimes it hurts. God sees something in me, in all of us, that we don't, and He knows what he's doing. Gandalf saw something in Bilbo, and perhaps Aragorn and Frodo too. My point in all of this is keep your heart in check, keep it full of love and life, and you never know where life will take you. The Gandalf of your life could come knocking on your door whenever you least expect it.
Kelly: I instantly think of the movie Facing the Giants. One of the football players, David, is a kicker on the team and is a small guy. Throughout the movie he often doubts his performances, isn't very confident in himself and constantly wonders why he was even allowed to be on the team. His father, who can't walk and is wheelchair bound, often tries to tell him to trust God and helps him put things into perspective. But...well I won't spoil it for those who haven't seen it; just watch the movie and see what happens because he definitely redeems himself. I see a lot of David in myself. I too am a very small person. God has richly blessed me with a lot of things, but one of them was not height and that's ok. I've been in nursing school for a number of years now and am about to finish.
Things are...to be honest sort of rough right now for me. Juggling 240 clinical hours to complete, working 15 hours a week, homework and other things have put me on edge a bit. Yesterday was a particularly hard day clinical wise (read my blog about it) and I won't lie and say that we've struggled a time or two to make ends meet. But hey, who hasn't? Yet I thank God for what I do have and all He has done and all He will do, even when I'm between a rock and a hard place. Then I think of the places I've been. This time 3 years ago I was in New Orleans on a mission trip. I met all sorts of wonderful people going through different walks of life who had hearts that were just on fire for God! And these were just ordinary people who felt that God was going to do mighty things with them. And that's where I stand. I don't see it yet, I don't know it yet, but God is going to do great things to me and to those who least expect it. For all I know I could wake up tomorrow and get hit by a bus, because to be honest we never know where this life will take us as Holly said. But if we keep our eyes fixed on God, our mind open to receive what comes our way and if we trust God to give him the "bad" things, then who knows? Faith as small as a mustard seed armed with a little bit of compassion, trust and love for others could go a long way.
Thursday, January 17, 2013
"Dwarf" Invasion
Holly and Kelly: We are still deep in the trenches of the Hobbit fandemonium, so imagine our utter giddiness when we stumbled across this gem of musical happiness. If it doesn't make you laugh (which it does for us, on many occasions) then we hope it will, at the very least, bring a smile to your face.
The band is from Wellington, NZ, by the way.
The band is from Wellington, NZ, by the way.
Friday, January 4, 2013
First post of 2013: Operations!
Kelly: No, we are all fine. Not THOSE kinds of operations! Anyway, today has been a day full of operations, as I just posted on my facebook. This morning started out with Operation Temporary Cat Refugee. Good friends of ours who live in the apartment building next to us found themselves infestered with roaches!!! We got a call last night asking if we could house their 3 cats and bunny for a few hours while the exterminators sprayed. They chilled out in our bedroom, played in the closet and watched ER with me. It was a good morning. The reason we kept them separated is because Wiley is SUPER alpha male and gets very angry and upset in the presence of other cats. So he was completely oblivious to their appearances while Yoda caught a glimpse of little Aurora (not pictured). She was a bit curious for the day.
Then Holly wanted to rearrange our bedroom. So after the kitties left we turned into Operation Rearrange ALL THE THINGS!!! Tomorrow I will be Operation Ow I Hurt Like Crap because I didn't wear my wrist brace. Tendonitis really sucks sometimes. But the wrist pain actually goes away if I wear my brace for a few days. All will be well in due time :] So after we watched Jeopardy, Holly decided to go check on the kitties again to make sure they were ok. About 10 mins. later, she pokes her head in the door. Mischief (orange kitty pictured) got out! We still don't know how he did!!!! But he did. So we spent 20 minutes trying to chase him down. I eventually grabbed our kitty carrier (he loved it earlier today) and he took the bait. I wouldn't have minded chasing him down, except he thought it was funny and it was FREEZING COLD outside! I could almost here him taunting us. But he is safe and sound back at home. So that was today. A grand day. And now Yoda is asleep on my lap. All is well.
Holly: In addition to the newly-developed Operation Big Screen Bilbo Baggins/Martin Freeman/OMGeezers For The Third Time On Sunday, my current operation is Operation Holly Hopefully Has A New Job So She Can Work And Not Die of Boredom And Stir-Craziness Because Old Navy Is.........aksdjhfkajsldhfa...anyway.
Basically what's going down is I am scheduled for 2 days this upcoming week (Thursday and Friday). Those two days will be my last. Yes, I'm quitting. I'm not going into details, but the basic jist of it is it's not worth the gas money and time for so few hours (I work for 10 hours those 2 days, and I've only worked one other shift). By the way, I have not made that public yet so I would appreciate it if this was kept on the down low...other than you fine people the only other person I have told about this is my mom. I know you all won't say anything, but just wanted to be up front. Plus, I have been offered another job (hopefully...we're still working the kinks out). It will cut my commute time from 35 minutes to about 5, which is a HUGE blessing. I can't really say much else (really...I can't), but please pray/send good vibes/do whatever you do.
About all to report here. Go be nice to some people. And chase some kitties. And if you haven't seen The Hobbit yet, I pity you.
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| 2/4 refugees for the morning :] |
Holly: In addition to the newly-developed Operation Big Screen Bilbo Baggins/Martin Freeman/OMGeezers For The Third Time On Sunday, my current operation is Operation Holly Hopefully Has A New Job So She Can Work And Not Die of Boredom And Stir-Craziness Because Old Navy Is.........aksdjhfkajsldhfa...anyway.
Basically what's going down is I am scheduled for 2 days this upcoming week (Thursday and Friday). Those two days will be my last. Yes, I'm quitting. I'm not going into details, but the basic jist of it is it's not worth the gas money and time for so few hours (I work for 10 hours those 2 days, and I've only worked one other shift). By the way, I have not made that public yet so I would appreciate it if this was kept on the down low...other than you fine people the only other person I have told about this is my mom. I know you all won't say anything, but just wanted to be up front. Plus, I have been offered another job (hopefully...we're still working the kinks out). It will cut my commute time from 35 minutes to about 5, which is a HUGE blessing. I can't really say much else (really...I can't), but please pray/send good vibes/do whatever you do.
About all to report here. Go be nice to some people. And chase some kitties. And if you haven't seen The Hobbit yet, I pity you.
Monday, December 31, 2012
"Enjoy the journey of life and not just the endgame." -2012 in review
Kelly: Great quote by a great individual. Starting tomorrow is 2013. WOW!!! It is amazing to me how fast this year has gone by! So many wonderful blessings have been achieved by this year that I can't even begin to comprehend. Moving into our own place, falling in love with 2 of the greatest kitty cats in the world (just a bit biased), getting introduced to Sherlock and LOTR, and for me, being one more semester closer to graduating with a BSN degree!!!!! May 5 is the day! Almost four months to go.
Now normally, next would follow a list of cookie-cutter resolutions, such as I want to lose weight, get closer to God, save my money, etc. I'm not doing that for 2013. I have resolved to not make any resolutions. Instead of resolving, I am going to ENJOY. Enjoy what God has given to me, how He has blessed me and I am going to enjoy growing in Him more as a follower instead of merely a fan. I'm going to enjoy being healthier, because I am healthier, but I'm going to enjoy a treat every now and then and not feel guilty about it. I'm going to enjoy my last semester as an undergraduate and not just seek the end result which is to walk across a stage for 10 seconds, shake Dr. Roelof's hand and have him give me my degree. No. I'm going to do my best to enjoy my last semester and take advantage of every opportunity to be joyful and to thank God for His joy that comes through knowing Him.
I'm ready. I'm ready for what 2013 has in store for me. Though I'm not entirely sure what it will bring, I am prepared for whatever may come my way, good or bad. If the good comes, I will do my best to give credit where it is due. If bad comes my way, I will do my best to not run from the situation but instead face it and rely on God and my own strength to get through it. I refuse to be stagnant, go through the motions and blame others for my own wrong doings. I will be responsible for my words and my actions. But most importantly I will continue to grow as the daughter in Christ I am destined to be. How will I do that? I don't know yet, but He knows. And I have resolved to give everything to Him. Ready or not 2013, here I come!
Holly: We have come to the end of another year. I think this one has gone faster than any I can remember in a long time. When I started out the year I was still in school. Since then I've graduated, gotten my degree, bid "see you later" to some pretty amazing people, moved out on my own, had a couple "real" jobs.
I did note some resolutions at the beginning of the year. I honestly don't remember them (all except 1...ask me about it, it will give you a good laugh! lol). I could do that now, but like Kelly, I'm not going to. Instead, like her, I'm going to enjoy LIFE!!! I'm going to smile, laugh, cry, be enthralled, swept away, mesmerized, scared, worried. I'm going to make time for my friends, both near and far. Saying "please", "thank you", and "I love you" go SO far! There are people in my life who have inspired me, challenged me, in numerous ways...I want to tell them! I'm going to read an ACTUAL book! Or several, Lord willing. I'm going to thank God every day for what I have and ask for His mercy to shower those who are not as fortunate as I am. I'm going to wait with bated breath for the return of Sherlock and our first glimpse at Smaug. I have several potential job opportunities awaiting me even as I type this; I'm going to get my bearings, investigate, and move forward, always seeking God's will. I don't know if that includes Old Navy. We will just see. Most importantly, I'm going to do my absolute best to live like Christ.
I honestly don't know what awaits me in 2013. Maybe I'll get a job I could have never imagined...or there's one waiting for me right now and I just don't know it yet. Maybe I'll meet my future husband. Who knows? But I'm 22, I'm still young and eager for life! 2012 was such a great year for me; 2013 can only get better! :)
I hope that all of you who read this are able to look back at 2012 with smiles, laughter, and even perhaps a few tears. In 2013 I hope that if you are weak, you will look to those you love for strength. I hope that if you are weary, tired, that you will get rest. I hope that if you have been in the despairing shadow of unemployment, opportunity will come. I hope that if you have been faced with some difficult circumstances, that you will summon your inner strength to accept them with grace and move on.
Be safe, everyone. Thank you for an amazing year. See you all when the ball drops. :)
Now normally, next would follow a list of cookie-cutter resolutions, such as I want to lose weight, get closer to God, save my money, etc. I'm not doing that for 2013. I have resolved to not make any resolutions. Instead of resolving, I am going to ENJOY. Enjoy what God has given to me, how He has blessed me and I am going to enjoy growing in Him more as a follower instead of merely a fan. I'm going to enjoy being healthier, because I am healthier, but I'm going to enjoy a treat every now and then and not feel guilty about it. I'm going to enjoy my last semester as an undergraduate and not just seek the end result which is to walk across a stage for 10 seconds, shake Dr. Roelof's hand and have him give me my degree. No. I'm going to do my best to enjoy my last semester and take advantage of every opportunity to be joyful and to thank God for His joy that comes through knowing Him.
I'm ready. I'm ready for what 2013 has in store for me. Though I'm not entirely sure what it will bring, I am prepared for whatever may come my way, good or bad. If the good comes, I will do my best to give credit where it is due. If bad comes my way, I will do my best to not run from the situation but instead face it and rely on God and my own strength to get through it. I refuse to be stagnant, go through the motions and blame others for my own wrong doings. I will be responsible for my words and my actions. But most importantly I will continue to grow as the daughter in Christ I am destined to be. How will I do that? I don't know yet, but He knows. And I have resolved to give everything to Him. Ready or not 2013, here I come!
Holly: We have come to the end of another year. I think this one has gone faster than any I can remember in a long time. When I started out the year I was still in school. Since then I've graduated, gotten my degree, bid "see you later" to some pretty amazing people, moved out on my own, had a couple "real" jobs.
I did note some resolutions at the beginning of the year. I honestly don't remember them (all except 1...ask me about it, it will give you a good laugh! lol). I could do that now, but like Kelly, I'm not going to. Instead, like her, I'm going to enjoy LIFE!!! I'm going to smile, laugh, cry, be enthralled, swept away, mesmerized, scared, worried. I'm going to make time for my friends, both near and far. Saying "please", "thank you", and "I love you" go SO far! There are people in my life who have inspired me, challenged me, in numerous ways...I want to tell them! I'm going to read an ACTUAL book! Or several, Lord willing. I'm going to thank God every day for what I have and ask for His mercy to shower those who are not as fortunate as I am. I'm going to wait with bated breath for the return of Sherlock and our first glimpse at Smaug. I have several potential job opportunities awaiting me even as I type this; I'm going to get my bearings, investigate, and move forward, always seeking God's will. I don't know if that includes Old Navy. We will just see. Most importantly, I'm going to do my absolute best to live like Christ.
I honestly don't know what awaits me in 2013. Maybe I'll get a job I could have never imagined...or there's one waiting for me right now and I just don't know it yet. Maybe I'll meet my future husband. Who knows? But I'm 22, I'm still young and eager for life! 2012 was such a great year for me; 2013 can only get better! :)
I hope that all of you who read this are able to look back at 2012 with smiles, laughter, and even perhaps a few tears. In 2013 I hope that if you are weak, you will look to those you love for strength. I hope that if you are weary, tired, that you will get rest. I hope that if you have been in the despairing shadow of unemployment, opportunity will come. I hope that if you have been faced with some difficult circumstances, that you will summon your inner strength to accept them with grace and move on.
Be safe, everyone. Thank you for an amazing year. See you all when the ball drops. :)
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Newly beloved Ringers review The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Holly: DISCLAIMER: IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THE MOVIE YET, PLEASE DO NOT READ THIS. WE DO NOT WANT TO RUIN THE MOVIE FOR YOU! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.
Sorry...typing this in between segments and commercials of Return of the King. Bear with me.
Like Kelly mentioned, we viewed The Hobbit for the second time today. The old cliche really is true: stuff is better the second time around. In its second week I was still surprised to see a decent amount of people in the theater. Then again, perhaps not. In an earlier post of ours we mentioned that we completely missed the LoTR theater fandemonium, so we didn't really know what to expect. I will say that I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would, moreso the second time. So...
WHAT I LIKED/LOVED:
*The pace/overall feel. Yes, it is long (almost 3 hours), but for me it goes quickly but doesn't feel rushed. It's much lighter than LoTR; I laughed so much in this movie! I'm still exhilarated and excited, thrilled, given chills, the entire time. It's absolutely beautiful. The scenery/imagery is breathtaking as well; literally there are moments where I hold my breath. It's just beautifully shot. I don't know how they do it.
*The "Princess Bride"-esque bookend of older Bilbo and Frodo telling the story in the beginning. I LOVE that. LOVE it. I think I loved it more than the average person. When I read that Elijah Wood and Ian Holm were reprising their roles for the movie I was hoping they would be woven in like that.
*The casting of Martin Freeman as Bilbo. OH MY GOD. OH. MY. GOD. Seriously!!!! You know how everyone fell in love with Elijah Wood as Frodo?! Yeah...I foresee these movies going a lot like that. Now, perhaps I am a bit biased because I have seen the majority of his works and find him a really good actor, but I think that he makes the PERFECT Bilbo! I mean, Peter Jackson halted production for HIM just so he could have him as Bilbo; that's how bad he wanted him. I honestly think it's one of the best decisions Peter Jackson made for this movie. Martin's performance is spectacular; it delights me to no end. It's wonderful...truly wonderful. I hope to meet him someday and tell him myself.
*The individuality of the dwarves. MAJOR, MAJOR kudos to the production team. I've seen a lot of behind-the-scenes footage and they did not have an easy task: creating 13 individual, unique dwarves. But each one is portrayed perfectly. Bofur and Balin are my favorites. :)
MEH/DIDN'T FLY WITH ME TOO WELL (but still not enough to ruin the movie for me):
*The introduction is a bit long-winded. But I do love the story.
*The storyline of Azog the pale orc versus Thorin thing. I don't think Azog needs to be in the film; I think he's in it just so there's a "bad guy". But oh well. Bilbo does kick some serious tail in the end there.
*There was mention of Beorn/the barrel scene in the trailers but not in the movie. That kind of frustrated me! Guess we'll just have to wait until Smaug, I reckon.
Bottom line: If you are a die-hard Tolkiener that takes the books as gospel, proceed with caution. Otherwise, it really does live up to the hype. I simply cannot recommend it enough. Fans of the LoTR movies and Peter Jackson will not be disappointed. Go see it. As soon as possible! :)
Kelly: Hey, Return of the King is on! Pippin is about to sing his beloved song.
This afternoon, Holly and I watched the first installment of The Hobbit movies for a second time. We first laid our eyes on it last week in Lexington for the midnight premiere. We were seated in front of our theater for over an hour waiting for it to open, but not before enjoying some Denny's and feasting on some milkshakes from The Hobbit menu. The theater was PACKED!!! Such a wonderful experience though and one I will surely not forget anytime soon. Today's experience was much different. We were in a smaller theater and it was just the two of us who went and saw it; post-coffee and chatting came afterwards as we met up with a good friend we have known since high school. Twas a lovely afternoon. I will now get onto the good and the bad, in my opinion:
THE GOOD:
* Martin Freeman's breakthrough role. Seriously. I have seen a lot of his work and his role as Bilbo Baggins is on the top of my list! These performances in the next three installments are going to make his career HUGE!!!!
* The Christian themes that are intertwined into the film. Love, grace, discipleship and compassion are a few that I observed many times. Especially loving your enemies; Bilbo spares Gollum's life as he is over run with compassion for the pitiful creature. It is a lovely reminder of how we should treat those who wrong us, and again, Martin Freeman and Andy Serkis both perform so well!
* Unlikely friends joining together for a common theme. A rag-tag of 13 dwarves, a wizard and a hobbit, all on a quest to seek the lost kingdom of Erebor. Not a likely company by any means, but it works well. Quite well actually; though there is doubt and uncertainty in the beginning, it disappears as many of the characters deem themselves worthy companions for the company.
* The humor. Though it is a very action-filled movie for the most part, the humor that is involved really lightens the rather gruesome fights that are involved in different parts of the movie. In the Lord of the Rings franchise, the humor comes from Merry and Pippin. In The Hobbit, it's a bit of everyone.
*There are many more good qualities that I enjoy and I overall enjoyed the movie quite well. I cannot wait to see it again!
THE BAD:
* The beginning sequence seemed a bit dragged on to me. Part of me enjoyed it, but part of me was wondering "ok....just get on with it." Ian Holm's soliloquy explaining it though was good, just a bit long in my opinion.
* I hate to play annoying Tolkien lover, but man I really wish the elements in the movie were somewhat linear with the book. Riddles in the Dark is the 5th chapter in the book but doesn't appear till near the end of the movie. Hey, I'm not a director by any means but it works out. I just wonder what it would have been like if it was like that. More linear with the book. Ok I'm done now. There you have it; my novice review of the movie. My opinion now? Go see it!!!
Sorry...typing this in between segments and commercials of Return of the King. Bear with me.
Like Kelly mentioned, we viewed The Hobbit for the second time today. The old cliche really is true: stuff is better the second time around. In its second week I was still surprised to see a decent amount of people in the theater. Then again, perhaps not. In an earlier post of ours we mentioned that we completely missed the LoTR theater fandemonium, so we didn't really know what to expect. I will say that I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would, moreso the second time. So...
WHAT I LIKED/LOVED:
*The pace/overall feel. Yes, it is long (almost 3 hours), but for me it goes quickly but doesn't feel rushed. It's much lighter than LoTR; I laughed so much in this movie! I'm still exhilarated and excited, thrilled, given chills, the entire time. It's absolutely beautiful. The scenery/imagery is breathtaking as well; literally there are moments where I hold my breath. It's just beautifully shot. I don't know how they do it.
*The "Princess Bride"-esque bookend of older Bilbo and Frodo telling the story in the beginning. I LOVE that. LOVE it. I think I loved it more than the average person. When I read that Elijah Wood and Ian Holm were reprising their roles for the movie I was hoping they would be woven in like that.
*The casting of Martin Freeman as Bilbo. OH MY GOD. OH. MY. GOD. Seriously!!!! You know how everyone fell in love with Elijah Wood as Frodo?! Yeah...I foresee these movies going a lot like that. Now, perhaps I am a bit biased because I have seen the majority of his works and find him a really good actor, but I think that he makes the PERFECT Bilbo! I mean, Peter Jackson halted production for HIM just so he could have him as Bilbo; that's how bad he wanted him. I honestly think it's one of the best decisions Peter Jackson made for this movie. Martin's performance is spectacular; it delights me to no end. It's wonderful...truly wonderful. I hope to meet him someday and tell him myself.
*The individuality of the dwarves. MAJOR, MAJOR kudos to the production team. I've seen a lot of behind-the-scenes footage and they did not have an easy task: creating 13 individual, unique dwarves. But each one is portrayed perfectly. Bofur and Balin are my favorites. :)
MEH/DIDN'T FLY WITH ME TOO WELL (but still not enough to ruin the movie for me):
*The introduction is a bit long-winded. But I do love the story.
*The storyline of Azog the pale orc versus Thorin thing. I don't think Azog needs to be in the film; I think he's in it just so there's a "bad guy". But oh well. Bilbo does kick some serious tail in the end there.
*There was mention of Beorn/the barrel scene in the trailers but not in the movie. That kind of frustrated me! Guess we'll just have to wait until Smaug, I reckon.
Bottom line: If you are a die-hard Tolkiener that takes the books as gospel, proceed with caution. Otherwise, it really does live up to the hype. I simply cannot recommend it enough. Fans of the LoTR movies and Peter Jackson will not be disappointed. Go see it. As soon as possible! :)
Kelly: Hey, Return of the King is on! Pippin is about to sing his beloved song.
This afternoon, Holly and I watched the first installment of The Hobbit movies for a second time. We first laid our eyes on it last week in Lexington for the midnight premiere. We were seated in front of our theater for over an hour waiting for it to open, but not before enjoying some Denny's and feasting on some milkshakes from The Hobbit menu. The theater was PACKED!!! Such a wonderful experience though and one I will surely not forget anytime soon. Today's experience was much different. We were in a smaller theater and it was just the two of us who went and saw it; post-coffee and chatting came afterwards as we met up with a good friend we have known since high school. Twas a lovely afternoon. I will now get onto the good and the bad, in my opinion:
THE GOOD:
* Martin Freeman's breakthrough role. Seriously. I have seen a lot of his work and his role as Bilbo Baggins is on the top of my list! These performances in the next three installments are going to make his career HUGE!!!!
* The Christian themes that are intertwined into the film. Love, grace, discipleship and compassion are a few that I observed many times. Especially loving your enemies; Bilbo spares Gollum's life as he is over run with compassion for the pitiful creature. It is a lovely reminder of how we should treat those who wrong us, and again, Martin Freeman and Andy Serkis both perform so well!
* Unlikely friends joining together for a common theme. A rag-tag of 13 dwarves, a wizard and a hobbit, all on a quest to seek the lost kingdom of Erebor. Not a likely company by any means, but it works well. Quite well actually; though there is doubt and uncertainty in the beginning, it disappears as many of the characters deem themselves worthy companions for the company.
* The humor. Though it is a very action-filled movie for the most part, the humor that is involved really lightens the rather gruesome fights that are involved in different parts of the movie. In the Lord of the Rings franchise, the humor comes from Merry and Pippin. In The Hobbit, it's a bit of everyone.
*There are many more good qualities that I enjoy and I overall enjoyed the movie quite well. I cannot wait to see it again!
THE BAD:
* The beginning sequence seemed a bit dragged on to me. Part of me enjoyed it, but part of me was wondering "ok....just get on with it." Ian Holm's soliloquy explaining it though was good, just a bit long in my opinion.
* I hate to play annoying Tolkien lover, but man I really wish the elements in the movie were somewhat linear with the book. Riddles in the Dark is the 5th chapter in the book but doesn't appear till near the end of the movie. Hey, I'm not a director by any means but it works out. I just wonder what it would have been like if it was like that. More linear with the book. Ok I'm done now. There you have it; my novice review of the movie. My opinion now? Go see it!!!
Friday, December 14, 2012
In the wake of The Hobbit: Remembering Connecticut
Holly and Kelly: Our hearts are heavy this afternoon. Despite the amazing motion picture event we witnessed last night/early this morning, we were hoping to be blogging about The Hobbit and providing a bit of a review. But that is not the case.
We got home today and were shocked, saddened, by the news of yet another school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. 26 people are dead, and at least 18 of them are children, all between the ages of 5-10. There really are no words to describe this type of tragic loss. It's simply deplorable and unimaginable. Besides the words that we are typing today, we are simply speechless.
We're just saddened by this. Literally, our hearts are hurting. Why would somebody do something like this?
The President just finished speaking. Today, I didn't see our country's leader. I saw someone just like us: wondering how in the world someone can do this. He spoke as a father.
In the midst of all of this, it is imperative that we speak messages of love over hate, compassion over ignorance, tolerance over intolerance. We need to pray for those who are hurting, those who are lost. We need to be lights in this world that is growing increasingly dark.
If any of you reading this have children, hug them tonight, and hug them often. Tell them you love them, and tell them often. Be a friend. Be a shoulder. Be a light. Our country simply cannot go on like this. It just can't.
To speak lightly of The Hobbit, Bilbo sacrifices everything to join a company of dwarves. Towards the end of the movie, Thorin asks Bilbo why he returned. Bilbo notes that yes, they do doubt him, but he has a home. He has a life that he often thinks of. The dwarves don't have any of that. But, in probably one of the most beautifully written scenes, Bilbo swears that he will help the dwarves reclaim their home.
Today, many people have lost everything. We should all have a little bit of Bilbo in us; reaching out and helping to those in need. We will be praying for those affected and we pray that any who read this will do the same. <3
We got home today and were shocked, saddened, by the news of yet another school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. 26 people are dead, and at least 18 of them are children, all between the ages of 5-10. There really are no words to describe this type of tragic loss. It's simply deplorable and unimaginable. Besides the words that we are typing today, we are simply speechless.
We're just saddened by this. Literally, our hearts are hurting. Why would somebody do something like this?
The President just finished speaking. Today, I didn't see our country's leader. I saw someone just like us: wondering how in the world someone can do this. He spoke as a father.
In the midst of all of this, it is imperative that we speak messages of love over hate, compassion over ignorance, tolerance over intolerance. We need to pray for those who are hurting, those who are lost. We need to be lights in this world that is growing increasingly dark.
If any of you reading this have children, hug them tonight, and hug them often. Tell them you love them, and tell them often. Be a friend. Be a shoulder. Be a light. Our country simply cannot go on like this. It just can't.
To speak lightly of The Hobbit, Bilbo sacrifices everything to join a company of dwarves. Towards the end of the movie, Thorin asks Bilbo why he returned. Bilbo notes that yes, they do doubt him, but he has a home. He has a life that he often thinks of. The dwarves don't have any of that. But, in probably one of the most beautifully written scenes, Bilbo swears that he will help the dwarves reclaim their home.
Today, many people have lost everything. We should all have a little bit of Bilbo in us; reaching out and helping to those in need. We will be praying for those affected and we pray that any who read this will do the same. <3
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Why we are so excited about The Hobbit (AKA Tomorrow night!!)
Kelly: As you all know, Holly and I entered the Tolkien fandom rather late in life...as in this summer to be exact. This time tomorrow, we will be in Lexington awaiting to see The Hobbit movie at midnight!!! We are SO EXCITED! Now, here's a bit of news as to why we are excited.
*I am in love with the story line. If you haven't yet, PLEASE read the book! I've read it twice! P.S. If you want to borrow it from us let us know as we have a copy. It is such a terrific tail of an unlikely hero who gathers with unlikely friends and goes on an unlikely journey in his life. He doesn't know it at the time, but this journey is pivotal in the life of Bilbo Baggins. I cannot wait to see this pivotal journey on the bigscreen.
* Martin Freeman!!!!!!! Need I say more? I have really enjoyed learning about him more as an actor and from reading interviews he got into the storyline late too, just like us. I encourage you, all of you, to see some of his other work. We particularly like his work in Sherlock, but there are others of his we like too :] (Um...that's a lie. We pretty much like everything he's in. Hi Martin, we're not psycho, we swear. Let's have tea sometime. ~Holly)
* Since we started into the Middle Earth journey so late, we missed out on seeing LOTR on the big screens. In fact, we saw the extended edition DVD's before we even read the books! Never saw them in theaters; we were 13 when Return of the King came out into the theaters. So yeah. This is our first Tolkien trilogy we are seeing on the big screen! And yes we are going to go all out!!! Better late than never, eh?
* If you really pay attention to some common themes, there are some Christian themes. I know!! It's not just about kicking butt, killing orcs and being invaded by dwarves. There's love, friendship, compassion and grace intertwined into the souls of the pages and the lives of the characters! To me it reflects Tolkien's character as well. So yes. This is why I'm excited about it. I hope you all get to enjoy it as much as we will! :]
Holly: FAR OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVER, THE MISTY MOUNTAINS COOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLDDDD!!!!!
Sorry. I'm a bit slap-happy. I'm sure you can figure out why. :D
And I completely agree with all of what Kelly said. Mostly I'm excited because of the experience of Middle Earth in the form of theatrical premieres. We entered this fandom recently and later in life. We weren't the fans who grew up with the books and movies, or had parents who did the same. We didn't even watch the movies and read the books until a few months ago. And we completely missed the Lord of the Rings trilogy and all the hype surrounding it. Now we're going to be getting a little taste of what that's about, and it's pretty exciting. And we get to enjoy it with two of our rockin' awesome friends. And Martin Freeman, of course. He's lovely.
We watched the live stream of the London premiere this afternoon, and during an interview the guy asked Martin Freeman to give a message to all the fans who were watching from all over the world. He said "I dare you to be disappointed." I know I won't be. So many people have waited months, even years, heck, some probably even their whole lives, to see Bilbo Baggins on his grand adventure with the baker's dozen of dwarves come to life on the big screen. For me, the anticipation has been unreal. I'm looking forward to a return trip to Middle Earth. The anticipation is insane, the fandom is going crazy. I'm so ready!
Below are a few pictures I've collected over the last few months. Enjoy.
*I am in love with the story line. If you haven't yet, PLEASE read the book! I've read it twice! P.S. If you want to borrow it from us let us know as we have a copy. It is such a terrific tail of an unlikely hero who gathers with unlikely friends and goes on an unlikely journey in his life. He doesn't know it at the time, but this journey is pivotal in the life of Bilbo Baggins. I cannot wait to see this pivotal journey on the bigscreen.
* Martin Freeman!!!!!!! Need I say more? I have really enjoyed learning about him more as an actor and from reading interviews he got into the storyline late too, just like us. I encourage you, all of you, to see some of his other work. We particularly like his work in Sherlock, but there are others of his we like too :] (Um...that's a lie. We pretty much like everything he's in. Hi Martin, we're not psycho, we swear. Let's have tea sometime. ~Holly)
* Since we started into the Middle Earth journey so late, we missed out on seeing LOTR on the big screens. In fact, we saw the extended edition DVD's before we even read the books! Never saw them in theaters; we were 13 when Return of the King came out into the theaters. So yeah. This is our first Tolkien trilogy we are seeing on the big screen! And yes we are going to go all out!!! Better late than never, eh?
* If you really pay attention to some common themes, there are some Christian themes. I know!! It's not just about kicking butt, killing orcs and being invaded by dwarves. There's love, friendship, compassion and grace intertwined into the souls of the pages and the lives of the characters! To me it reflects Tolkien's character as well. So yes. This is why I'm excited about it. I hope you all get to enjoy it as much as we will! :]
Holly: FAR OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVER, THE MISTY MOUNTAINS COOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLDDDD!!!!!
Sorry. I'm a bit slap-happy. I'm sure you can figure out why. :D
And I completely agree with all of what Kelly said. Mostly I'm excited because of the experience of Middle Earth in the form of theatrical premieres. We entered this fandom recently and later in life. We weren't the fans who grew up with the books and movies, or had parents who did the same. We didn't even watch the movies and read the books until a few months ago. And we completely missed the Lord of the Rings trilogy and all the hype surrounding it. Now we're going to be getting a little taste of what that's about, and it's pretty exciting. And we get to enjoy it with two of our rockin' awesome friends. And Martin Freeman, of course. He's lovely.
We watched the live stream of the London premiere this afternoon, and during an interview the guy asked Martin Freeman to give a message to all the fans who were watching from all over the world. He said "I dare you to be disappointed." I know I won't be. So many people have waited months, even years, heck, some probably even their whole lives, to see Bilbo Baggins on his grand adventure with the baker's dozen of dwarves come to life on the big screen. For me, the anticipation has been unreal. I'm looking forward to a return trip to Middle Earth. The anticipation is insane, the fandom is going crazy. I'm so ready!
Below are a few pictures I've collected over the last few months. Enjoy.
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Potpurri Post #5
Kelly: We have nothing concrete to talk about, so we're just going to blah on and on. It's going to be a busy week for me. Doc's appt tomorrow, test tomorrow, test on Friday and a Women's choir concert on Sunday that you all should come to cuz it's going to be awwwwwwwwwwwwesome!!!!!!!!!
I'm really excited about the Hobbit too. I had seen the trailers and whatnot on TV but seeing it on the big screen was super cool! And to think, the next time we see it on the big screen it'll be for real! I also have my tentative clinical placement for next semester; anybody ever been to a surgical ICU? I was pretty mad at first that I didn't get a placement at Berea, but life goes on. And now we're watching Gangam style. Life is pretty good. Nothing really to report for me. I'm boring :P
Holly: So we really don't have a specific topic...so we're just going to catch y'all up on our lives and babble endlessly until we feel like stopping! :}
To start, almost ONE. MONTH. Until The Hobbit appears on the big screen!!!!!!! To say that Kelly and I are excited is a gross understatement. We saw Wreck-it Ralph with some friends last night and we saw a preview and I think we scared our friends and everyone else in the theater! lol. But yeah. We have our tickets and everything. It's going to be amazing!
A bit of sad (ish) news: I have just about a week and a half of my job left, and then I'm back out into the world of unknowns. I can't believe it's already been six months. When I got hired on and they told me everything would wrap up in November, it seemed a million miles away, but now it's here. It's been so awesome, and I've been really blessed with awesome co-workers. And of course, the sweetest (and smelliest, and greasiest) dogs anyone can even imagine. I will miss it terribly. So I'm going to do my best to make the most of these last few days. I've sent out some applications; I'm looking for something a little closer to home. Because I do love my job, SO. MUCH, but the commutes are kind of crazy. So there's that. Please send good vibes/pray/whatever you do for me in these next couple of weeks.
Another endeavor that I've recently joined is Mary Kay. Yes! After several months of friends dragging me to events and yanking my rope, I signed up about a month ago. It's been a little slow-going, and it gets pretty frustrating, but overall I am enjoying it, and things are slowly picking up and I'm making progress. I have goals and I know what I need to do to reach them, and I'm confident that I will do so. The women are so amazing and encouraging, and of course the products sell themselves! I'm excited to see where this whole thing goes; I'm looking forward to it. :)
That's about all I have to report on my front. Keep on keeping on. Be blessed!
I'm really excited about the Hobbit too. I had seen the trailers and whatnot on TV but seeing it on the big screen was super cool! And to think, the next time we see it on the big screen it'll be for real! I also have my tentative clinical placement for next semester; anybody ever been to a surgical ICU? I was pretty mad at first that I didn't get a placement at Berea, but life goes on. And now we're watching Gangam style. Life is pretty good. Nothing really to report for me. I'm boring :P
Holly: So we really don't have a specific topic...so we're just going to catch y'all up on our lives and babble endlessly until we feel like stopping! :}
To start, almost ONE. MONTH. Until The Hobbit appears on the big screen!!!!!!! To say that Kelly and I are excited is a gross understatement. We saw Wreck-it Ralph with some friends last night and we saw a preview and I think we scared our friends and everyone else in the theater! lol. But yeah. We have our tickets and everything. It's going to be amazing!
A bit of sad (ish) news: I have just about a week and a half of my job left, and then I'm back out into the world of unknowns. I can't believe it's already been six months. When I got hired on and they told me everything would wrap up in November, it seemed a million miles away, but now it's here. It's been so awesome, and I've been really blessed with awesome co-workers. And of course, the sweetest (and smelliest, and greasiest) dogs anyone can even imagine. I will miss it terribly. So I'm going to do my best to make the most of these last few days. I've sent out some applications; I'm looking for something a little closer to home. Because I do love my job, SO. MUCH, but the commutes are kind of crazy. So there's that. Please send good vibes/pray/whatever you do for me in these next couple of weeks.
Another endeavor that I've recently joined is Mary Kay. Yes! After several months of friends dragging me to events and yanking my rope, I signed up about a month ago. It's been a little slow-going, and it gets pretty frustrating, but overall I am enjoying it, and things are slowly picking up and I'm making progress. I have goals and I know what I need to do to reach them, and I'm confident that I will do so. The women are so amazing and encouraging, and of course the products sell themselves! I'm excited to see where this whole thing goes; I'm looking forward to it. :)
That's about all I have to report on my front. Keep on keeping on. Be blessed!
Monday, September 24, 2012
An Open-Ended Letter to BC and MF....ok, and to the rest of Team Sherlock. And the fans too. Wow, this is a long title.
Dear BC and MF,
nah, scratch that:
Dear BC, MF, and Team Sherlock,
.................
one more time:
Dear All who love Sherlock (but mostly to BC and MF because that's why we watched the Emmys last night),
Hi. Guess we gave it away now. So we watched the Emmys last night. We hates them. I mean, don't get us wrong, of course we weren't born under rocks. We're familiar with the big shows that were on: Mad Men, The Big Bang Theory, Modern Family, Homeland, etc etc etc....BUT.
What happened last night is the very reason why we typically don't watch shows like that. Because ONE show usually sweeps all the wins. It's nothing more than a popularity contest. We're not trying to bash television...obviously, because the American people deem the aforementioned shows worthy of such an honor. But SERIOUSLY...
Mad Men had 81 nominations. EIGHTY. ONE?!?!? What the crap? That's insane. Wasn't even aware that you could be nominated for an Emmy in 81 different categories. Jeebus. Despite all of this, despite all of this big-name shows, stars, etc, that's not why we stayed up to watch the Emmys. We had one reason and one reason only:
Team Sherlock.
We waded through TWO HOURS of awards before they finally came to the "Miniseries/Movie" category. Oh, you would not believe the tension and excitement we had. Literally on the edge of our seats. But...no. Nothing.
Should we be surprised? No, I guess not. Because, like I mentioned, it's a glorified popularity contest and not much else. In the grand scheme of things, we're not really sure if you all were bummed, surprised, nonplussed, whatever, that you left empty handed. But then we got to thinking: at least you all were THERE. In LA. Next to big time stars, shows, etc etc. And for a show that has a predominantly British audience that only started a couple of years ago, that is pretty awesome.
But we know that there's more to Sherlock than just Emmy nominations. For us, it's taken us to entertainment in a level that we never knew existed. It's taken us to new places emotionally, physically, we've never related so closely to characters as this. It's more than that. You helped us to believe in true friendship, loyalty, the power of the human mind, the fragility of the human spirit, that even the most stoic and complex of individuals can be shaken to their very core and reach out to their one and only friend in their hour of need. We've laughed, we've cried, we've run down the streets of London and Baker Street right beside y'all. And we, the fans, will wait, eagerly, perhaps even a little frustrated, anxious, angry, and tense, for having to wait a year to see what will happen next. We are waiting. We are Sherlocked.
BC and MF, if there was an Emmy for passion and versatility, then you would win it, hands down, no argument. The obvious passion and versatility for your job and your utter brillance and talent you bring to Sherlock is nothing to be matched to the Emmy speeches we saw last night. If there was an Emmy for Sherlock fans, we would win it, hands down, no argument. The fan base that we see on a regular basis can't top some of the big-time shows and stars we saw last night. Because the two of you are REAL. You're RELATABLE, you're BRILLIANT, you're so GENUINE, it's refreshing to us, us that are so sick and tired of fake, plastic, superficial. So please, please know that we, and so many others, were rooting for the two of you so hard at the Emmys last night. Even though you ultimately didn't win, we are still SO PROUD to continue to root for you, to be your fans, to wait and see whether Sherlock survived the fateful hospital plunge.
Thank you, both of you, for reminding us what true talent and TV is. Oh, and just a warning to the entertainment world:
You's about to get your FACE rocked off. Bilbo Baggins. Bilbo. Baggins. That's all we have to say about that.
Very truly Sherlocked,
Holly and Kelly
nah, scratch that:
Dear BC, MF, and Team Sherlock,
.................
one more time:
Dear All who love Sherlock (but mostly to BC and MF because that's why we watched the Emmys last night),
Hi. Guess we gave it away now. So we watched the Emmys last night. We hates them. I mean, don't get us wrong, of course we weren't born under rocks. We're familiar with the big shows that were on: Mad Men, The Big Bang Theory, Modern Family, Homeland, etc etc etc....BUT.
What happened last night is the very reason why we typically don't watch shows like that. Because ONE show usually sweeps all the wins. It's nothing more than a popularity contest. We're not trying to bash television...obviously, because the American people deem the aforementioned shows worthy of such an honor. But SERIOUSLY...
Mad Men had 81 nominations. EIGHTY. ONE?!?!? What the crap? That's insane. Wasn't even aware that you could be nominated for an Emmy in 81 different categories. Jeebus. Despite all of this, despite all of this big-name shows, stars, etc, that's not why we stayed up to watch the Emmys. We had one reason and one reason only:
Team Sherlock.
We waded through TWO HOURS of awards before they finally came to the "Miniseries/Movie" category. Oh, you would not believe the tension and excitement we had. Literally on the edge of our seats. But...no. Nothing.
Should we be surprised? No, I guess not. Because, like I mentioned, it's a glorified popularity contest and not much else. In the grand scheme of things, we're not really sure if you all were bummed, surprised, nonplussed, whatever, that you left empty handed. But then we got to thinking: at least you all were THERE. In LA. Next to big time stars, shows, etc etc. And for a show that has a predominantly British audience that only started a couple of years ago, that is pretty awesome.
But we know that there's more to Sherlock than just Emmy nominations. For us, it's taken us to entertainment in a level that we never knew existed. It's taken us to new places emotionally, physically, we've never related so closely to characters as this. It's more than that. You helped us to believe in true friendship, loyalty, the power of the human mind, the fragility of the human spirit, that even the most stoic and complex of individuals can be shaken to their very core and reach out to their one and only friend in their hour of need. We've laughed, we've cried, we've run down the streets of London and Baker Street right beside y'all. And we, the fans, will wait, eagerly, perhaps even a little frustrated, anxious, angry, and tense, for having to wait a year to see what will happen next. We are waiting. We are Sherlocked.
BC and MF, if there was an Emmy for passion and versatility, then you would win it, hands down, no argument. The obvious passion and versatility for your job and your utter brillance and talent you bring to Sherlock is nothing to be matched to the Emmy speeches we saw last night. If there was an Emmy for Sherlock fans, we would win it, hands down, no argument. The fan base that we see on a regular basis can't top some of the big-time shows and stars we saw last night. Because the two of you are REAL. You're RELATABLE, you're BRILLIANT, you're so GENUINE, it's refreshing to us, us that are so sick and tired of fake, plastic, superficial. So please, please know that we, and so many others, were rooting for the two of you so hard at the Emmys last night. Even though you ultimately didn't win, we are still SO PROUD to continue to root for you, to be your fans, to wait and see whether Sherlock survived the fateful hospital plunge.
Thank you, both of you, for reminding us what true talent and TV is. Oh, and just a warning to the entertainment world:
You's about to get your FACE rocked off. Bilbo Baggins. Bilbo. Baggins. That's all we have to say about that.
Very truly Sherlocked,
Holly and Kelly
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
"From the smallest beginnings come the greatest legends..."
Holly: If you are a Hobbit/Tolkien fan, watch it. If you aren't....watch it anyway because it's just that AWESOME!
NEW Hobbit Trailer!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh, and P.S: To Martin Freeman, I've always liked you, but now I just freaking LOVE you. You are the perfect Bilbo Baggins and I can't wait to see it for myself. :)
NEW Hobbit Trailer!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh, and P.S: To Martin Freeman, I've always liked you, but now I just freaking LOVE you. You are the perfect Bilbo Baggins and I can't wait to see it for myself. :)
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