H and K have church...but not in the way you'd think

Holly: Church was cancelled this morning...well, last night, actually.  Anyway, we didn't go to church this morning.  Instead, we slept in, had pancakes and coffee, put on some praise and worship music and just talked: about God, about how older Christian music is better, about work, about Doctor Who.  And then this came up.  The following is an excerpt from my journal writing on Saturday evening, shortly after watching the third season finale of Doctor Who (and random excerpts will continue cropping up):

I can't help but think of this particular exchange: Here's the Master, who's corrupted all of planet Earth, who's forced Martha's family to watch countless people suffer terrible demises, who's tortured the Doctor and transformed him into a pitiable state.  But through the redemptive power of the human mind and spirit, and Martha's courage and love for the Doctor, the Doctor is regenerated back to his present form, where he is able to meet the one who understands him probably better than anyone.  2 Time Lords.  Given all the Doctor knew the Master had done, he could have banished him to any one fate.  Instead, he tells the Master "I only have one thing to say to you.  I forgive you."  God, Your forgiveness to us, your sin-filled children whom You love dearly, is NO different.  Because, let's face it, the Master didn't deserve the Doctor's forgiveness.  And we don't deserve Your forgiveness.  

Guys, forgiveness and love changes lives.  So often we choose to take the easy way out, which is to hold onto with ever-increasing strength whatever grudge we have, whatever bitterness we've been harboring, whatever pride we can't let go of, what have you.  But I truly believe that that is not God's will for us.  God sent his son into this broken world and broke the chains of all the junk we hold onto.  We ought not to live in bondage to our mistakes and our sin; it doesn't have the last word!  You do!  And you speak love: love that surpasses understanding, breaks barriers, changes hearts and minds, brings people together, drives them apart, and it goes on and on...Forgiveness is scary, sure.  The Master cowered in fear from the Doctor as he put his arms around him and said "I forgive you."  The night before he died, Jesus pleaded for another way out.

And then there's love.  There's a quote somewhere, and I'm butchering it, certainly, but it's something like how Jesus was on the cross in the way he was and that was him saying "I love you."  The Bible says we love Him because He first loved us.  The sad irony of the end of that Doctor Who episode is that the Master died in the Doctor's arms.  There has to be an extraordinary amount of love in there somewhere to literally hold your enemy until his last moments.  Pretty powerful.  I'm thankful for those who lead by example: in this case, Jesus and the Doctor.

"Love must be sincere.  Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.  Be devoted to one another in love."  -Romans 12:9-10

"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins." -1 Peter 4:8

Kelly: While I WHOLEHEARTEDLY agree with all that has been said above, there is one more element I want to add that I think is equally important; trust. It too can make or change lives for the better or the worst. The quote as old as time goes "it takes years to build up trust and seconds to destroy it." But one thing I definitely admire about Martha as a companion to the Doctor is her unending trust in him. On a whim, she decides to put her trust in this man that she barely knows but something tells her to take a chance. As the series progresses, she gets to know him better. I think of the verse in Isaiah where it says "Here I am, send me!" It's the true heart's desire of a servant of Christ; to lead where He goes without really knowing what the plan is. It's how I felt when I first started following God; I didn't know Him all that well, and I didn't trust Him that much. But as I got to know Him and spend time with Him, that trust has continued to build. (Proverbs 3:5-6). In the 3rd series finale, which was a very powerful episode, there was one part that made me think about my relationship with God. It made me think that perhaps I was meant to find this show. In a scene, Martha is talking to a group of refugees as the world is about to end. She is telling of her experiences with the Doctor. Just read this below and see what I mean:

...But if Martha Jones became a legend, then that's wrong because my name isn't important. There's someone else. The man who sent me out there. The man who told me to walk the Earth. His name is The Doctor. He has saved your lives so many times, and you never knew he was there. He never stops. He never stays. He never asks to be thanked. But I've seen him. I know him. I love him. And I know what he can do. 

I mean...WHAT? You read that and you Christians, tell me. Have you EVER felt that way about Jesus? I know I have! That night, before I went to bed, I thanked God and told him that even though I may not see Him with my eyes, I know Him with my heart. He has saved my life so many times, and sometimes I knew it, sometimes I didn't.  It may sound silly, but I truly do believe God can speak to us in so many ways, even in Doctor Who. You may not want to trust God sometimes, but something tells you to take a chance, like Martha did with The Doctor. Listen when it does. Your life may never be the same.

Take a chance.  Your life may never be the same. 

Love. 

God Moments: Part 1

Kelly: Today, the sermon at church was titled "God Moments" where any who felt led to had the opportunity to share how God had worked in their lives, whether in big or small ways. While driving home from church today, Holly and I thought it would be a good idea to share some of our God moments. These experiences we are sharing are real; to us they can only be explained by God and God alone. This will be a continuing series in our blog, hence why this is only part 1. The stories we are sharing today are one of many; please enjoy and we hope you are inspired and encouraged.

Stop Looking

The past month or so at work has been rather difficult for me. I've hit quite a few bumps, almost to the point of nearly losing my job. All is resolved and things are totally fine now, but there was a point not too long ago in which I thought I was going to be back at square 1. About a week and a half ago, I found myself sitting on my computer looking for other jobs. I looked at UK and the Central Baptist affiliates but didn't find anything I was interested in doing. After 10 minutes or so of searching, I stopped and turned my computer off. The next day, the search again continued, but nothing was clicking. It just didn't feel right to do what I was doing. Later that night, right before I went to bed, I heard something in the back of my head; a gut feeling that said "stop looking. Just stop." The next day I went into work and everything was fine; this was last Saturday. Last Sunday, there were two questions posed at the end of church. Are you doing what God wants you to do, and are you where God wants you to be? I honestly did not feel like I was; I had it in my head that in light of what had happened to me at work recently that maybe I had missed the mark. I had missed all the signals and it was just me wanting to be where I wanted to be instead of where God wanted me to be. So on the drive up, I just prayed. I prayed and prayed and asked God if where I'm working now is really where He wanted me to be. The first half of the shift went like a typical shift, but it was after my dinner break that things started clicking.

When I got back on the unit after my break, one patient came up to me and asked "where were you?!" She seemed very distressed. I told her where I was and asked if she was ok. She said "I'm fine. I just thought you left." I chuckled and told her I wasn't leaving until 11:30 that night. She then asked me if I was going to be there the next day. I said no and that the next day I would be back was Thursday. She looked sad and said she would miss me and really liked it when I was working and she liked talking to me and said I had a good personality. Later that night another patient had a question about her medications, so I took her back to the med room and we talked one on one and I discussed all she was taking, how much and when. Afterwards she thanked me for taking such good care of her. Near the end of shift change, the radio was playing and I was dancing while charting. A patient had a question and caught me dancing. I apologized and he said that he liked it when I danced and that he appreciated my "spunky" personality and that I had a good disposition for being a nurse. I was floored; I literally could not believe it. I disappeared into the med room before I left and just stood in silence. It was then that I realized that the "stop looking. Just stop" I heard was God telling me that I was right where He wanted me to be. I hadn't missed the mark at all. Folks, if you take anything home from this, just remember that God's voice isn't always audible. He speaks in many different voices!

Holly: I'd like to call this short narrative "The Friday before graduation."

I remember the date exactly: May 4, 2012.  Two days before I was expected to graduate from Berea College.  Finally, four years of hard work, tears, stress, prayers, etc, was coming to its long and arduous end; I was so close to the finish line I could literally taste it.  This day was also the day that temporary senior grades were due.  Naturally, I was a little bit anxious; all of my other classes I knew I was going to be ok, but there was one that was weighing heavily on my mind, one that I had struggled all semester with: Genetics.  To add insult to injury, this was a core class for the biology major.  In other news, I NEEDED this class to graduate.  NEEDED.  Period.  Moreover, this class was only offered in the spring, so that was it.  One shot.  I had finished my finals and everything else, so I logged onto the online portal to check my grades.  Intro to New Testament: B+.  Archery and Square Dancing: A-.  Herpetology: B.  Evolution: B.  BME: A.  I got all the way to Genetics and was horrified to see a D+.  My heart plummeted into my stomach.  That was it.  I remember, blatantly, the course catalog for the biology major: all courses a C or better to pass.  I did the only thing I could think of doing...

Later that day I went to go see my adviser and he asked me how my grades were.  I said something to the degree of "Dr Rowley, I have a D+ in Genetics, I don't know what I'm going to do."  He asked what I meant.  I said that the course catalog said you needed a C or better.  By this point I could feel myself getting upset, but I did my best not to show it.  Then, with everything I could muster, I managed "Am I going to graduate on Sunday?"  Probably one of the scariest moments of my college career.  Without hesitating, he said "Let me check."  So while he was busy on the computer, I was panicking.  My mind was racing; I was going to have to stay two extra semesters just for one class!  All I kept saying, thinking, praying, was "I don't know what I'm going to do."  Not even a few minutes later I heard, "Holly, stop."

My adviser looked me square in the eye and said, "You're going to be fine.  You're going to graduate."

Apparently, I don't know what course catalog I had read, but it was wrong.  There wasn't ANYTHING about needing a C or better.  Nothing.  Yeah, I was definitely crying by that point, but in the best possible way.  Two days later I walked across the Seabury stage and got my Bachelor's degree.  Afterwards, I hugged my adviser and told him "Thank you.  For everything."

God won't bring you so far into something only to have you fall flat on your face.  He puts people in your path for a reason.  He gives you strength for a reason.  So hold on, to your strength and to those who want what's best for you.

Certain of certainty

Holly: Well met, readers!  We are 11 days into 2014.  I hope that you are all well, happy, enjoying your people, getting settled back into your routines, enjoying whatever new blessings have already come your way, etc.  Already I have found myself meditating on something I have, yes, learned in just a few short days of this year:

Nothing is certain.

No, really.  It isn't.  I have been mulling over so many possibilities in my head since the start of this year, and although I'm still not sure what to do, perhaps, sometime, I'll end up taking a risk.  For those of you wondering, no, I'm not quitting my job, so that's that.  But anyway, with things like this, you have to stay open-minded.  For example, I never imagined staying in Berea.  I had ambitions of moving to the Carolinas and working in a vet clinic down there.  Halfway through college, I realized vet school wasn't going to work out, and Berea was growing on me more and more.  Fast forward a couple of years: now I'm not in vet school, I'm living in Berea, quite happily, with no intention of leaving anytime soon, and I'm working as a lab coordinator for biology and I couldn't be happier.  I was so...certain...that I had everything figured out.  And now I am where I am, and next year, I could be somewhere different.  Who knows?  The only one that knows, and the only one that is certain, is God.  I'm going to continue praying, and trusting Him.  Stay tuned.  :)

Kelly: Things too have changed in a very short amount of time that this new year has started. I'm still trying to decide whether or not this is really God or if it's just me wanting or not wanting the circumstances to happen. I've hit a few bumps in the road at work, almost resulting in some pretty drastic changes. All is well now, and I'm doing my best to ensure it stays that way. Again, it reminded me that sometimes even though God gives us what we need, it's not always in the way we think it is. That was a hard pill to swallow, and it's one that I'm still learning how to deal with that one. But that's why God puts awesome people in your life; they're there for a reason.

Now onto that note. God does put people in your life for a reason, whatever those reasons may be.Just recently, I've delved into the possibility of starting a relationship. Yes, an actual one. Nothing has progressed yet; it's kind of a long story but we're both ok with the fact that things are the way they are now for a reason (being 1000+ miles away from each other also puts a damper on plans as well). But in about 2 years time things may change and we may move forward. But for now, we're ok with being good friends and perhaps a little bit more (nothing like THAT, ok?) I still miss him, a hecka lot, but in the meantime I'm doing the best I can. I think we both realized that something was potentially there, but again, like this post, I can't be certain of it. That's just the way it is sometimes. I think the mentality I'm going to try and have as this year continues is the fact that I don't know what will happen. I have to be open to whatever God may throw my way, and I have to be ready for it. I have to trust Him; it's the only other option I have. Last year I was between a rock and hard place, and I was certain that my own strength and willpower would get me through. How much do you want to bet how long that lasted? Keep moving forward, that's what I'm saying. So it goes.

2013: A reflection on lessons learned and some goals for 2014.

Holly and Kelly: This will most likely be our last post of the year 2013, and my how fast it has gone! We would like to take this opportunity to reflect on what we have learned in this past year and how we have grown as humans, sisters, and Christians.

Question God: Really. In a culture that is so bent upon NOT doing such, one thing we have learned is that it is ok to have a healthy questioning of God. We remember talking to each other and asking God "is this really what you want from us?" "Do you really have our best interests at heart?" "How much longer?" Trust me; He can handle it.

Don't be afraid to say no: No is no is no is no. It is a complete sentence, thus should not require explanation. Nobody's going to hate you. Seriously.

Nothing is permanent: This is both a good thing and a bad thing.

Be open-minded to new possibilities and/or challenges: If this were not so, we would have never gotten into Doctor Who. Give things a chance; you never know what you might find. Sometimes things get rough along the way. You can either let them knock you down or you can learn from them. As a result of this, we learned how to forgive loved ones (see below) and be our own people.

The people who are with you through it all are the ones to hold onto: You may think you have known someone your whole life, but when you need them the most they are nowhere to be found. Unfortunately, we learned this truth the hard way. But we're better because of it. We've gained and lost friends along the way, but there have been those few who have been there with us for a long time. Granted we don't get to see them that often, but they have still been there. We are thankful for those people; you know who you are.

Good things come to those who do wait: And they happen in His time, not ours. Right after Kelly graduated, we found ourselves unsure of what road was next. It was a very trying and unsettling time for us, but now things are good. Really good. That doesn't mean though we still need God, because we do.

Get angry: You would be amazed how easy it is to bottle those emotions up. Sometimes a healthy session of venting is ok. Cry out; to God, a friend, someone you trust. We too, like most of these lessons, learned this the hard way. Often times we would both be so angry or frustrated with the circumstances and just blow up at each other for no reason. The moment we stopped running (or trying to run) from what we were angry and frustrated with, the easier it was to deal with it. It wasn't easy at first, but over time it did get easier. It just takes time.

Remember to have fun: Call your friends and plan random get-togethers, just for the sake of doing in. When we first got our new jobs, we would just work and work and work and work, but didn't leave a lot of room for play time. Now random get togethers, even if it's just the two of us, happen at least once a month. Don't misunderstand us; we love our jobs, but sometimes it's nice to just take a break and have fun!

Sometimes letting go is the only way to move forward: Actually, this is a direct quote from an episode of "Smallville".  But in all seriousness, we learned this the hard way: earlier in the year we had a falling out from a friend that we were friends with for a long time.  Normally we would have run back and tried to fix everything, but this time, we decided enough was enough.  And that's that.  I think we held on for so long, even though we knew things had gone wrong a while back, because we thought we could fix things.  But sometimes people don't want to be fixed, and you have to accept that and move on.  So we did.  Of course we still think about her and, as always, we wish the best for her.

The ones we lose never really leave us.  On our 23rd birthday, we learned that our grandpa had passed away.  We did somewhat see it coming, but it nevertheless still saddened us.  Still, to this day, we see things, hear things, say things, that remind us of him.  He is with us, always, and he is with Jesus and his family, and we can't be sad about that.

Forgiveness doesn't happen overnight.  We've had some pretty rough family issues this year, and it's safe to say that things will never be the same.  Things have gotten better, yes, but we are still working on the forgiving aspect.  We always will, I suppose.  Forgiveness takes time.

You have to make time for the things that are important to you.  Pretty self-explanatory.  But even if it's just for five minutes, take time for yourself.  In a culture that is so fast-paced, we ought to.

Goals for the next year:

Give back to God.  This is something that Holly has felt on her heart for a while now, and eventually you have to put it into action.  We'll see what happens, but God blesses those who give all to Him, including their finances.

Read.  We've both enjoyed reading for FUN this year.  Yes, an actual book.  We anticipate to do more reading in the new year.

Reach out.  It's amazing how quickly the time passes and it turns into months and months without hearing from friends and family.  Even though it's a lame excuse, we really do get caught up in our busyness.  We're hoping that our reaching out will inspire others to reach out to their own loved ones as well.

Jump in. Ever see someone do something/say something but they just keep waiting and waiting? Ever asked yourself "what am I waiting for?" Well....just do it! Don't wait; the opportunity may not come again.

Remember that we're not alone. And neither are you. God is with us, and you, and so are so many others out there. Call upon Him, your family or your friends if you're hurting or struggling. We are going to do our best to do the same.

It's been an up and down year, 2013 has. Let's all do our best in making 2014 a little bit better!

Making the grade

Kelly: I remember growing up as a kid in elementary school and my parents having multiple conversations with various teachers. I was too young to remember these conversations, but some of them included the loosely translated "she's not going to do well in college" speech because my grades were "below average" and I had a difficult time learning. It was suggested I had a learning disability and from elementary school up through college I severely struggled with taking tests. But my parents never enrolled me to have an IEP (individualized education plan) because they didn't want me to have that label of being "different." Now PLEASE do not misunderstand me; when I look back on it now I think perhaps an IEP or a related degree would have been very beneficial for me. But my parents always told me to do my best in school, and that grades were just letters but that didn't mean I could just slack off. The value of a good and hearty education was important to them, and so was the simple fact of just trying.

College was especially difficult for me at times, because in my field of study I HAD to make certain grades in my classes in order to continue into the program. In one of my generals, I was a few points under the 77% benchmark, thus I had to repeat the course. I often found myself envious of some of my classmates who just seemed to naturally excel; those who barely opened the book yet walked away from each test passing with flying colors. I on the other hand,  slaved myself at times to studying and studying. I did not have to work as hard in high school as I did in college, so this was new to me. Making straight A's and "learning how to study" is NOT something you learn in high school in my opinion; it's something you learn, over time, on your own. You learn what works for you and what doesn't. Ok, I sort of veered off course with that, so let me get back on track. I kept in mind what my parents told me; do your best and regardless, they continued to let me know how proud they were of me. Now I understand some people I know have high expectations for themselves. But just bear in mind, it is an opportunity many do not get that we have by going to college. And I am all for making the most of it, but do your best. Sometimes when you do your best and you don't feel like it was or the grade you got doesn't reflect "your best," then....well, I'm sorry about that. I really am. I'm not being brash or insensitive. You fell off the horse; dust yourself off and realize that you did do your best. Don't blame someone else, because trust me. I've tried that. I've pulled the "well they're just unfair" or "they're grading methods are unfair." It doesn't work.

I apologize in advance if I make someone angry or whatnot, but I feel that this blog is a safe place where I can freely express my opinions. It is not my intention to step on anyone's toes, and I am not saying that anyone who expects themselves to get straight A's and nothing else are stuck up and over achievers. Not even close. I honestly sometimes wish I had that motivation for myself. But just remember; in the end, all it comes down to is just....letters.

Holly: This has been on my mind for a while now, and it's come in light of finals wrapping up for students this week, both at Berea and UK (where I work).  I'm being completely upfront now; I surprised myself at some of my feelings yesterday.  There is some bitterness, there is some jealousy, and I know it's petty and I know it shouldn't be there.  But I'm going to be full disclosure.  I've accepted it and I'm going to move on from it, and I'm just going to be frank and get this all out, so I apologize if it is lengthy:

A lot of my facebook friends have been posting their final grades.  Most of you have gotten A's and B's.  Please let me be one of many to congratulate you.  College is tough.  Berea is a league of its own, if I do say so myself.  You all should definitely be proud of yourselves.  HOWEVER: I've also had many conversations with people about their grades.  I work at UK, for goodness sake.  The department has two student workers.  Many of my facebook friends are still Berea students.  You all GO. NUTS. over your grades.  I know so many who get disappointed in themselves and beat themselves to death if they don't make straight A's.  And for what?  A 4.0?  

Guys, I did not make A's and B's at Berea.  Not even close.  EVERY semester I was there I had a least one C.  It sucked.  It really did.  I busted my butt at Berea, and every time I saw that C it sucked.  It felt like I failed.  And to see all of you posting your straight A's and your A's and B's...well, yeah.  The jealousy comes out.  My LAST semester at Berea I was in my adviser's office in tears because I had a D in my Genetics class, and I NEEDED that class to graduate; I thought my life was over, right then and there! But I learned something REALLY quickly during my time at Berea: grades are just letters.  It's a letter.  Nothing more.  A 4.0 will not guarantee you a job after graduation.  A 4.0 will not guarantee you acceptance into your dream grad school (We have a friend who graduated with a 3.9 and MIT TURNED HER DOWN.  Massachusetts. Institute. of freaking. Technology.  Did I stutter?).  It will definitely help, I think, or at least I'd like to think it will.  A 4.0 will not guarantee you those things because after graduation, there are no guarantees.  There just aren't.  That's the world we live in, that's the economy we live in.  I don't mean to rain on everyone's parades, so let me say this: Please be proud of the grades you do get, whether they're straight A's, or alphabet soup, like mine were.  A lot of young people our age don't even get the opportunity to even go to college.  Can we not stress ourselves out over these letters? Do your best, in ALL areas, not just your academics.  Don't stress.  It's not worth it.  Enjoy your college experience.; it really does go by fast (I'll be 2 years post graduation next May...woah?).  I'm proud of my degree, even with the C's (and yes, the D) littered in my transcript, because I gained so much more than I could have imagined, and you can't put a numerical value on that. 

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!

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.