An Appropriate Sunday Challenge

So, this week I learned of a new challenge.  This challenge is unique in the fact that it is not blog based-but it is LDS based.  Deseret Book, an LDS bookseller and publisher, sponsors events throughout each year called Time Out for Women.  These events recognize that women are special and unique individuals that need the support and collaboration of other women.  I have never attended a Time Out event, but I did watch one online once.  It was a great experience, so I have ended up on their mailing list.

So in the middle of June I found out that they were having monthly challenges to help us improve our spirituality.  I didn't want to hop in that far into the month, but I was curious about July's challenge.  So this week, I got an e-mail announcing this challenge.  It is halfway through April and October conference---so this challenge encourages us to renew our commitment in General Conference.  We try to focus on and read a talk a day.  The challenge isn't just to read, but also to act on the talks.

This challenge sounded like a great way for me to re-center myself.  But I always do better when I have some accountability.  So I am announcing it to you.  I don't want to tell you everything that I am doing, and daily will be a bit much. I am thinking a weekly check in, maybe on Sundays.  But I signed up--so it starts today! Wish me luck. And if you would like to join or learn more, click here.

http://www.tofw.com/July-Challenge-Talk-Day-Jennifer%20Brinkerhoff-Platt/s/876

Movie Review: We Bought a Zoo

This movie came out in 2011 starring Matt Damon and Scarlett Johansson.  Brian and I had wanted to see this movie for a while, and we finally got a chance to.  So here is the run down!

Summary: After the death of his wife, Benjamin and his two kids need a fresh start.  Benjamin goes house hunting and ends up finding the perfect house.  Well almost perfect...there is a zoo on the property that you have to buy if you want the house.  So, Benjamin jumps in head first.  The zoo needs a lot of help, so they spend a lot of time and money trying to fix it up and their lives.  Will they make it?  You should watch the movie to find out.

What I Loved?

• It is a really really sweet story!! And I love how it is based on a true story!
• They picked a great actor for the son....he really could be Matt Damon a lot younger
• The daughter is ADORABLE! They wrote her really well and she delivered the lines perfectly.

What I Hated?

• Had a lot of characters that they only partially developed...it would have been nice if they had done more with all of them
• Not much else...it is a pretty good movie!!!

So bottom line...Great movie! Totally find it and buy it!

From Wikipedia!

Five Favorite Front-Page Features

This week I am going to feature NBCNews.com

Venezuela, Nicaragua offer Snowden asylum Being so long a man without a country, I bet he is grateful--but I bet the NSA is frustrated

Alleged plot to extort Paula Deen exposed; FBI makes arrest As if things couldn't get worse for her, talk about drama!

Zimmerman trial The plot thickens with the prosecutors closing their case and the defense asking to let the judge to throw it out--I really wonder where this will fall

Immigration reform--As mentioned last week, it passed the Senate--but the House still needs to vote.  It becomes really tricky with the ideas of this issue because everyone is opinionated about it...it becomes a "do I vote on my own" or "with my constituents" decision

Is Egypt headed for a civil war? There is a military coup going on and then there is the group that still support the elected president....it will be interesting to see how this one shakes out too

From NBCNews.com

Happy Fourth of July!!!

Happy Birthday America!!! It has been an interesting day...I worked today--and parent-teacher conferences were the highlight.  So it has been a long day! But I love how my biggest tradition is watching Capitol Fourth on PBS.  YAY for great musical numbers and the National Symphony Orchestra.

From dc.about.com 

Food for Thought

So, today's post is inspired by a quote from Margaret Mitchell--author of Gone with the Wind. She said:

With enough courage, you can do without a reputation. 

Ever since I saw this quote, I have been thinking about what that really means.  You could interpret this in a few ways to me. The first thing I thought about was social capital.  Everyone has personality bank accounts. When we need favors from other people, we pull from this bank account.  When we give favors to other people, we are depositing into the bank account for use later.  Some people relate this bank account to your reputation, because it serves as the interest on the account. If you have a "good" reputation your interest rate is higher so there is a higher reserve there.  I wonder sometimes how my reputation affects my bank account.  But if you think about Margaret's words....you don't need this interest rate if you have the courage enough to stand up for yourself.  While I agree with this, sometimes it is a lot harder--so there is a price to pay for this courage.

But on the other hand, I was thinking about reputation like your own self-esteem.  If you worry about other people think of you, reputation means something completely different. You want other people to think well of you, so you please them to help your reputation.  But if you have the courage to stand up for what you believe in no matter what other people think, then you don't need a reputation because you don't care what other people think of you.

What do you think? Is reputation worth it? Or is courage more important?

Margaret Mitchell courtesy of Wikipedia 

Movie Review: The Terminal

So this is what I watched tonight...should have been grading but oh well! This movie came out in 2004 starring Tom Hanks, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Stanley Tucci.  Seriously with that list of stars it will be a good movie.  And it was directed by Steven Spielberg! So now we're even more set.....and yes it was a great movie!

So summary....Tom Hanks plays a man from an Eastern European country. When he arrives in NYC, his passport is denied.  While he was in the air his country was overthrown and his country no longer existed.  He was literally a man without a country (reminds me of a certain current event right now).  So he waits until his country is recognized by the U.S. Where does he do this? In the airport.

What Did I Love?

• The story line is awesome!
• The writing was tremendous.  It was very witty--there were so many moments where I was laughing out loud.
• The acting was great too!  Tom Hanks' accent is awesome and Stanley Tucci plays a great "bad guy"

What Did I Hate?

• Umm....I can't think of anything!

Bottom Line: Buy it, find it, if you haven't seen it you need too!

http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/diego-luna/images/930597/title/diego-luna-terminal-screencap

A Review of June and Coming Soon

Wow, can't believe another month has come and gone.  As I typically do on the first of the month, I do a run down of the top posts of the previous month and what's to come up this month.

3. We had a tie for third place...so you get two posts!
Classics Club Meme This one was actually a lot of fun!  I enjoy participating in the Classics Club, and doing little things with them.  It has no pressure and I love that!!
Article Review: Sending My Child Away I was actually glad to see that this one made it on the list. I debated actually posting this one, but I was very impressed by this article and wanted to share it.  I hope that it helps someone out there.

2. Shakespeare Plus Autism Another fun one to write! I love talking about Shakespeare!  I have a new found love for him with my job, as I mentioned in this post.

1. Another Doctor's Appointment I should have predicted that this one would be first, all the rest of my ones about my health issues have been.  It is nice to see that everyone cares.  This gives me an opportunity to catch everyone up on how I'm doing now. I have good days and bad days, and because I was having good days I thought that I would get better on my own. Biggest reason, I am done with doctors!  This weekend was a testament that I maybe shouldn't do that anymore.  So I called today--and I have another appointment next Monday.  I'll update then.

Upcoming this month...July will bring lots of new changes and busy times.  We will be closing on our new house this month!! How crazy is that! So my life will be full of signing and boxes. I have a family reunion that I am looking forward too and hopefully I will get my teaching license renewed this month too.

Blog wise I will be participating in my first ever read-along with To Kill a Mockingbird and RoofBeam Reader. This is one of my favorite books and I want to share some lesson plan ideas that I have had.  Feel free to join in too! I also really need to finish a blanket for a good friend who is having her first baby this month and I will share that too!!  I also hope to hop on some more blog hops. Finally, I am looking forward to possibly fixing up my blog following ways.  I need a better system...I am thinking about Bloglovin' or Feedly.  I can't decide...but I need too because I don't want to miss stuff!  Suggestions?

Our new house!!!