Movie Reviews!

Going to the movies is always a process:

Months before a movie comes out, you see a preview. The preview hooks you. You think for sure that movie is going to be great! So, accordingly, you wait in anticipation to go watch it. For some movies, you get the first ticket available and are there opening weekend. Then there are those movies you want to make sure you go see on the big screen and just try to make it before it leaves the theater. For all the others, you may care less; maybe you’ll catch it on video or maybe you’ve already decided it is not worth seeing or maybe you have made a moral decision not to watch it at all.

Then, it’s movie day. You buy your ticket(s).

If you’re a big spender, you buy a drink, some popcorn, and whatever candy tickles your fancy. (FTR, the movie theaters make their money on the food/drinks we buy. That’s why we’re charged $4.00 when it probably cost $.15 for a regular drink. We should just hand them our money!) Sometimes though, the snacks make the movie more of an event. And SOMETIMES (on special occasions!) I like to splurge and help fund my local movie theater.

Next, you grab your supplies or maybe your date’s hand and you’re off to your movie. Pick your seat. If you’re early, you get any seat you want. If you’re late, you take any seat(s) that is still available. I tend to prefer the middle seat about mid-way up.

Previews. One of my favorite parts! It’s where you are initially hooked on an upcoming movie and the process begins to start all over. (See 1st paragraph!) Then either you or your counterpart determines whether or not they think that movie looks good. Most of the time, if I’m with Chris, we’ll agree on what we want to see. (We love comedy movies.) There are some, of course, that we would prefer the other to go see with someone else. For Chris, he tends to bow out of those sappy girl movies (that I personally love!) and I tend to bow out of those violent or scary movies. Either way, during the previews, we begin adding movies to our mental list. It’s so fun!

Finally, it is MOVIE time! The part you’ve been waiting for. (I sometimes get so wrapped up in the previews that I’ll forget what we’ve come to see… But then, as the flick is starting, it becomes clear!) You laugh, you cry, you become emotionally involved in the movie. A movie is something made for your entertainment and if it’s a good movie, it will pull you in. After everything is over, you sit in your seat for just a moment pondering your thoughts on the movie. Then, if you’re a bit like me, you snap to your senses and jump out of your seat to head home. (You sure don’t want to be the last out of a theater!!) Most movies will lead to some good conversations afterward…

Then, the process, or maybe cycle is a better word for it, starts all over!

Okay, my slightly detailed description of movie watching is done. Promise! I’m writing all of this to tell you I’m going to start blogging about each movie I go see. You never want to go see a movie that isn’t good, but you sure don’t want to miss one that is! Luckily, I’m dating/engaged to/marrying the most knowledgeable movie and music buff I know. We LOVE going to the movies together and tend to see many of them. So, you are going to get some of the benefits to this. Granted, our opinions may differ, but you’ll at least have an idea. I hope you enjoy!

Dee's 80th Birthday

Dee Daddy turned 80 years old on Saturday!

Dee is my grandfather. How did he get his name? I'm not really sure. Cousin Jenny, I believe, gave him that nickname when she was little. It stuck from there on and all of us grandchildren (plus some others) have called him Dee since we could talk. He loves being a grandfather.

So to celebrate such a huge milestone in his life, my aunt and mother decided to throw him a huge family birthday party! It was at my aunt Sonya's - a perfect place to host the 48 people!

There you go! Most of one side of my family. We all squished together in the Crider's living room and smiled. Please note that in one family there are 9 children 5 years old and under. By August, there will be 11 kids 5 and under. Amazing.

It was a great day. Lots of hanging out and catching up. There were a few babies to hold and lots of kids to play with.

My favorite was "girl time" upstairs. Little Rebecca (the ring leader of the clan of children) was telling me the story of when they had to rescue 16 month old David from the dog cage. It was a great story and it got even better when Megan told me the "story" had just happened downstairs. Somehow David was put in the dog cage and locked up for a while... at least until all the children went to rescue him! How funny! Poor David. It must be hard to be one of the smallest of the group.

the AC

Dear God,

I believe your air conditioner is broken. It is REALLY, REALLY cold outside!

Thank you for checking this out. My skin is drying out because I'm sitting on too many heaters.

I love you.
Julie

Because updates are needed.

Update blog post: Dedicated to the beautiful Anna Jaynes and Beth Turner, who notice when I don't update my blog!


1. Who really has time to update a blog around the holidays? Evidently not me!

2. God is good. He is really good. He is always with me (and you, and you, and you)...

3. I have the best family and friends in the world. Hands down.

4. Chris Connell is a great man and I am completely in love with him.

5. Wedding planning is FUN!

6. Registering is not as much fun. Well, I take that back! It is LOADS of fun for the first hour or maybe even the second. However, when we hit 2.5 hours, Chris and I began to lose our minds! When we left, we weren't sure what was on there - don't worry though, we've gotten it all cleaned up now! Thank the Lord!

7. Prayer is powerful. and imperative. (I don't know if that's the correct word, but it'll do.)

8. 5th graders are hilarious! They are cute and smarter than I think they are sometimes.

9. God is healing.

10. New Year's eve ROCKED! When 2008 rolled around, my friend Alice and I spent the evening with our friend Grayson and friends. That was the same day Chris Connell had first called me and I couldn't help but think of him when the ball dropped. This year, I didn't have to just think about him - he was there. We were each other's first kiss of 2009. It was just the way it should be...

11. Ben called today! Mom got to talk with him. He sounded good. Their FOB had a visit from the Joint Chief of Staff a couple of weeks ago. (That's a HUGE deal!) He told Ben they were in a "bad place." Please keep praying for him! God is with him - pray for his complete protection.

12. Sundays are the best. God's day of rest and I take that seriously. This Sunday was really fun. Chris came up to hear our guest speaker, Henry Blackaby writer of Experiencing God. Lunch was at the house with the parentals! Mom made scrambled eggs, biscuits, bacon, apples, and sausage casserole. I LOVE breakfast foods, especially when they're not at breakfast.

13. My friend Holly and I celebrated her birthday in style! Dinner at Pizza Inn and the Bedtime Story movie. Holly is the smartest 13 year old I've ever met. She's beautiful, smart, and loves the Lord so much. I am so proud of her.

14. There is the cutest bulldog puppy at the mall pet store! Lots of beautiful little wrinkles!

15. Dinner at Ruth's Chris is delicious! Especially when you're celebrating birthdays.

16. The Connells are hysterically funny people!

17. This spring will be FULL of fun things. Especially in regards to babies and baby showers!

18. Surprise birthdays are awesome! My grandfather turns 80 years old this Saturday! My aunt is hosting a big family party at her house. I can't wait.

19. Chris and Daniel have the same birthday - February 2nd! There are so many celebrations on their way!

20. The circus is coming to town!!! Jan 22 - 25. Chris and I went last year and loved it! Of course, someone sold us their tickets for only $5/each, which made it that much better too! We're going back this year for sure.

21. My animals are beautiful. Cuddly and always excited to see you. They love to play. Macy is mine and she's excited about the move to Knoxville! She is really the cutest thing I've ever seen.

22. Clementines may be one of my favorite snacks right now.

Thank you for reading this. You're the best.