I have been a fan of the Oscar's for many years. It has been my dream to be there one day sporting the most glorious dress I could find and making charming jokes with interviewers, but alas it was not my year. It wasn't my year, but it was Kate Winslet's! She is my favorite, so it kinda feels like a victory for the both of us. After 6 nominations, she had finally won and didn't have to continue with her "I didn't win face" when someone else won. When they called out her name, I screamed with joy and cried in happiness over this long awaited moment. Her speech did not disappoint with her Dad whistling to let her know where he was sitting and saying how she had practiced this speech a million times with a shampoo bottle. She replies with such charm, "Well it's not a shampoo bottle anymore!" She thanked Peter Jackson, the director responsible for giving her her first feature film in heavenly creatures. She thanked Emma Thompson who was responsible for being a mentor and putting her in her first Oscar nominated film, Sense and Sensibility. It was lovely for her to honor those that gave her her break. She had really been waiting all her life to win this little gold statue and the moment finally came.
It really was one of the best Oscar's of all time. Hugh Jackman did a phenomenal job hosting with grace, charm and skill. His opening number was ridiculously brilliant. I loved that he honored the movies in a way that represented our hard economic times. It is difficult to witness such glamour and excess when unemployment is at it's highest in years. So I thought it was much more appropriate to see Hugh singing and dancing to a Who Wants To Be A Millionaire set for Slumdog with pizza boxes as the computer screens. The part that made me laugh the most and still does when I think about it was, Hugh dancing with dancers in spacey, high tech looking outfits and a strobe light flashing. I thought to myself, "What movie is this?" He then starts singing, "The Reader. I didn't have enough time to see The Reader." The Reader as some of you might know is about an ex-Nazi who falls in love with a teenage boy, so I am glad Hugh did things the way he did. It was honest, hilarious and brilliant. It seems sometimes, that no matter how many Oscar nominated movies you try to see, there is always one that doesn't make the cut. I was happy to see Slumdog Millionaire win so many times as well as take top honor of Best Picture. This movie almost went straight to DVD, but the director didn't give up on this movie and I am glad. It is a beautiful story of the human heart and a story that should inspire everyone.
My favorite part of the Oscar's was the way they presented the main categories of best actor and best supporting roles. They had past winners like Nicole Kidman, Sophia Loren, Shirley Mclain and others to not only help present, but say something to honor each of the nominees. My heart was so happy to see this display of affection. I would have been so humbled to have Sophia Loren say something lovely to me. She is a goddess and she holds a special place in my heart. I get choked up just thinking about what a powerful moment that must have been. All those actresses who had inspired me and created such memorable characters. That's what the Oscar's is about and they did a fabulous job.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Friday, February 20, 2009
Abby's Aquatic Adventures
It has been a dream of mine to for quite sometime to write my very own children's book. I knew that it would be called "Abby's Aquatic Adventures" and I knew it would be stories of her adventures with Marine Animals, but I never had a clear vision for how I wanted the stories to play out. Now I do! It hit me while I was in training for my trip to Rwanda. I wrote the story as soon as I got home. It's the story of two Manatees who learn to forgive the person who injured them severely. It's an important message disguised with the majestic wonder of Manatees.
Forgiveness has taken on more significance as I am preparing for my trip to Rwanda. These people have endured the most horrific of circumstances and have every reason to be angry and bitter. I learned the hard way, hanging on to that kind of anger and bitterness only hurts you and your loved ones. I experienced a "trauma" in my life and had a hard time recovering. This is going to be my message to Rwanda, that from that trauma, I chose to forgive. It wasn't my first choice. I carried the pain of it for 6 years before letting go. Even more amazing is one of the people responsible for that pain ran into me while I was working at Forest Home and told me while I was life-guarding, "I don't know if you remember me, but I am sorry if I was ever a bitch to you. I have been praying for you ever since." Not many people get that kind of random act of redemption. By the time that she offered that to me, I didn't need it anymore. The forgiveness was for myself and a way of letting go. I think we all still are tested constantly in some small way of this. I think when we have a hard time forgiving, because we do not feel validated by our pain or by the person who caused the pain. We want them to understand the pain they caused in order for us to forgive. I was tested of this in a recent relationship, and it took a little time to forgive and let go. This is a continued process that I am learning from and I am actively pursuing learning when I am trying reach out to a country that is in dyer need of forgiveness.
As Christians, we have the rare opportunity to always know forgiveness when we ask of it from God. We can also always get the ultimate validation of our pain from God. My favorite verse has always been a faithful promise and comforting validation of my pain when no one seems to understand. I am not in pain anymore, but my heart goes out to those that are.
2 Corinthians 12:9-12 (New International Version)
9But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
I realize this process can seem a dramatic view of sorts, but even in the smallest of situations, you can find this applicable.
I hope that this children's book will become a peace and comfort to a struggling child. As a child, they have unique view of this world that I aspire to live with. Their downfall is that often times, negative experiences can be viewed as a "trauma" and can wound them deeply, not to mention kids can be cruel and without a kind filter. This book should hopefully bring simply a concept that will last them a lifetime. I hope to make it into a series dedicated to educating children about different marine animals with a life message. Chris suggested I do fruits of the spirit. My next animal will be the Beluga, but God has yet to reveal to me the message he wants me give to the children. I am excited:)
*As a side not, please pray for the work I will do in Rwanda and for traveling mercy.
Forgiveness has taken on more significance as I am preparing for my trip to Rwanda. These people have endured the most horrific of circumstances and have every reason to be angry and bitter. I learned the hard way, hanging on to that kind of anger and bitterness only hurts you and your loved ones. I experienced a "trauma" in my life and had a hard time recovering. This is going to be my message to Rwanda, that from that trauma, I chose to forgive. It wasn't my first choice. I carried the pain of it for 6 years before letting go. Even more amazing is one of the people responsible for that pain ran into me while I was working at Forest Home and told me while I was life-guarding, "I don't know if you remember me, but I am sorry if I was ever a bitch to you. I have been praying for you ever since." Not many people get that kind of random act of redemption. By the time that she offered that to me, I didn't need it anymore. The forgiveness was for myself and a way of letting go. I think we all still are tested constantly in some small way of this. I think when we have a hard time forgiving, because we do not feel validated by our pain or by the person who caused the pain. We want them to understand the pain they caused in order for us to forgive. I was tested of this in a recent relationship, and it took a little time to forgive and let go. This is a continued process that I am learning from and I am actively pursuing learning when I am trying reach out to a country that is in dyer need of forgiveness.
As Christians, we have the rare opportunity to always know forgiveness when we ask of it from God. We can also always get the ultimate validation of our pain from God. My favorite verse has always been a faithful promise and comforting validation of my pain when no one seems to understand. I am not in pain anymore, but my heart goes out to those that are.
2 Corinthians 12:9-12 (New International Version)
9But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
I realize this process can seem a dramatic view of sorts, but even in the smallest of situations, you can find this applicable.
I hope that this children's book will become a peace and comfort to a struggling child. As a child, they have unique view of this world that I aspire to live with. Their downfall is that often times, negative experiences can be viewed as a "trauma" and can wound them deeply, not to mention kids can be cruel and without a kind filter. This book should hopefully bring simply a concept that will last them a lifetime. I hope to make it into a series dedicated to educating children about different marine animals with a life message. Chris suggested I do fruits of the spirit. My next animal will be the Beluga, but God has yet to reveal to me the message he wants me give to the children. I am excited:)
*As a side not, please pray for the work I will do in Rwanda and for traveling mercy.
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