The Heart of Christmas DVD Inspired Me

Sometimes when I read something or watch a movie I am inspired to do something different from normal life.Wrap that with the idea that my daughter started asking me to put up the Christmas Tree in August. (I think she shopped at Khol's one too many times). The Halloween decorations were barely up on the walls when she was asking about Christmas.

I recently saw the movie The Heart Of Christmas. It is a heartbreaking yet hopeful holiday film about a family faced with losing their child and their quest to give him one last Christmas celebration.

Based on a true story that gained national attention, the films tells the story of Austin and Julie Locke, who are devastated to learn that their young son Dax has been diagnosed with cancer.  With courage, determination and faith they decide to give the boy one last Christmas – even if it has to be in October!  When the community sees their decorations and learns the truth of what’s going on in their home, a truly moving outpouring of care and support occurs that people really need to see to believe.  THE HEART OF CHRISTMAS is available on DVD Tuesday, October 16.

The movie was such a great heartwarming tale that I have been inspired to try to find a great way to give back to my own community. While I don't know someone who is going through cancer - but we can help any time at Volunteers of America. There are some great opportunities to serve the community with our kids - December 8 we will help deliver fruit and chocolate baskets and homemade holiday cards to 5,750 seniors in the community who may not receive a gift or visit during the holiday season. You could also Adopt a family and or deliver meals Thanksgiving or Christmas time.  Last year we had fun wrapping books - over 1,000 books needed to be wrapped before they could be delivered to the kids for their Christmas party. If you are interested in volunteering there are all kinds of opportunities - reach out to Rachel at VOA. Contact Rachel Dolgin at 720-264-3310 or rdolgin@voacolorado.org to volunteer.

Let this amazing DVD inspire you like it did me.

Onward

I pick up the book titled Onward by Howard Schultz the founder and CEO of Starbucks. And I contemplate for a moment what it means to me that I have picked up this book at this time in my life and how I have had to find a way to move onward with my life. 

Moving on is not mutually exclusive of being sad to let go of the past - along with the hopes and dreams that came to pass or did not nor the excitement of what the future holds and how I cling to the belief that each and every part of my past makes me who I am to carry me into the future that will somehow be better than my past. 

I struggle to find the line between yearning for things that I so wish would have happened. How my life might have turned out or the dreams that I chose not to push hard enough to fulfill. To finding the hope, the wish and the fortitude and tenacity to make my new dreams come to fruition without being just a dreamer - and knowing there is hard work still to be done. 

I relish in the idea that God created me as a one of a kind. Because of that, I have much to contribute. I have reasons for having the energy and persistence that I do. I have the background from the things I have experienced. Through it all learning how to love, how to be and show love, and the hardest part for me - to receive love. 

So, Onward is not just a book for me. (while I read this one that way). I know that Onward is my mentality, it is my mantra, it is my way of life...keep moving forward - because better is still to come.

I believe in supersitions and wives tales

Yes, I'm the girl that reads my horoscope nearly every day to see just what MIGHT happen to me each day. Whether it is true or not, I read it. Maybe it is just wishful thinking. Maybe it becoemes a self fulfilling prophesy. (I'm ok with that -because they are usually happy and good). 
 My Grandpa told me that when your feet itch - it means that you are going to get to go on a trip. Well I'm wondering why my feet don't itch more! I want to go all the time. And going on a trip for me can just be going down the street to the grocery store. Yes, I like to get out of the house.

But tonight, I could not go to sleep - because I had itchy feet.  I have been thinking about several trips and was trying to quiet my mind for the night with a Traveler Magazine. Tomorrow, we will leave for a 3 day - 2 night stay at Mt. Princeton with my girlfriends from high school. I am very excited. I never thought that I would be part of a girls weekend. I feel kind of like I'm in a movie!

The Cleaning Fairy Visited

Yesterday, I became the "momster." You know, the one with the eyes bugging out, screaming voice and the vein popping out at the side of my neck. I had been on the phone all day (love getting lost in the tangle of government phone systems). I looked up and realized what time it was and hurriedly told my kids that it was time to go. They promptly got up, put on their shoes and were out the door - the living room was a wreck! 

Resplendant with dirty dishes on the coffee table, spills  nearly dripping to the floor, a box of crackers on its side - with the cat atop the table trying to eat the strewn about crackers and cheese. Blankets were on the couch and floor (how many did they really need for just the two of them?!?!?), pillows on the floor and couch...in short, the place was a total mess. And they were going to leave it that way?!?! I kind of blew a gasket. I told (screamed) that they needed to pick the place up or we were not going ANYWHERE. They did...begrudgingly. And each blaming the other for what was out of place and who should have to put the dishes in the dishwasher.

Mind you I am no clean freak - by any sense of the imagination (or even stretching the imagination). But I do like to have my piles put in place. :) I admit I have piles everywhere. We ran our errands, visited my parents (grabbed dinner)...and returned home sort of late. I went to bed before the kids did. I wanted to read and they wanted to stay up since it was fall break.

When I woke the living room was meticulously cleaned and every thing was put in place. Even the Halloween decorations were up. (I didn't do that).  I think the cleaning fairy came. She even cleaned out my refridgerator! I'm pretty sure the cleaning fairy looks a lot like my daughter. Maybe the Momster should come out a little more often. I like waking to this clean house! 

Just enough to be dangerous

Most of my life I have been a student. A student of life. A student of terms. A student of experiences. A student of people. And usually the phrase that my Grandma told me when I graduated High School bounces off the inside of my brain like there's nothing else there. "The more you learn the more you realize you have to learn." I hated it then. Because I thought I was so darn smart for having just graduated and thought I knew everything there was to know in the world. 

But I didn't know anything then. I've realized that my Grandma was a wise woman and a student in life as well. So what exactly have I been striving to learn? I'm not sure. As each and every whim of something interesting blows into my way, I want to learn as much as I can about it to be dangerous.  

I have come to believe that I could have a conversation with almost anyone. If I can just be curious enough to find out what their life is about. No one has just the story they are telling you or what they are showing on the outside. We all come FROM something and most of the time we are all STRIVING to be something else. When we learn that very few of us are happy to just "be" as we are - but looking for the next thing, I believe we can help each other. 

If each of us can contribute just enough - as a force together - we could all be DANGEROUS (in a good way).  Watch out world - HERE I COME. I am lucky enough to have lots of people contributing their just enoughs...

Here Comes The Boom

Have you ever felt so strongly about someone or something that you would literally fight about it? That is what the movie Here Comes The Boom starring Kevin James and Bas Rutten is really all about. In the movie, the school that Mr. Voss (James) teaches at is facing cuts that could impact the job of  Marty (Henry Winkler), the music teacher. Mr. Voss chooses to fight in the MMA ring to raise money to protect his friend's job.

It is not often that movie stars happen into a hotel in Denver. I was able to sit down and ask them some questions about the film. Yes, that really is Kevin James and Bas Rutten I am standing between!

I took a couple young friends with me to the movie, so I could get their take on the movie and they could give me questions to ask.

I was a little concerned about the MMA violence for my young friends. They assured me that it was not "too much" and they enjoyed the movie and the action very much.

Yes, James trained as an MMA participant.
Yes, Ruttan really talks like that (no fake accent). No, James wasn't in band or played an instrument.
Yes, Ruttan is superstitious - he used to always fight with his rubber ducky nearby.

Honestly, this movie just feels good in reminding us all to fight for something  and help fellow mankind. I was a little sad that my kids were with their dad on the day that I went to see the movie, but I'm pretty sure we will need to see this one again. It Opens in theaters this Friday, October 12.