Movie #3: Gone in 60 Seconds

I recently watched the old movie, Gone in 60 Seconds. It reminded me of an old school version of the Fast and the Furious. It stars Nicholas Cage, Angelina Jolie, and Robert Duvall. There are also some B and C list movie stars earlier in their careers.

The premise is that the younger brother (Kip) of a former car thief (Memphis) gets himself in trouble with some bad people. Knowing Memphis' notorious past, they draw him back into a life of stealing cars to save Kip's life. His must steal a long list of expensive cars in a VERY short time. He puts together his old team with his brother's team to form a motley crew. They've got little to no time to scout the cars they need and steal them. So, they take one night to get it all done. This was a nail biter and action packed.

Do they live or die? Watch the whole movie and find out.

Ellie Holcomb: Red Sea Road Album

I love Ellie Holcomb's music! I have been really excited for the debut of her new album, Red Sea Road. It's everything I'd hoped for and more. I listen to her album most days as I get ready for work. It helps me relax and refocuses my mind on the Lord.

I love it! Here's her first single from that album:


Here's her title track"




Each and every song speaks to me and I hope it brings peace to you, as well.

Living with an Autoimmune Disease

Living with an autoimmune disease is trying. One day you feel okay and the next every movement you make brings pain. Mostly during trying times, I fear when things will get even worse. I've been living with rheumatoid arthritis for almost 9 years. They have been some of the most challenging years of my life, but I'm still alive, so God has a purpose for my life. He also has a purpose for your life too!

We all have different ways to cope with struggles and I'd like to share what's helped me:

1. Give yourself a break
Find the balance between pushing yourself to stay active and listening to your body. This is one of my greatest challenges.
Sometimes you do need to rest. Giving your best is good enough.

2. Reach out for help and support
Even though it feels like complaining, remember to ask for help. I hate asking for help, but when people who understand my RA know I'm struggling, they are ALWAYS supportive. For people who are trying to understand your disease share with them about what you're going through. Maybe it's not that they don't care, but that they don't understand it.

Mattress Upgrade

After realizing that I'd been complaining of back pain from my 22+ year old mattress for over 1.5 years, I decided I had to look into getting a new one.

So, the search began. I went with a trusted friend. We started at Faith Furniture as they had a sale. The mattress in my price range just wasn't the right one. Stop #2 was the Sears Homestore. They had two mattresses, but no pricing. The guy seemed bothered to have to look up pricing. He was gone forever. I was happy to leave there. They had the worst customer service.

Next stop was Feldkamp's Furniture. There, we encountered the most inexpressive sales guy. There I found the mattress of my dreams, but it was not within my budget. The dream mattress was a Dr. Greene's mattress. Dr. Greene is an orthopedic surgeon and this was the first mattress that supported my low back. My low back was my problem area. I unfortunately couldn't get that mattress.

From there, we went to Mattress Firm. Though I'd heard good things about it, the prices were exorbitant. Off to the next place. By this point, I was still stuck on the Dr. Greene's mattress, but couldn't make it work with my budget. :(

Then I found a great deal on a mattress at Beds for Less, but it still wasn't the one I wanted.

So, I went home and did some research. I found that another store in Manhattan, Kansas, where I live, had the mattress. So, I went to Mattress Hub. I asked if they had the Dr. Greene's mattress and they said they did, but under another name. I tried it and it was indeed the same as Dr. Greene's and thankfully at a much more affordable price with interest-free financing!!! So, I got a Somerton Plush Mattress made at the Serta plant.

Ever since I got that mattress my low back pain has gone away and I sleep so well. I should've gotten that mattress a long time ago. :)

Recipe #35: Peanut Butter, Banana, and Honey Cookies

My friend/co-worker loves peanut butter, so for her birthday I made peanut butter, banana, and honey cookies.

Here's the photo and recipe from the blog, Two Peas and their Pod:

PEANUT BUTTER, BANANA, AND HONEY COOKIES

yield: 2 1/2 DOZEN COOKIES
cook time: 12-15 MINUTES

INGREDIENTS:
1 ¼ cups all purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

4 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature

1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1/3 cup smooth peanut butter

1 tablespoon honey

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 large egg

1 large ripe banana, mashed (about 1 cup)

2 cups old fashioned oats


Peanut Butter Honey Glaze:

3 tablespoons smooth peanut butter

1/2 cup powdered sugar

2 tablespoons milk

1 tablespoon honey

DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Set aside.


2. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine butter and sugars, mix until smooth. Add peanut butter, honey, vanilla extract, and egg. Combine until smooth. Next, add the banana and mix until combined.


3. Slowly add in flour mixture until just combined. Stir in the oats.


4. Drop cookie dough by heaping tablespoonfuls 2 inches apart onto baking sheets that have been lined with parchment paper or Silcone baking mats. Bake at 350 degrees F for 12-15 minutes or until golden. Remove cookies from pans; cool completely on wire racks.


5. To make the glaze-combine peanut butter, powdered sugar, milk, and honey in a small bowl. Whisk until smooth. If it is too thick or thin, adjust by adding more milk or powdered sugar. Drizzle glaze over cooled cookies.

My office loved these cookies and they were a little healthy. ;)

My Verse of the Year: 1 Corinthians 16:13-14

At church, last month, the sermon was over 1 Corinthians 16:13-14. The verse really spoke to me and felt it should be my verse of the year. The last part is the hardest for me ;)

Movie #2: Daddy's Home

Over Christmas break, I was sick, so all I got to do was sleep and watch movies.

In the pile of movies I wanted to see was Daddy's Home. I expected it to be funnier and better than it was, so I ended up disappointed in this one. As with some of Will Ferrell's movies, it was a bit ridiculous and unbelievable. It even made the hunky Mark Wahlberg seem annoying. I wouldn't waste an hour and a half of life on this.

Movie #1: The Shallows

Let me preface this by saying, I really hate scary movies. That being said, I really wanted to see this movie and I'm kinda a Blake Lively movie since her movie, the Age of Adeline.

I knew the scary parts involved a shark.

So, Blake's character goes surfing alone to a beach her now-deceased mom surfed at. It's pretty remote and very beautiful. There are two other guys surfing, but she pretty much stays to herself. They leave, but she wants to catch another wave.

She happens upon the giant dead remains of a whale. That then brings the shark who now wants her as one of his meals. What ensues is a kind of cat-and-mouse "chase" with the shark that lasts roughly 24 hours and leaves the other two surfers coming back and being killed. Will she live? Will she die? It was a bit gory, but thankfully not as bad as I thought it'd be. Blake Lively is in great shape on the movie, so it's definitely good fitness inspiration!

Alistair Begg Quote

My church, Trinity Baptist posted a really thought-provoking quote that I wanted to share with you all.

As a Scotsman,
I'm subject to Queen Elizabeth II.
But I haven't ever had a phone call or a visit from her.
She doesn't know my name.
Her greatness is revealed in how isolated she is from me.
But God's greatness is revealed in His intimacy with us.
He does know my name
and He does know yours.
He knows about, and He cares about,
the responsibilities that weigh heavy on you,
the quiet disappointments that gnaw at you,
and the concerns that keep you awake at night.
He knows about your hopes and aspirations and the moments that make your heart sing.
The Creator is mindful of you, and that gives you value,
whatever the world sees when it looks at you,
and however you are treated by those around you.
He is mindful.

All of us, whatever our background or beliefs, have a picture of God.
Many of us have a God who we do not believe in because we do not like him.
If you do not believe in God because he is distant, uncaring, and unhelpful, I understand.
I do not believe in that God either!

Here is the God of Christmas, of history.
He is a God who knows you,
and he cares about you,
and he makes promises to you,
and he acts to help you.
He is the mindful God
-Alistair Begg

Well, I don't know about you, but this is just the kind of God I need and that I love!

The Rent Collector by Camron Wright

The Rent Collector is the best book I've read in a long time. The author, Camron Wright paints pictures with words so well that I can nearly imagine it all. It takes place in a dump in Cambodia. It follows the life of a young wife and mother, Sang Ly. She and her husband, Ki live and work in the dump, collecting things that can be recycled for money to for food and rent. On top of all the challenges of living and working at the dump, Sang Ly and her husbands's infant son, Nisay is continually sick.

Their rent collector is a harsh, demanding woman named, Sopeap Sin. The woman is often drunk which adds to her harshness. Once while collecting rent, she sees a book that Sang Ly has stares at it. That makes Sang Ly think that the woman must know how to read. So, the takes a leap of faith and asks the cruel woman to teach her to read. Sang Ly thinks it could change her family's life. Surprisingly, Sopeap Sin agrees. She used to be a teacher, which shocks Sang Ly. They meet once a week. Sang Ly looks in the trash for advertisements and books.

The dump is a sad, dangerous place. Sang Ly's husband gets robbed and beaten. A little boy, Lucky who lives alone runs to Sang Ly for help. A young girl that he knows needs help. Sang Ly runs to help and sees that she is having her cycle for the first time. She's an orphan and lives with her brother who is in a gang. Sang Ly tells the girl how to tell her brother and what to do to take care of herself. It's explained to Sang Ly that since the girl is now a woman, she'll be sold as a sex slave. Sang Ly must help. They come up with a plan to help the girl get away from the dump safely and live a new life. Sang Ly helps raise money for the girl's travel costs.

Ki is trying to get people together to take on the gangs who rule the dump. This scares Sang Ly as she fears for the safety of her family.

Meanwhile, she's learning to read and it's opened up a whole new world for her. While Sopeap Sin is a harsh person, she's a good teacher and Sang Ly is a great student. They start studying literature and looking for the deeper meaning in those stories. They're nearing the end of what there is to learn.

Nisay is still so sick, nothing helps. Sang Ly feels her deceased grandfather tell her to return home and see the local medicine man. It's a long expensive trip and they must save up for it. Sang Ly takes a book for the ride. The bus ride gets longer as there's a delay. People get fussy including young Nisay, so Sang Ly reads her book out loud to him. She notices that others are listening along. They reach their destination, but her captive audience must hear the end of the story. The driver and passengers agree to wait for her to finish the book. Once the book is read and her family disembarks, everyone smiles and thanks her for reading to them.

Once in her home village, Sang Ly sees the medicine man, who it turns out was friends with her deceased father. The medicine man comes up with how to treat Nisay. As they leave, the medicine man, he shares a photo and stary of Sang Ly's father that she'd never known before. The treatment cures Nisay; finally!

Sopeap Sin is often sick, someone mentions that they saw her in the hospital and she has cancer. Sang Ly doesn't know how to broach the topic. Sopeap Sin says she must go away soon. Throughout their time together, Sang Ly learns that Sopearp Sin used to be married and had a child. Slowly the story rolls out. At that time, there was much political unrest in Cambodia and all the educated people were targeted and killed. Sopeap Sin and her housekeeper return home to see that rebel forces are there ready to harm her family. Her husband proclaims the housekeeper as his wife. The housekeeper plays along. They hear the baby cry and they beg the rebels not to, but they kill baby her husband and who the presume to be his wife who is actually the housekeeper. So, the wife takes the housekeeper's name as hers. It turns out she actually owns the property she collects rent for. She sends much of the money to the real Sopeap Sin's family. Sang Ly tracks down the family and learns more about the rent collector. She tells them that the real Sopeap Sin is dead.

Sopeap Sin the rent collector has disappeared. Sang Ly uses all the info she learns and with the real Sopeap's Sin's family she tracks her down. She's back in the house she shared with her family. The owner lets her spend her last days there. Sopeap's family thanks her for her financial support. Sang Ly spends the rest of Sopeap Sin's time with her and then she passes away. Sopeap Sin leaves Sang Ly and Ki her house with a huge library that's outside of the dump. How much their lives were changes by the rent collector.