John Lewis Christmas Advert 2011

Such a lovely one... you can't help but smile.

Pure Joy

I have, with the help of my sister-in-law. Been compiling a list of "Joyisms" aka, stuff my sister says.  These are pure gold in my opinion. Little nuggets of pure brilliance. ENJOY!

"I wish I lived back in the coon ages, life was simpler then."

Joy, reading a "humorous" t-shirt. 'A diastolic walks into a bra? I don't get it."
Dave - 'it's "dyselxic"'
Joy - 'What is?'

"Someday I'm gonna buy myself a calendar, so I can stick a pin in all the places I've been."

Joy - How are you this fine day?
Ethan - huh?
Joy (to the group) I speaketh in terms that are unoriginal to him.
(she meant unfamiliar of course.)

To me, Re: the filipino man serving her coffee... "I think it's disrespectful to call them caucasians... it's gross."

J.A. - You have a booger in your nose.
Joy - Naw, I never have boogers in my nose. That's a snack.

"You know those people with only one arm? I think they're called Shriners... they're pretty lucky cause they can do that trick."

"Oh I know how sink holes happen! There are these little platelets under the ground..."

"...So I told her I don't think it's right to get married outside of wedlock."

"That woman changes clothes like she changes her hair!"

Joy - Why do I keep playing with this herpes thing on my foot?!
We all look trying to figure out what she means... it is a donut shaped "hemeroid pillow".

Joy's friend "My brother and I are so much alike, if we were born on the same day we'd be twins." ... she comes by it honestly.

"You may think I'm gross, but that's just science." - yup, she said it... still don't quite know what it means, but I don't think I have to.

Why I'm not writing.

I really miss blogging... even if it IS going the way of the dinosaur. I miss reading peoples musings and not just their status updates. BUT, lately I've barely blogged a thing and I'll tell you why.  I'm writing. Writing in the hopes of getting paid for my efforts. Blogging is great, but if I can sell a screenplay it would be even better.  I've finished one. Did I mention that yet?  Finished the third draft of a Rom Com actually.
Like most things I do, I probably would have given up ages ago if it weren't for my editor. She is fantastic. I totally reccommend her if you are a screenwriter and are looking for someone to tell you the truth and be "harsh but fair."  Not only does she do a great job on the editing, but she has mentored me in a way... suggesting books and movies and screenplays that I would benefit from reading/watching/taking notes on. She also seems to email and offer encouragement at just the right times in the process.  So, if any of you out there are looking for a script editor sometime check out Lara Moon. Her site, is ukscriptdoctor and it's well worth googling her.
So,  like I said... the third draft is done and I have a little time while it is being edited, so I thought I would send out a quick hello. Someday when this one is done and while I wait with baited breath to see if I can sell and keep myself fed, clothed and sheltered while I write, I will catch up with all my missed blogging and this site will once again be loaded with brand new musings and favorite things.  Until then... I will check in once in a while and check up on you ;P
kisses, Gracie-poo.

I want to learn to play the Ukulele.

So sweet, makes me want to learn to play the ukulele... is that how you spell it?

Toddlers & Tiaras with Tom Hanks

It's funny because it's true!

Richer by Fire.

I would never choose heartache and yet I can't deny that there is a certain richness that enters into a relationship that has gone through some sort of hardship, pain or tragedy... a shared knowing; a greater understanding of what it means to love.  It is no wonder then, if I can see this in my human relationships, that a heavenly one with a God who knows exactly what will bring a realtionship together and what will destroy it, allows a certain amount of difficulties to enter into the lives of his beloved children.  My relationship with my heavenly Father isn't what it was when I was a child, although I loved him very much. Nor is it what it was when I was in my early twenties and I discovered for the first time that I could fall in love with God, that He would be on my mind as I feel asleep at night and as I woke up again in the morning. Because although I loved Him, I didn't understand the depth of his great love for me until I was neck deep in grief and had no one but Him to bring me comfort.  It is there, in those moments when I discovered the depth of His love. It was then that I discovered the richness of a relationship that has gone through the fire.

Imprisoned by Choices.

Choices; I'm starting to despise the word.  It seems like one of the greatest problems for someone of my age and culture is that we are spoilt for choice.  There are a myriad of things we could do and all of them have an equal number of pros and cons.  Because of this, many of us seem to be living life in a holding pattern; uncertain of which path to choose or how long to keep going in the direction we settle on.

More and more often I see people, not unlike myself, trying various courses and careers; staying in them for a year or two and then moving on.  Because of our abundance of choice there is no incentive to stick it out when the going gets tough. 

This culture of indecision has filtered down into my spiritual life too.  Now, I  have the excuse of waiting on God to direct me.  I can't carry on if I don't feel peace about it... right?

The other day, as I was reading my bible I realized that God DID give me some pretty clear instructions already.  I know He wants me (and each one of us) to take care of widows and orphans.  We have millions upon millions of them in our world and the number grows.  He wants me to be hospitable. Again, I have opportunity everyday to make people feel at home and feel loved in my company.  He wants me to love my neighbours. I have neighbours, I live in a community, again I have opportunity. He wants me to pray without ceasing.  Something I can definitely aspire to and CAN create time in my day for.
In fact, reading all the red letters in the bible give a pretty clear path to follow.
AND if I give up the right to my choices, if I make myself a slave to Christ, I will gain the ability to walk in His footsteps.
It's quite reassuring.  Freeing, in fact.

Thoughts, impressions? I'm curious what you think.