Our Paper Anniversary

anniversary present from John!!  Ha.  :-)

It's hard to believe that a whole year has gone by. 

"If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans"

Keith (John's best friend/best man) took this photo last night and I love it.  :-)

I've been wanting to post about the movie Bella (2006) because, in my opinion, it's amazing!  As soon as John sees that I'm posting on this movie, he will probably groan.  That's partly because it's serious and, at times, very sad.  "But it's beautiful!" I always protest.  He agrees with me, but he's a (wonderful) guy and an engineer, so he doesn't usually choose a movie for its beauty. 

Contrary to imdb, I wouldn't say that it's a love story, at least in the eros sense of the word.  Contrary to the DVD cover, I wouldn't say that it's about a "gorgeous" waitress in New York City.    There's a lot of love in that film, but it's more like agape love, and the waitress, Nina, is portrayed as an ordinary girl.  It does take place in "the city" and there is a lot of color and Spanish (with subtitles), though the movie itself is in English.  When I saw it for the first time with Heidi, she warned me to pay close attention from the start, and she was so right!  Not only does it begin with the excellent words "If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans," but the artistry of the cinematography is stunning.  Every moment counts.  That's impressive coming from what I believe is a small film company.

The story is compelling, inspiring, and expertly thought-provoking.  There is a strong pro-life theme, but it's not done in a preachy or obvious way.  In fact, the movie is more about people, and the viewer is drawn to admire Jose, played by Eduardo Verástegui, for the man that he is and the love that he is not afraid to act upon.

If I were much younger, I probably would have had a hard time watching it because of the weight of the plot.  It was hard enough for me to watch the first time last year as it was!  But now it is among my top favorite movies ever, followed closely, perhaps, by the vastly different Harvey with Jimmy Stewart. 

When Heidi and I watched it for my first time last spring, we were making headpieces for the flower girls. Seeing it again reminds me of those times, and they're very sweet memories!

(This photo taken by Rachel Tribunella)

Just another day

Today was an ordinary day by most standards, though I didn't get all that much done at work but instead spent most of the day waiting on other people. I watched the Holiday this evening which served to confirm a prejudice of mine: Jack Black has no business in any romantic comedy. The plot was fairly well constructed and I could relate to it; not really surprising when you think about it.

It's often instructive to watch the relational mistakes of others, and this movie was chock full of them. God has worked many specific relational improvements into my character over the last few years; I don't think I'd recognize myself if I could go back. One by one, He's knocked down every thing and person that's rivaled His relationship with me. His methods have been painful at times, pleasant at others, but always purposeful, and I wouldn't have had it any other way.

"When an omnipotent, sovereign Will meets a free, responsible will, something has to give."
--yours truly