To Save a Life

I saw what might have been the best movie ever in my life tonight, at least in the last decade. I'm going to need to buy it and watch it at least five more times. It is thought provoking. It was heavy and uplifting at the same time. It might be the most accurate portrayal of what teens are going through I've ever come across. I think it should be mandatory for all teens and their parents. I think most of the people who won't want to see it, need to see it the most. The ones that think these things don't happen, at least not to their kid. It's PG-13, I took the kids - Paul and I talked about it first. And on the way home we talked. About every point -good and bad- in the movie and there were a lot of talking points. Nathan shared a story about what happened in school today. At recess there was a little boy, one of his best friends that some other kids 'kicked out' of a game because he wasn't 'doing it right'. Naturally it hurt his feelings and he ran to a tree and sat out by himself. Nathan said he went over to get him so he wouldn't be lonely and got him to come back and taught him how to play the game and the little boy ended up winning the next round. We may think things like what happened in the movie are just Hollywood and I wish that were true, but it happens in little bits and pieces every day - even in elementary school. The link to the movie website is below. I hope you check it out, let me know if you do.



http://tosavealifemovie.com/

And while your in deep contemplation, Jon gave me a lot more to think about in his post today:

http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/02/mice-in-our-couches/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+stuffchristianslikeblog+%28Stuff+Christians+Like+-+Jon+Acuff%29

The swim party

Nathan wanted a swimming party for his birthday. Paul and I are not water loving people, so thanks to our good friends Blake and Roger, we managed not to get wet :)

Kids love doing silly face photos, this is the group of them eating hot dogs in the party room.

The is the adorable picture Sam drew in Nathans card....

Monster Truck Jam

We've gone to the Monster Truck Jam the last few years and were going to skip this year but some friends wanted to go so it didnt' take much convincing. We lucked out in that Grave Digger came this time and he has not been to the previous ones we've been too...AND he rolled over! AND Nathan slept through it. We tried a few times to wake him up and he wasn't having it.....
At half time they also had four motorcross bikes going up a ramp and then jumping over 70 feet. The first one went and Andrew turned to us with the *look* in his eyes that said "did you see that? I didn't know I could do that"...... Guess what were afraid he's going to try next on his bike. And then they did the jump again with tricks.. and let go of the bike. Oh dear, we're in trouble.

I can't believe I'm eight!

Color Guard

Nathan has enjoyed being in Cub Scouts. He loves earning belt loops and pins. This past Sunday all the age groups greeted church members at the door and then presented the color guard during a flag ceremony. At the end of the month he will graduate from a Wolf to a Bear.

Puppets

Last Thursday one of the local libraries had an open house to come make puppets. The kids decided they wanted finger puppets and left the sock rolled up to stick their fingers in. Gotta say they are the only ones that came up with that idea. They remind me of Halloween with the colors they choose. I think they look like a ghost and something Halloweenish....I made more of a traditional one.