Happy Birthday...to me!

It's been a great day. My nieces called me to wish me a Happy Birthday. Chloe made me a beautiful birthday card. We got to go shopping, just the girls. LOL, Cadie's first "girl's day!" :) We bought a new board game and brought it home to play with the boys. It is a lot of fun, and I hope it becomes a favorite with the kids. We didn't do a whole lot, but it was just a nice, relaxing day.

Tonight, we went to see "Do You Believe?" with the Elders, then to TGIFridays for dinner. It was the first time Kelly had really gotten to spend any time with them, and we all had a great time together. It was so much fun to simply visit and enjoy getting to know one another better. Kelly said he'd like to have them over soon for a barbecue. It's hard, sometimes, with his work schedule for us to make connections with other families. He misses out on a lot, and sometimes I think he feels like we live a life separate from him. I was so happy that he and Mike clicked because he and Gloria have become great friends to me, as well as their boys.

The movie was just amazing! I was very disappointed that this one hasn't gotten the publicity that "God's Not Dead" received. Personally, I liked it even better! It is definitely a must see for the entire family. No language, no sex, nothing inappropriate at all. How refreshing!

I'm feeling blessed as I go through my Facebook page. Almost 200 people left me birthday blessings and well wishes. I get a little teary thinking of all the people I know, how many from the past and present, that have shared life with me. It's impossible to keep up on a regular basis with a lot of them, but this day made them stop and think of me for a moment. I hope they thought of a sweet memory we made, because that's what I did. This evening gave me a little time to sit back and reflect. How amazing God is to see the people we need in our lives, to weave our stories together, to keep us in each other's hearts even when life takes us in different directions. I have so many blessings in my life, and I have Him to thank for every single one of them. It's been a great birthday!

Fairy Tales Brought to Life

Chloe and I went to see the new Cinderella movie tonight - wow! We both loved it! Cate Blanchett was fantastic, evil and horrid while looking absolutely stunning. Lily James was a beautiful, sweet, but strong heroine that shone with virtue from the inside out. Many vibrant characters made this a memorable story indeed.

It was surprisingly true to the Disney cartoon that we all grew up with. However, this version gave us more depth and insight to Ella's character by focusing in the beginning on her and her parents. One of the most inspiring moments of the movie, that carried the theme throughout, was her mother's dying advice to "Have courage and be kind."

Have courage and be kind. What does that look like? In the face of adversity, stay strong. In the moments of ridicule, stay silent. In the times of abuse, stay true to yourself. And always extend grace and courtesy - not because they deserve it, but because you can. This Cinderella was truly stronger than any I've ever found. I've often been told that meekness was the same as weakness. But Ella shows us that a meek and humble heart is a discipline not always easily honed. To be kind to those who mistreat you certainly takes more strength and courage than most people have.

It was a great movie, one that I look forward to watching again with the family. Chloe and I had a great time, just us girls, and I'm so happy that we got a night to ourselves to see this girly movie...Oh! And her ballgown was to die for! It reminded me of a certain dress a little princess used to have around here... ;)

May the Luck O' the Irish Be With Ya

Happy St. Paddy's day to you all! We have had a great day getting ready for co-op, picking out our green, and remembering our (Daddy's) Irish roots. The Quinns are proud to be part Irish, and I love being married into the lot of them!

Kelly always enjoys it, too. Bob often shares an Irish prayer or poem with the family, and I love hearing him talk about his grandfather and his adventure to find freedom in America. I am so thankful that he is here to pass on our children's heritage to them.

So while you were worried about whether or not you were going to be pinched, I remembered the blessing of this wonderful family I married into, and the country from where they hailed. I'll leave you with an Irish prayer:

If you want a short history on the holiday of St. Patrick's day, you can enjoy this little video - courtesy of Bob and Larry! Veggie Tales St. Patrick

And here is one of my most favorite songs. Enjoy the beautiful pictures of Ireland! Danny Boy