This is worth your time . . .

For all you movie lovers out there - go see Ghost Town! I had my doubts about it because the topic seemed a little silly and already done. However, Ricky Gervais (pictured above) was worth the risk to me.

Ricky Gervais is a hilarious actor/improvisor that starred in the original British series of The Office.

The movie Ghost Town also proved to be well worth it! Very fun and funny, with a touching message. My two thumbs up!

This is a picture of a church on Maui. I loved the colors and the classic simplicity of it.

Here is my chosen quote of the day, "If you are not getting as much from life as you want to, then examine the state of your enthusiasm." -- Norman Vincent Peale

I think that is excellent! Enthusisam seems to make all the difference in the joy of any task.

My husband is very sad and frustrated about the current state of the economy and the value of our home. So, just to remind myself he can smile, I found a picture where he looks happy.

What do you know? When he's with a pit bull, he actually looks happy.

I feel layered in sadness tonight - wondering when he'll be happy again.

C.J. - Woman's Best Friend

Somtimes my dog is my happiness. Meet our little Boston Terrier, C.J.. Jason brought him home one day, hoping I would love him too. And I really didn't at first.

But, as time has worn on, he has burrowed his own little place inside of me.

He always wants to see you, always wants to play and carries around a happiness that people often fail to capture in their own hearts.

He lays at my feet when I read, snuggles next to me when I nap and licks me profusely when I come home. How could I not love him? Even emulate his positive energy and giving nature. I know he's a dog, but come on - God did a great job on this one!

William Shakespeare says it well . . .

"He is the half part of a blessed man left to be
finished by such as she; And she is a fair divided excellence
whose fullness of perfection lies in him."
- William Shakespeare

Well, I dare say that is poetry. And probably very true. Doesn't your spouse often push you beyond your limits, in more exasperating ways than you imagined? I bet one day we'll see that it was in ways that made us grow and carved us out a deeper heart.

What is Marriage?

Sometimes people wonder why marriage exists or wax philosophical on it's existence as a cultural tradition, which seems outdated. Or they wonder why they would want it when it seems so painful and doomed to fail. They see the hurt all around them, feel it all around them.

Well, I say, have a night like I had tonight. I came home to my husband - simple, but absolutely glorious! There he was, for me. We hugged, we talked, we laughed. I wanted to do something special for him just because. And I realized, perhaps remembered, that to be married is to be a friend.

The curtains open and there's just me on a black stage . . .

Hoppe is my maiden name. (Pronounced Hoppa.) I tell you that because I just got married one year ago and I'm still trying on my new name (Hunter) and figuring out just who that is.

The truth is I still hesitate sometimes when people ask me my name. It's almost as if I draw a blank too, it's not just that my old name comes to mind. I find that curious.

I mean, I know it's just a name, but I've changed too. It' still me, but there's newness to things. Questions, uncertainty. Things yet to be discovered.

So, what I'm saying is that I'm on a journey of discovery. But, also of creation. I don't want to just watch my self unfold. I want to expand and unfurl in certain directions - on purpose. I want to make myself all the things I yearn to be.

This week, I realized I don't generally believe in myself. But, a loving Heavenly Father reminded me that He created me. And there is a lot more to me than I can yet see. I am capable of beautiful things. So, be believing!

The whole point is, I'm going to write it all out as I'm experiencing it. The questions I'm pondering, the doubts and fears, the successes and joys. This will be me in real life - on stage.