There’s Just Nothing Like a Good Hallmark Movie

Okay! I love seeing one of the latest action movies at the theater with my kids, but, for the most part give me a good Hallmark-type movie any day! .

When I’m in Austin, and when I’m not doing laundry or another household chore, I’ll sit down with my grandsons and watch TV with them. It’s usually something from one of the Disney or Nicklelodeon channels. But when they are off doing something else, from time to time, I'll watch one of the Hallmark movies that I’ve recorded. Sometimes the boys will watch them along with me. Hallmark movies are romance, family or comedy and the endings are always good and predictable – and they’re all G-rated. Sometimes they get a little “mushy” which makes the boys “ugh and yuk”, but it’s never in questionable taste.
I left Austin on Monday to return home to Frisco and I got this text message from Shawntel: “I just cracked up! I am bringing Bryson back home from math and he says to me “I have been watching too many Hallmark movies! But I really like them!” LOL!

I’m in this season of life when I don’t want to watch negative news reports, shows that use poor language or have any questionable scenes. That’s why I like a Hallmark movie now and then, as well as reality competition shows. At this mature age, I do my best to pass along some insights that I've learned from my own mistakes along the way. This scripture from Philippians 4:8 speaks volumes to those of us who care about what we see and hear, and what we put into our minds and hearts: "Whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of a good report, if there is any virtue and if there be any praise, THINK on THESE THINGS!!!"

I know that I must sound like a “goody two shoes”. I looked up what that means. The definition of a goody two shoes is a person who always does everything right and always follows the rules, so much so that it becomes annoying. Well I’d like to think that I always do everything right and follow all the rules, but that is so not the case. I sure do make an effort to get better at my choices today than I did in the past. I know that I've found the sweetest, purest thoughts and attitudes are what bring me the most peace. I remember when our kids were "PG" ages and we took them to see "Jaws". Ugh! We love the ocean, so why in the world would we take our family to see a movie about sharks that would create fear and concern when we went to the ocean? We lived and learned.
There are people in my world that have the tendency to speak negatively and even use profanity in their conversations. I don't want to be rude, so I tolerate it when I can. But, when I have a choice, I choose to walk away. I was pleased to hear my son say they took the boys to see a movie recently and had to walk out because of so much profanity. I thought, “Way to lead those boys by example!”

I sincerely pray that God keeps my heart so pliable that situations, movies, and conversations that don’t measure up to God’s “whatever things are lovely and a good report”, that I’ll walk out or walk away. My measuring stick is God's Word.....so this "Whatever things are lovely" scripture.....pretty well states my case.....and my position on living in a sweet place of peace that passes understanding!

Little Things Become Big When We Look Closer

Day 108 of Photo Inspirations --  Little Things Become Big When We Look Closer
I took this photo this morning from the top deck of our ship.  That looks like a miniature ship sailing along side us -- be in reality, it's huge.  Often the little things can become BIG things.  I'm in that season of life where I've lived and learned.  That's why at this mature age, I do my best to pass along some insights that I've learned from mistakes, but even only I had taken to heart what I had learned, I would never have made the mistakes in the first place.

This scripture from Philippians 4:8 spoke to me this morning.  "Whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of a good report, if there is any virtue and if there be any praise, THINK on THESE THINGS!!!"

I know that I must sound like I live on the "Good Ship Lollipop", and so it may be true.  It's because I've found the sweetest, purest thoughts and attitudes are what bring me most peace.  I avoid confrontation and situations that would like to take me to another place.  I remember when our kids were just "PG-13" ages and we took them to see "Jaws".  Ugh!  We love the ocean, so why in the world would we take our family to see a movie about sharks that would create fear and concern when we went to the ocean?  We lived and learned.

There are people in my world that have the tendency to speak negatively and even use profanity in their conversations.  I don't want to be rude, so I tolerate it when I can.  But, when I have a choice, I choose to walk out.  For example, yesterday, I went to see a movie that was an award winner and thought I'd check out the artistic creativity of the producer and find out why it received so much applause.  At the onset of the movie -- in the first two sentences, there was such profanity, that I excused myself and walked out.  And when I did.....I went back to my happy place in my mind and spirit.

I don't EVER want my heart to become so hardened that what once was inappropriate and intolerable to become acceptable.  My measuring stick is God's Word.....so this "Whatever things are lovely" scripture.....pretty well states my case.....and my position on "The Good Ship Lollipop"!  It's a sweet place of peace that passes understanding!