Yes, for those of you wondering about the title of my post, that is a movie. A children's movie, but possibly one of my favorite movies of all times. It follows the adventures of an eccentric toy store owner (Mr. Magorium..but is he really eccentric? more about that later), the manager of the store (Molly Mahoney), a frequent patron of the store/part time help (Eric Applebaum) and the "villian" of the story who is an accountant/sceptic (Henry Weston). Mr. Magorium decided his time on earth is up (and after 243 years of being alive, who wouldn't?) so he bequeaths his store to Molly Mahoney. Mr. Magorium has never taken inventory, so he hires an accountant to figure out the worth of the store (enter Henry Weston). When the toy store hears that Mr. Magorium is leaving, it throws a temper tantrum. Oh, have I mentioned that this is a magical toy store? It has the same characteristics of a child, hence the temper tantrum. The movie progresses as Molly tries to convince Mr. Magorium not to leave, Eric tries to make friends, and Henry tries not to be so uptight.
I know, I know. "Ok Hannah. This is a movie about a magical toy store. Why on earth are you telling us this?"
Well, because this movie has some of the greatest quotes from any movie I have ever seen. I'm a huge "quote fan", I guess. I love quotes that make me think, and this movie was a thinker. The substance and thought behind this movie surprised me, and since it will probably never be a really famous movie (although Dustin Hoffman stars in it, it is 5 dollars at target..a point my sister who does NOT like the movie tends to point out) I thought I would share some of the quotes with you.
Warning- There are spoilers for if you have not seen the movie.
~~~~~~~~~~
When Mr. Magorium is in the hospital, Henry tells Molly that he is worried, because he can not find any insurance papers for Mr. Magorium. Molly gets frustrated, thinking that Henry doesn't care about Mr. Magorium. Henry replies "You know, some people... send flowers, or cards, or... give people hugs. I... make sure their paper work's all in order." This quote helped me realize that some people show that they care in different ways, so we have to be careful before jumping to the conclusion that someone doesn't care. They may just express it differently than we do.
~~~~~~~~~~
Molly Mahoney, went Mr. Magorium tells her that he's leaving- "Are you dying?"
Mr. Magorium -"Lightbulbs die my sweet. I will depart."
~~~~~~~~~~
Eric: My hat's stuck.
Molly: Ha... looks like you're gonna need a ladder.
Eric: Naah. I just need to jump higher.
Molly: Eric... that's seven feet, at least.
Eric: Seven feet? Really?
Molly: At least.
Eric: You think I should get a running start?
The film shows Eric after a bit hanging from the ledge where his hat was stuck, and we hear him say "got it". This is just one quote from the movie that emphasizes the importance of having a positive attitude, because most things thought impossible are possible if one has the right attitude.
~~~~~~~~~~
When Molly tries to explain to Henry that it's a magical toy store, Henry Weston says that it may be special, but that it's "just" a toy store, prompting the following dialogue.
Molly: I knew it. As soon as I saw that suit.
Henry: Knew what?
Molly: You're a 'just' guy.
Henry: What's a 'just' guy?
Molly: A guy just like you. Same hair, same suit, same shoes, walks around, no matter what, you think it's all just a store, it's just a bench, it's just a tree. It's just what it is, nothing more!
Henry: Alright but this... is just a store.
Molly: I'm sure to you... it is.
~~~~~~~~~~
In order to try and convince Mr. Magorium to stay on earth, Molly takes him through the "perfect day". This is one of my favorite scenes. As one of the "great things", she takes him to a clock store where they change all the clocks to a few seconds before noon, so that they will all go off at the same time. This is one of my favorite lines from the movie.
Molly: Ok. 37 seconds. Now..we wait.
Mr. Magorium: No. We breathe. We pulse. We regenerate. Our hearts race, our minds create, our souls ingest. 37 seconds well used..is a lifetime.
This quote makes me wonder how much life I have in my life. (Complicated, I know :) )
~~~~~~~~~~
And last quote for the day, because this post is getting rather long. I think I will get a part two up here in a day or two, because again I love the quotes from this movie. This is the scene when Mr. Magorium "departs". Molly appeals to him one last time not to go, and this is Mr. Magorium's response. This is my favorite quote from any movie...ever, and I think it is such a great line.
Mr. Magorium:When King Lear dies in Act V, do you know what Shakespeare has written? He's written "He dies." That's all, nothing more. No fanfare, no metaphor, no brilliant final words. The culmination of the most influential work of dramatic literature is "He dies." It takes Shakespeare, a genius, to come up with "He dies." And yet every time I read those two words, I find myself overwhelmed with dysphoria. And I know it's only natural to be sad, but not because of the words "He dies." but because of the life we saw prior to the words. I've lived all five of my acts, Mahoney, and I am not asking you to be happy that I must go. I'm only asking that you turn the page, continue reading... and let the next story begin. And if anyone asks what became of me, you relate my life in all its wonder, and end it with a simple and modest "He died."
Molly: *sniff* I love you
Mr. Magorium: I love you too. Your life is an occasion. Rise to it.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Monday, November 22, 2010
Homecoming/Day of Thanks and Giving
"There's no place like home. There's no place like home. There's no place like home."
Oh Dorothy, how right you were.
There is nothing like the feeling of coming home. Don't get me wrong, I love college and the church I'm attending there but there is something about seeing your family and attending church at your home congregation that like nothing else. This sunday I got to see so many people that I haven't seen in awhile, and it was so great to just be able to talk to them and hug them. I'm going to brag on my church for a few minutes, just because it is such an amazing place.
The atmosphere there is like nothing else I have experienced. There is a feeling of joy that you get as soon as you walk in. There are always people to talk to, even if you are a visitor. Burleson Church of Christ has the best church staff that I have ever seen. The ministers are amazing, and all work so well together. The elders truly care about the members and they always do what is best for the church-but not before praying about it. There are also so many people that do little stuff in the background that may go unnoticed, such as greeting visitors or praying for the people on the prayer list. All this to say, Burleson Church of Christ is a wonderful place that has always been such an encouragement to me. They do this awesome thing at Thanksgiving (and again at Christmas) where the members of the church donate food, which goes into baskets that go to the community. Today, I got the opportunity to help sort the food into baskets and then take them to the people's cars. During the sorting, the family minister, Kevin, had the kids line up and first get green beans and take them to the baskets, then get corn and take them, and so on and so forth. This way may take a little longer than other ways, but they do this so that the smaller children can feel as though they are helping (which they are). I really like this because the kids seem so excited to be a part and to help, and seeing an eagerness to serve in kids is so exciting to me. Kevin also encouraged and talked and joked the whole time (who gave him a mic, anyway? Just kidding, Kevin) and it was just an uplifting atmosphere, as everyone was laughing and supporting each other in the work. I also got to catch up with an old friend, which was so great. He told me about his life and his thoughts on college, and told me about other great stuff the church was doing. It is always so encouraging to talk to this friend, because he reminds me once again of how secure the future of the church is with leaders like him. I have known this guy almost my whole life, and is someone who is always there for people, no matter who they are. He is going to do so many great and wonderful things in life, and make such a difference in the world. Anyway, I digress. So after the baskets were filled people would come up to the church to pick up the baskets. The adults at the front greeting and signing people in were so amazing because they were just so warm and welcoming to everyone. There were people of all ages to help take baskets to the car, and everyone was just working so hard to help people they had never met before.
I have so many stories about so many people and what I saw today, but this post would be even longer than it already is. The point of it is, I saw God working in some incredible ways today, as I always do when I go to Burleson Church of Christ and interact with the people there. This congregation is the epitome of what a church should be-encouraging, warm, welcoming, prayerful, faithful... the list goes on. I miss the people here so much when I'm away-and that's how it should be.
Yes Dorothy, there is no place like home.
~Hannah~
Oh Dorothy, how right you were.
There is nothing like the feeling of coming home. Don't get me wrong, I love college and the church I'm attending there but there is something about seeing your family and attending church at your home congregation that like nothing else. This sunday I got to see so many people that I haven't seen in awhile, and it was so great to just be able to talk to them and hug them. I'm going to brag on my church for a few minutes, just because it is such an amazing place.
The atmosphere there is like nothing else I have experienced. There is a feeling of joy that you get as soon as you walk in. There are always people to talk to, even if you are a visitor. Burleson Church of Christ has the best church staff that I have ever seen. The ministers are amazing, and all work so well together. The elders truly care about the members and they always do what is best for the church-but not before praying about it. There are also so many people that do little stuff in the background that may go unnoticed, such as greeting visitors or praying for the people on the prayer list. All this to say, Burleson Church of Christ is a wonderful place that has always been such an encouragement to me. They do this awesome thing at Thanksgiving (and again at Christmas) where the members of the church donate food, which goes into baskets that go to the community. Today, I got the opportunity to help sort the food into baskets and then take them to the people's cars. During the sorting, the family minister, Kevin, had the kids line up and first get green beans and take them to the baskets, then get corn and take them, and so on and so forth. This way may take a little longer than other ways, but they do this so that the smaller children can feel as though they are helping (which they are). I really like this because the kids seem so excited to be a part and to help, and seeing an eagerness to serve in kids is so exciting to me. Kevin also encouraged and talked and joked the whole time (who gave him a mic, anyway? Just kidding, Kevin) and it was just an uplifting atmosphere, as everyone was laughing and supporting each other in the work. I also got to catch up with an old friend, which was so great. He told me about his life and his thoughts on college, and told me about other great stuff the church was doing. It is always so encouraging to talk to this friend, because he reminds me once again of how secure the future of the church is with leaders like him. I have known this guy almost my whole life, and is someone who is always there for people, no matter who they are. He is going to do so many great and wonderful things in life, and make such a difference in the world. Anyway, I digress. So after the baskets were filled people would come up to the church to pick up the baskets. The adults at the front greeting and signing people in were so amazing because they were just so warm and welcoming to everyone. There were people of all ages to help take baskets to the car, and everyone was just working so hard to help people they had never met before.
I have so many stories about so many people and what I saw today, but this post would be even longer than it already is. The point of it is, I saw God working in some incredible ways today, as I always do when I go to Burleson Church of Christ and interact with the people there. This congregation is the epitome of what a church should be-encouraging, warm, welcoming, prayerful, faithful... the list goes on. I miss the people here so much when I'm away-and that's how it should be.
Yes Dorothy, there is no place like home.
~Hannah~
Monday, November 15, 2010
These Things Take Time
So, my mom texted me and told me to look up a song by the group Sanctus Real called "These Things Take Time" (hence the title of this post). I love the group Sanctus Real but I hadn't heard this song. It's amazing! So first, listen to the song and pay attention to the lyrics :)
Click Here :)
The verses of these songs ask questions about contradictions. "Why does pain make me stronger?" "Why do good men die?" "Why is it that the harder we fall, the harder we try?" We can all, in some way, relate to these questions. As Christians, the world often expects us to have all the answers. Sometimes we even think that we should have all the answers and start to doubt ourselves when we can't answer some of life's tougher questions. But what we have to remember is that we are not God. It is impossible for us to answer every question in life, and God does not expect us to answer every question. King David asked the question "why" a lot and had a lot of questions of his own, but what is important to remember about David is that even while the "why's" were piling up, he leaned on God for support and trusted Him and His will.
I have heard people say that we shouldn't ask "why" or question God. I don't believe this is true. It's ok to ask questions about God or ask questions to God. No question is going to disprove God or stump Him-He is bigger than all our questions.We can ask God why something is happening, but we also have to keep in mind that He is God, and that His plan is far greater than anything our minds can comprehend.
I really like this song, as it shows that it is ok to ask questions, but that we shouldn't expect to always get an answer. I know how the writer feels when he says, " I wanna know all the answers, but I'm learning that these things take time."
So keep in mind that if you don't always have an answer, it's ok. We can't always have an answer, but God always has a plan.
Be salt and light!
~Hannah~
Click Here :)
The verses of these songs ask questions about contradictions. "Why does pain make me stronger?" "Why do good men die?" "Why is it that the harder we fall, the harder we try?" We can all, in some way, relate to these questions. As Christians, the world often expects us to have all the answers. Sometimes we even think that we should have all the answers and start to doubt ourselves when we can't answer some of life's tougher questions. But what we have to remember is that we are not God. It is impossible for us to answer every question in life, and God does not expect us to answer every question. King David asked the question "why" a lot and had a lot of questions of his own, but what is important to remember about David is that even while the "why's" were piling up, he leaned on God for support and trusted Him and His will.
I have heard people say that we shouldn't ask "why" or question God. I don't believe this is true. It's ok to ask questions about God or ask questions to God. No question is going to disprove God or stump Him-He is bigger than all our questions.We can ask God why something is happening, but we also have to keep in mind that He is God, and that His plan is far greater than anything our minds can comprehend.
I really like this song, as it shows that it is ok to ask questions, but that we shouldn't expect to always get an answer. I know how the writer feels when he says, " I wanna know all the answers, but I'm learning that these things take time."
So keep in mind that if you don't always have an answer, it's ok. We can't always have an answer, but God always has a plan.
Be salt and light!
~Hannah~
Friday, November 12, 2010
The Youth of Today
This morning, chapel was so uplifting. They had someone born in every decade since 1930 lead one song, and tell why it was important to them. They were all amazing and encouraging, but the one I wanted to focus on was a little 9 year old boy. When it was his turn, he jumps out of his chair and goes to get a step stool so he can see over the podium (can I get an "awwww"?). He adjusts the mike and says, "Good afternoon! Oh wait...I mean good morning!" Everyone chuckled. He proceeds to tell us that if we think our chapel is early (9 am) we should go to THEIR chapel, which is at 8 am! The little boy tells us that he is going to lead a song, and that there are hand motions he wants us to do with him for the chorus. But don't worry- if we don't know the motions, we can do them with him the second time around. (Again...aww). When it gets to the chorus, I look around and see almost every single college student doing the hand motions with him that we all learned in elementary school. When he got done, he jumped off the step and ran back to his seat with a huge grin on his face as everyone applauded him.
I had several thoughts about this morning. One, I was so impressed by how much courage it must have taken for that little boy to stand in front of thousands of college students. I would be so nervous, but it didn't seem to phase him one bit, even when he misspoke. There is a great leader in the making.
Another point was the attitude of the college students. I am 18 years old, but I still consider my peers and I "youths". We still have a lot to learn. And while it would have been easy to just sit in our seats and not do the hand motions to a song because we're "too old" I saw many, many people enthusiastically doing the motions to encourage the little boy. Afterwords, I also saw many students walking up to tell the boy what a great job he did.
Today made me think about the pressure that we, as youths, face. We are told that we are the future, that what happens is in our hands. But we also see news stories about how messed up our generation is. You always see news stories about the party that got busted or the teenage robber. You never see a news story about the students that offer free tutoring for children that may need it, or the teenager who said no when they were offered the alcohol. Granted, these may seem like small things and a story about a busted party is more interesting than a teenager making a good moral decision. But I am here to tell you this- I see our generation every day making good choices and making the world better. Granted, we could do a better job of it. But then again, couldn't everybody?
My encouragement to you is this. If you are a teenager, look for ways to make a positive change. Don't get discouraged by what you see in the media, but look around you for your peers who are making the right decisions. And if you are an adult, don't get discouraged by what you see in the media either. Actively look for ways teenagers and young adults are making the right decisions and making a difference. I promise you, it will encourage you immensely. I know people in my generation make bad decisions. But if you start giving up and talking about how hopeless our generation is, eventually those who are trying to do what is right will begin to believe it is a lost cause. So encourage, and be encouraged by what you see.
Be salt and light!
~Hannah~
I had several thoughts about this morning. One, I was so impressed by how much courage it must have taken for that little boy to stand in front of thousands of college students. I would be so nervous, but it didn't seem to phase him one bit, even when he misspoke. There is a great leader in the making.
Another point was the attitude of the college students. I am 18 years old, but I still consider my peers and I "youths". We still have a lot to learn. And while it would have been easy to just sit in our seats and not do the hand motions to a song because we're "too old" I saw many, many people enthusiastically doing the motions to encourage the little boy. Afterwords, I also saw many students walking up to tell the boy what a great job he did.
Today made me think about the pressure that we, as youths, face. We are told that we are the future, that what happens is in our hands. But we also see news stories about how messed up our generation is. You always see news stories about the party that got busted or the teenage robber. You never see a news story about the students that offer free tutoring for children that may need it, or the teenager who said no when they were offered the alcohol. Granted, these may seem like small things and a story about a busted party is more interesting than a teenager making a good moral decision. But I am here to tell you this- I see our generation every day making good choices and making the world better. Granted, we could do a better job of it. But then again, couldn't everybody?
My encouragement to you is this. If you are a teenager, look for ways to make a positive change. Don't get discouraged by what you see in the media, but look around you for your peers who are making the right decisions. And if you are an adult, don't get discouraged by what you see in the media either. Actively look for ways teenagers and young adults are making the right decisions and making a difference. I promise you, it will encourage you immensely. I know people in my generation make bad decisions. But if you start giving up and talking about how hopeless our generation is, eventually those who are trying to do what is right will begin to believe it is a lost cause. So encourage, and be encouraged by what you see.
Be salt and light!
~Hannah~
Thursday, November 11, 2010
It's America
In honor of Veteran's day, I would encourage you to listen to the song "It's America". This is one of my favorite songs, and it shows how amazing our country really is. Sometimes I think we tend to take for granted the freedom we have and skip over the little things that make our country so great.
My friend Jacob posted this video on his facebook. It was never released to the public due to "political incorrectness", but it is a touching song so I have put it here for you. Well, a link anyway.
Video
Don't forget to thank the men and women who have or are serving our country, not just today but every day.
Be salt and light!
~Hannah~
My friend Jacob posted this video on his facebook. It was never released to the public due to "political incorrectness", but it is a touching song so I have put it here for you. Well, a link anyway.
Video
Don't forget to thank the men and women who have or are serving our country, not just today but every day.
Be salt and light!
~Hannah~
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Friends
Sometimes, you look back on a time in your life and say, "I didn't notice how blessed I was then". You may have been too busy to notice, it might have been something too small to notice at the time, or you may just have not known enough to notice the really great things, until they were gone.
Well...
In the case of friendship, this was not the case for me. Last year, I had a group of AMAZING friends. At both church and school, I was blessed to be around some of the most amazing girls and guys anyone could ever know. These were people who were always there to encourage me, to pray with me, or to just listen when I needed them. They were spiritually uplifting, and I think this is the most important aspect of a friendship. One of the most difficult things for me when I was leaving for college was having to face leaving these people behind. I realized how rare the friendships I had were, and I tried to treasure every minute of it. The time passed too quickly, and we all either went to different colleges or stayed back home.
And thus ended these wonderful friendships.
...Ok. Not really.
We all still keep in touch. I was talking to one of my more...how shall I put this delicately... -cynical- friends *ps, if you're reading this, don't deny it, you know it's true :)* the other day about the friendships I had in high school, and he told me about how they wouldn't last. I got depressed for about two seconds at the thought of losing my old friends. But then I realized that while a lot of friendships don't last, we had a strong bond holding us together. We are not only friends, but we are brothers and sisters in Christ, and that is the strongest bond.
When we start new phases in our lives, we are often told that we should move on, make new friends, make a new start.
I have met many amazing people here so far, and I know I will continue to do so. But I also know that I don't have to lose my old friends, because "friends are friends forever, if the Lord's the Lord of them." (Friends, Michael W. Smith)
So look at the friends you have now. Treasure them, and tell them you treasure them. To hear that someone really values your friendship is one of the most encouraging things you can hear. And the beauty of friendships is that you don't have to take away friends when you add new ones- you can just keep adding more.
Be Salt and Light!
~Hannah~
Well...
In the case of friendship, this was not the case for me. Last year, I had a group of AMAZING friends. At both church and school, I was blessed to be around some of the most amazing girls and guys anyone could ever know. These were people who were always there to encourage me, to pray with me, or to just listen when I needed them. They were spiritually uplifting, and I think this is the most important aspect of a friendship. One of the most difficult things for me when I was leaving for college was having to face leaving these people behind. I realized how rare the friendships I had were, and I tried to treasure every minute of it. The time passed too quickly, and we all either went to different colleges or stayed back home.
And thus ended these wonderful friendships.
...Ok. Not really.
We all still keep in touch. I was talking to one of my more...how shall I put this delicately... -cynical- friends *ps, if you're reading this, don't deny it, you know it's true :)* the other day about the friendships I had in high school, and he told me about how they wouldn't last. I got depressed for about two seconds at the thought of losing my old friends. But then I realized that while a lot of friendships don't last, we had a strong bond holding us together. We are not only friends, but we are brothers and sisters in Christ, and that is the strongest bond.
When we start new phases in our lives, we are often told that we should move on, make new friends, make a new start.
I have met many amazing people here so far, and I know I will continue to do so. But I also know that I don't have to lose my old friends, because "friends are friends forever, if the Lord's the Lord of them." (Friends, Michael W. Smith)
So look at the friends you have now. Treasure them, and tell them you treasure them. To hear that someone really values your friendship is one of the most encouraging things you can hear. And the beauty of friendships is that you don't have to take away friends when you add new ones- you can just keep adding more.
Be Salt and Light!
~Hannah~
Friday, November 5, 2010
Thankful
I realized I'm bad at this whole blogging regularly thing, but I'm trying! Anyway, I was going through old songs that I hadn't listened to in awhile. I came across this song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2M0GQOgYGg
This song is really uplifting to me, as it reminds me that even though we may have bad days and things may not go our way, there is SO much to be thankful for. It's a phrase that may seem a bit cliche, but my encouragement to you would be to make a list. And keep it, and add to it. It's amazing how fast that list will grow, and how many things you'll see that you didn't see before, simply because now you are looking. And try to go deeper than the everyday, "family, friends, a house". Go into detail. "I am thankful for the kindness of the guy who said I looked nice, even though I didn't think I did." "I am thankful for the closeness of my friends, so that I know I can go to them for anything."
On a dreary day, this can be a wonderful blessing.
Be salt and light!!
~Hannah~
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2M0GQOgYGg
This song is really uplifting to me, as it reminds me that even though we may have bad days and things may not go our way, there is SO much to be thankful for. It's a phrase that may seem a bit cliche, but my encouragement to you would be to make a list. And keep it, and add to it. It's amazing how fast that list will grow, and how many things you'll see that you didn't see before, simply because now you are looking. And try to go deeper than the everyday, "family, friends, a house". Go into detail. "I am thankful for the kindness of the guy who said I looked nice, even though I didn't think I did." "I am thankful for the closeness of my friends, so that I know I can go to them for anything."
On a dreary day, this can be a wonderful blessing.
Be salt and light!!
~Hannah~
Monday, November 1, 2010
Encouragement
Yesterday I attended worship at Downtown Church of Christ. Every Sunday that I worship there I am uplifted and encouraged by something or someone, and this was no different. It was the Sunday where they announced the new shepherds of the church. They have the shepherds and their wives up on stage to present them and pray over them. They had a little boy pray who had been baptized the past Sunday, and after him one of the oldest members (if not the oldest) prayed. I thought this was such a cool thing, as they had both young and old praying for the future and the leadership of the church. The little boy did a remarkable job praying. As the service progressed, I noticed him moving through the crowd. I craned my neck to see what he was doing, and realized he was hugging the members. I watched him as he moved through the crowd, hugging every single person, young and old, boy and girl. He didn't miss a single person out of the approximate 800 members that were there. This was so amazing to me, and I can't help but wonder how many people he touched that day by his simple act of service. It also reminded me that even the smallest act of service can make a huge difference of people. I can't describe how uplifting it was to see all the smiles that this little boy brought out of the members of this church. So this is my challenge for you this week. Find a way, big or small, to encourage someone. It can be a hug, a note of encouragement, or simply keeping your head up when you're walking and make eye contact with someone and smile as you pass them. Remember that your age or gender does not affect the difference you can make, than anyone can brighten someone's day. So make that your goal- brighten someone's day.
Be salt and light!
~Hannah~
Be salt and light!
~Hannah~
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