Last night Thomas and I decided to take advantage of our favorite free Redbox rental Mondays! We finally got "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas", which Thomas had looked at on the Redbox website and really been wanting to see. I thought it looked interesting, something about a boy who finds and makes friends with another boy on the other side of the fence in a concentration camp in WWII Germany. We were ok for a movie that we knew wouldn't necessarily be a "light" movie. I definitely wouldn't call it a feel-good movie. I really don't know how to describe it, honestly. It is the story of a German boy whose father is in the military, kind of a WWII from the German youth perspective. It describes the way German people reacted to Hitler's regime, both for and against and the struggles this family went through in trying to support their country and their father as he was called to serve as a soldier in different capacities, and how each family member changed as a result. I highly recommend it to anyone that is up to watching a movie that will touch you deeply and emotionally, and leave you a little jarred and unsettled. It left us both very thought-filled and we talked about it for probably close to an hour as we were going to sleep last night after watching it. After seeing it, even this morning as I've been going about housework and things, it's still kind of lingering in the back of my mind. I'm really not sure what it is about it that struck me so hard- it's such a poignant expression of humanity and what a life is worth. I really don't want to say a whole lot more about it, since none of you have probably ever seen it. If you ever do see it, let me know what you thought about it.
My first Mother's Day! Well, my first official Mother's Day! It was simply wonderful- Thomas cleaned the house last weekend for me and he made us scrumptious waffles for breakfast. Church was really nice- we got chocolate from the ward (always makes life better!) and I got to teach the Sunday School lesson on dealing with challenges in marriage which I really enjoyed doing. Our evening was quiet, we called our mothers and just relaxed. Thomas let me beat him at Boggle :), but he is actually getting a lot better- he actually beat me a couple times. I blame Scrabble on Facebook.
I have been thinking a lot about my moms (I have 3 fabulous mothers) these past couple weeks as I've looked forward to Mother's Day. As Audrey grows and I think more about the fact that I was once as small and as young as she is, I realize all my mothers have done for me in my life as I have learned and grown. It also makes me realize how little-prepared I feel to offer words of wisdom and knowledge as the mothers in my life have- will I be as wise when the important teaching moments come? I hope so. But I am so grateful to have had such wonderful examples of what a mother is and should be and needs to be. I love my job. Seriously the best on the planet.
A book to put on your "to read" list: Esias: Remnants of the Past. A good friend of ours has gotten this book published, and I just recently finished reading it- and I am SO anxious for the next one to come out. It is an epic-style fantasy novel about the life and destiny of Emane Esias. Read more about it, including excerpts on facebook: http://www.new.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/group.php?gid=72958700204&ref=ts
or check out his personal website: www.jonathanvernon.com.
that Esias book totally on my to-read list. It's a very interesting concept and story-line. :) I can't wait to see how his writing matures, especially with this one already so well written - from what i've seen anyway.
ReplyDeleteI had that same reaction to Ladder 49... it just lingered in my mind for days after I saw the movie. I want to see the one about the boy in the stripped pajamas, I'll have to get it next time I go to redbox!
ReplyDeleteI've never seen Ladder 49- we will have to check it out!
ReplyDeleteWhat?! I HATED that movie! Ok, maybe it was because it was supposed to be a fun girls night. Light-hearted and all. Didn't really know what it was about and were very disturbed at the end. I kept thinking something good has to come from this. Well, it didn't. I can see the importance of it if I was in the right frame of mind!
ReplyDeleteWilson and I saw that movie in the theaters and when it was over and that final shot lingered - nobody in the auditorium said a word or got out of their seats for a few minutes. I know just what you mean about describing it, it's hard to put it in a category other than thought-provoking. It stayed with me as well.
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