Noble The Story of Humanitarian Christine Noble

They broke everything but her spirit. They took everything but her dream. NOBLE, the award-winning feature film, is the incredible true story of a fearless Irish heroine driven by her daring vision to escape the slums of Ireland and risk everything on the streets of Vietnam.

I have never been a fan of synopsis. They don't tell enough about the movie and this one doesn't make me want to watch Noble. It is so much more than this.

Noble tells the true life story of Christine Noble an Irish woman who takes on the streets of Vietnam by getting a working Visa and protecting the innocence of abandoned children. It is so much more than that little bit too. We see three different Christina's all played well by amazing actresses. The movie shows us the story of Christina's life and why she is where is she in flashbacks toggling between the present, 17 year old Christina and young Christina played by a young actress by the name of Gloria Cramer Curtis who was amazing!   17 year old Christina is played by Sarah Greene who had me riveted to the screen. Life for young Christina was very hard but 17 year old Christina OMG...her faith is the reason she survived! The heartache and break had me weeping. Deidre O'Lane our current day Christine is Christine! I loved her calm, cool and collected delivery. Wonderful actress, I had to remind myself this was not a documentary but an actress playing a role. 

There is so much going on in this movie and in order to move it along while getting the gist of how Christine got to where she is, I felt some things were rushed or needed to be assumed. What I do know is that Christine had a rough life, alcoholic father, mother died, father gave her and her siblings away. Christine could have gone the way of her father but her faith keeps her balanced and even with all her loss she comes out a hero to so many children who needed someone just like her. Someone who understood and saw them for what they are, children in need NOT vagrants or slaves.

Our Blue Jay Situation

We have loved having active nests around the house. It made us so happy to know that baby birds were growing in the nests and while there was one we couldn't see because it was close to the roof (above our slider door, inside the old mount for the antenna back in the day) knowing it had baby Blue Jays was thrilling until....this past week....dun dun dun....

We know Blue Jays have a reputation of being nasty but we hadn't experienced it. Up until last Thursday we lived as one big happy family. Over the week I had watched the babies start sticking their heads over the side of the next. We loved looking up to see them with their mouths open waiting for mom to feed them.

We didn't realize that as the babies got bigger their parents would get nastier. We were living in a bubble.

Thursday I went out to water the plants and ended up going back inside with my ears ringing. The wonderful adult Blue Jays started doing very close drive-bys. Out of nowhere they would come whipping by either side of my head the whole time I was out there. It must have happened 8 times in 3 minutes. I went to the house with my head tucked very low.
 
By Saturday they didn't want us on the deck at all. We didn't know at the time but this means that the babies are getting ready to fly and the parents are making sure they have the chance.

My  husband went out to the deck to sweep and basically enjoy his long weekend when he was hit in the head by an adult Blue Jay that angrily squawked and slammed into him.  Every time we went to the deck Saturday they just yelled and did these ridiculous fly bys. basically warning us.

Sunday we knew the deal, go outside without causing any trouble. Go right to the BBQ an back. We were not allowed to enjoy the deck and if we considered staying they would just squawk and fly around us.  My  husband was hit in the back two times. They fully rushed at him when he went to BBQ...so this brings us to yesterday, Monday.

He decided he would not be kept from BBQ'ing but he had to protect his head and eyes.  He did this by grabbing the Go-Kart helmet and googles. They were  not happy to see him but at least he was protected.

I went to the screened in gazebo and heard a baby fall to the deck. It stayed in the corner and finally started hoping. I had my phone with me so quietly sat and grabbed some photos. Mom and Dad were very close but I thought...just stay put....that was fine until the baby started running toward me.

Adorable yes....but I knew if that baby came into the gazebo mom would come too and that meant a new screen before the Summer even got started. I almost crawled to the house.

It eventually fell off the deck trying to fly and made its way to the creek where it sat for a long time before making it's way to the our neighbors yard. They have dog so I prayed it would be fine but the parents was now very agitated because they had birds in the nest and now this one wandering around.

We were ready for the nest to come out and honestly were ready for that to happen because we will never allow the Jay's to put up another nest on our house and wanted this nest down! Here is the Hub watching from the safety of the screened Gazebo.

Baby #2 fell from the nest about 3 hours later while I was checking email. I heard it land and walked over to the door. It walked over to me and was adorable.

Mama was there too saw me and flew toward the door. I know she is behind glass but she made me nervous so I moved away from the door.

This baby was a better flier than the first one.

We watched it fall off the deck as well.

My husband went out 30 minutes later to see if he could see it where it had fallen and was hit in the back by the parents.

2 hours later the babies are gone except for one. There has been no noise so I decided to see if I could see if the baby had safely made it to the ground. I lean over the deck and shock of all shocks I am slammed fully in the back of the head with the entire body of the bird. It hurt! I screamed "OUCH". Honestly I was completely taken off guard. There was no indication it just came from nowhere, no squawk, no flapping or fly-bys just clubbed in the back of the head with an immediate headache. I thought...great...concussion by Blue Jay.

I went to take a shower because I felt like I  had bird germs in my hair and decided to stay in for the rest of the day.

The third baby came out of the nest about 7:30 and made it to the ground in front of my house. Hopefully all babies survived last night. I wish them nothing but the best but this will be their last time on my deck! No more Blue Jay nests attached to my house. BESIDES they were super lazy and moved into a nest that was abandoned over five years ago. They didn't build it, they didn't pay rent and I would much rather look at the beauty of the Blue Jay from afar.

The Heart of the Ocean Is Crystal Clear

This Heart of the Ocean" Pendant Necklace is made with a large, heart shaped SWAROVSKI Crystal, and tiny crystals that pick up beautiful rainbow reflections surrounded by Alloy metal and and hanging on an 18" inch chain with a 2" extension. 

It is gorgeous. We also have it in blue and think this one is just as gorgeous. 

It looks amazing in person.  Very eye catching. Not sure that I would wear it everyday but I love it. 

The crystal is so clear. I love using my macro when to take photos of jewelry because sometimes it sees flaws that the naked eye cannot. This looks even better under my macro

It comes in a plastic bag inside a gift box

 

Final Word:

I don't think it is for everyone. I find it beautiful though. The clear heart with the crystals wrapped around is a favorite.

I Finally Have My Own Mermaid Tail

For Goddess' 11th birthday we got her a mermaid tail blanket. She loved it and so did I! When she would go to sleep for the night I grabbed it and took it to the couch so I could use it. I now have one of my own from HugHapy and I like it even better than the one I got for her and I think so does she as I keep finding her in it!

It looks like my berber carpet in blue shades

The blanket is 100% knitting polyester. Polyester as you know is wrinkle and mold resistant and easily washed. When you buy a blanket that is exactly what you need. Something I can toss in the wash when necessary. Not a dry clean only thing!

The blanket comes wrapped in a ribbon and love the colors in it. So soothing and beautiful. It also comes with a cute mermaid necklace too.

My absolute favorite part is the tail. It spreads out so wide and has an opening so if you want to stick your toes out you can.

My daughter thinks it is like a sleeping bag. I love that unlike a sleeping bag there is a large opening in the bag that makes it easy to get in and out of and NO ZIPPER.

It is soft and comfy and we love it. We will be sitting at the drive in with our mermaid tails this summer on the cooler evenings watching the movies on the big screen.

I can't wait.
5 STARS

What The Heck? Did Someone Toss Rice In My Mailbox?

Maggots? Ants?  The tiny ants were carrying them. I washed the whole mailbox out. I cannot imagine what this is.

Having The Period Talk!

It's going to happen. Our babies will one day get their period and it will mean things are different. She is no longer a little girl but a young woman who has the potential to one day get pregnant but before any of that...there is the talk!

Young girls should never not have the talk. Someone in their life needs to tell them the changes they will be experiencing in their body. The changes can be scary or embarrassing to some girls but they MUST know. 

You may not know how to open the conversation but for me it was an easy one. I started leaving my tampon box on the toilet hoping that my 7-8 year old girl would ask a question. She did. I knew she would.  The conversation was very basic. It is something mommy needs every month. Around the time she was 8 or 9 I shouted something like "I didn't know it was coming today." She was close by which I already knew and asked what was coming and I told her "my period! Thankfully I have these. Please leave the bathroom I need to use one." I just planted little seeds until she had all the information she needed.. Since 7 until now 11 I have educated her enough that she knows what it is, why we get it and has an emergency pouch in the bottom of her backpack in case she gets it at school.  

If your daughter is pubescent now is the time to have the talk. 

There are ways to know she is ready or at least that you should start planting the seeds of wisdom.

How do you know if your daughter is in puberty:
 
1. Breast Development (sometimes they hurt)
2. Hair Growth (under armpits, between their legs)
3. Vaginal Discharge (sometimes whitish and sometimes yellowish)
4. Growth spurt
5. Body Odor

I wish you luck because I know I am going to need it with this one.

PADS for teens

First Pads for Teens

Just When I Thought My Kids Were Getting To Old

It breaks my heart that my kids are both older than 10 (Handsome a teen and Goddess a tween). I long for the days they were babies and toddlers.  I love being able to keep them safe from the world and having them all to myself knowing that if Mommy was on the job nothing bad could happen to them.

They both are in public school against my better judgement. They both are online although I monitor it constantly and they are both almost taller than me. Handsome by 2 inches and Goddess about 3 inches shorter. I'm 4'11 so it is not hard to be taller than me but these a huge indication that they are getting older every day.

My heart breaks knowing that my babies will have their own lives soon and there is nothing I can do about it. I pray I have taught them to always make good choices, be accountable, be responsible, be kind and always make sure you treat people the way you want to be treated.  I know those days are coming quick....
  
Until this week...when this happened.

  

This is a tent combo that they were so excited to see come in the mail. I was reviewing it for our little cousins.  Hmm...not with my kids around. They both played for a while then Goddess stated...this is NOT going anywhere. We are totally keeping this mommy.

I felt like my living room was reliving the moment when I had toddlers and I was holding and playing with my babies.

She loves it so much she has been sleeping in it. She has to sleep with her body outside the tent but she is loving it and truth be told....so am I!

6:00 AM Time to wake for school but this girl is having non of it!

I miss them small!

Gorgeous Sterling Silver Antique Diamond Cubic Zircona

This is a truly stunning, classic necklace with a round multi-faceted CZ Diamond.

The pendant hangs on a pretty, thin, 925 Silver 18" chain. I love the look of it as it catches the light brilliantly to match the eye catching halo of tiny Cubic Zirconias that surround the large CZ in the middle. There are also 3 tiny CZs above the large pendent below the bale.

The spring clasp is secure and large enough to put on yourself. I hate when I have to ask someone to put my necklace on for me.

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It also comes in a beautiful gift box with a buffing clothing and instructions on caring for your 925 Sterling Silver.

Living Hope Gives Hope For Life

The 411:
I don't think any of my friends would consider me deeply religious, preachy or even God fearing however, I do hold my beliefs very close to my heart and pray nightly and even during the day when I need to. There have been moments in my life that if I didn't have God in my heart I wouldn't have been the person everyone sees daily. The person who is nice and always smiling and laughing. I am those things because I have a deep rooted connection to my faith and a very real, very deep relationship with God.

Living Hope is a documentary about some of the people involved in the Living Hope Ministries in South Africa. It follows and interviews three people who have given their lives to the cause of taking care of the people of South Africa by providing ministry in four needed areas: 

• Healthcare
• Homeless and addiction
• HIV education and prevention 
• Economic empowerment

We meet Joey Lankford a husband and father of four, Leonie Rustin a single mom coming out of addiction and Pastor John Thomas all who are doing God's work after various circumstances took them to South Africa.

I love how Leonie Rustin has helped herself in her own recovery. Friday's used to be the night she would do drugs so to stop herself from getting caught up in that she busied herself by cleaning and readying the make-shift church; an classroom that serves as a place for mass.

Along with these people we get to know Amy Aaron an RN who talks about families who thank the staff for taking care of their family members, making them comfortable, respecting them and loving them. The story she tells of 31 year old Nizzy Way who was very very sick with HIV and had refused God in her life. When she talks about Nizzy's baptism before she passed I cried.  Beautiful! Why go into nursing or ministry if you don't care about people?

These people are putting 100% faith in God as do I and this DVD will have you rethinking your life and what you can do to change the world around you. 

The DVD is very well edited. I loved it.

The Rainbow And The Guinea Pig

This week while my daughter was in the bathroom I noticed a rainbow as I walked by her bedroom. Quickly like a good mom, I shouted through the bathroom door because why should I be the only one that doesn't get any peace while on the toilet?

"Honey, there is a rainbow in your room. Oh no wait, scratch that...there are two!"  Through the door I hear her think about jumping off the toilet with a dirty butt just to see the rainbow because when you are a kid...when mom tell you something, you can absolutely count on it being gospel and rainbows in your room is equal to mom saying, "there is a majestic, white unicorn in your room holding plane tickets in it's mouth for a trip to Disney for us. 

She realizes that she cannot get up and run to the door so instead reluctantly says, "Ohhhhh I want to see."

I inform her that I snapped a photo in case by the time she comes out of the toilet it has magically disappeared as quickly as it arrived.

Then she says, "put Stormy (our Guinea Pig) near it."

So, for all who are interested....here is Stormy who looked just as surprised as I was to see a colorful rainbow in my daughter's room. So much so that she quickly about faced and squeaked.

Please ignore the black dots on the rug! They are from when the kids used to shake their juice cups. UGH!

It is a pretty cool rainbow no?

Floppets

My daughter and her friends are loving them. Floppets are rubber like animals that are attached to a Velcro strap that you can wear practically anywhere.

The girls say they make great gifts and want more.

 
I was concerned about them being uncomfortable while worn on their feet but they girls insist they forget they are wearing them.

Great gift ideas and would be great in goody bags for birthday parties.

Our Tiny Little Alien Beauty

Isn't this the coolest little foot ever? Looks kinda like an alien. I had no idea frog toes were so long.

Many find them nasty (my husband for one) but my sisters and I spent so many of our childhood, Summer days looking for frogs and I love that my daughter gets just as excited to catch one or five as she usually does.

How could you not love them? Look at that little nostril and the gorgeous gold around the eyes.

My New Favorite Lip Color Is Only $6.00

I am so excited about my new favorite lip color. Hard Candy Velvet Mousse Matte and it is only What???? $6.00

It gives full, long term coverage and glides on beautifully leaving your lips feeling hydrated.

Get A Pep Talk Everytime You Pick Up Your Mirror

 

This is an adorable, whimsical hand mirror that any fun loving girl will absolutely love.
The mirror looks like it is made of whittled wood but it is actually polyresin.

I love the sweetness of the star and the "You Shine" reminder that we all need to see once in a while. Plus it looks like a magic wand. Anything can happen when you look into this fun mirror and tell yourself, I am special and I matter!

It is comfortable to hold and safe for youngsters as well although I believe anyone who loves this fun loving style will appreciate this mystical mirror.