Changed

And no, I don't mean "changed" in the vampire way. LOL

Just wanted to add a quick pic of these two.
According to Facebook, this is the newest still release for "Eclipse,"

which releases next month.

Not that I'm counting down the days or anything (51...ahem). :)

"Eclipse" might be my favorite of the 4 books. Not sure, because I love them all. And I've read them so many times that the story is starting to blend

into one very long book.

So anyway....my fellow fans can enjoy this pic. The rest of you can stop the eye-rolling and continue reading. ;)

What I really meant by the title "Changed" has way more to do

with the movie pictured below.

Brian, Nana, and I watched "The Blind Side" this weekend. I've been wanting to see it since it's release in November. Really don't know what kept me away. I'm a huge Sandra Bullock fan. I feel quite certain that if she were to meet me, she would quickly agree that we would make great best friends. ;) Also, I love a "feel-good" movie, especially one that takes place in the South. And, because my hubs LOVES a football movie, I knew it would be a great one for us to watch together. We don't exactly have the same taste in movies (refer back to the first picture in this post~ although I will say he tolerates those out of his love for me. He's a keeper.)

SO anyway......changed. That's the one word I would use to describe how I felt when the movie was over. I'm pretty sure I'm the last person on earth who hadn't seen this one yet, but in case you're not sure of the storyline, here's the Cliff's Notes version: A wealthy Christian family takes in a poor boy from the other side of town, showing him unconditional love, acceptance, stability, and generosity. They make him part of their family, as if he'd been there all along. They both are changed for the good. And I'd argue that he changed them more than they changed him. Amazing story....I haven't stopped thinking about it.

I left the family room and headed upstairs after the movie, got in bed, and couldn't sleep well that night. Couldn't stop thinking about the theme of the movie. Acceptance. Generosity. Unconditional Love. It made me think a lot about what I would do given the same circumstances. Made me question what I would do had we driven by Michael (or someone like him) on the street. Would we have stopped? Would we have kept driving, deciding it really was none of our business, or uncomfortable, or possibly dangerous? I really don't know. I mean, I know what I would do now. I know God used that movie to change my heart. To open my eyes wider to see what is around me. To help others in need. TO PAY ATTENTION. I often tell myself I have my hands full with three little boys, a house to take care of, church, etc.
That that's enough. That I really couldn't handle anymore. Boy, was I wrong.

And so it started on Saturday when I made a trip to a grocery store, and nearly ran over (literally...on foot, not in my car, thank goodness) an elderly lady in a motorized cart. Who was on oxygen, shopping alone, with the sweetest smile on her face. And because I was in a hurry (what's new?) I wasn't paying attention, and I ran into her. And immediately I heard God reminding me "PAY ATTENTION." So I stopped and apologized and made sure she was okay (of course, I was raised right). :) But this time, I didn't stop there. I offered to help her with her shopping. And then later, I saw her in the checkout line, and helped her unload her basket. Because, as Christians, that is how we are supposed to be. And I'm ashamed to admit that although I've been a Christian for over 20 years, this concept is new for me.

Please don't think I'm a horrible, thoughtless person. OR, that I'm trying to brag on myself because I helped the sweet elderly lady. That's not what this is about. I look at myself and see a girl who has always (for the most part) been polite. I hold doors open for people. Carry on conversations with people checking me out at the store. Consider myself thoughtful in many ways, and striving to be that in all ways. But I also tend to be self-centered. Preoccupied with my to-do list. Too "busy." Busy with what? That's been my question these past several days. So things are changing in this heart. I'm slowing down. I'm paying attention. I'm teaching our boys to do the same. I know this change isn't going to happen overnight. But I'm determined that with God's grace and patience, it's going to happen.

It would be easy to sit here and continue to feel sorry for myself because I'm in a new state, in a new church, and a new neighborhood where I don't know anyone, missing my family and the friends that I love so much back in Texas. And honestly, that's kind of what I've been doing. Hiding out in my house, keeping busy with making this home and potty-training my preschooler, trying to convince myself that I don't need friends here. That I can "keep myself busy enough" to be okay here without that. And I'd be an idiot. So I'm on to Plan B, otherwise known as "get out there and figure out why in the world God has brought you here." Because that is exactly what He, in all his wisdom and sovereignty, has done. So, here I go.

And as far as the whole "Let's bring this boy home and take care of him, make him part of our family, and love him as if he's has always been ours" part of the movie? I can honestly tell you that adoption (and now possibly fostering) has been on my heart for a couple years now. Watching this movie only confirmed something I felt we had already been called to do. Now I'm just waiting on the rest of the family to feel the same way, trusting that at the right time, all of the details will fall into place. I don't know where this child will come from, whether it will be a he or a she....that doesn't matter. But I really hope it happens soon.

So if you haven't seen this movie, PLEASE do. I love that God (who made me and knows my love for a good movie) used such a great one to speak to my heart. And I'd love to hear about how He speaks to you, or what watching this movie did in your life. Comments, please?