Avatars and TVLand and happily ever after..

So, we saw Avatar at the IMAX in 3D last night with our friends, the Molnars...a visually beautiful movie! People did not hype it up so much that I was disappointed. (Always lame when that happens..) I found myself wishing there really were these tall, beautiful blue Avatars that live somewhere, and dreaming of being one. I mean, who doesnt want to run through beautiful, lush marsh areas that are glow in the dark to the touch? Who doesnt want their very own, interesting creature thing they can connect with by the ends of their hair and fly with over mountains and oceans? I imagine that most of us saw this movie, and loved how far off and fairytale-ish it felt, that it took us away for those 3 hours to another place..a place that had struggles and beauty and love of its own, and in that 3 hours would faithfully end in a happy place so that we could go home and believe that all of life could end this way...



sidenote, our band has this song called TVLand..it was always one of my favorites..not because I love TVLand shows still, to this day...but how true that so many of us find ourselves captivated by these movies and shows that are comfortable and safe because we know that when there is a family problem in Leave it to Beaver, all will be made well by that 30 minute ending. When Jeannie would get herself in a bind(as she always did), she could just wrinkle that adorable little nose of hers and take herself away, to safety or to her husband or wherever she chose, and in that 30 minute episode, life would end as it should. Happy and smiling. If only, right? haha. I'm not sure I'd want life that predictable. I might get in the habit of sitting around anytime things got tough with a timer, and just wait for that 30 minute commercial break sound when the TV gets 3 times as loud as the show ever was. Can I not forget the Andy Griffith show? Oh how I still love it. Its happy and safe and simple and I feel wholesome when I've sat through an episode or 2 or 3. My friends love me for these quirks, let me tell you!





We all love a Happily ever after. Sometimes we might have to stick out the hard times for a little bit longer, but life is good and beautiful and complex. (Is it ok if I still really hope that I can have one of those little creatures that was in Flight of the Navigator, or better yet, a flying dog like in the Neverending Story??) I'd say yes. Go on and dream.-- And if you havent seen Avatar at an IMAX and 3D. Do it while you can. It's just beautiful.

“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.”--thank you, C.S.Lewis

p.s. check out what David and Tammy Molnar do and how they make the world a lovelier place..good friends we play and dream with.

www.davidmolnar.com

Nothing to submit..

Watch what you say. Watch what you ask for. I'll have to remember that next time. Here is a post I wrote on facebook a few days ago...

Today I saw God answer a prayer I prayed just on our way to church this morning. I love when I can fall asleep reminded that He is faithful to meet us when we take steps of faith towards Him. I could pray for no more struggles in life, but then I would fail to have moments where I see Him rescue me from them.

You see where this is going? haha. That particular day was a bit frustrating for me. Then, literally I prayed a prayer on the way to church and hours later there was this obvious way that God had answered it. Not completely, I will say. But God had brought hope to the situation and moved it in the right direction. Then I had to go and open my big mouth...



Needless to say, just yesterday a situation happened and it was as if God was saying, "well, you just said that whole thing about not praying away struggles".....darn it! I feel like the last few years have brought me quite a few moments that I wouldnt necessarily ask to live through again..but I have to stick to my guns on this one. I would rather life have its struggles and see God rescue me from the depths of my despair, wherever that might be, than to sail through life on my own, every detail seeming to work out perfectly, and forget how it feels to rest in the arms of a very faithful, merciful God.

Years ago I read this quote by Elisabeth Elliot. It resonated with me, and ended up in my little gold book( that's another blog)..

"If all struggles and sufferings were eliminated, the spirit would no more reach maturity than would the child. If the yearnings went away, what would we have to offer up to the lord? Arent they given to us to offer? How would we learn to submit to the authority of Christ if we had nothing to submit?"



I think that she was on a level in her faith that I have not reached and maybe never will. But I guess I would say I attain to feel this way. Some days I don't and I'm so worn out by life, that the last thing I want to hear from someone is that God has a plan and He always brings good from things and blah blah blah. Some days that sounds so trite and shallow. Is that sacrilegious of me to admit? I don't think so. I think its honest.

But I do know that I have seen times in my life that felt so bleak and hopeless that are turned into areas of strength and beauty..and maybe thats enough. Maybe I won't ever have all the answers and understand why life can be so painful one moment and make me breathless with joy the next..but if my faith can be just big enough that I can hold on, when it makes no sense, when I can't see God or feel Him around me...maybe thats the Journey. Or just the start of it.

New Years Perspective

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I'm new to the blogging world. So, I could agonize about what to say in my first blog post, or just say what comes naturally. Thats what I'll do. So, welcome to my world. I'm a singer, and have been for about 11 years full-time. On the side, I started doing makeup a couple years ago..I've been doing my own for stage and photo shoots and videos of ours, and I found I love being on the other side and making someone feel lovely. So, when I'm not touring, I've been building up a portfolio.

I'm married to a musician/songwriter/producer named Nick. We have 2 pups(and that's the closest to parenthood we've been yet). We live in Nashville, TN now, but both grew up in the midwest states of Indiana and Illinois.

So, I like that I'm starting something new right after New Years. I am someone who likes resolutions...I like to re-evaluate my life and take what I'm discontent with and see if I can't make it better. I'm an over-analyzer, have a conscience the size of Texas it seems and love to dream big.

This New Year finds me in a new place. I almost lost my Mom to a heart attack just a couple of months ago. I've experienced some traumatic things in life, but for some reason, this changed me. It stuck with me. This Christmas every moment I had with my family was so much more precious than any I'd ever experienced before. Not because they've changed, but because of my perspective. I saw my Mom in a different way. She's human, she's frail, and I could have lost her. But I didn't. Sitting in church with my family was emotional, watching old family favorites was emotional..and that was okay. Why do we try to hold back tears like its the worst thing possible to cry with people we love? I wish I knew. I'm guilty. One of my resolutions might just be to let myself cry when the tears threaten to fall..because I think a soft, broken heart is a beautiful thing.

I'll end Post #1 with some wise words by a lovely lady I wish I'd had the pleasure to know...Happy New Year! Here's to us all living every day hoping to make our world a lovelier place!--Trish


" The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman is seen in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides. True beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It's the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows & the beauty of a woman only grows with passing years. ~"
— Audrey Hepburn