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graysea

The Christmas Candle

Liked · 42 minutes ago

We are pleased to announce that The Christmas Candle is the reader's pick for Plugged In's best Christian movie of the year award! https://community.focusonthefamily.com/b/pluggedin/archive/2014/02/14/2014-plugged-in-movie-awards-quot-best-movie-quot-winners.aspx

We owe this award to YOU, our fans, thank you and God bless!

2014 Plugged In Movie Awards: "Best Movie" Winners

Steven Isaac

Feb 14, 2014 5:43 AM 1

Announcing the winners of the second annual Plugged In Movie Awards!

And the Golden Magnifier goes to ...

BEST CHRISTIAN MOVIE

Nominees: Black Nativity, The Christmas Candle, Grace Unplugged, Home Run, Not Today

Plugged In's Pick: Grace Unplugged
With Christian movies getting a bit better each year, this category was stacked with solid choices … that ultimately coalesced around our final pick. Grace Unplugged is a sweet, spiritually poignant and accessible story of a rebellious teen and her exasperated father. And the big message that we here at Plugged In just couldn't pass by? I'll quote from Paul Asay's review: "Grace Unplugged is also very much a cautionary coming-of-age story—an examination of how sometimes what we most want undermines what we most need. Grace discovers that by following her own heart she arrives in a place that's determined to squash that strong yet sensitive organ. It's only by following God's heart that she finds true happiness and peace and fulfillment."

Readers' Pick: The Christmas Candle This category proved to be a no-holds-barred battle royal among our readers. The veritable avalanche of votes flowed so deep it took intrepid Plugged In designer Kari Andresen nearly a full day to dig her way through them all. For two weeks, avid supporters of Home Run and The Christmas Candle (in particular) voted, voted again and then voted some more. We weeded out multiple votes as best we could, but will note here that they are in some ways a great tribute to the passion inspired by both movies. Christmas Candle ended up burning away the competition, you might say, but Home Run stayed in the running 'til the bottom of the ninth.

BEST MOVIE FOR KIDS

Nominees: The Croods, Despicable Me 2, Epic, Escape From Planet Earth, Frozen

Plugged In's Pick: FrozenThe Plugged In team talked long and hard about handing this honor to DreamWorks' The Croods because of its surprisingly tender take on fatherhood and family. But it was Disney princesses who finally dominated, with Anna and Elsa giving us all an unexpected love story not between a young, doe-eyed couple (though there is that, too), but two sisters who, despite their differences, would do anything for each other.

Readers' Pick: Frozen We weren't the only ones entranced by the icy beauty of Frozen, as it tobogganed away with the readers' crown as well. Our blog and Facebook fans gushed over the animated flick's music, its comedy and the story's unexpected twists.

BEST MOVIE FOR TEENS

Nominees: 42, Ender's Game, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Man of Steel, Oz the Great and Powerful

Plugged In's Pick: 42Yes, the racial waters are rough, and we hear the n-word used repeatedly as this film speaks out against just how racist Major League Baseball—and much of the country—was when Jackie Robinson broke baseball's color barrier. But while our other nominees showcased courageous, self-sacrificing characters, none were more so than the real-life Robinson, who not only overcame hatred and prejudice, but did it with unparalleled class. With this pick, we tip our hat to both the man and the movie that will teach so many more teens about what he accomplished.

Readers' Pick: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire We'd barely opened up the voting when the lamentations began. Where was The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug? Not on our list, though we did give it strong consideration. While it embodied great themes of courage and friendship and good-vs.-evil, we felt that there were other movies that soared even higher in that regard—including your eventual pick. Indeed, Katniss Everdeen overcame this second Hunger Games' inherent violence, winning over readers with her gumption and her film's themes of self-sacrifice for a higher goal.

BEST MOVIE FOR ADULTS

Nominees: Gravity, Instructions Not Included, Philomena, Saving Mr. Banks, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Plugged In's Pick: Saving Mr. Banks It was a dandy year for adults looking for great movies with great messages—and not a great amount of negative content. (Two of our nominees were also nominated for Best Picture Oscars, for the record.) Plugged In, of course, considers a movie's message as well as its art, and we heavily debated both The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (an inspiring story of a man encouraged to live life to the fullest) and Instructions Not Included (a Spanish-language sleeper wherein a man learns how to be a real father). But while it's not "practically perfect in every way" (no mainstream movie is these days), we finally felt compelled to give the final nod toSaving Mr. Banks, another story about the importance of fathers—even if those fathers are flawed. It is both introspective and inspirational, and its fantastic performances don't hurt either.

Readers' Pick: Saving Mr. Banks Plugged In readers loved Walter Mitty. And you thought Gravity was pretty awesome too. But in the end you too threw your tuppence toward Mr. Banks. It kinda makes you want to fly a kite now, doesn't it?

https://community.focusonthefamily.com/b/pluggedin/archive/2014/02/14/2014-plugged-in-movie-awards-quot-best-movie-quot-winners.aspx

graysea

Posted by Bobber on the SBFII site, as a tribute to NanaJean. Susan sings Wings to Fly, RIP NanaJean.

graysea · February 17, 2014

MID-WINTER BREAK

Even the beasts don’t want to be bothered until it’s Spring.
Ahh, the February break. It began during the mid? late? ’70s during the energy crisis, to save oil and of course, save money. Every June I’m cursing it, when the school year doesn’t end, and my NY kiddo is still in school 1, 2, 3 weeks after everyone else’s kiddos. But in February, when it comes? Oh yeah, we need it. This year, with the winter being absolutely unrelenting, it feels particularly necessary.

On Saturday Flower Child had a field trip with her art class. It was cold and flurrying and I had a couple of hours to myself, so I went to Loehmann’s to see if there was anything left. Not much of interest within my budget, but there were a good number of bags/purses left that were reasonable once all the discounts were applied. I saw a somewhat unattractive but neat laptop case. Predictably, I couldn’t decide if it was the right size for my laptop. But I did think about the purse I’ve been carrying, the way everything has been getting a little (ok a lot) wet with all the snow. So I saw a larger bag that closed and decided to get it. Even on the street it’s hard to find a bag for twenty bucks anymore. This store has never been known for its fabulously helpful sales staff. But now, with the certain unemployment ahead and empty racks, all bets are off. The staff seemed to divide into two camps, those who were more relaxed and nicer than I’ve experienced in there, and those who decided the time is right to lose their filter. At the register I was paying for the bag, the cashier next to the one ringing me up looked at it. She sucked through her teeth (back in my middle school days, that sound/gesture was equivalent to throwing down a gauntlet).
“That looks fake.
I laughed. What a moment. I told her that was good, since I normally buy my bags from the guys selling knock-offs on the street.

Knock-off?

After I dumped my shit from the old bag into the new one, I was online and followed a link from somewhere to youtube. I don’t remember what the original video was, but on the side of the screen was a link to Susan Boyle’s audition for Britain’s Got Talent. You know the one, “I Dreamed a Dream.” I’ve already seen this clip several times, but it’s a beautiful song, she has a lovely voice, and I clicked on it. Three minutes into the video, my eyeballs were leaking. A connection to this Susan Boyle singing that song at that moment, taking a breath and her shot with her unstylish dress and snark to defend against the expectations of who she should be based on where she is (was, she’s surely in a better spot now). For people with advantages, 40 might be the new 30, but for the rest of us…well...

I’ve begun to query Astonishing. Slowly, but I’m moving forward. I’ve even gotten a few “bites.” (Requests to see the manuscript) It’s a slow, often frustrating process filled with ups and downs and no guarantees. Many agents have adopted a “no response means no” policy. Except as the querier, you don’t know exactly when to assume it’s a no. Agents are flooded with queries on a daily basis, so even if they say 6 weeks on their website, that could mean 8 weeks, or 10 weeks, or 12 weeks. There’s an amazing, delicious charge when you open an email and instead of seeing “Dear Author, Due to the Subjective blahblahblah” you read “Dear Mrs Fringe, I was intrigued…please send me…” Squee! Now hurry up and wait. But don’t hold your breath, it’s still a long, uncertain road in between requests for more material and an offer of representation. And that is far from the second leg, when the agent queries editors–hopefully resulting in a sale to a publisher.

The general wisdom of the internets and writing groups everywhere is to begin a new project as soon as you begin querying. Meh. I’m taking a break. I have an idea that I will likely start playing with at some point, but for now, I’m taking a breath and paying some attention to…yanno, the other areas of my life. Being a woman of 40,000 years, I’ve got other areas. Being a woman of 40,000, I know myself enough to know taking a break doesn’t mean I’ll never write again, never find the discipline again. Being a woman of 40,000, I’m not obsessing about those queries. Do I think about them? Of course. Do I have spurts of ohmyGodwhenamIgoingtohearback? Yup. And then I notice the spots on the bathroom mirror, think about how long its been since I gave Flower Child a manicure, remember how good it feels to read for pleasure, and take care of some of those things. I don’t write just to write, I write when I have a story to tell. I write when I’ve got the energy and focus to find the correct words–regardless of how long it takes to find them.

I watched Susan Boyle and leaked a little bit and then felt better than I have in days. The odds are long and not in my favor, but I do have talent, I’ve worked and continue to work on craft, and the possibility is there.

graysea

Susan Boyle meeting fans in Scotland at M&G September 30, 2012

and after Kings Concert on Oct 12, 2012

graysea

R.I.P nanajean

To inform you all our beloved nanajean passed away peacefully at 45 minutes past midnight on Feb 11th

From Robyn - "Jean passed away peacefully at 45 minutes past midnight. She was so brave and fought so hard and for so long against that brutal disease. We're so thankful her death was quick and peaceful. And I miss her so much already.

Words are never enough to express how much your friendships meant to my mom. We'll probably be having her funeral next Monday. I've asked a lovely tenor I know to sing one of mom's favourite popular songs "I Dream of Jeannie with the Light Brown Hair". She also asked that we play Susan Boyle singing Ave Maria."

http://forum.susan-boyle.com.p...100&do=discuss

graysea

graysea

graysea

So beautiful to hear again. Their voices blend so perfectly.

graysea

I was lucky enough to be at this performance. Chills and tingles through the entire two songs. What a treat! No one sings like Susan! Thank you, Susan!

graysea

Check out this great MSN video - Susan Boyle has landed

Susan Boyle has landed23/11/09 3:19

Susan Boyle - Perfect Day
10/11/10 4:27
Meryl Streep Sought to Play Susan Boyle in Biopic
19/11/13 0:51
Best of YouTube 09
22/12/09 2:08
Susan Boyle: Track By Track
04/11/11 8:14

graysea

Nanajean, a long time SBFII member, has been very ill for the past few months and many have been praying and hoping for a speedy recovery for her.

Recently Nanajean has had a terrible setback and has now entered a Hospice help center, Crossroads:

http://www.crossroadshospice.bc.ca/inlet/.

Fans continue to pray for her and light candles in support. Please keep Nanajean in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you.

7/24/2013
From Woody:

Rooting for Nanajean

Our much loved "sister", nanajean is shortly to enter hospital for major surgery. I know you will all join me in offering up thoughts, prayers and everything else you can muster - she is going to need it, and we need her back with us "ship-shape and in Bristol fashion", and so do her family. So let's freakin' "have it" for nanajean and give her all our support - Get well soonest, nanajean.

Date 2/2/2014
From Woody

Edit - I have just opened an email from Robyn informing me that nanajeans' pain escalated to the point she could no longer speak or eat and is now in a hospice

I have more to tell you but it is early and I need to dress - more later

Please everybody - light those candles for dear nanajean and keep her in your thoughts.

From lauraj210

Robyn copied me in the email she sent to woody...I have one thing to add --

Robyn writes, "She cannot talk anymore because of the pain when she moves her jaw but she woke up for a few minutes and wrote on a sheet of paper that she does not want to lose her will to live. Her goal is to have her pain control stabilized and be able to take in fluid and nutrition so that she can still put life into her days. Hopefully that will happen. The hospice program wants to support the patient and whatever her goals are."

She still has her red knickers on...Love you, Jean.

To light a candle for nanjean, click here:

http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/...l=eng&gi=SBFII

Marie Jean Poster tribute video below:

Susan Fan

Praying that God holds you, Nanajean, and your family in the palm of His hand!

graysea

Today I received a message that Helen Wilson passed away on Tues. May she rest in peace! Helen was a super fantastic fan of Susan Boyle and she always came to the NE M&Gs with such enthusiasm. Helen was a fun loving, wonderfully witty person. We will miss her smiling face. RIP!

Helen M Wilson
(January 15, 1940 - January 28, 2014)

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Helen M. Wilson, 74, of Candia, NH, died January 28, 2014.

Born in Dundee, Scotland, on January 15, 1940, she was daughter of Alfred and Robertina Wilson. She immigrated to the United States in 1955. She graduated from Manchester High School Central.
Early in her career, she worked as an agency collector at New Hampshire Insurance Company for thirty years. Later, she worked at Hanover Insurance Company and the Scott Lawson Group until her retirement.
Helen was an avid traveler, especially to Australia. She also enjoyed spending time on her home computer. She will be remembered for her gentle and caring ways and missed by all who knew her.
Family members include her longtime companion of twenty-nine years, Juanita Wright, of Candia; a nephew, Glen Wilkinson, of Winter Haven, FL. She was predeceased her sister, Audrey Wilkinson.
Services: Following cremation, funeral services will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Animal Rescue League of New Hampshire, 545 New Hampshire State 101, Bedford, NH 03110.
The Connor-Healy Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 537 Union Street, is in charge of the arrangements.