New Moon!

Spoil alert: If you plan to read any of the twilight saga books by Stephanie Meyer you may not want to read this blog b/c I will spoil some of it.

So, I am planning a trip to Rochester MN next weekend…the opening weekend of the movie “new Moon” and I CAN NOT WAIT. I’m so excited to see this movie…it’s like my infatuation with these crazy books is allowed to come out. I’m even more excited to see some great friends that I miss like crazy!

I was laying in bed unable to sleep thinking about everything under the sun and I started wondering why in the world I like these books. I would have bet a million bucks that I’d never ever read a book that had vampires or werewolves in it and I absolutely wouldn’t like it if I did…but I would have lost that bet.

I started to wonder if it was the way that she wrote the story that I loved so much. I really don’t think it is. It’s not exactly her writing that draws me in as much as it is her story.

Why is it?

I think it’s the love that Edward has for Bella. He loves this girl unconditionally and whole heartedly and to be completely honest…she really isn’t worth it. She is this clumsy, plain, average girl. There is nothing special about her, yet he would move a mountain for her. “you are my family now” he says to her at one point in Twilight and another time in New Moon he says “I could see it in your eyes, that you honestly believed that I didn’t want you anymore. The most absurd, ridiculous concept—as if there were any way that I could exist without needing you!”

I think the appeal is that we all want to be loved like that. Bella asks herself throughout the books why her…she wants to think there is something special about herself, but she knows there isn’t and tries over and over to convince Edward of that. The more she does the harder he tried to convince her how special she is to him. “Your hold is permanent and unbreakable. Never doubt that.” We all want to know that no matter how badly or many times we mess things up there will still be someone that wants to love us completely. The problem…much like what Bella faced…is that we are always waiting for the bottom to drop out. Nothing is that good and that free and if it is, it doesn’t happen to us! Unfortunately for Bella Edward does leave in New Moon and that is one of the reasons it’s fan’s least favorite book…Edward isn’t in it.

Here is a crazy jump, but the thought was made in my head so I’ll go ahead and put it here on paper. Is that not exactly like Christ’s love for us? Ok, so maybe not “exactly,” but you can surely see where we are going. It goes back to the book we are currently reading for book club this month “What’s So Amazing About Grace?” by Phillip Yancy. Yancy points out in his book that the Christ freely gives away grace. He has that kinda love that says “you can’t do anything to make me stop loving you, you can’t mess things up too badly.” No matter how clumsy, average, plain or unwanted we feel, Chris adores us and wants us to see ourselves as he does---images of him.


Yet, like Bella’s view on Edward’s love for her…we view the love and grace of Christ the same way…we’re ready for the bottom to drop out. The fortunate thing is that he actually won’t leave! It’s like god would like to hijack Edward’s lines and say, “If there was only some way to make you see that I can’t leave you. Time, I suppose, will be the way to convince you .” Like Bella we have a hard time accepting it. Many girls would jump at the opportunity to let Edward love her. :) Bella wasn’t so sure and we are often very unsure about the free GRACE that God extends to us every single day. Why do we have the hardest time accepting the best thing available!? Yancy says grace is hard because it goes against everything we have been taught our whole live. “From nursery school onward we are taught how to succeed in the world of ungrace. The early bird gets the worm. No pain, no gain. There is no such thing as a free lunch. Demand your rights. Get what you pay for. I know these rules well because I live by them. I work for what I earn; I like to win, I insist on my rights. I want people to get what they deserve---nothing more, nothing less.” How can we understand that despite our behavior that repulses God, he still loves us. “God yearns to see in people something of his own image reflected…still, God cannon---or will not---give up.” I could go on forever here, but since this post is about New Moon and not this book, I’ll stop.

This is prob. not where you thought I would be going with this post huh? Well, I know one thing is for sure. I’m entrapped with the love that Edward has for Bella. She doesn’t deserve it and he continues to give it. It’s that human desire to be loved like that that draws me to these cheesy books. I may not have the unyielding love from a gorgeous vampire, but I’m reminded of the real love that I do have in my life….the love and grace from Christ that despite myself will not go away.

We NEVER Change!

This really isn't my story to tell, but Abby told it to me and I can't stop laughing about it. It's just proof that we never change. Boys will be boys and girls will continue to be complex!

Here it goes...

Rachel takes her friends little girl to school with her two older boys. Little A had been sick for a week and then they were on fall break for another week. So, the first day back in the car with the boys she says, "did ya miss me?" Fletcher's response, "when!?" hahah. Two whole weeks they hadn't seen their riding buddy!

Then right before they got out of the car she says, "you boys didn't even say anything about my new shoes!" Nope...and they never will.

When my mom got glasses...not new glasses, glasses period. She came home from work and asked my dad what was different. "um...your hair?...no?....your outfit?" He continued to guess so much my mom then refused to tell him. They went over to my grandparents house for dinner that night and when my mom walked through the door my grandmother said, "wow, I like your glasses!"

oh boys....they never change!

Emory Jaye Thompson

We are so excited about the arrival of Steve & Arhmin's baby girl. Autumn, Cameron, Abby, Katie & I threw Arhmin a shower Sunday afternoon. I wish I would have taken pictures of her opening gifts, but they were all precious and she got lots of them!! Our theme was navy and pink. Katie had some great games for us (including tasting baby food) and the food highlight was Gigi's cupcakes from Chattanooga. Although, I could eat myself sick on the grape salad Abby made. Steven's mom wasn't thrilled with all the TN Vols stuff Emory got, but Arhmin was! I'll love her the same even when she wears FL Gators apparel, but don't expect me to like it! Overall the shower was a success & Arhmin seemed very happy, which was the goal of the afternoon.

Abby & Cameron getting things ready

Ah, Gigi's cupcakes. We had lemon, birthday cake, red velvet, Italian cream and chocolate. yum!

Lots of yummy food!

Cameron's mom made these letters, aren't they great!?

We are all still a little mad Katie made us try "apple & chicken" without us knowing!

Arhmin with family. These ladies couldn't take their hands off her!

see what I mean!? :) left, Susie (Arhmin's mom, Oma) and right, Venisha (Steve's mom, VV)

some of the girls at the shower

We had each person write a prayer or blessing to Emory and decorated the tree. Here is before...
and after. I think Arhmin plans to keep it and add messages to Emory from friends and family until she is born. Wouldn't this be a cute way to display your Christmas cards? It was super easy to make!

Happy Halloween!!!!

We had a wonderful time at the Hicks annual Halloween party! There were lots of people there so I'm sure Fletcher was pleased with the turn out. :)

We ate chili and chicken tortilla soup and TONS of sweets. We watched a tornado of kids run up and down the stairs, visited, played corn hole and football on the wii. I loved seeing all the trick or treaters in their costumes. A highlight was getting to see the Stum family!! We haven't seen them since we moved back, which is just plain sad.

Miss. Harper and her adorable outfit! I don't think she was happy about this picture b/c we took a brownie out of her hand right before this. haha

It was so great to see you guys!

they don't get much cuter than these two!have you seen a cuter pumpkin?not sure about the game here...I think it's to see if Winston can be taller than Jones?serious game face. He was really good!

it's not everyday you see Mary, Joseph & Jesus at the gas station ;)