JanineThrossel.com

Did you go to the movies last weekend?   If so, what’d you see?   Guardians of the Galaxy ?   When the Game Stands Tall?   The Giver ?   Not too many years ago, Christians complained that their faith and moral standards weren’t fairly represented on the silver screen. The ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s were nothing like the golden era of The 10 Commandments (1956), Ben-Hur (1959) and The Robe (1953). I wasn't alive in the 1950s, although I did eventually see The 10 Commandments and Ben-Hur with my parents.   I do remember a few big-screen Christian hits, though. My childhood was marked by The Cross and the Switchblade , Joni , The Hiding Place , A Thief in the Night (how terrifying was that one, by the way?), and Jesus .   The 1980s brought the beautiful film Chariots of Fire and the Robert DeNiro picture, The Mission .   Prince of Egypt was delivered to us by Dreamworks in the 1990s, and got rave reviews.   But you have t...

California is known as the Golden State, famous for its sunshine.   But the past three years have brought more sunshine than we're used to.   The entire state is now reported as being in a serious drought.   In fact, more than 50% of the state is listed as being in the top-level category of "exceptional" drought.   Some communities have already run out of water.   Lakes and rivers are low. Wildfires are burning, with 216 reported in just one week.   A fire has even been burning in beloved Yosemite National Park, reknown for its world-class waterfalls.   Last month, California decided on a first-ever statewide rationing program that fines people who use water inappropriately.   Before any panic ensues, that basically means the following: 1. No spraying off your concrete driveway or walkways. 2.   No washing your car without a hose shut-off valve. 3.   No oversaturating your lawn until the water runs off into the street. 4....

And the winner is. . . . . Jon! Congratulations!! I will try to get that out to you this week. Thanks for participating!

Giveaway #3 So, awhile back I mentioned that I haven't had much time to read paper-and-ink books lately.   Sad, but true.   I've been listening to a lot of audiobooks at work instead.   Well, I did read one book with a binding lately--a slim, but important volume that I would like to share with you. Here it is: I met and worked with author M. J. Weissenberger in South America.   She was a new missionary who would be teaching English to our children.   I can't even express how blessed I am for what she has meant to them. So, when she announced the publication of her book, Two Heavy Words: Reflections of a First-Year Missionary, I was quick to buy it right away, snatch it from its envelope and devour it.   I paid for it, but reading it was a gift. One of the things I love about Mrs. Weissenberger is her honesty and frankness.   Another is her deep passion to keep pushing on and pressing forward in her faith and walk with God. ...

One of our friends just turned five years old.   The planning for her birthday bash--with a Disney princess theme--began weeks ago, and her mother asked if I would dress up as Ariel .  If you are somehow unfamiliar with the Disney princess movies, Ariel was a mermaid. "Um, no," I answered.   (I'm such a good friend, aren't I?) She asked me--the girl who had Prince Eric and Princess Ariel on my wedding invitations 21 years ago--a second time. "You have red hair!" "No." Foot down. In her head, she was picturing something like this: But in my head, I was thinking this: And it wasn't going to happen.   I mean, let's put this into perspective.   Prince Eric and Ariel married less than four years before my husband and I did.   Their wedding--and ours--was recorded on VHS.   And I was already in college when Belle, Jasmine and Pocahontas were added to the lineup.   What I'm trying to say is that...

Joni!  Thanks for entering! Please send me a comment with your address so I can send your wonderful prizes!  (I have returned the comments settings to the previous format of being moderated--so it shouldn't show up on my blog at all, just in my mailbox.) Congratulations and enjoy the treats!  

UPDATE: Due to some issues with the comments, I have temporarily changed the settings.  Your comments should go right through--without moderation or word verification.  So, if you have commented and don't see your comment, please try again until you do see it.  Don't send anything through that you don't want published.  Click on the word "comments" at the end of this article (lower right), type in the form (with your name) and then don't forget to press "publish!"  Thanks. Welcome to my second giveaway!   Thanks for dropping by! Do you know what today is? ( I mean, besides Saturday, June 21st, and "a day the Lord has made?")   It is the first official day of SUMMER! Of course, "summer" started for us several days ago, when school ended.   However, the weather people seem to count the solstice--not the local high school--as the marker.   Go figure. :) So, today summer is truly here! To celebrate, I am giving a...