The Movie "Courageous" Is A Message To Fathers

I went to see this movie over the weekend at our church and think it has a very good message for fathers. It certainly didn't keep me on the edge of my seat like "The Hunger Games" and didn't entertain me like "We Bought A Zoo," but it was more of a family drama. It shows five or six different men interacting with their families, all but one being on the police force.

When Adam's young daughter is killed in a car accident, he has regrets about not spending more time with her and is surprised how much the Bible says about fathers when he takes the time to look search the scripture. He and his co-workers chat about being a good dad and he asks them to hold him accountable to a list of resolutions that he drew up based on the Bible. Parts of the movie did seem corny and unbelievable, like when his group of friends from work all decided to make the same resolutions as well. That would have been corny enough, but then they actually have a ceremony with their families and frame and hang the resolutions in their homes.  (You can actually buy a print of them online at courageousresolutioncertificate.com.)

There were parts of the movie I liked though too. I liked when Adam decides to run with his son in the father-son race.  CAUTION--SPOILERS AHEAD:  Another favorite part was when the construction worker kept his integrity even though it meant putting his much needed job on the line. I think the most touching scene though was when the father of the teenage daughter took her to a fancy restaurant and dressed up to let her know how much she meant to him and that he loved her so much that he wanted the best for her. He asked her to promise him that she would let him approve the guys she wanted to date and until they agreed on the right one, he gave her a ring to wear to memorialize their special dinner and agreement.  I liked that the young guy who was a father out of wedlock and left the girl on her own decided to step up and be a father to his little girl.

I think any father could learn something on how to become a better father by watching this movie.  Please let us know what you thought of it if you've seen it or leave a link in the comments to your review of it.

(50 cents per legitimate comment during April goes to Paralyzed Veterans of America.)

Funny and Strange Sights

On the bus one day I saw the funniest pair of tennis shoes. They had Rubic cube squares all over them.  I really should have taken a picture but at the time, I didn't think I'd post about them.

People really should wear clothes that fit. When walking on my break one day in downtown Cleveland I saw an overweight gentlemen eating at a sidewalk table outside the Chocolate Bar. He was in a suit so I assume he was a businessman, but his shirt button had popped open and everybody walking by could see his hairy belly button! Poor guy.  I thought about taking his picture, but refrained knowing he would not appreciate that.

On our trip to the zoo, it irks me how parents yell at their kids such as "Don't walk on the rocks," "Get over here RIGHT NOW!" "Stop petting the donkey, we're moving on," etc. The zoo should be a fun place! I love seeing the kids get excited over things. At the exhibit about poop, two little girls were having so much fun hitting the button that made the sound of a toilet flushing and posing behind a picture with the head cut out of someone sitting on a toilet.  Then they got a big kick out of it when their dad put his head in the hole and made a funny face like he was trying real hard to go. I must say though, that I saw a good mom and dad too. It was a hot day so the mother brought along a spray bottle filled with water and sprayed her two girls to cool them off.


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6 Things I Learned This Week-#70

Binky Fairy

Every parent needs to know about the Binky Fairy when it comes to to take away the binky. I learned about this at Ma, What's For Dinner's post about it. You tie the binkies to helium balloons and let them go. The Binky Fairy then plants the binkies and they grow into trees producing more binkies for others to enjoy. Then the Binky Fairy returns with a gift for the brave child who surrendered their binkies. I bet you didn't know this!

Networking Site For Authors & Readers

At A Book Inside I discovered that because ning is now going to charge, The Author & Book Event Center site has moved to http://bookeventcenter.spruz.com/. This is a place where authors and readers can get to know one another and people can get their questions answered about book publishing, editing, marketing as well as discuss books.

Woodrow For Governor

Woodrow, a dog, is campaigning to be the next Governor of Texas! See for yourself at The Next Governor Of Texas Could Be A Dog. He is running as an independent and hopes to get some write-in votes.  I found this piece of news when playing my Freekibble trivia.

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5 Things I Learned This Week--Part 38

Twitter

On Twitter, I found an article by Andrew Wong called "How to Grow Your Twitter Followers". Some I already knew like don't jumble up a bunch of Tweets, spread them out and of course don't tweet others' stuff without "RT" and don't talk about your boring things that no one else would care about. But, it also included a good list of what type of things to tweet which included: inspirational messages, good book you read, lesson learned, helpful links, facts that could benefit others, meaningful local events or seminars and interesting or humorous things. Also included was a list of what not to tweet. Here's my twitter page: http://twitter.com/kzemek.

At GoodNCrazy I also discovered a way to add "Tweet This" to your Blogger blog posts. She gives the the HTML code to use in your Blogger template with instructions on how to do it. I'm going to try it. See the Twitter bird at the bottom of this post? Click on it to see how it works. It should take you right to your Twitter sign in page and then automaticaly inserts a tweet referring back here.

Parenting

I came across a new blog, "I'm Living Proof That God Has A Sense Of Humor" this week written by a mother of two sets of twins under the age of 4 who had some helpful parenting tips that Super Nanny is invited to try including "I've Got My Eye On You" technique, the "Freezing Cold Hands" technique, the "Always Keep Them Guessing" technique and "They Know Where Their Bread is Buttered" technique. If you have small kids, be sure to check out this blog! Even though I do not have children, this blog is hilarious--has to be the best new blog I discovered this week through SITS.

noreply@blogger

I noticed that some comments I get I can respond to by email while others say "noreply@blogger" so can't respond by email. This week I learned why. It's all because of one little box being checked or not checked on your blogger profile. For more specific instructions, check out "Dear No-rely Blogger" at GoodNCrazy.

Vet Bills

When reading Sassy Sasha The Lovable Shih Tzu, I came across an interesting post stating that "the ASPCA supports H.R. 3501, which would amend U.S. tax code to allow qualifying pet care expenses, including veterinary care, to be tax-deductible." You can help by writing your U.S. representative today urging them to support this bill: Humanity and Pets Partnered Through the Years (“HAPPY”) Act H.R. 3501. To read more or for a form letter, visit ASPCA Advocacy Alerts.

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Warning: A Tip For Parents

Kids like toys. In fact, when I was a kid, my grandma gave my mom some money and told her to buy something I'd like from grandma. What did my mom buy? Well, she thought I needed a new dress and although I didn't like dresses which she knew, she thought if it came from grandma, I would like it. WRONG! I was 5 or 6 and when I opened it I said, "Just what I didn't want!" My mom was all embarrassed and my grandma told her, "I said to get her something she would like!"