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What the Smith Family Reunion Meant to Me

June 23, 2008

That list of names is long, but to me it seems incomplete-one significant name is missing.  My grandad, the one responsible for putting a love of the sea in all of us, passed away last October.  This was the first reunion without him and I couldn’t help but be reminded, many times, that it was at the past reunion that I last spent time with him.  As we were surrounded by salt-water and boats all week long I couldn’t help but remember the man who gave me my sea legs, the one who put me on water skis while I was still in grade school, the one who jumped ocean waves with me when I was no taller than a yard-stick, the one who passed on to me the appreciation for catching and steaming your own shell-fish, and so much more.  The ocean was a big part of my time with Grandad while growing up.  I missed him alot as I am sure we all did.

While very aware of the hole, we were also aware that we came to celebrate his abundant life and the rich heritage he and grandmom passed on to us.  Not too many families can boast of the love and friendships that we all share.  We most certainly celebrated BIG on the Smith Family Reunion Cruise of 2008!

I’ve Got A New Look!

June 23, 2008

So I was sick and tired of dealing with dark roots every 8 weeks…Finally went closer to my natural color and for the fun of it got a new style to go with it.  Take a look…

I Just Have to Comment

May 21, 2008

I am a HUGE Narnia fan, so I must comment on the new Prince Caspian movie.

In preparation for the new movie, I listened to the unabridged book on tape as our family traveled to N. Ga.  As I listened I was grossly aware that the movie was going to have to be different.  Mr. Lewis wrote the Narnia books for small children, in the 1950′s; a time when violence and drama were not the fantastic sensationalizations they are today.  His book is laden with discriptions and illustrations of Narnian landscapes, characteristics of talking beasts, and the emotions of humans in relation to all the mysticism that surrounds Narnia.  This type of writing, while it lends nicely to painting pictures in the mind’s eye are unnecessary in the world of moving pictures.  I just knew Hollywood was going to have to change some things!

For the most part I was not dissappointed.  In the movie all the drama and fantasy of the book was brought to life.  Talking beasts with the charm and honor due their King, Centaurs in all their regality and strength, Fauns in all their elegance,  the River God in all his power and might, and Aslan in all his splendor - were all there, believable and majestic.  There were castles, valiant swordfights, intense battles, and spell-binding enemies.  No doubt the drama and cinematography delivered one awesome big-screen blockbuster!

However, I was very dissappointed that the essence of characters were altered.  First, the importance of Trumpkin, the red dwarf who befriends the returning High King Peter and his three siblings, was minimized.  Trumpkin is a “doubting Thomas” in the early pages of Prince Caspian, as C.S. Lewis wrote it.  Contrasting his friend Nikabrik, the black dwarf, who readily puts his faith in anything that promises hope, good or bad, Trumpkin is the ultimate skeptic, even when the 1300-year-old kings and queens of ancient Narnia are standing right in front of him.  In the book it is through physical evidences – sword fights and arrow competitions – that Trumpkin becomes a believer.  And as far as belief in Aslan as a Savior; well again even when the Lion is right in front of him Trumpkin cannot see Aslan until he roars.  Doubting Trumpkin is the dwarf that comes to true faith, while Nikabrik’s tempest driven faith drives him to faith in the black magic and ultimately his death.  In the movie Trumpkin’s growth to faith, and the contrast of these two dwarfs, is downplayed and little more than a reference.  Something I believe Mr. Lewis would have been greatly dissappointed in, for one of his intents in writing Prince Caspian was to illustrate the great diversity in each individual’s walk of faith. 

Trumpkin’s downplayed walk of faith was a minor dissappointment in comparison to the alterations in High King Peter’s character!  In the original story C.S. Lewis writes of a king truly worthy of his position, a humble leader, fully aware of his purpose in Narnia and sensitive to the fact that it is not his chance to reclaim his throne but an opportunity to assist the appointed King in claiming it.  In the movie Peter is portraited as one who returns to Narnia with his own agenda.  He is leary of giving Caspian any authority and he arrogantly leads the Narnia army into a battle well beyond their capabilities. 

Throughout the movie I was OK with this portrait of Peter, for he is a boy, human and fallible.  I was OK with it, too, because I thought they might be building to a place where Peter would have to humble himself, repent and be forgiven and loved by Aslan.  There was not such event!  In spite of the fact that Peter’s foolhearty decision to the storm the castle cost hundreds of Narnian lives he is never required to make account of it.  There is implication that he and Caspian reconcile their differences but the great Soveriegn, Aslan, never calls Peter to make an account of his actions.  This is in great contrast to the characters that Mr. Lewis created.  Peter, if he had made such a mistake in Lewis’ account, would most certainly have been shamed beyond words upon his first encounter with the Great Lion and the Lion would have been quick to teach, admonish, forgive and love Peter.

To reconcile my great dissappointment in the alterations of these characters I have written my own dialog to the movie that could be added to the scene, just after the children cross the Ford of Burna and approach Aslan.

“Peter, my son, why do you not approach me?” Aslan asks. As Peter stands back and refuses to make eye contact with Aslan.

“Aslan, I am not worthy to stand in your presence.  My arrogance cost the lives of many of your creatures and I am ashamed.”  Peter responds.

“My dear boy, do you still not know that you did not earn your crown?  That it was I who chose you for that position?  And do you not know that true sorrow and repentance are always forgiven?  Come forward.”

Peter approaches and kneels before the Great Lion.

“Place your hands in my mane.”  Peter obeys and Aslan leans forward to place his lips on Peter’s forehead.  “By my name, you are forgiven and restored your honor, Peter, High King of Narnia.”

This one scene would have taken but two extra minutes and would have changed my entire perception of the movie.  Truth be told, I will still buy the extended DVD version when it comes out because it was a fantastic movie, the actors are fabulous, and anything that bares the Narnia name is entertaining to me!

A Tribute to My Friend

April 22, 2008

I was never sure

if we were more than a convenience,

Her husband is my husband’s friend

and our boys are connected too.

But now I know for sure-

there’s much more that I see in us,

Her strength my weakness comprehends

and our friendship is made new.

For fourteen years I have loved the Orrison family.  Our husbands were roomates and have been close friends for decades, we were married within a year of one another, our first-born sons were born only 6-weeks apart and have a very special friendship, our second children are 8 months apart.  We have walked the path of family life side-by-side.  Even when we lived 6,000 miles away they were visited weekly via web-cam.  But, I don’t think either my friend or I was ever sure if it was all we had in common or if it was a true friendship that held us together.  But this may be, for me, the biggest purpose for our being in the USA this year  – I have grown to love this woman immensely and I know now that our friendship stands alone!

Karen- for loving me enough to challenge me – I appreciate you, love you, enjoy you and need you!  Thanks for being my friend!

Christ Community Church’s Women’s Retreat

March 13-16, 2008 

What a blessing it was to participate in the Annual Women’s Retreat of our home church.  The first retreat took place the year I left for Japan.  I have heard many wonderful things about the weekends at Fripp Island, SC and was thrilled to join them this year.

Family Blog

February 1, 2008 

I am really excited about having a family blog.  I have kept a blog for almost 3 years now and have often considered it to be a great hobby.  Recently though, I began to feel that we were not using this medium to its fullest potential.  Our family has the wonderful opportunity of knowing, and continually meeting people from all over the world, therefore, keeping in touch can be quite a challenge – and even moreso when each family member is doing their own thing, keeping in touch by their own means, etc.

Between the four of us our audience is large and broad; ranging from close family members and friends to financial supporters and first time acquaintances.  In an effort to mainstream our keeping in touch efforts and to make them more effective we decided to make one family blog.

I think this family project will be lots of fun and I hope you too will find it to be fun, educational, and mostly, God glorifying.

 My page (the Joyce Page) will mostly consist of personal stuff; my poetry, essays, devotionals, etc.  I love to write and I hope to bless you as I seek share the blessings that God gives to me.

Enjoy!