Stranger Than Fiction

Saw a movie that changed my life. I don't yet know the significance of it; I don't know how my life changed exactly, but somehow, someway, a supernatual experience happened in the movie theatre last night. Perhaps it was just the innate, deep, clenching desire inside of my being to grasp the writing craft and hold it in my hand. Or maybe it was the connection made between my husband and I as we both resonated with the movie's use of literary devices and allusions. And then again, it just might have been the sheer brilliance of "Stranger Than Fiction" that kept me in awe long after the theatre lights turned on.

JD and I had the evening free last night so we decided to grab dinner and a movie. After Las Salsas tacos and taco salad, we bought tickets to the 7:25 showing of "Stranger Than Fiction." We sat in our seats with a medium diet soda between us and started to watch the movie. I was enthralled as I listened to the narrator begin her story - which, of course, is the premise of the entire movie. I won't go into details about the plotline so as not to ruin the movie for you, but JD and I had a blast reliving our past lectures from English professors and analyzing the several underlying motifs of the movie/novel. We literally sat in silence as the credits rolled with our mouths open in amazement. When the house lights went on we looked at each other and all we could say was "wow." JD and I both agreed it was the best movie we'd ever seen. And then we said no more. Literally, not a thing could be said about the movie afterwards but "brilliant" and "wow." In fact, I can't really say anything more about it.

See for yourself... but be prepared to think... it's not an "entertaining" movie. If you go with that mindset you'll miss the point completely.

From Quads to Football

Thanksgiving was a whirlwind this year. From Bako to the cabin with my family and Andy & Darcy for Thursday, Friday, and part of Satruday, to a long trip to San Diego in order to make 9:00pm reservations at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse for Andy's birthday and an 11:00am tailgate at the Qualcomm stadium for field tickets to the Chargers/Raiders game and then back to Bako for a bedtime of 10:30pm. At work by 8:00 this morning and I'm still trying to focus my eyes. This is the life of the Groves family... we charge through the days with smiles on our faces. Yes, a little insane perhaps, but hey, tis the season!

We know no different

Now that I've mentioned the craziness of the last few days, let me unravel them for you a bit. At least the highlights anyway...

My favorite moment of the weekend occured over a three hour quad ride with my brother leading JD, me, Andy, and Darcy. Patrick took us through the serenity of a dense forest that rose above a blanket of clouds. As we scrambled over steep, rocky climbs up the side of the mountain, the five of us took turns yelping with delight at each next turn. Just before reaching our destination of the fire lookout, we drove our quads on a semi-open dirt road that wound its way around the mountain. Sunset was moments away and the gray-blue clouds which so divinely created a carpet over the mountaintops appeared a brilliant gold. We all stopped to take in the view; it was like none ever seen before. As we climbed back on the quads and took our turns in line, I remember feeling the sensation of pure glee. Almost like going to Disneyland as a kid or getting ready for Christmas morning... a moment independent from worry, stress, plans, work, a messy room, etc... Just enough time to take a breath and thank God for showing off His splendor for us - and then remembering that our lives are painted by the same God who so creatively makes each sunset glimmer across a once gray sky.

Our dinner was late, quiet, and completely splendid. Conversation was full of laughter, jokes, memories, dreams. Food was scrumptious (JD and I made the turkey - which means JD told me what to do and when), and sleep was needed. The next day the extended Roper family joined us for Thanksgiving dinner number two and we all enjoyed the bustle of more family members occupying the tiny cabin space.

After sleeping to grandpa's snores in the cabin, we headed to San Diego to celebrate Andy's birthday: a dinner at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse and surprise Charger tickets to their last home game at the Q.

The pro football game was a first for each of us. Even JD, who played college ball, had never been. Needless to say, we were giddy when we found our seats at the field level on the 40 yd. line. After our tailgate of turkey burgers, kettle chips, grapes, carrots, Mike's lemonade, and beer, we headed into the stadium and into the heart of Raider Nation. Well, not really... we were in such good seats that most of the fans were merely obnoxious, something we were eager to take over the nosebleed seats which bred 7 fights over the course of the game. However, we were so excited to be at the game we just ignored the incredibly loud, obnoxious, and heinous Raider fan who was convinced that the Chargers had no idea the talent they were against. He shut up after Chargers went ahead in the fourth quarter. We made it out of the stadium safe and sound after a Charger win and into our car for the final stretch home to Bakersfield. Home Sweet Home.

Over Tortilla Soup

We sat and visited like old friends. Caught up on life, relived memories, shared dreams and ideas... From one generation to the other... perspectives of new and old.
What a cherishable night. We forgot the garage door opener and knocked on the front door in order to get inside our upstairs apartment. Kathy was making tortilla soup so we sat down to a cold glass of iced tea and chatted about our days. Steve came home a while later and we were invited to dinner. Tortilla soup, corn bread, and delicious gourmet salad. An unlikely evening, as JD and I were planning to dine out and spend the night alone, we ended up being blessed by the loving, generous couple who hosts our temporary stay in Bakersfield. Though I've known the Salyers for 8-9 years, our contact has only been reconnected lately, and this shared meal - table fellowship according to Bartchy - was graced by the presence of Jesus.
Special special night... we are about to sit down to a bowl of popcorn and a movie. Celebration of one month of marriage! Yahoo!

Hitched, Honeymoon, and Hawaii

Well, how in the world do you write about an event that completely changes one's life. An event thought about since childhood and brought into fruition at 22. An event planned out maticulously over five months. An event that is simply over in one night.
A wedding. Yes, a wedding. And not just any wedding, but my wedding.
It took place over three weeks ago, but I haven't had the time or stamina to write about it. I'm not sure I have it now, I'm just typing without any real plan in my head (despite the misgivings of my previous post). My husband is visiting with a friend this evening, and I have the apartment to myself for a couple hours. So here goes...

It was everything I dreamed it would be and more. The guests, the dress, the decorations, the dancing, the ceremony, the pictures... everything was simply lovely. And I embraced it all. I really did. I've been warned plenty of times and have observed myself the danger of letting the day fly by without ever absorbing the moment; so, I soaked it all in and loved every minute of it. I even remember RO's sermon and the four pursuits: pursue God, pursue love, pursue community, pursue glory. My favorite part of the day? The moment JD and I shared when we first saw each other. We met in the empty sanctuary with only photographers in the balcony above us. I walked down the aisle toward him, while he waited for me with his back turned. I tapped him on the shoulder and he turned to me with a big gorgeous smile... my groom. We previously decided to exchange gifts at that time, so I handed him the homemade journal I worked on for weeks (in it are all the journal entries I wrote about him during the nine months I prayed that God would make him mine - some of my best and most vulnerable writing). He sat my down and sung/played a song he had written for me on the guitar - his best written yet ;). After prayer and a few seconds in the Word, we set out together to enjoy the rest of our day.... which was by far the best day of my life.

The day after our wedding we were supposed to head to Hawaii on a 1:30pm flight. However, due to some miscommunication about transportation, we arrived at the airport in a panic at 12:55pm. Too late. No, the plane hadn't left, but baggage check was closed and, despite the brilliant attempts of my superstar roommates (who graciously drove us to the airport), there was no grace. We were stuck in LA until 8:00am the next day. After a cry (on my part), JD and I set out to begin our honeymoon by quitting our jobs at Starbucks. Now, before you get any crazy ideas about us being irresponsible - I will just say that JD and I planned to live in LA, but, seeing as though our income consisted of a few days a week at Starbuucks, housing could not be afforded and we were offered an incredible opportunity to stay in an upstairs apartment of a friend's house in Bako. Thus, our plans changed and we needed to quit. SO we did, and were thrilled about it. We made up for missing out on the Hawaiin sunset for a day by going out to a nice dinner at the Stinking Rose and splurging on a hotel room at the Westin.

Once in Hawaii, we were exhausted and slept for four days. No really, we literally barely left the condo for four days and slept nearly the entire day. We joined the living only for food and then retreated back to the condo with our rented DVDs in hand. I might mention here that on day 2 we had the chance to visit a church in Kailua, HI - which was incredible and will be discussed further in this blog. Aside from resting in the condo, JD and I managed to venture out for 2 snorkling extravaganzas (which consisted of two terrified and inexperienced people out in the choppy sea by their lonesome), a couple of trips to Maui's finest beaches, a drive to Hana (which ended abruptly just 4 miles before the 7 Sacred Pools, due to the earthquake), and some of the most incredible dining experiences either of us have ever had. One restaurant even changed out our water to provide us with fresh, sweatfree water glasses! Our honeymoon was completely incredible... it really was. We relaxed, we enjoyed each other, saw beauty like we've never seen before, and made precious first memories as husband and wife.

Now for the Hawaii part. You thought the honeymoon was the Hawaii part didn't you? Well, actually, I mentioned Hawaii in the title because JD and I will be moving there mid-January. We will be apprentices at a church in Hawaii, leading the junior high group at Faith Baptist and partnering in the high school ministry with the Student Ministries Director, Sean. The apprenticeships require a two-year commitment so come visit the Groves in Hawaii sometime in the next two years! JD and I are both super excited about this opportunity to serve Jesus by loving kids. God has so faithfully answered all of our prayers and given us more than we knew to even ask for. We know that God has some incredible things for His children in Hawaii, and we are excited to be a part of it. I suppose more will have to be written on this subject, but for now, just know that we are most likely moving to Hawaii in two months.

As for now, I am filling in for an employee at my dad's office until she returns from maternity leave, and JD is working odd jobs everyday - sometimes a ranch hand, sometimes a Multi Business Systems employee, sometimes mover... whatever works! If you need labor done, let us know! We are happily living in a gorgeos one bedroom apartment in Bakersfield, enjoying every bit of the fall weather and proximity of the Burdette family. Well.... here is the update - as much as I can give of it anyway... from now on, I'll write from the present without playing catch up. Thanks for your faithfulness my dear readers.

Bloggers arise

I'm so sorry for my lengthy inactivity. I realize some very significant events and changes have occured in my life the past few weeks - and I haven't written a thing about it. Hmmm. What to say except - trust me, it's coming, My writing brain is racking up the magnitude of the events and attempting to plan out a cohesive blog entry. Stay tuned. Some pictures will be coming as well. Again, stay tuned.

For some very important news... My HUSBAND, JD Groves, who is an incredible writer himself, has just began blogging. I never thought it would happen, but alas, he stayed up way too late last night setting up his first blog. You can find him on my links or here:

http://www.jdgroves.blogspot.com

And another thing... my dearest friend Caitlin Dizinno is up and at it again in the blogging world and I have since added her new link to her name (Rather than sending you to her old link) Check it out - another extremely creative and talented writer.

On my way to LA for a bachelorette party for a friend whose wedding takes place next week. Marks third wedding in 6 weeks - mine included. CRAZY