Merrillee Whren's Blog, page 2

War Movies

This is a photo of the World War II monument in Washington, DC. We visited there a few years ago when I was at a writer’s conference. A lot of American boys went off to war after the attack on Pearl Harbor. One of the Oscar nominated movies this year, Hacksaw Ridge, featured the true story of one of these men. Desmond Doss was a pacifist who still wanted to serve his country, and despite being ridiculed he saved many men from death at the battle of Hacksaw Ridge.

Although this movie was bloody, and I had to look away several times, I appreciated that it portrayed a person of faith in a positive light. The fact that it was based on a true story made the movie that much more meaningful.

If you have a tendency to cry at movies like I do, you need to have a full compliment of tissues with you because this movie will be sure to make you cry.

Do you ever cry at the movies?

Another Oscar Nominated Movie

Last week I talked about the movie, Arrival. Today I’m going to give my thoughts on another movie from the list of Oscar nominees for Best Picture, Fences. I went to this movie with my older daughter and wasn’t sure quite what to expect. I knew the story was about a black family in the 1950s. I had read several good reviews about the movie and wanted to see it. As I watched the story unfold on the big screen, I soon came to the conclusion that the movie must be based on a stage play because even though it was movie, it had that “stagy” feel. I asked my daughter if this was the case, and she confirmed that the movie was based on a stage play. The Pulitzer Prize-winning play was written my August Wilson. 

The movie stars Denzel Washington and Viola Davis. They give fabulous performances, but the story is somewhat depressing about man who wants to do right, but fails in too many ways, and the wife who manages to survive his failures. It’s definitely not a feel good movie, the kind I’m prone to like, but I’m not sorry that I saw it. It reminds me that we are all weak and only through God’s grace can we be what we ought to be.

How do you feel about sad or depressing stories?

Movies

I enjoy movies as much as I enjoy books. I like a good story. I haven’t watched the Oscar Awards in years, and many years I don’t see many of the movies that are nominated for the award. This year has been an exception. Too my surprise I have seen nearly all of the best-picture nominees. Even though the awards have been handed out, during the month of March, I’m going to give my opinion of the nominated movies I have seen. I’m going to go in alphabetical order. That means I’m going to start with Arrival.

My husband and I went to this movie because our go-to critic liked it. It is a sci-fi movie of sorts. Amy Adams plays a linguist who is assigned the task of communicating with the aliens who have arrived in pod-like space ships that hover above the earth’s surface. The movie delves into metaphors of life. I like a story that makes sense. This movie, in many ways, did not make sense to me. I guess that’s why I’m not a movie critic. I just didn’t get the ending. It didn’t complete the story for me.

If you have seen this movie, what did you think?

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

As a Christmas celebration, the first book in my Front Porch Promises series, A PLACE TO CALL HOME, is on sale through the end of December for 99 cents. The third book, A FAMILY TO CALL OURS, is newly published and has a bit of a Christmas theme.  You can find buy links for all of the books on my book page. Just click here, then use the icons to go to your favorite online book retailer. The first two books are also available in print. The third book will be available in print soon.

Have a Merry Christmas and happy reading.

Sweet Christmas Kisses 3

Sweet Christmas Kisses 3, a boxed set from 17 Sweet Romance Reads authors is available now for purchase for .99. You can find more information about the boxed set at the following blog.

Kentucky Derby

During the next few weeks I’ll be sharing more of my travels. In my last blog post I shared photos from our trip to the Master’s Golf Tournament. A few weeks later we visited our friends in Ohio before attending the Kentucky Derby. Attending the race is something I had always wanted to do. I had to have my hat. Here I am with my husband in front of the statue of Barbaro, who won the Kentucky Derby in 2006.

I have never seen so many hats or different fashion statements in my life. The experience was totally worth the trip. Here are more photos and a short video of the horses taking off from the starting gate.

The blanket of roses for the winner

Black swan hat

Hats, hats and more hats

Roses on hats

Hats and the track

Post parade

Starting gate

A couple dressed alike

Have you ever been to a special sporting event?

Travel Time

I’m going to share some recent travels on my blog. In recent months I have taken several trips. In April, my husband and I made our second trip to the Masters Golf Tournament in August, Georgia. Two years ago, we went for the first time. During the tournament, spectators are not allowed to take cameras or phones onto the course, consequently no pictures. So this year we went to the practice round. Cameras are allowed but still no cell phones. I took lots and lots of photos. I won’t share them all here, but I will share quite a few in a slide show. On the sixteenth hole, which is a par three, after the players have practiced their tee shots, they go up to the water in front of the green and try to skip the ball off the water to the green. The fans cheer as the players skip the balls off the water like kids skipping rocks on a lake. While we were there, Rory McIlroy made a hole in one. That brought a huge roar from the crowd. We walked the complete course, which is very hilly. Our legs were quite sore the next day, but we enjoyed the chance to view and take photos of the beautiful golf course. Here is a slide show of some of the photos I took.

My husband loves to golf. I’m terrible at the game, so I don’t enjoy it. Have you ever tried to golf?

Sunrises

Just for fun I’m going to share some sunrises with you. Since we moved to Arizona, I’ve take a lot of photos of the sunrises that I see from out back patio. They remind me of God’s glory. Enjoy!

Which one is your favorite?

Happy St. Patrick’s Day

Here’s a photo of the shamrock plant that grew in my yard in Florida. It was a hostess gift from a friend who came to dinner at our house one year. I planted it in the yard, and it blossomed every spring. I wonder whether it is still growing there. We’ll be visiting there in a few weeks, so I will check on it and report back. I hope it is still putting out its little white blossoms.

Today is the convergence of two of my favorite March events. St. Patrick’s Day and March Madness. I am a fan of both. I’m wearing my green and will cheer on two of my favorite basketball teams today, the Arizona Wildcats and the Gonzaga Bulldogs.

“A sunbeam to warm you, a moon beam to charm you, a sheltering angel so nothing can harm you.” Irish blessing

Do you have plans for St. Patrick’s Day?