If You Could Travel in Time...

If you could travel in time, where would you go?

As some of you know, my writing project for the past three years has revolved around Time Travel. I absolutely love the idea of time travel. It's fascinating, isn't it?

In my book I will be exploring some of my favorite periods and historical situations. But I'm curious. What are yours? Is there anything you think would be cool if I covered in my series?

Choose up to three of the choices in the poll to the right, then comment below with more details!

Awakening

If you were transported back to the time of Christ, would you try to stop the Crucifixion?

Ronni, a teenage girl from 21st century America finds herself awaking in 1st century Israel, and realizes that now is her chance to "save Jesus." But as the hours count down she starts learns why Jesus had to die...and then must face a choice that could change eternity.

This book, which was edited by my good friend Regina Doman, is an excellent retelling of the Crucifixion of Christ. It grapples with questions that young teenagers deal with in relation to the founding of the Christain faith and comes up with some very well-put answers. There are some very nice twists that even I wasn't expecting.

I believe this book would be most enjoyed by any young lady between the ages of 13 and 16. Parents might want to preview or read the book with their pre-teens, as it does contain some issues that some younger readers may not be ready for. And older girls, if your younger sister happens to get it, I'd certainly recommend you to borrow it and enjoy it as well!

The book is put out by a Catholic publishing company, so Protestant families may wish to discuss a few issues relating to the Catholic faith that their children might not be familiar with. It, however, would be a nice introduction to the differances between Catholocism and Protestantism and would make a good addition to any library.

March for Life Banner

Our Banner, based on the passage in "Black as Night" that I quoted in my last post.

The March was a really amazing experience and I am so glad I was able to go. Many thanks to all of you who prayed. We had very nice weather, and no one got lost. Now if only we touched the hearts and consciences of the lawmen as we passed by their windows...

Tomorrow is the "March for Life"

Tomorrow, Friday, January 22nd, is the annual "March for Life."

Every year thousands of people march in Washington D.C. to show their support for the pro-life movement.

This year I will be able to go.

Why am I going? Why am I taking the time out of my life to do this?

As a Christain I have always been committed to the pro-life movement. As I've grown older it has been brought home to me in increasingly real ways.

When I read Regina Doman's "Black as Night" I was struck deeply by a scene at the end of the book. /SPOILER ALERT/

Blanche Brier (Snow White) is lying in a coma. Her beloved, Bear, watches her, and knows that she might never wake again. He has spent the book trying to decide whether or not to take his relationship with her to the next level, but it is only now, (when they are possibly sundered forever) that he realizes how much he cares for her. And he thinks...

He knew then that even if she never woke up from the coma, that he loved her, and that the years would find him sitting by her side, even if she never knew that he was there.
~Black as Night, pg 274

When I read that, I really made the connection between the debate about what should happen to those in a vegetative state. Blanche had become like a friend to me. So had Bear. I loved them. The thought that anyone could even dream of taking Blanche off life support when she was still breathing was absolutely horrible to me.

This whole scenario is repeated, even more poigently, in the third book of the series, "Waking Rose." Blanche's sister Rose also falls into a coma, and is in a comatose state for nearly six months. Yet once again her family, friends and beloved wait, and pray, and hope... and to find out what happens, I'm afraid you must read the book.

/SPOILERS OFF/

This fall things went beyond book connections when I discovered that one of my best friends had been a tubular pregnancy. This put his mother in great danger, and the doctors were advising an immediate abortion.

But my friend's parents were Christains and obviously would not go with this. My friend's father prayed over his wife and unborn child... and a miracle happened. The pains stopped and the pregnancy proceeded normally. Today my friend is one of the kindest, sweetest, most honorable person I know. He has been a huge blessing in my life and those of many others. And yet modern medicine wanted to kill him.

I also have a 90+ year old great-grandmother suffering with severe dementia. She lives in a nursing home and needs constant assistance. And yet she blesses us all in so many ways even though she no longer remembers who we are. Yet there are people who would say she was a financial burden on society and recommend the termination of her life.
I believe every life is precious.

Do you believe everyone, even unborn babies and the old and mentally infirm have the right to life?

Then help us raise awareness! Even if you cannot join the march yourself, you can still blog about it, or post about it on your Facebook, twitter or myspace!

Every little bit helps. Who knows, you could save a life!

Warrior Bard

Some artwork I did in my recharging time... the kids enjoy watching me color digitally.

Regina Doman Facebook Page

My favorite author (and whose family I am currenting nannying/tutoring for) now has an official Facebook fan page! Become a fan to find out the latest news about Regina Doman's writing projects and public events!

(Oh, and I'm an administrator for the page, so there will be movie updates there as well)

Modesty-Mall.com

No, this is not a shopping mall filled with only modest clothing. I wish it were, but it's the next best thing.

Modesty-Mall.com is a website run by my friend (and adopted forum sister) Lady Rose. It is still in the construction stages, but it already has some very good answers to "What is Modesty?" and "Why should we dress Modestly?"

The best part is that Rose isn't just putting up her own opinions, she has also solicited some very wise comments and testimonies from some of her friends...both male and female.

Yes, mine is up as well! You can read my personal journey and opinion on why modesty is important here: http://www.modesty-mall.com/elenatintil.html

"Spotlight: A Close-Up Look at the Artistry and Meaning of Stephanie Meyer's Twilight Saga"

As most of my faithful blog readers know, I've always enjoyed looking at the deeper possibilities of the "Twilight" novels. In fact, the main reason I read the series was because of a intriguing review by Regina Doman and the fact that the very first words in the book are from the Biblical book of Genesis. When I saw that, I was hooked, and had to pick it up and start mining its pages for more than just "Edward and Bella Mushiness." (You can read more about my experience and thoughts here: http://elenatintil.blogspot.com/2008/08/twilight-part-one-non-spoiler.html)

Now I am delighted to inform you that another Christain has taken this one step further and gone on to put his findings into a book for the rest of the world to enjoy. The best part is that he is none other than John Granger, perhaps one of the most well known Christain defendants of the Harry Potter series. (You can read more of his Twilight thoughts here: http://fhsprofessor.com/)

(And for those of you who are Regina Doman fans, the only reason I know about John Granger is because of Regina, and it is her copy of "Spotlight" that I read.)

"Spotlight" is an absolutely fascinating book. While I may not agree with every single connection Granger makes, for the most part I think he is pretty brilliant at finding things that the rest of us miss. Most interestingly of all, he paints a very clear and fascinating picture of exactly how Stephanie Meyer's Mormon faith directly impacted her writing. For instance, did you know that Edward Cullen is uncannily like Joseph Smith Jr, founder of Mormonism?

From the back of the book:

(Early Reviewer's copy, the published copy might be a bit differant)

John Granger, author of "Unlockign Harry Potter: Seven Keys for the Serious
Reader," explains in "Spotlight" the literary backdrop, the themes, the
artistry, and the meaning of the four Bella Swan adventures. Twilight readers
will learn in "Spotlight"

• Why the Book Covers are Black, White and Red
• How Edward can read thoughts and the La Push Wolf Pack can have a shared
  mind
• What influence the X-Men, Night of the Living Dead, and Plato's Republic had
  on Twilight
• Why the Volturi live in Italy and hate the Cullens' 'Lifestyle Choices'
• Why Bella's 'empty chest' is mentioned thihrty-seven times in "New
  Moon."
• Why so many key Twilight Saga scenes take place in Mountain Meadows.
• What Role the Quileute 'Protectors' play in Meyer's re-telling of
  Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet"
• How Carlisle's birth in sixteenth century London explains why the Cullens
  are vegetarians
• Why the James and Bella confrontation in Twilight takes place in a ballet
  studio
• Why Jacob and Edward are discribed consistantly as Bella's sun and moon
• Why books and films about Bella Swan and Harry Potter are such blockbuster
  hits.

Trust me. This book is absolutely fascinating and is a must read for any "Twilight" fan, or a serious reader who wants to know what makes books popular in this day and age. It does, however, contain spoilers for all four books, so do NOT read unless you have already read the books. Also, it referances the half-finished manuscript of "Midnight Sun" that Meyer posted online a year ago, so it is also helpful to read that prior to looking at Granger's book.

A New Adventure

Well the cross country move has been effected! I am now out on the East Coast nannying for the family of one of my favorite authors! I have six children to help provide childcare for, and four of them are school age and will be getting tutoring from yours truly Monday-Thursday.

They are wonderful kids and a family I really like and I'm thrilled to be out here. Thrilled, but so busy sometimes I hardly have time to think!

So for the next three months I am going to make it my goal to post here just twice a week. I'm also going to be suspending "HP and the Cartoon Prince" which is a lot of work and, while fun, was not a favorite in my recent poll. (points to the right side of the screen).

What else is new? Last night I tried fried calamari. Which, for those of you who don't know, is squid. ;)

Busy busy busy!

First of all a very Happy New Year to you all! 2010 sounds like it ought to be a cool year... I mean, it sounds so space-age-y, doesn't it?

Anyhow, I have been unbelievably busy! Family craziness, holidays, film and film stress, and preparing for my move, and then a goodbye party coming up this weekend! Not to mention radically revamping a much beloved section of the forum! Can you blame me for not posting more recently?

Also, I wanted to let you know that I did get some pictures up from filming and you can check them out here: http://theshadowofthebear.blogspot.com/2010/01/day-21-dec-28th-09.html

I hope your year is off to a glorious start and I look forwards to having you visit more in the next 12 months!