“It's not what a movie is about, 

it's how it is about it.”

― Roger Ebert

For a woman who loves to go to the movies...I sure didnt go to many this year.  (Now there's a good goal for 2020!)
Looking back I see  I only have 8 movies that I felt worth mentioning. And picking the favorite was a good, thought provoking experience.  
But if I MUST- my choice for a favorite will be Bohemian Rhapsody.  My reasoning ifor this pick is that I think about this movie the most out of the handful I saw this year.  I am haunted by Freddie and his life. And yes, I do know that this movie didnt portray his life in its true form. But I do know that he was a gifted and conflicted  and talented young soul.  I am tormented at times by peoples burdens and choices...Freddie and Michael Jackson to name a few of the many.  I love Freddies music...I have many of his classics on my playlists.  Rami did an amazing job of playing Freddie! And Im still kinda amazed at how the supporting actors looked so much like the characters they are playing. This is the only movie this year that I watched several times.  So that is why its at the top of my short list.

The other movies Im noting for the year goes as follows:
2nd- Aladdin- with Will Smith. This was such a pleasant surprise!! I went in with low expectations and came out happy and singing a tune or two. 

3rd- The Ballard of Buster Scruggs- Dark, Dark, Dark...not for the faint of heart. But I think about this one a lot too. Its course and also a work of art. 

4th- The 100 Foot Journey- Warm and delicious!!

5th- Ford vs Ferrari- very interesting, well acted and beautifully shot! Who knew that camera angles could play such an influential part of a race car movie!!??

6th- Downton Abbey- It was wonderful catching up with old friends!!

7th- Avengers Endgame- Laugh out-loud fun and adventure!

8th- Yesterday- fun, a unique concept and who can go wrong with Beatles music?!

P.S.- It has just now occurred to me that some of these movies may not be strictly 2019 movies. But guess what?! They were for me!! So Im counting them!!
P.S.S.- And I also realize that 2019 isnt over yet! Knifes Out is definitely on my list to see before the years out!

For every man there is just the one right girl in

the world. Someday you will meet her, and 

when you do, you will know instinctively

that she is the one girl for you.

from: Papa Married a Mormon

by: John Fitzgerald

Its been fun watching people ask Clark and Jenna about what was their favorite part of their 3 month trip to the far east.  They find it impossible to answer. (they try...but in the end they just cant do it...there was just so much to love.)
I think this same thing may be the same for me and weddings. Its too hard to narrow down such an all encompassing event  to a single "favorite" moment.
I LOVE expanding our family.
I Love how existing family always supports.
I Love beautiful brides feeling like a queen.
I LOVE hearts being touched.
I love good food.
I Love the dancing...especially the father daughter dance and the mother son dance.
I love happy beginnings.
I love the moment I can kick off the high heels.
I love the reminders of our own marriages.
I LOVE Mericars voice...and the song she sang to Brian. Not a dry eye in the house!!
And I love that the tear down is so much faster than setting up.
And  knowing that all the work was well worth it in the end!!!

Lucie and Olive...2 beautiful Flower Girls

The ring ceremony was precious and stirring. We all learned something and felt something. 

It was perfect!!

Best man Blake saying a few remarks...oh the good times these two have enjoyed!

Mericar's beautiful sister Jennifer and beautiful best friend Phoebe

This may be ranked as one of the best moments...Mericar's grandmother coming out to the dance floor to dance with her!! Priceless!!!

Eternal beings forgive all who have wronged them.

They put the welfare of others ahead of themselves.

And they love all of God's children.

-Dallin Oaks

Cambodia (by Rudi Roels)

Samburu mother and baby - Kenya by Eric Lafforgue

Tibetan smile

Zhuang people,China

The tortoise is a ground-loving creature. It is impossible

to live nearer the ground without being under it.  Its horizons

are a few inches away.  It has about as good a turn of speed

as you need to hunt down lettuce.  It has survived while the

rest of evolution flowed past it by being, on the whole, no

threat to anyone and too much trouble to eat.

from: Small Gods

by: Terry Pratchett

MIMI MONDAY

The naturalist E.O. Wilson gave a name to the warm, fuzzy feeling

one gets 'in nature'- biophilia.  He defined it as "the innately emotional

affiliation of human beings to other living living organisms."  Wilson

argued that our connection to nature is deeply ingrained in our

evolutionary past.  That connection isnt always positive.  Take snakes,

for instance.  The chances of encountering a snake, let alone dying from

a snake bite, are extraordinarily remote.  Yet modern humans continue

to fear snakes even more, studies have found, than car accidents or

homicide or any of the dozens of other plausible ways we might meet 

our demise.  The fear of snakes resides deep in our primitive brain. The

fear of the Long Island Expressway, while not insignificant, was added much more recently.

from: The Geography of Bliss

by: Eric Weiner

Have you ever wondered about that cute cranium of a grandbaby being the perfect conduit for illness?
If you happen to be a germophobe....I implore you to stop reading NOW!
But just think of it...on any given day (and I'll use sweet Benjamin here as an example) Benjamin's neck, head and even his fingers and toes are doused with kisses.  Kisses from daddy and mommy. Kisses slathered on by Mimi and Popa.  Kisses from the little old lady next door and from the Relief Society President. And...on an eventful weekend...kisses from teenage cousins and loving aunts and even though it may be on rare occasion, a kiss from a random uncle will be snuck in.  And what about the cat and dog!!!??
If a curious scientist came along with a handy-dandy cotton swab and swiped that dear bald head, what do you think might grow in his petri-dish after 24 hours??!!  Do you shudder to think of it? Or would you rather not?
(You remember that river they call denial?)

Pass the baby with a chaser of vitiam C please!!! For I shall not be deterred from kissing!!

MIMI MONDAY

 Goodnight stars, goodnight air,

goodnight noises everywhere.

from: Goodnight Moon

by: Margarot Brown

We have such amazing grands...of course none of them would give their parents any kind of sleeping troubles....right??  HA!

We can ALL relate to the sleeping battles listed above. 

Let this be a cautionary tale!

(I think "The Stalker" is hysterical!!)

May all the Grands have a good night....every night!!

TE HE!!