Love Actually

I just finished watching Love Actually (borrowed from the public library) this morning. While it wasn't the best movie, I liked it. I think I didn't watch it when it was in the theaters because its reviews weren't great. I'm so influenced by critics reviews when it comes to movies, restaurants, etc. It's not necessarily a good thing, I know. Interestingly, the approval ratings for critics was 67% vs 88% for site users.

Snippets of reviews, I agreed with:
"Love Actually is emotionally manipulative, but pleasantly so."

"A good movie, but it could have been a great one...tries so hard to be a grand ensemble that it loses focus and settles for some easy laughs."

Watching the movie also made me want to look up and see if there are other romantic comedies from the past that I've missed and would enjoy. Any suggestions? I did find a few lists and discovered I've watched many of them. One I hadn't is A Life Less Ordinary...not available on DVD, worth renting?

Some of my fave romance movies:
princess bride
as good as it gets
sleepless in seattle
while you were sleeping
when harry met sally
french kiss
pride and prejudice
the widow of st pierre
eternal sunshine of the spotless mind

Today is our second "day we met" anniversary. :) I can see how we continue to get to know more about each other and perhaps more importantly understand our differences and the implications of our differences.

One recent challenge we've been discussing is spiritual nourishment, the different styles we have and how to help both of us grow both individually and together.  I've been bringing up wanting to join a small group and feeling the need for fellowship.  Also, since we're candidates for Emmanuel's EMT (Emmanuel Mercy Team - our version of a deacon board), it seems important to be involved in this area that the church tries to emphasize.  Ezer's been feeling a need for more solitude and would prefer that fellowship revolve around a joint activity rather than a group created expressly for fellowship.  He
talks about the experience had had preparing for the L.A. marathon with a group from his church that evolved and grew spontaneously. Agreeing to both be nominated for the EMT is one action step we've taken. Yesterday we just got the training packet from our pastor - talk about intense! The Book of Church Order (Presbyterian) is 178 pages. We're assigned to memorize three verses a week (haven't done that since my AWANA days!). I'm glad we'll be doing it together and will be able to discuss the topics that come up as well as keep each other accountable.

Another challenge close to home has been this process of moving and unpacking. Ezer wants to get everything unpacked as quickly as possible and return to life as usual. I prefer to unpack a little each day and take my time i.e. Monday night when we moved the big stuff I was so tired and just wanted to watch the Miss Universe pageant. :) It's been a growing experience talking about it and realizing what happens when we don't (talk about it). But I'd have to agree with Ezer - every time something comes up for one of us that makes us feel more distant, after we have a good talk (or multiple talks) about it we feel closer than before.