November 19, 2011 9:09 AM
Family Update
Sophia's Home!!!!!!!!!!!!
." Certainly not a chick flick - I'm grateful for kids who enjoy watching heavy and thoughtful movies with their mom.
Set in Warsaw, Poland during Hitler's rise, The Pianist tells the true story of a concert pianist and his comfortable family whose lives are devastated when the Nazis march in to occupy Warsaw. How Wladyslaw Szpilman survived the chaos and violence helps us understand on a personal level the horror our fellow human beings were subjected to.
May we never forget.
(This is one of those videos I would choose to educate my children about historical events. However, be warned: cold-hearted killing is rampant. The story was so compelling, I wanted to read the source material, so just ordered the book
.)
So today, Sophia, Tripp and I are going to see Satyagraha, an opera by Philip Glass on the part of Ghandi's life where he is involved in the struggle for justice with Indians living in South Africa. This is part of the Metropolitan Opera's HD series, where they simulcast one Saturday matinee of each opera in their current season. Since we have two opera singers in the family (Ben at grad school at Eastman and Maddy at Catholic University) - plus Sophia, who loves classical music and opera - this is a great opportunity for our family to expand our knowledge of an art form that means so much to them. While in previous years we had to go all the way to Fairfax to see these, they are now shown at the Cobb Theater in Leesburg, which is close, convenient and very comfortable!
Tomorrow, Tripp, Matt, Zach, Sophia, Jonny and I are going to CU to see Maddy's performance as the Infirmary Sister in Puccini's Suor Angelica. So looking forward to seeing her in a nun's habit and hearing the development of her voice from such intense study for the past two years.
Okay, so if this sounds like I am about to drift off the planet on a tidal wave of culture, please picture me Monday night taking the kids to see The Muppet Movie because someone gave us free tickets for a preview.
Still engrossed in Steve Jobs
and recommend it to anyone who's been alive for the last thirty years. I will comment more on it when I'm finished. It is the first major book I've read on my Kindle and I really love it. The price of the Kindle has come down as Amazon has introduced Kindle Fire, which streams books and music and movies - like a iPad only half the cost. I got a few for Christmas presents - but don't tell my kids :)
Also, in major wonderful news is that our family will soon have a son in uniform. Zach has received his notice, taken the oath, and will be entering Marine Officer Candidate School in January. It's been a long and winding road for him - one that started when he was eight years old - as he was scheduled to begin two years ago when a motorcycle accident and broken ankle set him back. Please pray for his protection.
Maddy comes home Tuesday and we will start the preparations for Thanksgiving. Can't wait to have my family all together - except for Ben and Anna, who are staying up Rochester and waiting until Christmas to come home.
Have a great weekend - more tonight.
Comments
Oh, I hope the Opera at CUA is wonderful (I am sure it will be). sadly, we can't travel to DC this weekend (we were there last weekend), but I will have friends there and I know they will tell me your girl shined! I look forward to seeing her at sometime during her CUA career. I am always so impressed by the quality of the Benjamin T. Rome school's performances.
I have a fire tucked away here for my special girl. It seems that at least here in NJ, you need to be able to access teacher's web sites and online textbooks to do your homework, so I thought it would be both fun for her and help her with homework. I bought it through your link, I hope you got credit for it.
Have a very Blessed Thanksgiving, we're going to try a do it yourself portrait thanks to your posts. busy times, but so full of grace, if only you recognize it, right?
Posted by: Danielle M. | November 19, 2011 12:38 PM
Hello, Mrs. Curtis! My name is Megan, and I live in Lynchburg.
I have had the amazing privilege of getting to know your beautiful daughter Sophia over the last 8 months. This season of thankfulness, my heart sings with praise to my Father for allowing me the honor of knowing this wonderful girl. I thank Him for her on a regular basis, and I want to thank you as well. I am confident that you have contributed to her sweet nature by raising her to love the Lord and her family, and I am more grateful for that than I can ever express. She has become like a sister to me, mentoring me and loving me, and I thank you for giving birth to her, bringing her up, and loving her. She is a true gem; thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing her with me!
Much love and gratitude,
Megan
Posted by: Megan | November 19, 2011 5:09 PM
I always look forward to your family updates:) So happy your daughter is home-queued The Pianist-and thankful that we will have another good man in uniform. Zach will stay in my intentions at Mass.
Have a great Thanksgiving with all your family!
Posted by: Eileen | November 19, 2011 5:35 PM
Wishing you and your family a most wonderful Thanksgiving!
Posted by: Jen | November 19, 2011 8:56 PM
Dear Megan -
Thank you so much for writing! Sophia has told me so much about your family and how you have provided her a home away from home. I thank God for that! I hope we can meet you all when we come down in January to see Sophia in Pirates of Penzance. I hear you all are Gilbert & Sullivan fans too! Please share my thanks with your parents!
love,
Mrs. Curtis
Posted by: Barbara | November 20, 2011 8:59 PM
