Saving on Entertainment

This is the second in a frugality series inspired by the Greatest Generation, the men and women who grew up during the Great Depression and then fought and won two wars. You can see the Table of Contents to this series here

.I am always listening to music, normally while reading a book, and who doesn't like to end the day with a good movie? Although I am a bookworm, I own very few books compared to most. I listen to music all the time, yet have only downloaded a few songs onto my iPod. And I watch movies all the time.

BOOKS

As you may have guessed, I am addicted to my local library. My library has a wide selection of books, as well as free Inter Library Loans. (If they don't have it, they can request it from another library.) Or if it is new, my library will purchase it. (OK so there is a few books my library can't get (When there is no library in the US that has it) such as some Danish books and a few Scholastic Canadian historical fictions. Well, in those rare cases, I cry, and then get over it, because normally if there is no library in the US that has it, then you can't buy it in the US either.) Anyways, I use World Cat to find the nearest library that has the book I'm looking for.

Some libraries also loan eBooks.

Garage sales, Goodwill, and any resale shop are good places if you want to buy cheap books. I have taken pictures of interesting books I see at Goodwill, and then looking them up on my library's website before. On half-off day, you can normally get a book for a little more than a quarter at Goodwill. Amazon and Barnes and Noble is then my next resource... Homeschoolers can get 20% off each B&N purchase. See this.

iBooks and Project Gutenberg (and most other eBook stores) has nearly all classics for free.  Not only is this free, but classical literature is often much more challenging and have valuable lessons compared to today's books. Examples of free classics include: Pride and Prejudice, The Count of Monte Cristo, Les Misérables, Great Expectations, Oliver Twist, Phantom of the Opera, Robinson Crusoe, Treasure Island, Uncle Tom's Cabin, Ivanhoe, Romeo and Juliet.

MOVIES

Firstly, we rarely go to the theatre. I mean, we can a wait a little bit if it means saving $60. I can count with my hands the times we've been to a theatre. (Eight Below, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Prince Caspian, and Courageous are the times that stick out. There haven't been much more than that.)

Did you know you can get movies from your local library - free? Most have all the popular ones, but it WILL be hard to get them because the new movies fly off the shelves. However, this is the only way you'll get to see new movies for free. 

Then there is YouTube. You will not find new Oscar-winners on there (copyright infringement), but if it's older, foreign, rare, a Disney Channel original movie, low-budget, or made-for-TV, you may be in luck. The History Channel and National Geographic often have outstanding documentaries, and for the older ones (before 2010) you can often find on YouTube. The Hallmark biopic The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler is on there, as well as Fiddler on the Roof. For historical dramas (WWII, specifically) that are not SUPER big, you will often find them on YouTube, because, especially for WWII films,  many owners won't take it off.

Hulu, Netflix, and of course, your TV, are also great resources.

Note: Never download movies from the internet for free. This is illegal.

MUSIC

I love music!! However I'm the type of person who likes a song, and listens to it a thousand times until I get sick of it and want to throw up the next time I hear it. The only time we really buy music is if we have an iTunes gift card, or if we really like the artist we will buy the CD. YouTube, radio, Grooveshark, iTunes Radio, and Pandora are my two main sources for music. Internet radios are another free and legal source. Some good Christian Internet radios are K-Love and Air 1.

ALTERNATIVES

Of course, you don't have to always have to watch TV, listen to music, or even read. Swap some board games with a friend. Have a backyard picnic. Do a Pinterest craft with a friend. Visit a museum. 

100 Things To Do For Free



Getting the most from your library

My library is awesome. I swear, it's the best library in the world. They have hundreds of movies I can rent for free. Besides, we normally watch movies 1-2 times before they go on our shelves, never to be seen again for six months. Same goes with CDs. We listen to songs on repeat for the whole three weeks we get to keep them, and after that, we are SO burnt out from them!

My library also has Mango, a language-learning software for travelers and tourists. All free.
Really, I learn something new about my library all the time. My library definitely spoils me.

See if any of these resources are available at your library! Most librarians are happy to help!

What are some ways you save on entertainment?

Books Made Into Movies

Here is a list of books made into movies or movies made into books. I have read the book and seen the movie unless otherwise noted.

Sometimes kids books are made into PG-13 moves, and sometimes PG-13 movies are made into kid-appropriate books. All books/movies are for the age range listed. :)

Kids (8 and under)

• SERIES: (has books and movies) Arthur / Curious George / Martha Speaks 
• The Tale of Despereaux (have not seen movie)
• Charlotte's Web 
• Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs (have not read book)
• Babe
• Mr Popper's Penguins (have not seen movie or read book, may have inappropriate content)
• Thumbelina (have not read book)
• Winnie-The-Pooh
• Because of Winn-Dixie 
• Ramona 
• Legend of the Candy Cane
• The Littles (series, have read all the books and seen all the movies!)
• Madeline (have not read book)
• Shiloh
• The Incredible Journey (movie called Homeward Bound)
• American Girl series
• Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (not the movie sequel)
• Mary Poppins (have not read book)
• The Secret Garden
• A Little Princess (great book, OK movie)
• Nim's Island (have not read book)
• Stuart Little (have not read book)

Tweens (9-13)

• A Christmas Carol
• Holes
• White Fang
• The Chronicles of Narnia
• Diary of Anne Frank 
• The Whipping Boy (Disney Channel movie, may have trouble finding)
• I Am David (book originally called North to Freedom)
• Ben-Hur (PluggedIn recommends this movie, I didn't like the book)
• Pictures of Hollis Woods (Hallmark movie, Newbery Honor book)
• Invention of Hugo Cabret (have not read book)
• Seabiscuit (have not seen movie)
• Secretariat 
• Soul Surfer

Teens (12-18)

• War Horse
• The Bible (TV miniseries)
• The Hiding Place
• Left Behind
• Killing Lincoln (made for TV docudrama)
• Killing Kennedy (made for TV docudrama, releasing November 2013)
• The Boy in the Striped Pajamas 
• The Chosen (you can view the movie free on Hulu)
• The Count of Monte Cristo (EXCELLENT Jim Caviezel movie on YouTube)
• Les Miserables
• The Help
• Flywheel, Facing the Giants, Fireproof, Courageous
• The Lost Valentine (Hallmark movie, TEARJERKER!)
• The Woman Who Wasn't There (documentary, book)
• Band of Brothers (haven't read book)

And then there is the children's classics I haven't read but have seen, The Jungle Book, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Peter Pan, etc.
And the adult/teenager classics I haven't read/seen, To Kill a Mockingbird, Oliver Twist, Great Expectations, Animal Farm, Catch-22, etc.

What are some of your favorite book turned movies or movies turned books?

List of Historical Movies & Documentaries on YouTube

Here is a list of educational movies and documentaries on YouTube, as of 6/15/13.

Most of the PG-13 movies are OK for kids 12+, PG 8+, G for everybody, and the Band of Brothers concentration camp scene is for mature teens and adults only.
None of the following films contain any graphic sexual content or a ton of profanity.

Movies

Some movies have been uploaded multiple times - in parts and as a whole. They are somewhat listed by age-appropriateness. I have seen all these movies, except of a few of the Anne Frank ones. I have seen one version, but I can't remember which one.

• American Legends (Disney) - 2001 - G - an animated story of Paul Bunyan, John Henry, Casey Johns, and Johnny Appleseed
• Samantha: An American Girl Holiday - 2004 - G - Great American Girl movie, set in 1904
• Felicity: An American Girl - 2005 - G - American Girl horse movie, set in 1774
• Molly: An American Girl - 2006 - G - Homefront WWII, 1944
• Valiant - 2005 - G - Animated Disney movie about WWII homing pigeons and their contribution to the war
• Miracle of the White Stallions - 1963 - NR - WWII Horse movie for kids, true story
• Dreamer - 2005 - PG - Horse movie for kids, true story
• Fiddler on the Roof - 1971 - G - The classic musical! You can find Plugged In's lesson guide here.
• One Night With the King - 2006 - PG - the biblical story of Esther!
• The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler - 2008 - PG - Hallmark film, true story about a Catholic social worker who rescued 2,500 Jewish children out of the Warsaw Ghetto during WWII. The only sexual content is when Irena and another man (whom she ends up marrying) go and kiss in a closet. Their is no on-screen violence until they end, when the gestapo interrogate Irena. This scene is very sad!! Irena and all of the children she saved survived the war. 
• The Hiding Place - 1975 - PG - The story of a Christian during the Holocaust.
• Sophie Scholl: The Final Days - 2005 - PG - This is not really graphic, and it is a true story. Sophie, her brother, and some friends spread anti-Nazi pamphlets during WWII. This is the incredible true story.
• The Count of Monte Cristo - 2002 - PG-13 - the classic story of revenge, justice, and forgiveness. You can see Plugged In's lesson guide here. There are the other versions on YouTube, but I like Jim Caviezel's version best.
• The Diary of Anne Frank - 2009 - I don't think I have seen
• Anne Frank: The Whole Story - 2001 - the Anne Frank story.
• The Attic: The Hiding of Anne Frank - 1988 - I have not seen.
• Escape From Sobibor - 1987 - PG-13 - A made-for-TV film about the true story of how 300 out of 600 prisoners successfully escaped a Nazi concentration camp, Sobibor. The only scene I would recommend skipping/fast-forwarding is 45 minutes into it, when Shlomo's brother goes to get gold, and heads face to face with a gas chamber. This scene has full nudity. Other scenes include a hanging and bloody corpses. Other than that, fantastic film worth viewing.
• Pearl Harbor - 2001 - PG-13 - part romance part war film, but the ending has great info about the Pearl Harbor bombing and Doolittle Raid.
• Band of Brothers episode 9, "Why We Fight" - 2001 - R - MATURE TEENS AND ADULTS ONLY! This scene is EXTREMELY graphic, however it is realistic and very sad. There is a lot of profanity. This is the full scene from when they find the camp to giving them food and making the Germans bury the bodies.

This user has uploaded nearly every Anne-Frank related video and movie possible.

Documentaries

*I have not seen all documentaries. The ones I haven't seen I will make an *
If you type "History channel documentaries ww2" and "history channel documentaries civil war" up comes some really great documentaries. The Military Channel, National Geographic, and the History Channel have amazing documentaries.
Most of these aren't appropriate for those under the age of 12.

• Icon of Power: Napoleon Bonaparte - History Channel - Documentary of Napoleon Bonaparte.
• Famine to Freedom* - The Irish Potato Famine
• American Civil War: Lee vs. Grant* - History Channel - American Civil War
• Custer's Last Stand* - History Channel - 1876
• Death of a Dream* - A&E - The sinking of the Titanic
• Secrets of WWI* - History Channel - WWI
• WWI in Color* - WWI colorized
• 42 Ways To Kill Hitler - National Geographic - examining the 42 known assassination of Adolf Hitler
• One Survivor Remembers - HBO - An excellent non-graphic documentary about a Holocaust survivor. 
• Pearl Harbor: The Untold Story* - History Channel - Pearl Harbor
• Hitler's Children - BBC - The lives of children/relatives of Nazis, and how it effects them. (not available in UK)
• Vietnam in HD* - History Channel - Vietnam War
• Saving Ronald Reagan - Military Channel - The attempted Ronald Reagan assassination

Do you know any good historical films or documentaries on YouTube? Have you seen any of the films on this list? Let me know!

Character-Building Family-Friendly Movie Nights

You can find a lot of these movies at your local library.

I like movies. Ha! Who doesn't? I also like clean and family friendly movies. Here, I give a list of: fun movie night inspiration, Plugged In's movie nights, a few of my favorite movie review sites, and a list of MY favorite movie night ideas!

Thanks to my sister Hannah for the awesome popcorn and picture idea!

Movie Night Tips

I love Pinterest! Here are a few movie-night ideas I've found and LOVE.

DIY Drive In Movie Night

Popcorn Cupcakes

Plugged In Family Movie Nights

Secondhand Lions - PG, 11+

I love to watch movies. Focus on the Family's Plugged In is known for Christian-based movie reviews. Well, they also have movie nights for both kids and teens; clean movies they recommend. The kids movies nights are generally for kids younger than 10, the G and PG teen movie nights are typically for kids 11+, and the PG-13 teen movie nights are for kids 12+. Their movie nights vary from comedies to dramas to sport films.

Their criteria for movie nights:

• The good MUST outweigh the bad. (It is rare to find a thought-provoking powerful movie without something inappropriate)
• It cannot be rated R.
• It most have an important theme and/or message.
• It should be well made and interesting.

Click here for their movie-night page.

The teen movie nights consist of a two-page paper that has a full synopsis, (I would recommend not reading the ending of the synopsis!) rating, notable cast, themes, cautions, Bible verses applying the to the movie, talking points, follow up activities, and a fun fact about the movie.

The kids movie nights include themes, cautions, story summary, family activities, and topic discussions.  The topic questions are age-appropriate for younger kids. (i.e. for The Jungle Book, "How is Kaa similar to the serpent in the garden of Eden?" The second page normally includes something fun, like a word search, coloring page, or fill in the blank.

What the top of Plugged In's Movie Nights looks like

My favorite teen movie nights are: The Count of Monte Cristo, Fiddler on the Roof, Sergeant York, Life is Beautiful, National Treasure, Secondhand Lions, and Remember the Titans. 

Secondhand Lions is probably the best under-rated movie I have ever seen. It has valuable lessons, it is completely age-appropriate, and it is a fun movie with an un-cheesy fantasy twist. (about 10 or so "minor" swear words)

Life is Beautiful is one of the sweetest films I have ever seen. It will make you laugh, it will make you cry, and it will make you smile. The first part is a sweet romantic-comedy and the second part is a bittersweet drama. You can either watch this in English or Italian with English subtitles.

Fiddler on the Roof... well, everybody loves Fiddler on the Roof.

LOOKING FOR A MOVIE BUT NOT SURE WHAT'S IN IT?

Common Sense Media

Although not Christian, Common Sense Media does have a lot of movies Plugged In doesn't. (mostly older movies) They also have A LOT of book reviews.

Each Common Sense Media review contains: a quality meter, similar movies, and an age range meter. Ages in green is "on" ages in yellow is "know your kid", and ages in red are "off". Of course, some movies aren't appropriate for kids at all. These are labeled in grey. 

Positive messages, positive role models, violence, sex, language, drinking/smoking, and consumerism  are rated from 0-5. 0 being none, and 5 being extreme. 

Dove Reviews

Meter for I Am David, PG

Although the Dove Reviews are Christian-based, they are not as "intense" as Plugged In. They include a synopsis, a Dove worldview, and content descriptions. The Dove worldview contains a short paragraph about WHY it received the Dove Family Approval Seal, or why it didn't. They offer two family-approved seals; one for kids of all ages, and one for kids 12+. The content descriptions are pretty basic, not nearly as detailed as Plugged In. But they do contain anything you need to know.

What I like best about Dove Reviews is their "Severity of Content". 0 means nothing, 5 means excessive. The categories are: sex, language, violence, nudity, and other. Anything more than a 2 does not get the Dove Family-Appoval Seal. 

I have seen (and loved!) a bunch of movies that are not Dove Family Approved, but are either true stories or contain good moral lessons. Lincoln, Les Miserables, Argo, and Red Tails are examples.

Although I do like the content guide, comparing a G-rated animated film to the true R-rated movie Argo are hard to gauge.

Christian Answers: Spotlight on Entertainment

Christian Spotlight on Entertainment offers a Christian-based review in an article format. They have moral ratings and movie-making qualities. Content guides are interwoven in reviews. Some articles may contain spoilers! Personally, I like the insightful reviews and the moral ratings best. It makes this site unique, but from a Christian review. 

The reviews I have seen are primarily kids, historical, and true stories (the only movies I watch) and the reviews weigh the positives and negatives. Some reviews contain "Relevant Issues", Q&A type discussion questions and articles. For example, Relevant Issues for the film The Boy in the Striped Pajamas include, "Murder in the Bible" "Why do good people suffer?" and "Origin of bad - Sin in the Bible". Attached is relevant articles.

They also have older films, and a lot of movies Plugged In, Dove, and Common Sense Media don't have.

Unlike Plugged In, I like how Christian Spotlight focuses more on message and moral rather than content. I'm not saying content isn't important, I'm just saying I believe in plugging your ears and closing your eyes, if the overall movie has noteworthy themes. 

Hallmark Movies

Need a good cry? Watch a Hallmark movie. I love Hallmark movies! Firstly they are clean. Second, they have powerful messages in a non-cheesy way. A few of my favorites are:

A true story - watch on YouTube

• The Lost Valentine (A reporter helps a widow find her husband who was declared MIA 60 years ago during WWII. A bit slow at times, but BRING YOUR KLEENEX!!)
• The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler (You can view this entire movie in parts or as a whole on YouTube. Based on a true story, Irena Sendler smuggled 2,500 Jewish children, one at a time, out of the Warsaw Ghetto during the Holocaust. Each of the children, and Irena, survived the war. Best for tweens and up. Seeing desperate mothers give their children to a complete stranger of another religion is heartbreaking. Although dealt with appropriately, you will want to give your kids an extra kiss before bedtime. I strongly encourage you to view this film.)
• Beyond the Blackboard (Based on the true story of Stacey Bess, a young teacher who made a difference in the lives of her classroom children - who are all homeless.)
• Pictures of Hollis Woods (Based on the Newbery Honor novel, is the story of a young girl in foster care who finds a family. Bring your Kleenex.) 
• Front of The Class (Based on a true story of a man who overcome Tourette's syndrome and becomes a teacher!)

My List of Family Movie Nights

I won't include content guides or synopsis. Most are dramas, historicals, biopics, or true stories. All of the following movies have valuable lessons, and you can easily make your own movie nights. "See how that man helped that woman? What does the Bible say about helping others?"

* means Plugged In movie night, and you can find this on Plugged In's Movie Night page. For some non-PIMN, I added a "best review", either Common Sense Media, Christian Spotlight, or Dove. Links above.

Kids 

• Veggietales series - G
• Cars* - G
• Toy Story - G
• Finding Nemo - G
• All of the American Girl historical movies (Felicity, Kit, Samantha, Molly)
• The Princess Diaries - G
• The Princess Diaries 2 - G
• Stuart Little - G
• Ratatouille - G
• The Emperor's New Groove - G
• Disney's American Legends - G
• The Parent Trap - G
• Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron - G (my favorite childhood movie!)
• Mary Poppins - G
• The Sound of Music - G
• 101 Dalmatians - G

Tweens (10+)

• Secondhand Lions* - PG (A MUST WATCH, minor profanity)
• Newsies - PG
• Angels in the Outfield - PG
• Fly Away Home* - G
• Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story - PG (for horse lovers)
• National Treasure* - PG
• Holes - PG (profanity and violence)
• Facing the Giants - PG
• Valiant - G (this is an animated Disney movie about WWII homing pigeons. Best review on Christian Spotlight)
• Eight Below - PG (a true story, not for the squeamish)
• Soul Surfer - PG (a true story about a Christian surfer)
• Akeelah and the Bee - PG (some profanity, but great lesson)
• Cheaper by the Dozen - PG
• I Am David - PG (Best review on Christian Spotlight)
• Miracle - PG (a true story)
• Snow Dogs - PG (Comedy)
• Sergeant York* - G (A true story of a Christian soldier)

Tweens (12+)

• Life is Beautiful* - PG-13
• Left Behind - PG (based on the Rapture)
• It's A Wonderful Life* - G
• Radio - PG (true story)
• One Night With the King - PG (the story of Esther)
• The Blind Side - PG-13 (a true story about a football player)
• October Baby - PG (Christian)
• The Bible - TV-14 (Mini-series, lots of violence)

Teens

• Les Miserables (2012) - PG-13 (Best review on Common Sense Media)
• The Impossible - PG-13
• The Help - PG-13
• War Horse - PG-13
• Hidden in Silence - PG-13 (true story, Christian/Catholic film)
• Red Tails - PG-13

What are your favorite films? Let me know!

Historical Movies For Children (ages 6-12)

DISCLAIMER: Not all of these movies are "historically accurate" as the majority are designed for children. However, if these movies were to be historically accurate, most would be very violent. My family watches a lot of historical movies (both true and fiction) and then we look up what really happened; what was true and what was added. If a fictional event in a historical movie encourages a child to look into what "really" happened and sparks an interest in a time period, then I would say it is a worthwhile movie. After all, a fictional book I read five years ago sparked a lifelong love for history in me. I hope this list encourages you to dig dipper into history!

Historical films for older children are pretty easy to find, but more often than not they contain things that are not appropriate for young children. Here is a list of great films, ideal for ages 6-12. All films are rated G unless otherwise noted. The films are somewhat listed by age range, the first films being for younger kids and the latter films for older ones. Titles with links are reviews that I especially like.

Liberty's Kids (animated)

Although I have never seen any of these, I know Liberty's Kids is an animated series designed for teaching young children early American history.

Mulan (Disney) (animated)

Mulan, female hero of China! Disney took the amazing true story of Mulan and added a few twists to make it appeal to children. Great, classic film!

Pocahontas (Disney) (animated)
The classic Disney movie Pocahontas is historical, although the movie has little in common to real-life. Pocahontas can lead into studies of Indian culture.

Valiant (animated)

Valiant is the first animated film I have seen with facts at the end. Set in 1944 before D-Day, this British Disney film is about Britain's messanger pigeons during World War II. In the end, we learn pigeons played a bigger role in the war than horses, dogs, or cats. Filled with adventure and some humor, it is a bit violent for a G-rated film, but it is definitely a great movie. There are a lot of WWII references that are used appropriately, but young kids will not understand it.

American Girl Movies

So far, the only American Girl historical movies are; Samantha, Kit, Molly, and Felicity. All are about courageous girls set in different time periods. They are filled with great lessons; both life and historical. These make great movie nights!

Felicity - 1774 (Revolutionary War)
Samantha - 1904 (Victorian Era)
Kit - 1934 (The Great Depression)
Molly - 1944 (World War II Homefront)

The Prince of Egypt (animated) (PG)

This classic animated movie tells the biblical story of Moses with a great soundtrack. The story follows Moses' life from being adopted to crossing the Red Sea.

Joseph: King of Dreams (animated)

From the creators of The Prince of Egypt comes the biblical story of Joseph and his coat of many colors.

The Sound of Music 

How could I not include this film? It is a wonderful true story, musical, and family movie. Maria is a free-spirited nun in pre-WWII Austria who becomes the governess of seven children. 

American Legends (Disney) (animated)
This animated Disney film features 4 American legends: John Henry, Paul Bunyan, Johnny Appleseed, and Casey Jones. With catchy tunes and fun animations, this is a great film for the little ones and older ones alike!

Miracle of the White Stallions 

Made in 1963, this film is slow at times. But, it is a true story and completely clean. This Disney film is about the evacuation of Lippizaner horses from the Spanish Riding School in Vienna during WWII.

It's a Wonderful Life

This classic Christmas movie seems slow at times, but it is 100% clean and has very great lessons about contentment, family, and selflessness. George Bailey wants to know what life would be like if he had never existed - and an angel makes it happen. This film was originally in black and white, however there is also a color version available.

Newsies (Disney) (PG)

This Disney musical is a fictional version of the Newsie Strike in 1899. Although the actual strike really happened, a lot of events and main characters are fictionalized; although certain characters and events were real. (oddly, the main characters are fictionalized and the minor characters were real...weird) Themes include friendship, teamwork, never giving up, courage, and speaking up. Featuring an amazing cast and great musical numbers, Newsies is a great movie for the whole family. (PS Although the film portrays the strike a success, in real life, it was only a partial success.) (PPS this film has some violence and is a tad slow at times, but it will be OK for most!)

Fiddler on the Roof
Traditions!! I love Fiddler on the Roof! Tevye is a poor Jewish milkman with five daughters (and no sons). In a time of strict tradition, Tevye's three oldest daughters are free-spirited and break-away from "tradition" by refusing a matchmaker. Through classic songs and Tevye's humor, this film contains great lessons on traditions and is a great film for introductory to the Orthodox Jewish culture.
What I liked most about this film was the fact Tevye has five daughters, with an age gap between the first three and the last two; which is exactly like my family!

Leonardo: A Dream of Flight
I haven't seen this movie, but according to this article the age range is 8-11 and it's rated G. The story tells of Leonardo da Vinci and his famous flight.

Dolphin Tale (PG)

Dolphin Tale is the true story of how a dolphin gets a prosthetic tail! OK, not the most "historical" film, but it's a true story and I'm sure the dolphin will still be known to history in 10-20 years. :)

Remember the Titans (PG)
This classic, starring Denzel Washington, is the true story of how a black football coach broke barriers. You may want to preview this movie first, but AWESOME movie with AWESOME themes!

One Night With The King (PG)

This movie is best for ages 9+. The story of Esther, told in this wonderful movie. Esther, a young Jewish orphan, was chosen to become the king's bride. Haman, the king's right-hand man and the second in command, wants to kill the Jewish race. Esther bravely stands up to the king, and saves her people.

The first few minutes of the movie are somewhat violent, but violence is off-screen.

Secretariat and Dreamer (PG)
Secretariat and Dreamer are both true stories of race horses. Both films are rated PG.

I Am David (PG)
This movie is best for ages 9+. David is a 12 year-old boy growing up in a concebtration camp. He knows nothing of the outside world. When he gets the chance to escape with nothing but some bread, a letter, and mysterious directions to get to Denmark, he seizes his chance.
The story could get brutal. But it doesn't, instead making this a great family movie. The ending is a bit odd compared to the book (my favorite novel of all-time!) but the film definitely feels like a Hallmark film. The acting is great, and the film includes great messages about self-sacrifice, faith and courage. The Passion of the Christ stars Jim Caviezel, who plays Jesus and Histro Shoppov, who plays Pilate, star in here. In this movie, they play roles similar to their roles in The Passion. (Shoppov' character unwillingly kills Caviezel, and Caviezel dies for someone in both films)

For more movies, visit Teach With Movies.

This is all I could think of. What are some of your favorite films for children ages 6-12?

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Just Us Girls

Auntie Beverley invited us
to come for a visit.
She lives three to four hours
away from us ~
depending on the ferry traffic.

We went.

We are so
thankful that we did!

Just us girls.
Just the three of us.
Auntie Beverley stayed all cozy
in her place across the lawn.

And we stayed within view
in her sweet guest house.
Isn't it just
A.D.O.R.A.B.L.E.??

We arrived in time for a
wonderful home-cooked meal
last Thursday evening.

Then we ventured up to
*our place* and my girl and
I snuggled in the big bed
and watched "Sarah Plain and Tall"
on a little portable DVD player.

We ate popcorn.

Friday morning we got up
and prepped for the day.
We had quiet time together.
We packed the van.

We took a few *self-timed* photos.

And then...
We headed across the lawn to
have breakfast with our precious Auntie.
How lovely it was to be able
to spend some special time with her!

Here we are...
Just the three of us
in Auntie Beverley's sweet sitting area
just off the kitchen.

The view from the lower level
of the main house...
isn't it AMAZING??

Auntie Beverley lives on a cliff
and...
she has beach access.
A little walk along the beach
was in order.

Good thing I packed boots
for my girl! :)

Emma enjoyed exploring.
We found some amazing shells!
This beach is relatively untouched ~
A wonderful sampling of
God's glorious creation.

Back up the bulkhead...

We went into town
and shopped.
We visited a lovely
little bakery for lunch.
And then...

We travelled home!

It was a
W.O.N.D.E.R.F.U.L.
31-hour retreat.
Thank you so much for
having us stay with you
Auntie Beverley!

Lots of Love,
Emma and Camille
XOXO