We finally have our living room back and I hope to be home to enjoy it as work is looking at winding down some from overtime, but we might be doing some traveling for installations to Alabama which I would really prefer not to have to do but it comes with the job. I am praying this gives me more time to get back to the things I have going online like the Marriage Study and the Podcast. But in the mean time, I found this heartwarming, touching and even sad story out of Hollywood.

Every now and then, we find a story that underscores why we do what we do here, and this is one. It’s the story of a terminally ill 10-year-old California girl whose last wish was to screen the Disney/Pixar movie Up and the noble people at Pixar who granted it just in time.

The story’s been the buzz of the Internet since it broke on the Associated Press (via The Orange County Register) last week. We don’t need to go into the details—mainly because they tear our hearts out—but here’s the gist:

Colby Curtin desperately wanted to see Up, but the cancer-stricken girl was too sick to go to a theater. Thanks to a family friend who got in touch with the movie studio Pixar, an employee of the Emeryville, Calif.,-based company arrived at Colby’s home with a DVD copy of the movie. Because she was too ill to keep her eyes open, Colby’s mom described the movie to her as it played. Asked afterward if she enjoyed the movie, the girl nodded. She died later that night.

Here’s what’s sad and awful and wonderful about this story, aside from the obvious. It shows there are still people—even in Hollywood—who care more about a child’s dying wish than they do about money or copyrights or legal niceties. It shows that a film story still has the power to give hope and comfort and joy and solace to people in the most extreme circumstances.

And it shows that Up really is something special: The message of the movie, after all, is that even in the depths of loss and grief, love can reach across the vastness of time and space to touch us, to allow us to go on. Love is the true adventure.

We are still digging out, so to speak, from the flooding. But in the mean time, take a look at this really awesome video from the “Skit Guys.”

This video from Tangle.com is an awesome video that shows the power of smiling and encouragement and validation has on people. After watching this, make someones day by encouraging them and making them smile!

The marriage study is not finished. I have just been working a bunch of overtime and not had the time to post the next parts yet. But hang in there they are coming just as soon as this blessing of overtime lightens a bit.

Love in Christ.

The Marriage Series (so far):

• Part 1 : Marriages – Introduction

• Part 2 : Marriages – Two Shall Become One Flesh

• Part 3 : Marriages – The Role of a Lifetime

• Part 4 : Marriages – The Authority of the Spouse

• Part 5 : Marriages – Hearing Do You Understand

• Part 6 : Marriages – Sex, Wait, That is in the Bible

• Part 7 : Marriages – The Addition of Children

• Part 8 : Marriages – Men Exude Security and Loyalty

• Part 9 : Marriages – Woman Radiate Adoration and Respect