music in film

I am a person who likes the movies that matter -- the movies that take a stand, challenge your thinking, affect your heart, portray true love, show real events, and applaud difference makers.

I really like the movies with good music. I feel like the musical score truly enhances and even reflects the ideals expressed through the cinematography, plot, mise-en-scene, and actors. Music is a HUGE contribution to the value of a film, in my opinion. 

my ultimate movie score list: 

 5. The Holiday -- Hans Zimmer

 4. Ever After -- George Fenton 

         3. Lord of the Rings -- Howard Shore

 2. Anne of Green Gables -- Hagood Hardy

 1. Titanic -- James Horner

    

CrossWalk's 10th Anniversary Service

Over 10 years ago, I remember my older sister and I were hovering over the computer, on dial-up internet, chatting with boys via AOL instant messenger, while my parents and a few adults had dinner in our dining room. We lived in Michael's Woods in Hampton, VA and my dad was a young, cool youth pastor at a church three minutes down the road. I remember Taylor and I were giggling loudly when my mom came in and told us to be quiet. "We're having a really important meeting in the other room," she said. 

I didn't know then that this was my parents' first meeting with the core launch team of CrossWalk Community Church. "CrossWalk" -- the dream that the Lord planted in my Dad's heart the night he awoke suddenly, overwhelmingly impressed to start a church in Williamsburg, VA. 

Much to us kids' adolescent chagrin, my parents uprooted our family, moved us to Williamsburg, where we rented a house for nine months until our permanent house was built. Within these nine months, my mom had a baby, my aunt, uncle & two cousins lived with us, we were surrounded by boxes, and we had weekly church services in our living room (but no weekly sleepovers, because we no longer had friends).

Needless to say, this was not the brightest of times for me and my sisters. My dad became busy, money became scarce, friends were hard to make, the retirement neighborhood was a bore, and we were entering those precarious middle school years that only bred more angst and unrest. 

It was hard to grasp the purpose behind everything; how selfish we can sometimes be. My parents were pouring out everything they had, and we were ungrateful because we missed the life we had before this whole "church planting business." 

Today, I have such an opposite perspective. I am thankful for the trials we faced, because God brought us to victory. I am thankful that my parents were faithful to God's calling, because we have reaped his abundant blessings. I am thankful that they never gave up, because CrossWalk persevered and is now touching the hearts of so many wonderful people.  I am so proud of my parents. They chased relentlessly after the vision God gave them, and the Lord has been SO faithful.

On October 2, 2011, CrossWalk celebrated its 10th anniversary. As I sat in the audience and watched the lit-up faces of my parents as they greeted over 1000 people, there was no trace of doubt in my heart -- only joy mixed with anticipation for what's to come.

The highlights:

the tent where the celebration commenced 

I am so blessed to be a part of this passionate team

the amazing and delicious cake (by itscake) 

my favorite photo -- it truly captures the spirit of the day

(images courtesy of Juli R Photography)

When CrossWalk purchased its first permanent building about 5 years ago, a scripture verse was engraved into the wall of the lobby:

"this is the Lord's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes" --- Psalm 118:23

Nothing is truer of CrossWalk than that statement. 

a fall wishlist

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Grandma sweaters

these boots. and these.

Victoria's Secret PINK NFL collection

Switchfoot's new album, Vice Verses

this book with this cover

polaroid camera

apple picking, hay ride, corn maze, howl-o-scream, pumpkin carving, farmer's market, Octoberfest, bonfires, homemade pies

cowboys vs. redskins tickets

this "sing" necklace

Breakfast at The Trellis and walks in Colonial Williamsburg

this vintage style ring

meeting my soon-to-arrive niece

Forever 21 outerwear

a nice 22nd birthday

a floppy hat

new CNU hoodie

------------------

take advantage of the most beautiful time of year,

d.

Summer 2011: "now you finally know you control where you go, you can STEER"

- I celebrated two years with Ben Rothwell

- I painted on canvas

- I made many mix cds

- I spent 20 hours on airplanes

- I wrote tributes to both my grandparents and parents for their 50th and 25th wedding anniversaries

- I got to spend a week with my nephew and rub the belly of my sister, anticipating my new niece

- I was reunited with my Bulgarian cousins

- I read Anne of Green Gables 

- I received a wedding invitation from a high school friend

- I read a lot of John Keats' poetry

- I became a college senior

- I missed my family desperately

- I met Matt Nathanson

- I didn't see a single movie at the theaters

- I ate a lot of Chick-fil-a with Ben

- I experienced yet another successful road trip with the Morrow family

- I saw both my favorite worship leaders -- Joel Houston and Jon Egan

- I got my first speeding ticket

- I only spent 2 hours in Texas, which was unfortunately a layover :(

- I lost a couple friends

- I gained some new, beautiful ones

- I sang a lot of worship songs

- I saw Hillsong United in concert TWICE on two different continents

- I ate at the Macaroni Grill for the first time

- I listened to Tyler Hilton, Katie Herzig, Dave Barnes, Future of Forestry, and Needtobreathe

- I bought a real leather jacket

- I watched netflix movies with my mom

- I spent a lot of time with Catherine DuVal in both England and America

- I wore a rain jacket for 14 days straight

- I took 123 pictures of my sister and her date for her senior prom

- I was encouraged and loved by a dear sister in Christ, Ashley Hudgens 

- I ate the English Breakfast daily for nine days

- I saw part of God's plan to provide for me unfold

- I took the scenic route to North Carolina, with peanut fields and wild flowers whizzing past me on both sides of the road

- I wore jackets and scarves in July

- I rode on a red double decker bus

- I held and touched books that were centuries old

- I ordered the british delicacy "Bangers and Mash" at an English pub

- I saw Prince William & Kate's faces more than 1000 times in souvenir shops

- I willingly let my hair get soaked by rain on the rocky beach of the English Channel

- I downloaded and used Apple's facetime app

- I was driven around by my license-bearing 16 year-old brother

- I watched my little sister graduate high school

- I enjoyed having a twelve year-old roommate even though she hogged the entire queen bed

- I witnessed my 3 year-old brother willingly go under water for the first time at our neighborhood swimming pool 

- I was scared spitless in the the backseat as my dad drove through a hailstorm

- I made my parents an 11 minute slideshow -- telling their story through pictures

- I saw the Colorado Rockies

- I became responsible for 50 sophomores on the second floor of James River Hall at CNU

- I sat through 39.5 hours of training in the span of two weeks
- I took on the "skyscraper" challenge at a high ropes course
- I learned, despite my prior belief, I am not ready to go 2 months without a mom there to just "be the mom" when you need her

- I was given flowers when I got off an airplane

- I saw Big Ben, rode the London Eye, toured Parliament, walked through Westminister Abbey, and gawked at the Crown Jewels in the London Tower

- I went punting

- I attended my mom's first piano recital and watched proudly as her 7 students performed their pieces

- I sent postcards

- I drank lots of English tea

- I visited 5 massive cathedrals

- I chose family over friends
- I was inspired by various sights, sounds, and people

- I went approximately 58 days without any Anderson kisses, hugs, laughter, or quality time

- I, regretfully, missed more church than ever before

- I survived extended amounts of time without my sisters; still don't know how

- I read, I traveled, I loved, I sang, I drove, I flew, I tried new food, met new people, discovered new things; I grew up. 

Here are some of my favorite pictures from summer:

matt nathanson...before his concert was cancelled due to a storm

two years and counting

family photo in Colorado Springs

brother and nephew

sisterly love....plus the niece :)

white cliffs of Dover and the English Channel

tea time in Bury St. Edmonds, England

a moment with michelle while punting on the River Cam

virginia beach

my new college freshman

what is your favorite sound?

- Anderson's laughter
- the sound of an overwhelmingly honest moment
- my dad's voicemails
- key change in a song
- the whipping of wind when the windows are rolled down
- the hum of football games on tv
- drumlines
- whispering in the dark
- click and clack of new high heels

weekend with Irene

no power, cooped up with 10 people, 1 generator, 88 degrees in the house, all of us sleeping in my parents room on sleeping bags, no internet, no cable, 1 lantern, a couple flashlights, a couple candles, 1 piano, Landon's famous chocolate chip cookies, coffee every morning with my parents, quality time with my sisters, tons of rain, heavy winds, eyeing our trees every other minute, creative meals, cold showers ---- we survived Hurricane Irene. And we all still love each other.

the very, very, very Great Britain

I had the strangest sensation while being in Great Britain---- I found myself conflicted.

On one hand, I wanted to be a part of it. No, not only for my two-week stay, but forever. I wanted to be English. Secretly, I wanted Prince William and Duchess Catherine as my royalty, I wanted an English accent, I wanted to think English food was "normal" instead of "nasty", I wanted to have their fashion sense (uhhh best outfits ever), I wanted their rich history, I wanted to love tea as much as they did, and I wanted to punt, all day everyday.

But, at the same time, I felt very happy to be different; I felt very American---- and I was proud of it. I felt like shouting the National Anthem in Trafalgar Square, I actually felt pity when people informed me they don't celebrate July 4th (how can they exist?!), I wanted to hug any American I encountered and say "y'all", I wanted to eat Chipotle and a cheeseburger again, and I nearly cried when the security guard in Dulles Airport said "welcome home" after checking my passport. 

Right now, I'm just happy I get the best of both worlds. I experienced a beautiful trip in a country that captivated and raptured me, while getting to return HOME to the purple mountains majesties....good ole 'MURICAH.

England will forever be in my heart. It will forever be a place where I'll strive to blend in and stand proud all at the same time.

Here are a little tid-bits from my stay: 

the view from my window in Cambridge

punting on the River Cam

Cambridge, England

Part of our beautiful campus

punting....with St. John's College behind me

Canterbury Cathedral...mind blowing!

White Cliffs of Dover and the English Channel...on a cold and rainy english day...perfect.

part of the market in Cambridge

Bury St. Edmonds, England

hotel where Charles Dickens stayed and promoted his novels

some cathedral ruins in Bury St. Edmonds

friendly reminder for the tourists

my favorite bridge...."Bridge of Sighs"

yep, really loved it.

my very own Pride and Prejudice moment...feel me?

drinkin' some tea on the balcony of a beautiful restaurant on the water

Big Benny :)

some of the best voices and music I've ever heard

accidentally visited Amy Winehouse's street the day after she passed away

Abbey Road, THE Abbey Road

my amazing group of ladies aboard the classic double decker! 

cheers,

d

disclaimers

I am currently giving up 3 weeks of my life for RA training at Christopher Newport University. At first, I was pretty disgruntled that I had to cut my summer short, but I'm quickly finding that this experience will better me and challenge me and encourage me.

Tonight I learned a new (and wonderful!!) technique from an intuitive friend. "disclaimer night" -- a tradition she established with her roommate during her sophomore year of college. With the roommate's bed lofted and her's nestled underneath, they would lie awake at night exchanging "disclaimers" about themselves that would give insight into their lives. The disclaimers helped them get along with each other, helped them live well with each other, and helped them embrace each other.

Brilliant.

What if we could all give disclaimers to people we meet? How would it affect our relationships? How valuable is it to learn about another person and truly see inside their struggles/habits/personalities?

I've decided to adopt this technique. I'm starting my list here, but will begin employing "disclaimer night" soon, so look out.

DISCLAIMERS:  

*disclaimer: I think it is extremely unattractive when women swear. Please ladies, let's be ladies.

*disclaimer: I have songs stuck in my head a lot. Sometimes I need some assistance figuring out where/what the song is from.

*disclaimer: I like physical touch. Hugging, patting someone on the shoulder, snuggling. I'm not trying be weird. It's just me.

*disclaimer: You'll find me standing on the couch (perhaps with my eyes closed and praying?) during the intense moments of a Dallas Cowboys football game.

*disclaimer: I love going to concerts. Please don't make alternate plans and expect me to show up. No, I will be gawking at inspiring musicians, thank you.

*disclaimer: I show two emotions: HAPPY and OTHER. All emotions not fitting into the "happy" category qualify for "other". While you will always know when I'm happy, you may never know about the others... as I probably won't volunteer my negative feelings.

*disclaimer: I've found that girls that have sisters make the best kind of friends. Women who know how to love/accept/listen/encourage other women first learn it from having a sister.

*disclaimer: I am passionate. And I love to see/cultivate the passions of others -- especially if they differ from my own.

*disclaimer: I pray, I worship, I read the Word, I love to talk about God's work in people's lives.

*disclaimer: I'm one of those obsessive aunts that gushes about my nephew (and future niece!) to people who don't care. I'm sorry. Wait no I'm not.

*disclaimer: I wish more than anything that I was artistic. I like crafting, but never have the motivation because it always turns out badly. Why waste time when the product is lacking?

*disclaimer: Change scares me. I like fair warning.

*disclaimer: I collect shoes and friendships. I'm almost to 100 pairs of shoes; I want 100 friendships.

*disclaimer: I'm allergic to anything that's not sterling silver, or silver, or gold, or white gold, etc. Basically, don't buy me fake rings, because I'll wear them for 2 hours and break out in hives.

*disclaimer: You will find me up all night when I have a paper due the next morning. I procrastinate.

*disclaimer: I feel the least like "me" when I come home to an empty Morrow house.

*disclaimer: I am loyal. Please don't gossip to me because I don't like to test my loyalty.

*disclaimer: I see the good in people, and I am an optimist. I'm also stubborn and protective of the people I love.

*disclaimer: I like sports, but I hate playing them because I get embarrassed by my lack of athletic ability.

what would you tell the 13-year-old you?

"It's all happening. All the time. Be present. Love unabashedly and without fear. Having a baby is amazing. Don't spend so much time on your hair. Or your body. Or thinking about what you're going to to eat. Or judging anyone. Spend more time with your father. It's okay to get your heart broken. Dance more. Sing more. Read more. Listen more. You will overcome."
--- Abigail Spencer