Monday Morning Quote!

Participation time!!!

Okay, guys, I'm trying to compile a tally of the top 5 Disney love stories (for reasons) and I need your help.
Please comment your favorite Disney love stories, and your reasons for it being so, and I will narrow it down hopefully by next week.
Thanks!!!

(Late) Monday Pic

Christmas in No-man's Land

It was the first World War. Such a conflict had never been seen before in human history. By the winter of the first year of the war (1914) the men in the trenches were miserable. And there was absolutely no way the troops would be able to return home for Christmas.
Then, on the very day of Christmas, a miracle happened.

All up and down the lines, a truce was called between the warring sides and the men climbed out of their trenches without their weapons.

The events that followed have been questioned by many historians as 'unrealistic', but hundreds of personal diaries and letters from the soldiers of either side state details about the day that are too similar to be fabricated.

The trigger of these events was the German high command sending miniature Christmas trees to their troops in hopes of raising their spirits. And it did. So much that the Germans decided that Christmas was too special not to share. They decorated the trees as well as they could and walked boldly into the area between the opposing trenches, accompanied by signs saying 'if you don't shoot us, we won't shoot you'. The English noticed and got the message.

And thus how the Christmas Truce of WW1 came to be.

Personal records and photographs tell us that not only were carols sung, but gifts exchanged, such as personal stories, cigarettes, candies, and even dinners, sharing rations from either side. 

Then they played what has been called the biggest football (soccer, for Americans) game between England and Germany in all history. 

One German officer, Kurt Zehmisch, recorded the event in his journal:

"A couple of Britons brought a ball along from their trenches, and a lively game began. How fantastically wonderful and strange... thanks to soccer and Christmas, the feast of love, deadly enemies briefly came together as friends."

As you can imagine, the mud in no-man's land was a serious problem, in heavy army boots. But that didn't mean that teams took advantage of each other. It is said that when a soldier fell into the deep, clinging mud, it was his enemy that would help him up.

And some friendships lasted longer than just that day. For the very next day, when the fighting resumed, soldiers up and down the lines refused to shoot at their enemies, the men they had played with and come to know and love as brothers.

Top Seven Inspirational Films

As I said before, I am movie-nerd, so I reference to movies a lot, and I also recommend movies. Today I'm recommending my top five movies that will give you a little pick up, and perhaps inspire you throughout your life.

7. Facing the Giants

Grant Taylor (Alex Kendrick) is at the end of his rope. His car is dying an agonizingly slow death, his his wife's pregnancy tests keep coming back negative, his football team hasn't won a game in his entire career as coach, and he's about to get fired for it. Then the man who prays in the school halls comes into his office.

The result is a changed attitude, hope, strength, and ultimate victory, with a whole lot of laughs and tears along the way.

6. Jurassic Park

"You were so busy wondering if you could, that you didn't stop to think whether or not you should."

This could have ended up like any other adventure quadrilogy, showing off a lot of explosions and careening car stunts, but Spielburg and Cricton took it to a more intellectual level, by asking the questions: "If we could, should we?" and "Who is really in control?"

(While the film answers with a somewhat atheistic theme, the door is also open to the concept of divine control over man's)

5. Lord of the Rings

Even if you're not into fantasy, at least watch (A) Gandalf's chat with Frodo in Moria, (B) Sam's speech in the Two Towers, and (C) Aragorn's speech at the Black Gate. Totally worth it.

4. Les Miserables

The epic (musical or not, depends which version you get) story of how a convict rescues a child from an abusive situation and raises her as his daughter, discovering the meaning of love and self-sacrifice.

(You could also read the book, it has a lot more amazing content)

3. Secondhand Lions

The story of a young boy who is left in the care of his two uncles becomes a man and gives his uncles something to live for again.

(Bonus for all Fullmetal Alchemist fans: You get to hear Roy Mustang begging for mercy from Robert Duvall)

2. The Ultimate Gift

Jason's grandfather was a rich man. But Jason hated him. So he expects nothing when his grandfather dies. Instead, he finds out that his grandfather has selected him to receive the ultimate gift, which he must find on his own.

1. The Dead Poets Society

Too awesome for words. I nearly cried several times.

(Some of Robin Willaim's best work, if you ask me)

The Cripple who Ran.

Floyd and Glenn Cunningham were a normal pair of brothers in 1910's Kansas. Glenn was five years younger than Floyd, but that did little to hamper their love for each other.
They went to school in a small schoolhouse several miles from their home and would usually arrive early in order to light the stove for the teacher. All they had to do was put in the provided fuel and strike a match.

Then came the day that someone mistook a can of gasoline for kerosene.
The blast of flame that followed enveloped Floyd completely. Glenn was farther away, yet was still injured, and even more so when he tried to go back to rescue his brother. But it was too late. Floyd was dead and Glenn's legs had been completely mutilated by the fire.

Doctors urged his parents to authorize them to amputate the legs, but they refused.

And Glenn surprised them all.

Despite having lost all the toes on his left foot and the skin on his legs, he refused to be a cripple. A firm Christian, he focused on one particular verse regarding his handicap and used it as inspiration to continue living, and work his hardest, not to stand again, but to run.

Now Glenn Cunningham is remembered for competing in two series of Olympics, breaking world records for running speeds, and being voted 'the most popular athlete' by those in the Olympics with him.

He was known by two names on the track: "Bad legs" and "The Kansas Ironman"

Monday Morning Quote