12 Strong (movie review)

 

  12 Strong is drama action rated R that runs for a little over 2 hours.  It stars Chris Hemsworth, his wife Elsa Pataky, Michael Peña, Rob Riggle, William Fichtner and more! 

  My last day of January and last movie of the month was a great one!  I almost think just as good as the first one I saw at the beginning of the month (All The Money In The World).

  Having been prior service I do go out and see military movies for several reasons but, this based on a true story of such an important part of history was a definite must see in my book.

  The movie was fantastic.  It was easy to follow along.  It started out a few years ahead of the actual events to give you a full back story to the purpose and reason of why the need to get these 12 soliders over there to fight.

  It is rated R because there is language and the war scenes do include death and blood.

  I walked out just speechless that these men went into a war environment where there were tanks and rode horses! 

  This movie told an amazing story.  One that I was not even remotely familiar with.  I appreciate this story being told especially because I wasn't aware of even the book.  The cast was great and portrayed the story in an entertaining and believable manner.  You know they were stressed, but there was a time for jokes and a time for seriousness.

  Call them warriors or soldiers but the team that they made.  The loyalty and respect that they had in addition to the training all helped to get the job done.

Check out a clip here!

Motivation Monday

  A little motivation for your week is a Monday off!

    We didn't get to a service day event but, if you did I would love to hear about it.

  Each year I set goals to volunteer.  I bring my family.  I go by myself too but, all that matters is that it gets done.

  Do you volunteer?  Alone with family a group or even your church?

  I have volunteered with organization's and for organizations and plan to continue that this year.

  I will volunteer or donate to local organizations with my family, with the kids and by myself.

Areas I plan on volunteering with in my local area are:
1. Red Cross
2. Ronald McDonald House
3. Edmarc
4. ASPCA
5. Roc Solid
6. Foodbank
7. Meals on Wheels
8. Salvation Army
9. Soup kitchen
10. Military


  Volunteering doesn't always include monetary contributions.  It also includes donations. 

 You can donate clothes, books and household items.

  You can collect hats, scarves, socks and coats!

  Assembling boxes for the military or operation shoebox.

  However don't limit yourself to staying inside the box.  Random acts of kindness are just as good.  Paying for someones coffee!  Cookies to your fire department! Or even cards to nursing home residents!

  My goal in the area of volunteering is to do something every month.

Throw back Thursday

  I don't usually participate in the throw back Thursday hype but today I will.  I have reflected for months on what I could have accomplished.  In 1994 I graduated high school without a direction or organized set goal I choose to join the military.

I joined the Air Force months after I graduated at the age of 18.

  I joined so uneducated as most of the military.  I had no idea about the better jobs coming from more education or experience.  If you were fortunate to have an ROTC at your school you could have come into basic training and graduated with rank.  I was not one of them.  Not to even mention if you attended college you could have been an officer.  I am so much wiser now.  If I could rewind time a few things would change.  Surprisingly I would still go in but I would do things a little bit different.  I would like to think I am better capable of setting my children up to succeed if they choose that direction.

  I spent 4 years in the military.  Learned some great skills, made some loyal friends and gained more about life experiences in those 4 years then I'm sure I ever would have learned outside of the military.  I got the privilege of seeing a few places and experiencing winter conditions no one should voluntarily experience (North Dakota).

  This year most of my peers retired.  It makes me wonder if I could have played "the game" and made it 20 years.  Everyone does not have the same mentality  (or maturity) that others have.  I have always been a runner (if the going gets bad I go) and maybe that's why I didn't stay maybe that's why I didn't fight harder to stay in.  Or maybe it was my not my life's path.  Instead for the last 16 years I have accumulated 4 children and raised them, held down a few jobs, earned 2 Associates Degrees and a Bachelor's.  

I am not going to be too hard on myself.  It is what it is.  Things happen for a reason and maybe I have done what I was supposed to do or maybe I needed to get out 16 years earlier to accomplish something 16 years later.

No regrets, keeping my head up and moving forward!