Saturday, December 19, 2015

Star Wars Katie Visited The Set of Force Awakens!!

Here's your feel-good story of the weekend: our own Star Wars Katie was invited by LucasFilm to visit the set of the new movie during filming! [Kermit flail] AAAAAA!!

... and she's getting SO TALL!
(That's just a little jealousy coming from a 5-foot Hobbit, Katie. Pay me no mind.)


Katie's mom, Carrie, wasn't allowed to write about the visit 'til now, so imagine keeping THAT inside all these months. With the movie out, though, she's finally free to share all the heart-warming details over on her column, Portrait of an Adoption. It's a semi-long read, but totally worth your time. (I won't spoil anything, but I *will* say I have a new found respect for Harrison Ford.)

I think there's a little of Katie in all of us, so watching her journey - and seeing how others in the geek community continue to help her along that journey, even after so many years - is exactly the faith-renewing shot in the arm we need sometimes. That *I* need sometimes. So thank you, Carrie, for sharing it with us, and thank you Katie, for being you - and for letting your mom share.

Carrie also includes a spoiler-free review of the movie in her post, which I really appreciated. So even if you haven't seen the movie yet (like me!), it's safe reading. So go read!


Speaking of the new movie, it's been fun seeing all the costumes you guys are wearing to go watch it! So as a bonus smile, here's one shared on the Epbot FB page: an oh-so-dapper BB-8 dress by Cressie Teague Lewis:

How clever is that cape?! Love it.

(And I just realized that's a light saber umbrella!)


John and I aren't planning to see TFA until Wednesday, but lemme tell ya, my resolve to wait 'til the weekend crowds die out is weakening. I don't see how I'll be able to dodge spoilers that long! o.0 Cross your fingers for me, guys!

24 comments:

  1. We're taking the kids on Wednesday and even though I have already seen it, I'm still struggling with waiting until then.

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  2. We went yesterday morning at 9:30am and there were NO crowds. There were like 10 people in the theatre. It was awesome, except for the part where I had to leave twice due to a coughing fit, the second of which made me completely miss the end. So, we will likely go see it again.

    I am so happy for Katie! And a bit more than a little jealous. I'm off now to read your link to Carrie's post. I am bringing a tissue just in case!

    On a side note: I received my pin order in the mail! I got all the pins I ordered! I sometimes pet the bag and mumble, "my precious". I have yet to actually open the bag. It's a process.

    -Just Andrea

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  3. Also, that BB-8 dress/cape/umbrella are adorable. That is why I want to learn to sew. To make adorable, geeky clothes (that are affordable).

    -Just Andrea

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  4. My head is exploding with jealousy. About the visit. Definitely not about the having to keep it quiet for over a year part. I don't know that I could have, honestly!!! What an incredible experience for all of them!!! :-)

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  5. Awesome!

    Yay, Katie!

    Yay, Cressie!

    KW

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  6. It didn't feel like a long read. I'm not a huge Star Wars fan but after reading that I just might find myself in a theater.

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  7. What an amazing adventure for Katie!!

    My 4 yr old is refusing to go see the movie, so I have to wait until Christmas Day when I travel to Gramma's house so I can take my 9 yr old and not have to pay for a sitter. Both my sisters have seen it already, and they've said the spoilers are strong on the Interwebz, so be careful out there! Personally I'm not completely avoiding FB or Twitter, but I'm not clicking on ANYTHING that looks suspiciously like it contains spoilers!! Good luck, and MTFBWY!

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  8. I'm surprised that boys would make fun of a girl for liking Star Wars. Aging myself here, but I was a kid when the original came out and both boys and girls liked it without question.

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  9. My 16 year-old daughter is a huge Star Wars fan, and was unable to go to any Thursday night showings because she had an orchestra rehearsal. We bought tickets for today (Saturday), but she was definitely struggling with the wait, so yesterday morning I told her she had a doctor's appointment that I had forgotten about it, so here's the note to get picked up at school early. Then I drove her to the mall and announced I had lied, and the two of us were going to see TFA. She cried, she was so happy, and it was such a wonderful experience for both of us! We went back today with my husband and son, and I can tell you I'd happily see it again. You will LOVE it!

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  10. OMG, thank you for this, Jen. All.the.feels.

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  11. Ugh, I'm with you there on the weakening resolve to wait to see Star Wars. Friday was probably the worst since I had plans all day today, and a fair amount to do tomorrow. However, I should be able to wait until Tuesday (and save a bit of money since it's $5 Tuesday).

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  12. Boys in my second grade daughters class have been telling her that Star Wars is for boys. She wasn't devastated, thank goodness, just more confused because I've liked it since I saw it in 77. I haven't taken her to see the new one even though I've seen it because it's a little too intense and violent than what she could handle in a theater. I'll see it more times but she'll poetically have to wait until she has a couch she can hide behind.

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  13. Boys in my second grade daughters class have been telling her that Star Wars is for boys. She wasn't devastated, thank goodness, just more confused because I've liked it since I saw it in 77. I haven't taken her to see the new one even though I've seen it because it's a little too intense and violent than what she could handle in a theater. I'll see it more times but she'll poetically have to wait until she has a couch she can hide behind.

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  14. That was so cute! Harrison Ford was already pretty high up on my list of cool people (he flies his personal helicopter around looking for stranded hikers in the mountains), but that quip just slayed me. I'm not a huge fan, but the description of how J.J. Abrams approached the film makes me actually interested in seeing it!

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  15. The story about Katie was lovely. But somehow, everytime I read that blog, I end up crying because of how nice people everywhere are.

    Thank you very much for the link.

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  16. What a great story! My favorite part was at the end when Katie showed concern for new friend in her thank you letter. What a sweet girl!

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  17. You are awesome and Katie is too! I don't know when I'll be able to see TFA, but I've been pretty lucky to avoid spoilers. Good luck and Merry Christmas!

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  18. Katie, you've gotten so big! I contributed to the comments section of the original post, sharing my experiences with bullying, so I've always felt some sort of investment in Katie and her happiness going forward. You keeping geeking on, girl!

    Thank you, Jen, for sharing Katie with the world and encouraging us all to be whomever we want to be in life - without restraints and without hesitation.

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  19. This made me so happy! Thank you for sharing such a great update!

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  20. I'm not weepy, nope. Nope. Nuh uh. Darned onions.

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  21. Awww...I'm tearbending! This is such a sweet story - thanks for linking to it.

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  22. I am recuperating from a hysterectomy (42, severe endometriosis, no kids) and my hormonal fluctuations combined with this story just made me ugly-cry while clutching my painful tummy. I loved the Katie story from the very beginning, her 5th grade year was a lot like my 6th grade year. I was not able to see the movie until the 22nd and I thought it was magnificent. What a classy way to reboot this franchise.

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    1. Harrison is awesome. I worked with him on Presumed Innocent mumble-mumble years ago, and he was friendly, down-to-earth, and generous. He introduced us to Thai food. He ordered for everyone, and then stood by the table as we all went through the buffet, describing the dishes and making recommendations.

      Separately, so glad Katie and David are doing well, and had an awesome time on set.

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  23. Aww dang... my eyes are leaking. I am SO happy for Katie and her family. What an experience! Now I'll be wondering where that apple is...

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