by JTwisdom | Nov 2, 2023 | Giveaway |
Hello, Elegant Ones!
Train up a child in the way it should go.
What does that mean?
My Dad and Mother would make that statement to me. They would let me know that they were not my friends. They were my parents. The difference is that they love me, but they would correct me when I needed it.
Many times, when you become a parent, there is no handbook for direction or guidance in raising your child. Written by Jimmy and Karen Evans with their daughter, Julie Evans Albracht, Fighting for the Soul of Your Child may be the book you need. This book is an essential resource for parents who desire to raise their children from a biblical perspective. Today’s world is filled with numerous outside forces trying to lead a child down the wrong path. Parents must have the right tools to fight this battle in their child’s soul. This book will provide you with the necessary battle armor to be successful in your fight.
You can raise a child in an ungodly world with the help of Jimmy and Karen Evans, who are respected marriage and parenting experts for more than 40 years. After reading this book, parents will be equipped with the tools needed to raise children who are steadfast, grounded in the Holy Spirit, and emotionally healthy. Parents will discover practical strategies and insight to empower their role in shaping their child’s future. Parents will be able to foster strong communication with the child that leads to trust and connection that will last a lifetime.
This book is a valuable resource for parents, aunts, uncles, and grandparents to refer to often. To be a good parent, you have to be a lifelong learner willing to grow in areas that you never thought you would need to be strong in.
You can order directly from the XO Store. Use the coupon code MIN25 to save 25% off the purchase price.
Giveaway
In collaboration with XO Publishing, we offer our readers a chance to enter a giveaway. One of our readers will receive a copy of the book.
To enter, please comment below telling us who would benefit from this book.
The giveaway runs through Thursday, November 9th, at 11:59 p.m. (Central Time).
We will randomly select one comment and announce the winner on Friday, November 10th.
**Please Note**
This giveaway is limited to residents of the United States. We will contact you via email on November 10th, and you must submit your complete mailing address to receive the book.
Disclaimer
Many thanks to XO Publishing for providing us with a sample of the book to write this review and to offer this giveaway. All opinions of the book are 100% my own.

by JTwisdom | Oct 17, 2023 | Around the Home |
Ciao Beautiful People,
Fall is in the air; leaves are falling, and a cool breeze is blowing in the wind. Welcome to the Autumn Leaves on a Tray virtual tour; please sit down, get a cup of hot tea, and make yourself at home.

Jorge Perez’s whimsical glass pumpkins
You ask what was the thought process behind the design.
I had so much fun putting this tray together. The design was inspired by Jorge Perez’s glass pumpkins that I purchased on SHOPHQ. These two glass pumpkins are so whimsical that the creative juices began to flow immediately. I used them as the centerpiece of my design. The metallic running through the pumpkins and the fluidity of the stem are gorgeous.
Being Thankful

Over the last few years, I have noticed that the trend has been encouraging words on different designs, although it’s a lifestyle.
What are you thankful for? What are you feeling grateful for?
When I see words such as blessed, grateful, and thankful, I review my gratitude journal to see what I have written over the last few years.
I recommend trying it for 30 days and seeing what it does for your mindset. I suggest that you write down three things you are grateful for each day. It has been a blessing to me. I change my focus on the good things in my life and not dwell on the not-so-good stuff. After 30 days, you may see the difference it is making in your life that you want to continue.

Full Tray design
All the other decorations are pieces I have collected throughout the years. It makes me feel good to incorporate vintage into my new design because I recall looking back at how I put each item. The short B-roll video shows you the entire tray. In the design scheme, I added friendly critters because we have animals in our family.

Owl and Scarecrow
My hubby and I were at Aldi not too long ago when I saw these cute critters on sale at a ridiculous price and excellent quality. I incorporated the owl, duck, and hedgehog into my design, and it worked well. These critters bring a new level of elegance to the overall layout and make me smile.

Full view of the tray from above
Tip: Candles add warmth and comfort to a tray and a room. These candles are battery-operated and also a great find from Aldi.
Enjoy!

by JTwisdom | Oct 13, 2023 | Giveaway |
Hello, Elegant Ones
I know for many people, this week has been filled with extreme shock and sorrow for what has happened to the Israeli people. Many people do not realize that these events are rooted in the foundation of the Old Testament. To understand these events from a biblical point of view,
we need to read and study the Old Testament to know who everyone is and how their decisions and actions caused the turmoil we see today. For some, myself included, the challenge is keeping all the people and events clear to know how to talk about them effectively.
When I read through and study the Bible, I believe having a companion study tool like The Old Testament Handbook is essential when I have questions or want to dive deeper. The Old Testament Handbook is broken down by book and pulls out the necessary details to grasp the bigger narrative. You can use the handbook as a companion tool after reading the Old Testament book or as a stand-alone piece if you want to focus only on the essential parts.
Order your copy of The Old Testament Handbook today!

Giveaway Winner:
Collaborating with Lifeway Christian Resources, we offered our readers a chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card. Congratulations to our winner,
~~ PENNY L. ~~
Yeah, Penny! We will be in contact with you about receiving your gift card.
Be on the lookout for our next giveaway coming soon!
Disclosure:
Many thanks to Lifeway Christian Resources for allowing our team to preview THE OLD TESTAMENT HANDBOOK, write this review, and offer the giveaway. All opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

by JTwisdom | Oct 2, 2023 | Fashion |
*** WE HAD SOME ISSUES WITH THE PREVIOUS POST NOT ACCEPTING COMMENTS. WE APOLOGIZE GREATLY. THE ISSUE HAS BEEN RESOLVED, AND YOU CAN NOW LEAVE A COMMENT***
Good Afternoon, Elegant Ones
Blessings that you are having a fantastic day!
I look forward to cooler weather and watching the leaves turn colors and fall from the trees. My hubby told me about an omega block over the Midwest, where we have seen temperatures in the 90s this past week. I am looking forward to those cool breezes.
In collaboration with Lifeway Christian Resources, our team had the opportunity to review a new tool during your daily bible study — The Old Testament Handbook. The Old Testament Handbook features the highly readable, highly reliable text of the Christian Standard Bible. The CSB captures the Bible’s original meaning without sacrificing clarity, making it easier to engage with Scripture’s life-transforming message and to share it with others.

My hubby and I are reading through the Bible with the Chronological Reading plan with Tara Leigh Cobble and the Bible Recap on YouVersion. We finished the Old Testament this weekend and are now moving on to the New Testament. I enjoy reading the Bible in hard copy, but I also listen on my smartphone and iPad.
Do you prefer reading the Bible in hard copy form or listening to the Bible on audio or both ways?
When I read through and study the Bible, I believe having a companion study tool is good when I have questions or want to dive deeper. Many parts of the Old Testament can be confusing or difficult to understand, so having a companion tool like The Old Testament Handbook is essential.
TIP: You can ask the Lord to give you revelation on anything you do not understand. Write down your questions when you are reading, and when the revelations come to you, note what you learned.
Do you want to dive deeper into the Word Of God? The Old Testament Handbook is the tool you need to understand better.

Old Testament Handbook with the Bible
Features of the Old Testament Handbook
– High-quality, foil-stamped cloth cover materials and Smyth-sewn binding meant to last a lifetime.
– Elegant full-color interior design, including maps, charts, illustrations, and other visual help for every book of the Old Testament.
– More than 75 word studies of keywords found in each Old Testament book.
-Ribbon marker for easy referencing between pages during study, teaching, or sharing.
The Old Testament Handbook gives an overview of each chapter from a historical perspective, outlines events, lists in detail biblical characters, a word study, and much more. The precious key is building a personal relationship with God through His Word, and having this handbook when needed is a good study resource.
Order your copy of The Old Testament Handbook today!
** UPDATED Giveaway Details **
Collaborating with Lifeway Christian Resources, we offer our readers a chance to enter a giveaway. One of our readers will receive a $10 Amazon gift card.
To enter, please comment below telling us which Old Testament book you would like to understand better.
The giveaway runs through Thursday, October 12th, at 11:59 p.m. (Central Time).
We will randomly select one comment and announce the winner on Friday, October 13th.
**Please Note: This giveaway is limited to only residents of the United States, and the winner will receive the Amazon gift card via the email address used when commenting.
Disclosure:
Many thanks to Lifeway Christian Resources for allowing our team to preview THE OLD TESTAMENT HANDBOOK, write this review, and offer the giveaway. All opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

by JTwisdom | Sep 11, 2022 | From the Heart |
Hello Beautiful People,
Today my wife and I are celebrating our 23rd wedding anniversary.
It seems like only yesterday when many twists of fate brought us to work at the same organization in 1996. We met when her division moved into the same building I worked in. Our paths soon crossed. We learned that even though we came from different backgrounds, it was God’s plan to bring us together. I grew up in a small rural town in central Missouri, while she is a big-city girl. We would talk into the early morning hours and realize that we shared many similar interests and beliefs. Our friendship grew strong, and love blossomed.
We married on September 11, 1999.

J and T in Assisi
We are often asked what the keys to a successful marriage are. You do not need formal training to be a marriage counselor or expert. You just need to be willing to seek God’s wisdom as the guide for your marriage.
I wanted to share 23 things we have learned through the years that have made our marriage strong and a pleasure to be a part of. I will share them in a four-part series, starting with this post.
1) Pray First
Not a day goes by when we do not pray for each other and our marriage. This is by far the most important factor that I would tell anyone. We would not be where we are without thanking God for our spouse and His blessings, asking Him to strengthen our marriage, and seeking His wisdom in making decisions. We pray whether we are at home preparing for a day at work or if we are on vacation. It doesn’t matter. We always pray, every day.
2) Communicate Often
A successful marriage cannot happen if we are not talking. Talking is the only way that we will get to know each other. The more that we alk, the closer I get to her soul. I find out what her needs are and what her dreams are. I learn about things in her past that have shaped her current behaviors and beliefs. The longer we are married, the more important it is to continue the conversations. Life happens, dreams change, and a whole new set of circumstances must be discussed. Talking never stops.
3) Best Friends
We found out early in our relationship, before we were married, that we listened to many of the same types of music, watched the same television show genres, and shared many political and moral beliefs. Spending time together was not a chore but a treat because we enjoyed the same leisure activities, like hiking, shopping, and road tripping. We are best friends in every sense of the word and focus on keeping that in focus.
4) Never Go To Bed Angry
In the almost 25 years we have known each other, there have been times when we have not agreed or may have been angry with each other about a specific situation. We have made a point that we work out the situation before going to bed. I want to know what is causing that disagreement and what can be done to fix the situation. A healthy marriage cannot allow strife to linger around.
5) Say I LOVE YOU Often
I LOVE YOU is a simple phrase we often say to each other. Whether we are talking on the phone, leaving off to work, or going to bed at night, I LOVE YOU is always a part of the conversation. I don’t want her to assume anything. I want her to know. It has become a regular part of our conversation. It seems a bit odd if I don’t do it. If I forget, I make sure I do the next opportunity I get.
6) Quiet Hugs
There is something special about a hug that can bring us closer together when life’s situations get in the way. A hug can relieve a stressful situation or lessen the burdens of a bad situation. Many times no words are spoken, just a quiet hug, holding each other close and squeezing each other tight. And it is not just a short hug, but one that can last for several minutes. The closeness is broken only by an encouraging word with a kiss and then another hug, followed by an I LOVE YOU.
More keys will follow in more posts that will be written this week. We are celebrating our anniversary all month long.
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