Happy Sunday to you.
Today is Palm Sunday and the beginning of Holy Week, the week when Christians around the world recognize and remember the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is time to spend with friends and family, reflecting on what these events mean for us individually. In our home, there are a number of classic movies that we enjoy watching. From the Ten Commandments to Ben-Hur, there are many choices that will stir and strengthen your faith. And this year, a new movie will be added to this list of faith-based movies to watch over during Holy Week.
The Pilgrim’s Progressfollows the life of Christian and his journey and his struggles after receiving the revelation of God’s grace and mercy. The movie is based on the 1678 novel written by John Bunyan and is considered to be the second most read book of all time, behind the Bible. With top-notch animation, this movie shows through metaphors and allegories what it means to be a Christian. Despite being written over three hundred years ago, the struggles talked about in the book are still being dealt with today and are still relevant to the 21st-century believer.
Christian (left) meets up with Evangelist (right) while on his journey
We highly recommend that every make time to go see this movie during this Holy Week. The impressive animation will you draw you in, but the storyline will move and change your life. Please know that the movie will only be shown in theaters twice. The times are * Thursday, April 18, 2019, at 7:00 pm * * Saturday, April 20, 2019, at 12:55 pm *
To find a theater that is showing the movie in your area, click HERE!
The Pilgrim’s Progress follows the journey of Christian.
In collaboration with LEV3L Digital, my wife and I had an opportunity to preview the movie and offer two giveaways to our followers. The second giveaway included an illustrated copy of the book and two tickets to the movie for three people.
The three winners are
* Buddy G
* mami2jcn
* Natalie
Congratulations!
We will be contacting you shortly to let you know more details about claiming your prizes.
When God speaks to you, you may not always understand it or know what it means. But if you are obedient and follow His voice, He will not lead you astray. Just know that He is watching over you and is protecting you.
I wanted to share with you a series of events that happened to me over the last week. I didn’t understand it at first, but in the end; I knew that God was speaking to me and directing my path.
Jay in the Jeep Wrangler
On Saturday, February 9th, I am at the Dobbs Clocktower in North Saint Louis County. The Jeep Wrangler was in for a state inspection and an emissions test. As I finished up and made my payment, I remembered that I needed to make another appointment for our Jeep Grand Cherokee, for the same thing. I knew that I wanted the appointment to be on Thursday, February 14th. I was going to be off of work on that day and it is a good time for me to complete errands and the like. I typically make the appointments for 9am or 10am, so I can go straight there after I drop off my wife at work. The associate offered me the 10am appointment time. But immediately I said, “No, do you have anything later?” Not sure why I said that, but it is what had come out of my mouth. He then offered 12pm or 2pm, so I took the 12pm slot. I left the store and came home.
Now, fast forward to Thursday, February 14th. I dropped my wife off at work at 8:30am and began my day of errands. I went off to Target and Trader Joe’s in the Brentwood Promenade in Central Saint Louis County. I needed to pick up a few groceries because these stores were not far from where I dropped off my wife. As I was finishing up, I glanced down at my watch and saw that it was only 9:30am. I still needed to get to fill up the Jeep with gas, go by Aldi for a few more groceries, and then to Walgreens to get a Valentine’s card. I thought that I would go to the Aldi in the Clocktower (next to my Dobbs) by 10am, get the gas and go by Walgreens; and still have enough time to get to Dobbs for the appointment. As I finished making the plans in my mind, I heard this voice on the inside of me say, “Go to the Aldi in Maplewood, it’s closer.” Yes, it was closer to my current location, but further from my Dobbs. I thought about it for a second but nevertheless I decided to go to the Maplewood Aldi. I filled up the Jeep with gas on my way there. After leaving Aldi, I decided to go home, unload the groceries before heading back out to Dobbs. I would wait on Walgreens until after I finished at Dobbs. I arrived home by 11am and I was back on the road to Dobbs by 11:40am and arrived at Dobbs at 11:55am.
When I got to Dobbs, I spoke with Ken. He is the Assistant Manager and has been seeing a lot of me lately, with inspections, new tires and oil changes. As he got me checked in, he says to me, “It’s a good thing you were not here a few hours ago.” Confused, I asked, “What do you mean?” He then says to me that there was a shooting in the adjacent parking lot a little bit ago. One person had been shot and another person’s vehicle has been shot up. Not really sure where or what he was talking about exactly, I said, “WOW!”, signed my paperwork and took my seat in the waiting room.
As I sat down, I grabbed my phone and quickly searched the local news to find anything about what Ken had just told me. I was drawn to a headline that said there was a shooting in North Saint Louis County. I clicked the link to find out the details. The article had stated that just before 10am, in the parking lot of Ross’ Dress for Less and Aldi in the Clocktower Shopping Center, a man had been shot and about thirty rounds of bullets had been fired. I quickly went to another website and saw the same details.
I just sat back in my chair with my hands over my mouth, in awe. I was supposed to be in that parking lot at about the time that the shooting had occurred. I had wanted my appointment to be at 10am so I could already have it done and I could go about my day. But when I made the appointment for 12pm, it wass till okay. I thought I could still be in the area, doing my other errands.
But That Still Small Voice told me, twice, not to be there at that time. As I sat there and thought about it, I realized that God, through the Holy Spirit, was speaking to me. He didn’t want me to be there at that time. He was watching over me and protecting me. He knew that I wanted to be there at the time, but He knew better. He was speaking to me, I just had to be obedient to Him and listen.
We don’t always know when God is speaking to us. Sometimes we think it has to be this loud audible voice that everyone hears. Not always. Sometimes, He will speak to us through the words that come out our own mouth. Sometimes, it is a gut-check to our heart that leads you to do something that you are not planning to do. Either way, we just have to be able to hear to that voice, obey it and to listen to it. We don’t always know what God is telling us, nor why? But in time, He will reveal it to us.
In the world of smartphone technology, companies released new models of their phone almost every year. In the early days, consumers would rush out to get the latest and greatest technology. However, In the last couple of years, I have noticed that many people are not buying every new smartphone that comes out. But instead, they are waiting up to three years or more before making that new purchase. I believe that there are a couple of keys reasons. 1) The price of the latest smartphones increased significantly. It is easy to pay up to, or over a $1,000 for the one phone. People now see their smartphone as an investment item and are not willing to keep paying that about of money every couple of years. 2) With the new model that is released, people realize that the upgrades were not significant enough to make a change.
If you are like me, you have been waiting for those significant upgrades, or if your current smartphone is wearing out and in need of being replaced. In my own smartphone world, my wife and I have our phones for almost four years. We are still using the 6, if you know what I mean. So when Verizon Wireless asked if we would be interested in trying the Google 3XL, we were excited to see what the latest upgrades had to offer. Needless to say, after our demo period, I was sold on what Google had brought to the table for the following reasons.
Google Pixel 3XL
The XL Factor
Since trying the XL, the larger model, I am convinced that larger is better and there is no need to go back to a smaller phone. The screen size makes it easy to find what you are looking with more apps on the screen at one time. A larger view screen makes taking photos much easier because you have a better idea of what you are capturing. The phone measures 3.02 inches x 6.22 inches. Although it is larger in size, it is not weighty and is comfortable in the hand or in the back pocket.
The Camera Factor Let’s be honest. If you are like me, of all the things that I use the smartphone for, making a telephone call is probably low on the list. One of the most common tasks is using the camera. People are not carrying their point-and-shoot or DSLR cameras with them everywhere they go. But a smartphone is at the ready, whether it is in a handbag or in the back pocket. The smartphone has become the go-to camera to capture the important moments in our life, whether it be a selfie while on vacation or a video of your little’s soccer match.
In the four years since I bought my own smartphone, the camera features have drastically improved, as seen in the photo collage below. The photo on the left was captured by the Google 3XL and the one on the left is my four-year-old smartphone. The difference is remarkable. The colors in the Pixel 3XL are crisper and there is not the glare or fuzziness found in older smartphones.
Google Pixel 3XL (Left) / a 4-year-old smartphone (right)
The Google Pixel 3XL features a 12.2MP camera and includes not found on older smartphones. These new features make taking those photos easier and the end result is in a photo that is as good as a higher-end camera. The selfie mode includes zoom and wide-angle features and there is a night-effect option for photos and videos. We used the Pixel 3XL to capture our YouTube video on how decorated for Christmas. We turned off the lights in the rooms so that there could be a greater focus on the lights. The Pixel 3XL was able to auto-adjust the level of lighting without any issues. You can see that video here:
The Google Pixel 3XL is packed with so many features that you will need to spend some time exploring the phone to find them. One feature that I found by accident was the Google Lens. The Lens will scan a photograph that you have taken and is able to determine what is in it. Then it will search the Google search engine for similar items. For example, we had taken a photo of our inflatable snowman (Christmas item) and then scanned with Lens. The results included animated snowmen, other inflatable snowmen, and even Frosty. You can click on those results for more information.
In the new year, if you believe that it is time to replace that old, worn out smartphone, and you may want to consider Google Pixel 3XL. The Pixel 3XL features many upgrades over the older smartphones and incorporates many new additions that will leave you with a positive experience. I recommend it with 3XL thumbs up.
FTC Disclosure:
Verizon Wireless provided the Bubbling With Elegance and Grace Team with the Google Pixel 3XL to demo for a six-week time period. After that time, the smartphone was returned back to Verizon and this review was written. The team did not receive any monetary compensation to write this review and all opinions are our own.
It has been almost six weeks since our little Gio left us and crossed over the rainbow bridge. Today is National Dog Day, so we wanted to celebrate his life and share with you what the little fella meant to us.
Celebrating the Life of Gio!!
Gio was a part of our family for the almost twelve years and brought so much joy to our life. He came to us as a street doggie, so we were unsure of his past. We do not know if he had ran away from home; gotten lost while on a hunt or if his owner gotten rid of him. Whatever the situation, it was hard for Gio to love us when he first come home with us. He didn’t know what love was, so we had to show him unconditional love while training him how to properly behave. In time and with the help of trainer, his heart softened and he became a sweet lovable beagle. In the early days, he would grumble at us when we tried to rub his tummy. In time as he realized that we loved him and cared for him, Gio would turn over and put his feet up in the air, wanting us to rub his tummy. He would also lick our hands and demand affection for you. He would take his head and move it towards our hands, wanting to be rubbed or massaged. And if we moved our hand away, he would move closer to us and made sure we continued it. We couldn’t stop until he had enough.
Gio believed that he was the Alpha of the house and he had certain demands that we needed to take care of. The most important demand on his list was food. He ate three times a day and he knew when it was time. Oh and don’t forget about treats in the evening. He would begin asking for the food about thirty minutes to an hour ahead of time. He would nudge us, bark at us, jump on us, or fling his bowl in the middle of the room; letting us know it was time. He wouldn’t leave us alone until we gave him what he wanted. But we had to show him (in love) at we were the Alphas and that he couldn’t get his way all of the time. When this happened, he would be pout and fuss at us.
Gio’s favorite place to be was in the backyard. He could spend hours at a time out there. Being a beagle, he always had his nose to the ground, searching for scents and on the lookout for squirrels. He would follow their scent and even chase them through the yard when he saw them. While he never caught one, he was determined that he would and never stopped trying. He came close many times, but they were always one step ahead of him. Many times after a chase and trying to get the squirrel, I would bring Gio back inside. He would be restless in house. He wanted to go back outside to see if he could still get that squirrel. He was determined! And when he couldn’t go outside, he would sit at the window and look into the backyard. He could sit at that window for hours at a time and not move a muscle. He was looking to see if any squirrel was in his area. If he saw one, he would aggressively bark at it and jump on the window. He would demand for us to take him outside so he could chase it down. He was that determined!
Gio looking out the window
My wife shared a YouTube video on Gio. It can be seen here….
In his almost twelve years with us, Gio blessed our life with some many wonderful memories that it is not hard for me share. Sharing them with you helps with the grief and sorrow of losing him. With so many wonderful memories, he will live on in our hearts forever.
We Love You, Gio!!
Last August, I was on my way to the vet’s office with Gio and Vinny for their annual checkup. Unfortunately, we didn’t make it there. As I drove down the interstate; the traffic had slowed in front of me. Not having enough time to stop, I ran into the back of the vehicle in front of me. While the lady’s car was only moderately damage, our 2001 Jeep Cherokee was totaled. Thankfully, despite the extensive damage, the doggies and I were not injured.
I was crushed. We had our Jeep for sixteen plus years; and I thought it would last forever. It had only 114,000 miles and was in great condition. It ran good and looked great; even though the air condition hadn’t worked for a couple of years. We planned to keep it for a few more years before planning to a new(er) Jeep.
Through the ordeal of the accident, dealing with the insurance claims and looking for a new vehicle; I learned five important things. I wanted to share them with you.
Pay Attention To The Road The traffic on the highway had slowed in front of me. Rush hour traffic was winding down; but there were still a lot of cars on the road for 9:15 in the morning. We were approaching an interstate interchange; and the vehicles were slowing and moving into the exit lanes. I had been paying attention to the road; but it was not enough to prevent the accident. It so important, especially when a five-lane interstate highway, your eyes are always alert and watching the road: in front of you, to the side of you and in back of you. You can never be too careful!
Be Up Front With Your Spouse I dropped off my wife at work on the way to the vet’s office. I told her that I would be checking with her throughout the day. She was executing an important meeting and I wanted to tell about the appointment and asking about the meeting.
However, after the accident, I did not tell her for several hours later because I did not want worry about me and the meeting at the same time. When I finally told her about what happened, she knew something was wrong because I had not called her or sent her any messages for more than three hours.
In addition, I had not told her why I was taking the doggies to the vet on a work day without her. I had been planning a little getaway for our anniversary and the doggies needed the annual shots to stay at the kennel. But I didn’t tell her about my plans until a week after the accident.
I learned that it important to tell my wife everything. She should have known why I was going to the vet’s office and she should have known about the accident as soon as it happened. She deserves to know the truth even if it is not the best news.
You Have To Move On In the days and weeks following the accident, whenever I was driving or even if I was walking in the backyard, I kept reliving it in my mind. I would see the Jeep slamming into the back of the lady’s car. It became extremely difficult for me to not think about what I had done to this lady and her car and my own vehicle. It took about a month for me to fully clear my mind and not think about it. Even though it was a serious thing, I could not undo what happened. I had to move on with my life. I could not move forward without letting go.
Make Sure You Have Good Insurance
While having automobile insurance is required by law; it makes a big difference if you are working with the right insurance company. Following the accident, I filed a claim and they went to work for me immediately. The Jeep was towed to the collision center for assessment and I didn’t have to pay any upfront money. When it was determined that it was a total loss, the agents worked with me to ensure that I would get the best settlement, even taking into consideration the new tires and battery that was added the month before the accident. They worked with me every step of the way, making sure the process went smoothly and answering any questions that I had.
God Can Restore To You More Than You Can Imagine
With the accident, it meant my wife and I were down to only one vehicle, a 2003 Jeep Wrangler. While having only one vehicle would work temporarily, it was not meant to be a permanent solution. After my own healing process, I started the search for our next new vehicle. Jeeps have proven to be an excellent vehicle and there was no doubt that we would be getting another one; but it had to be the right one. I looked a variety of models, from Grand Cherokees to Cherokees, to Libertys to Patriots. After doing my own research and determining the monthly payment that I wanted to be at, I decided that the right vehicle for us would be a slightly used Cherokee. The Grand Cherokees would have been ideal, but prices were higher than what I wanted to pay. The Libertys and Patriots didn’t have the size or features we wanted. I had seen several Grand Cherokees that were in our price range, but they were generally seven plus years old, or had well over 100,000 miles on them. I did not want pay that amount of money for a vehicle with those conditions.
As I began in earnest my search for used Cherokees, I kept my eye on the Grand Cherokees, praying that one would fit our needs at the price I wanted to pay. The more I looked at the Cherokees, I was not convinced that it was not the right vehicle for us. It reminded me of a car and not an SUV; and it was much smaller than what I had wanted it to be, even though we had not drove one.
On a Sunday afternoon in late February, as I was scrolling from a used-car app on my phone, I came across a 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee that was in our price range at a dealership that was only a few miles from our house. I thought that it must have been in accident or had high mileage. Looking at the vehicle’s details, I found no evidence of any accidents and it had only 46,000 miles on it. I immediately knew that I wanted to take it for a test drive. I wasn’t able to call about it until that Tuesday morning. When I called, the salesman told me that it was still available and wanted to know if we wanted to take a test drive. My wife and I left work early that day and arrived at the dealership at 5pm. By 7pm, we were driving home in with our new vehicle.
In only two hours, God worked it out where we took the test drive, talked with the salesman about our concerns/needs and then finished the deal with the finance guy. The Grand Cherokee’s final price was $4,000 less than its fair-market value and the finance guy worked an agreement for a five year, bumper-to-bumper extended warranty for the exact price that I was expecting to pay for the a used Cherokee without any additional warranty.
It was hard for me to imagine that we could get a used Grand Cherokee at a Cherokee price. The Grand Cherokee was what I wanted; but I knew the monthly payment was more than I wanted to pay. However, God worked out a plan that allowed to get the vehicle of my dreams. He has restored to me and my wife more than I could imagine.
Learn More About JT Bubbling with Elegance and Grace is a place for life long learners. The Bubbling With Elegance And Grace team was created 14 years ago. A passion for fashion sparked a lifestyle blog for our Elegant Community to enjoy. We are thankful and in gratitude to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for those who have been with us from the beginning and those who have just started riding with us on this lovely journey.
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