by JTwisdom | Nov 3, 2012 | From the Heart, Inspirations |
Day Three:
I thank God that has placed me in a church that teaches the uncompromising Word of God with the practical application for me to apply to my own life. Growing up I did not think that Church was for me. I had been going all my life; but I felt like something was missing. What I had found out later was that I had a religion; but I needed was to have a relationship. My Pastor taught me that I what it means to stand in faith, how to pray correctly and how to take what I learn and help other people. The wisdom and knowledge are not just for me and my benefit. But instead they are there for me to use with others to bring out what God has done for me. We must grow in our spiritual work in order to go and help others.
Although I do not know everything and I still make my share of mistakes, I know that God has brought me a long way. I owe that success to my Pastor and my church family and my wonderful wife.
JAY
by JTwisdom | Nov 2, 2012 | From the Heart, Inspirations |
Day Two:
I thank God that He blessed my life with such a wonderful wife to share my life with. We have so much in common and we enjoy doing so many things together: hiking, gardening, blogging, shopping and even church event planning. I never could have imagined my life with any one better. And who would have imagined that I would have met my wife while at work.
Some years back, Michael W. Smith had a song that I really liked, “Place In This World.” This song really spoke to me and I sang it passionately because I was searching for my place in this world. Little did I know that God was listening to me and He helped me find my place in this world by placing my wife into my life.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noEfj3JBaC0[/youtube]
My wife has taught me so much and helped me grow as a man and as a husband. I am thankful that God has brought her into my life.
I love you so much, baby!!!!
Me and my baby, JT, beginning our life together
JT looking so pretty!
JT and me hiking in the mountains of New Mexico
Let us know how you have been blessed by your spouse!
JAY
by JTwisdom | Nov 1, 2012 | From the Heart, Inspirations |
November is upon us and many people are turning their thoughts to Christmas. Shopping lists, family get-togethers and decadent meals are present in their minds. While I love Christmas and its true meaning, I believe many people completely overlook Thanksgiving. I believe that Thanksgiving has become the forgotten holiday, with all the other things happening during the fall and winter. As summer ends, kids are going back to school and even before we make it through September, Christmas planning is in full-swing. Christmas trees can be found in the department stores. Christmas tunes are being played on the radio
Thanksgiving is no longer a day of giving thanks. Instead people think of it as the day before the day after Thanksgiving, when people look to get their Christmas shopping started in full force. I do not succumb to this madness. Instead, I believe that Thanksgiving should be celebrated for what it is. A day when I give thanks to God for all the wonderful things that he has given to me in my life. As I was thinking about it today, I decided that I did not want to limit my thanks to only one day. God is blessing my life every day so I decided that I would take each day in November and give thanks for something in my life. This will be joint effort from the Bubbling team. JT and I will be taking turns writing from our hearts to you. Come back each day for a new post.
Day One: I look around and I see people who are hurting, who are battling sickness and even seeing people who are leaving this Earth too soon. Each day when I wake up, I thank God for being alive and that I am walking in divine health. I am thankful that no sickness or diseases are in my body and that I have full use of all my body.
We are asking you, the Elegant and Graceful readers, to share your thoughts and reasons why you are thankful. Leave a comment below. Or if you have your own blog, create a post and leave us the link and we will read it.
JAY
by JTwisdom | Sep 16, 2012 | Travels |
Since my wife and I are celebrating our 13th anniversary all month long, I wanted to surprise her with a special outing. Yesterday morning, we hopped into our Jeep Wrangler and headed out on the highway for a road trip. After trekking about forty five minutes out of the great urban metropolis, we arrived at our destination. A secluded wood area off the interstate known as the Endangered Wolf Center.
My wife and I have a strong desire for animal rights and causes. If she could, my wife would turn our home in a refuge for stray dogs and she would be giving to every charity organization to save the panda bears and all the other endangered animals. But that is why I love her so much. She has such a caring and genuine heart to help people and all of God’s creatures.
JT getting ready to see the wolves at the Endangered Wolf Center
We spent yesterday afternoon at the Endangered Wolf Center. We had never been there before and we had always wanted to go. Started back in 1971 by Marlon Perkins, the center is dedicated to helping endangered wolves and other animals from becoming extinct. Back in 1971, there were only five known Mexican gray wolves in the wild. They were brought to this center along with a few that were kept in a zoo. Since that time, the Mexican gray wolf population has grown from less than ten to over three hundred. Many have been reintroduced into the wild, while others in zoos and habitat centers. I was amazed and impressed to see what this center is doing to help save God’s creatures.
A Mexican Gray Wolf, off in the distance
All of the wolves and other animals are securely kept behind two sets of barred-wire fences, for your safety as well as theirs. I was able to photograph the one above from a viewing station with a sight-line above the fences. In addition to the Mexican Gray Wolves, the center is also home to Red Wolves, African Painted Dogs and Swift Foxes.
African Painted Dogs, resting after a long day being people-watched
Baby Swift Fox, born on May 11th
The Mexican Gray Wolves moving around.
[youtube]http://youtu.be/ExoYjd9L7pE[/youtube]
The baby swift foxes in action.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlMjvw6_pxA&feature=share&list=UUn2vsUCgv8ZAmgJFD4v6SFw[/youtube]
In a future post, I will talk about how my wife and I adopted one of the wolves and what it means for her future survival. Until then, God Bless and Take Care!
by JTwisdom | Sep 10, 2012 | Travels |
My wife and I recently had an opportunity to see our first Broadway musical when Disney’s The Lion King came to the Fabulous Fox Theater. We had heard great things about the show so we decided to get tickets. I had never been to a live musical performance and I had never been to the Fox, so my wife said that this would be an early birthday treat for me.
J and T at the Fabulous Fox Theater
Musicals are probably my least favorite type of play and movie. I have never been a big fan of all that singing and dancing. I usually find them too hard to follow and the dancing just does not seem to be necessary. Because of these thoughts, I often turned down chances to see other musicals at the Fox or at the MUNY, an outdoor theater also in our city.
At first, I was not sure about going to see the Lion King. I enjoyed the movie when it first came out. However, I was not sure how it would translate from animation to the stage; but I kept an open mind and decided to go ahead and get the tickets. And I am sure glad I did.
First of all, the Fabulous Fox Theater is indeed that, fabulous. The ornate theater built in the 1920s is over the top with its painted ceilings, plush carpeting and carved gargoyles. I hope to go on a behind the scenes tour in the near future to get a chance to see up close all that the theater has to offer.
Ceiling in the Lobby of The Fabulous Fox Theater
The Lion King featured an amazing cast of life-size animals, costumes and prop people. From the moment that the curtain opened to the final curtain call, I was in awe of my first Broadway performance. My unfair misconception of musicals was instantly deflated.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pgZtzDj_7o&feature=share&list=PLE698B4879C0B2496[/youtube]
The life-size and life-like animals brought an added dimension to the performance, transporting me from the theater to the Pride Lands. The actors maneuvered throughout the stage with ease and they brought the animals to life with an amazing skill of hand and leg movements. I wondered prior to the show how the animals would be life-like; but they greatly succeeded in this task. I am sure that a team of talented and dedicated choreographers worked countless hours to make it look effortless and graceful.
Having seen the animated movie several times, I had in my mind how I thought the performance would flow. And without fail, the actors portrayed Simba, Timon, Pumbaa, Zazu and the rest of the crew were a mirror image of the movie; which is not a bad thing. With the popularity of the movie and its sequels, I think people would be disappointed if they came to see the musical and the characters were not the same. Even though the actors in the musical were different than the actors in the movie, they capture the mannerisms and personality of the characters from the movie without fail. The costume designers produced the life-like costumes and match the movie exactly.
The actors, along with the costume designers, prop designers and choreographers, succeeded in bringing a two-deminsional animated cartoon to a three-dimensional, real-life Broadway stage. I truly enjoyed the performance and would recommend it to anyone. If The Lion King is coming to your city and you have a chance to go, go. You will not be disappointed.
T modeling at the Fabulous Fox Theater
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