I was at work Monday afternoon when my husband came into my office with a concerned look on his face. He showed me a live video from his phone of the Cathedral Notre Dame of Paris engulfed in flames. The church’s spire had fallen and it looked like the entire structure on fire. I felt such sadness because the news reports were saying that it would be a total loss. But thank God, the flames were contained after twelve hours and keeping the fire from spreading to the main sanctuary. French President, Emmanuel Macron vows to rebuild the historic Gothic structure. Fundraising efforts are already underway and donations are coming in from all around the world. French billionaires and global companies are coming together to raise money to rebuild one of France’s most important structures. Over $700 million has been raised so far to rebuild.
Construction of The Cathedral of Notre Dame began in the twelfth century and took over two hundred years to complete. It has outlasted attacks during the French Revolution and being bombed during World War I and World War II. It is an architectural masterpiece and was a monumental feat to build. In an article from The USA Today, Emmanuel Gregoire, the deputy mayor of Paris, told BFMTV on Tuesday that he felt “enormous relief” at salvaging many priceless relics from the church, including what is believed to be the Crown of Thorns, which many believe was worn by Jesus Christ at the Crucification, and a small portion of the cross and one of the nails.
The Cathedral Notre Dame is not only a symbol of Christianity and the Catholic faith, but it is at the heart and soul of what makes up of France. It chronicles Christianity’s storied history. This is Holy Week and Christians all over the world will be worshipping in churches on Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Easter is one of the most important holidays of the year because Jesus died on the cross and he is risen to give us eternal life. At first, it looked like the Cathedral Notre Dame was beyond being saved, but miracles happen and the fire was contained.
Prior to the fire breaking out, the church had begun an extensive remodeling project. Scaffolding had been placed around the spire to make much-needed repairs. The sculptures housed in the attic were removed only a few weeks ago. When the images of the fire were shown on social media, our fear was that the entire would be destroyed. But now seeing how much of the building is still intact, it truly is a miracle and a blessing from God. Showing, once again, how resilient the Cathedral is. Having been around for over eight hundred years, survived a revolution and two world wars, the Cathedral will rise again.
My hubby and I extend our thoughts and prayers to the people of France. Although, we have not been to France to visit the Cathedral; it is on our list of elegant places to visit. We stand with France in their efforts to rebuild this treasure of history.
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.
It may be spring, but the temperature doesn’t know what it wants to do. I have been enjoying the cool days and now it’s starting to warm up a little. I just dress for the day and it may vary day to day.
My thoughts are turning to Easter (Resurrection Sunday) and how important this holiday is for Christ followers. It is the celebration of Jesus Christ who defeated the cross, risen from the grave and we have been given everlasting life through Him.
What does it mean to be a follower of Christ?
Will following Christ be easy?
Questions like these are explored in the new movie, The Pilgrim’s Progress. My hubby and I had the opportunity to screen thanks to our collaboration with LEV3L Digital. The movie will be shown in theaters over the Easter weekend, April 18th and April 20th. The movie is based on one of the best selling books of all time — The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan in 1678. The book has been translated into at least 200 languages and has never been out of print in over 300 years. The Pilgrim’s Progressis the one story that can give our children the courage to stay on the straight path in a culture that often stands against them.
In the movie, we follow the main character, Christian, who has discovered a new way of life. He has made an important decision to take a new journey that forever changes his life.
In the photo above, we see Christian (on the right) on his journey. He is carrying a heavy burden on his shoulders that only seems to be getting heavier the more he walks. He is offered a better way that has better promises. But, just as in life, we have to remember that everything that looks good may not be always what it seems to be and good for us. And the beautiful blessing about our Lord and Savior is that we are never alone and He is always there to help us to know which way is the best way.
Watch and share the trailer. You need to make plans to take your friends and family to see the movie. An epic tale of a pilgrim and his burden. Journey with Christian as he travels from the city of Destruction to the Celestial City. The journey is hard and long, but Christian is never alone.
The Pilgrim’s Progress will be shown in theaters on two days, April 18th and 20th. To find a theater in your area and to purchase tickets, click HERE!
Giveaway!! In partnership with LEV3L Digital, we will be hosting a second giveaway for this wonderful movie. Three people will win an Illustrated Storybook and two tickets to see the movie. The book is a beautiful, full-color, coffee table-style, hardcover edition of The Pilgrim’s Progress illustrated storybook (a $24.95 retail value). These same three people will also receive two tickets to see the movie when it comes to the theater on April 18th and 20th (a $25 value for two tickets).
To enter the giveaway, please leave a comment about the movie and what Easter means to you.
The giveaway begins now and will close at 11:59CT on Friday, April 12th.
The winners will be announced on Saturday, April 13th.
FTC Disclosure:
For hosting this giveaway with LEV3L Digital, Bubbling with Elegance and Grace received no monetary compensation. However, we will receive our own copy of the Illustrated Book and two tickets to see the movie.
Patricia Nash has had her designs on Evine.com, Hsn.com and now will be on the sister channel QVC.com. Her designs are unique and timeless. The Pisticci bag gives the 60s and 70s vibes. This bag reminds me so much of my mother’s bag. The Pisticci bag has additional features that include a lining, inner pockets, and it can convert to a crossbody as you see in the photo below. I purchased the bag at Lord and Taylor with a great one day sale. However, the bag retails for $399.99.
What does Pisticci mean? Pisticci (Metapontino: Pestìzze; Latin: Pesticium) is a town comune in the province of Matera, in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata. It’s the fourth town of the region for citizen and the most populated of the province after Matera. It is known for being the production site of Amaro Lucano, one of the most famous Italian liqueurs. (Wikipedia)
Pisticci through the arm
PIsticci Shoulder bag through the arm is perfect if you are wanting to showcase the bag in all its beauty.
The 1970s are in now?
Yes, the 1970s are in now but you have to understand that it’s more of an inspiration. For example, the bell bottom jeans you wore in the 70s may have no stretch and may be as stiff as a board. The bell bottom jeans now will be more inspired with new technology may have more stretch for comfort and may have a more 2019 construction. Inspiration is the key here but if those jeans you have from the 1970s feel great then wear them.
Why no picture of my mother’s bag?
My mother’s bag, unfortunately, was falling apart and couldn’t be repaired. It was such a good feeling inside when I saw this bag it took the inspiration of my mother’s bag to another level.
What vintage-inspired pieces do you have in your wardrobe?
No matter what continent you live on, rodents can be a pest, and it is always advisable to try and keep them out of your home to prevent an infestation from occurring, which can happen quickly. However, there are some telltale signs that you can look for which are warning signs that you may have a rodent problem in your home, and you can read what they are below.
You See A Mouse
If you see one mouse, you can guarantee that there are more of them, and at the rate that they breed, you could soon have an infestation on your hands. You may also find a dead mouse and if you do you will need to seek an effective electronic rodent control system to try and drive the rodents from your home by using a device which creates an electromagnetic field.
You Hear The Mice
Just as with seeing a mouse, if you hear one, there is going to be more of them so you should take action at the first warning signs. If you hear scratching or scurrying sounds, then these are a good indication that you have rodents in your home of one sort or another.
You Find Droppings Another tell-tale sign that you have rodents in your home is that you find droppings around the house or even find where the mice have urinated. As well as droppings and urine you may also notice a musky smell, which is a warning sign that you have rodents in the building so you will need to address it before it becomes a real problem.
Gnaw Marks On Packaged Food
You may also notice that there are boxes of food which have been gnawed open, which is again another sign that rodents have gotten into your home and are running amuck. You may also find that they chew wood and electrical wiring, so they can potentially be very destructive as well as a pain in your life. If you see any of the above signs, then you will need to take immediate action before the problem gets out of hand.
What You Can Do About It
With just a little Internet research, you get to learn about tips on how to spot and get rid of pests. Among those tips is the use of an electromagnetic device you can plug into your home. It uses the wiring of the house to create an electromagnetic field which will drive the rodents away. Once they have gone, you will need to find where they entered your home and block the openings up. Do not leave any food out and keep rubbish in secure plastic bins to prevent them from going through it. Once you have blocked all of the entry points to your home and you have the electric devices plugged in, you will not only have blocked them from entering the building, but the magnetic fields will also help to keep them away. These devices are harmless to children, cats, and dogs, so are perfectly safe to use in the home.
For more information about rodent problems and how to deter them from coming back to your home, you can also read the articles you can find through a Google search which will prove useful in helping you get rid of those pesky pests.
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.
Watch and share the trailer. You need to make plans to take your friends and family to see the movie. An epic tale of a pilgrim and his burden. Journey with Christian as he travels from the city of Destruction to the Celestial City. The journey is hard and long, but Christian is never alone.
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