I hope you are having an awesome day. On our way to church, this morning, my hubby and I noticed that the leaves are starting to change colors. It is time for me to bring out the fall decorations and look through the cookbooks for scrumptious soups and chilis recipes. The cooler days make me want to spend time on the couch, curled up under a warm blanket and watching a good movie. My hubby and I had the opportunity to preview a movie that will only be in theaters for one day, Monday, November 4th. The movie is CHRISTMAS JARS and here is the trailer.
Based on the New York Times Bestselling novel by Jason F. Wright, CHRISTMAS JARS tells the story of an aspiring newspaper journalist, Hope Jenson. Following a series of heart-breaking events, a mysterious person leaves a Christmas Jar filled with money on Hope’s doorstep. She soon finds out that she is not the only person to have received a jar. She wants to write an article about it for the newspaper. In the process of trying to find out who did this thoughtful deed, she has to decide whether she should compromise her values for professional gain.
Map of where all the Christmas Jars had been delivered.
Do we need to know the identity of who has given these Christmas Jars to the people in need? Teach one, reach one is a theme that resonates and it’s a wonderful time to bring to life in the movie. Giving is contagious, but at what cost? Does the anonymous person(s) who left the Christmas Jars all over the Columbus, Ohio area want to be found out? In Hope’s quest to find out who this person is, she creates a map of the people in the Columbus area who received the jar. Will she find out who the mysterious person is?
This heartfelt movie is family-oriented and shows how we should show kindness and generosity in our lives. And to find out if Hope compromises her values or not you have to go see the movie on Monday, November 4th. To purchase tickets to reserve your seats please go HERE!
Christmas Jars
We don’t have to show acts of kindness, however, it leaves such a good feeling inside when we do something for another person.
What are the ways you show acts of kindness?
Christmas Jar Giveaway And in collaboration with LEV3L Digital, we are giving one blessed reader a DVD copy Christmas Jars.
How to Enter Please leave a comment below. Let us know how you can show an act of kindness during the upcoming holiday season.
*Please share this review and giveaway on Facebook to give more people a chance to learn about the movie and an opportunity for them to win a DVD of the movie.
This giveaway will close at 11:59 PM on November 2, 2019. The winner will be announced on Sunday, November 3, 2019.
Thank you LEV3L Digital for giving BubblingwitheEleganceandGrace.com the opportunity to offer a free DVD for a giveaway. For hosting the giveaway, we will also receive our own copy of the movie on DVD.
Today is July 29th. I will be upfront with you. I use to hate this day. Whenever I heard it mentioned or saw it on the calendar, my heart would break and my mood would dampen. How could a single day have such an effect on me? Well, on this day, back in 1987 my father passed away when he lost his battle with lung cancer.
The only known photo of only me and my father together.
I was only twelve. I felt like my whole world had been broken and shattered. I didn’t know what it all meant and I didn’t know how to handle it. Only two months had passed from the time that my father found out that he had lung cancer to the day that he died. My family had to deal with the shock of the diagnosis, the trauma of him being in ICU and the agony of him being unable to breath on his own or talk with us. My summer started out thinking about making the baseball team and ended with learning how to restart my life without my father.
As the years passed, it didn’t get any easier. When the calendar would change to July, my thoughts would turn to my father. Memories would race through my mind. I would think about the times that he missed out and I didn’t have with him in my life: the first shave, the graduations, the father-son talks, the holidays. Depression and anger gripped my life and held a tight hold over me. I was angry at him that he had died. I was angry that cancer took him away from me. I was angry that I didn’t have my father to help me through the stages of life. The more angry that I got, the more depressed that I got. The anger and depression came to a breaking point eight years later when my oldest sister died from lymphoma.
The anger and depression further escalated, and I had no way of dealing with it. It was my final year of college and my life seemed to be out of control. I had stopped attending church because I felt like it had betrayed me after my father and sister died. I turned 21 and I began spending time in bars with my college acquaintances. I tried to dull my pain; but it didn’t seem to help.
I graduated from college and began my new life on my own. However, I still faced a difficult road ahead because I had no way to deal with the depression and the anger. But soon my life would begin to change when I met someone, while at work, who would help me take that first step on the road to recovery. We both had difficult circumstances in our childhood that we had to overcome. She had lost her mother a few years prior; and together we helped each other cope with the loss of a parent. All the while, she also encouraged me to re-examine my faith in God and it took me back to church. This was not the traditional denominational church that I was use from my childhood. It focused more on a relationship with God and His Son, Jesus Christ. It was in the relationship and the studying of what God tells us in His word that I began to see my life change.
I am no longer angry. I am no longer living a state of depression and sadness. By studying what God’s word says, I learned that my father’s sickness was a part of the devil’s plan to steal, kill and destroy his life; and take away the good memories my father had created. My faith in God, His Son and His word has strengthened me and keeps me strong on days like today.
Now when July 29th approaches, my attitude is much different. The heartache and pain has given way to peace and joy. Peace in knowing that the disease may have destroyed his body; but it didn’t take away his spirit. I have joy knowing that he wanted me as his son and convinced my mother to have just ‘one more baby’!! I focus on the good memories we shared and the positive influence he had on so many other people. Until this day, I have found no one who has a bad word to say about him.
It is worth noting here that the wonderful woman who started out with me as a colleague at work. But we soon became very close friends. And on September 11, 1999 she became my wife and we are celebrating twenty years of marriage. Thank you, Lord Jesus for putting my baby in my life and helping me see that I didn’t have to live with depression and anger.
When I look in the mirror these days I don’t see the same person I use to see when I was in my twenties. I see a person who really has to watch what she eats and work out at least 4 to 5 times a week. And even though I work out and eat the best that I can, I still have never got to that miracle size 0 or 00 that everyone is loving these days. I weigh the same but it seems like my weight has shifted so I have to work out those areas harder than before because clothes fit differently. No matter how many creams I use on my face or weights I lift, I still get caught up in that fight for trying to look young and youthful. If you are over the age of 25 the media bombards you on news ads, movies, etc. that you have to do this or do that to get that youthful glow that your daughter or niece has at the age of 14. I have not had any children so I can’t blame them on having to keep my tummy toned and thighs tight. I still have to work out to keep myself toned and it’s not the dancing only, I have to work out with weights and do leg lifts and it’s not easy.
It’s what’s inside that matters, right?
Yes, it’s what’s inside that matters, however, what people first see is me not my guts. I have often heard people say that when they are over 40 that they don’t care anymore and if they want the gray hair to show or those wrinkles to appear that it doesn’t matter because they feel free. I have never considered myself beautiful so it’s really odd that I am doing videos and talking about fashion and beauty. I think that what matters is that I love myself because God made me. And I must admit that it has not been easy for me to be an influencer because I have always been my worst critic and enemy.
I created this blog as an outlet for my passion beyond work. I feel good that I have succeeded at that goal. My blog is not about popularity because this girl has never been voted Ms. Popular in life, not even by my family. When I fall down I have always managed to get myself up and dust off my britches to start again. It’s that never quit factor.
Resilience and Stamina
Reflection: When I was asked if I had any children, I said no not now. The first thing out of this person’s mouth was, “that’s a shame.” What is shameful about it? That I don’t fit the status quo? I know that people assume I hate kids and that’s why I don’t have them. You don’t know my story, and the point is you don’t have to know my story because we should treat everyone with kindness and love. Yes, the kindness and love seem to be forgotten and in today’s world. It’s making assumptions about everyone’s life when you really don’t know who they are in any shape or form. I have never fit into a specific click, status quo, with the cool kids, group, race, or club. Even in my childhood days even if I tried I never fit in.
I use to think that only certain people really had true joy and better opportunities. We have a choice and it is so simple to say F###! it and screw the whole universe, but God sees no benefit in that for us. God gives me a choice and it’s up to me to make that decision to do the work on the inside so the outside projects how I truly feel.
What do I mean?
I have been reading, “The Power of I AM,” by Joel Olsteen. This book has been very therapeutic for me. Having a positive outlook on life is not popular and too much negativity can really bog you down. If I had looked at some of the reviews on Amazon I wouldn’t have purchased the book but Joel is one of my favorite people to listen to and I looked past all that.
The Power of I AM: Two Words That Will Change Your Life Today
I am somebody and I do count. When we talk down about ourselves, we give place to the enemy because the devil doesn’t want you to live your best life. No matter what economic status or title you may have God sees us all the same in His eyes.
We have so many reasons to throw in the towel, but that would be too easy. As long as there’s breath in your body you have a chance to change and be the best you possible.
Formed billions of years ago from the pits of the earth, so few diamonds have survived to reach the surface, and not all of them have the quality to pass the diamond market standard. Diamonds are not only valued for their sparkle and clarity. They are also durable – in fact, the hardest matter known to man – and because they are invulnerable to deterioration, they can last a long time, making an ideal material for heirlooms. Their clarity is also among the qualities that make this stone so precious.
When a diamond is given as a gift, it means that the recipient means a lot to the giver. If you are planning on buying a diamond engagement ring for your partner, you should at least have a basic understanding of how precious stones are graded. The 4 Cs, which are, Cut, Clarity, Colour and Carat are universally used to grade diamonds, and with that in mind, here are a few tips when looking for clarity in a diamond.
Clarity A flawless diamond has no inclusions, whereas a diamond that has inclusions will appear slightly duller, and the clarity does affect the shine of the stone. If you are looking for that perfect ring, The Diamond Jewellery Studio has a selection of pink diamond engagement rings, along with an extensive catalogue of stunning diamond rings to suit every budget. Of course, you will need to know her taste in jewellery, as well as her ring size, but once you have those, online browsing will give you a virtually limitless number of quality diamond rings to view.
Two Types of Flaws There are two types of imperfections with diamonds, namely: blemishes, which affect the diamond’s surface, such as cracks or chips, while the other imperfection is called an inclusion, and is an internal flaw. Both of these flaws have a direct impact on a stone’s value, yet slight flaws are not really visible to the naked eye, and for many people, that is the preferred type of stone, due to the lower cost.
Flawed Diamonds That Can’t Be Seen With The Naked EyeImage Source: Pixabay
If you placed a flawless diamond next to one with inclusions, you would not be able to tell the difference simply by looking at them, so rather than spending a lot of money on a flawless stone, consider one with a few inclusions, which will cost much less and still have that sparkle that diamonds are known for. You can find informative articles online if you want to know about the clarity grading system, which every potential buyer should read.
Diamond Clarity Chart At the top end of the scale, a flawless diamond is graded as FL, while at the other end of the scale, a badly blemished stone is classed as I3. Diamonds that are graded as VS2 have inclusions or blemishes that are not visible to the naked eye, and are a popular choice for diamond engagement rings. If you are soon to pop the question to your partner, search online for an established jeweller, who would have an extensive catalogue of top-quality diamond engagement rings to suit every budget.
How Is Clarity Grading Carried Out?Image Source: Pixabay
A qualified gemologist examines the diamond using a 10x powered microscope, and grades the stone according to his findings. The gradings are as follows:
* FL – No inclusions or blemishes * IF – No Internal flaws, with minute surface blemishes * VVS1 & VVS2 – Very, very slight inclusions * VS1 & VS2 – Very slight inclusions * SI1 & SI2 – Slight inclusions and blemishes that are visible to the naked eye * I1 & 12 – Obvious inclusions that are noticeable to the naked eye
Once you have familiarised yourself with the 4Cs of diamond grading, you can begin to browse online jewellers in search of the perfect engagement ring with some confidence.
The Saint Louis Blues are the 2019 Stanley Cup Champions!!
For most people, that means nothing. You may be thinking, who are the Blues?!? What is the Stanley Cup?!? But if you are a Blues fan, winning the Cup means everything. For the first time in its 52 year history, the Blues won the National Hockey League championship. Hockey may not be America’s pastime or its favorite sport, but you would never know that if you lived in or around Saint Louis. Saint Louis is often described as CardinalNation, but right now, you would have to say that the Cardinals are taking the backseat to the Blues.
photo from St. Louis Blues Facebook page
I will admit, I am not the biggest Blues fans. Heck, I am not the biggest hockey fan. Growing up, I watched the baseball and football Cardinals on TV and knew nothing about the Blues. It was not until I moved to Saint Louis more than twenty years ago that I learned about hockey. I did not know the difference between a floor check and a cross-check, but that didn’t stop me from going to my first game with my future wife.
I would describe myself as a casual fan. I don’t live and breath sports like some of my friends. I don’t subscribe to the cable packages so that I can watch all of the games. I haven’t even been to a game in more than ten years. But when it comes down to it, I am a hometown fan. I will check the sports headlines to see if Blues won or not, and then check the standings to see how the playoff chase is going. I don’t keep up with the players and their stats and how they compare with the teams.
And this year was no different. I knew that the Blues were supposed to be a great team. But when they fired their coach and were sitting in last place I knew that this was not going to be their season. But still, I would check the headlines for the scores and check the standings. I noticed something different after the first of the year. The headlines mentioned a Blues winning streak that had taken them out of last place and moving into playoff contention. The winning streak topped out at eleven and suddenly people were talking about making the playoffs. All the while, the people of Saint Louis never doubted their chances.
When the playoff began, the Blues were the hottest team in the League although many people (outside of Saint Louis) doubted if they could win the Stanley Cup. By making the playoffs, I turned up my attention to the team. I always want my hometown team to win it all, even if I didn’t know the difference between a Parayko and a Pietrangelo. I began to watch the playoff previews, to learn more about the players and I realized how special this team was.
And, after four tough series, the Blues prevailed and are now Stanley Cup champions. And Saint Louis could not be happier. I never knew how much Saint Louis loved hockey and their Blues. An estimated 500,000 turned out for the Championship parade in downtown Saint Louis.
photo from KMOV Channel 4 – the rally under the Gateway Arch
I will be sharing more about the Blues and their run for the Stanley Cup in another post, coming soon. If you are a Blues fan, let me know what was your greatest memories of the championship and what it means to you.
Today’s world is filled with many so much noise that it can be difficult to hear anything clearly. From our social media outlets to the countless TV stations to the people we come in contact throughout the day. It can seem impossible to know who is correct or which one you need to be listening to. One question that I often hear from Christians ask, “With so much noise, how do I when God is speaking to me?” Our Pastor has a very simple answer to this question. God can speak to you every day. All you need to do is spend time reading and studying His word that is found in the Bible. But learning what the Bible is saying to you can be a daunting task if you do not how to study it effectively.
Sunday, June 16th is Father’s Day and what a better gift to give than God’s word. I often hear friends ask questions like, “How am I going to raise these kids? This is such a hard time to raise a family? How does God tell me how to build a solid relationship with my wife? The answers are in God’s word. If we read the Bible and allow God to give us wisdom and advice, He will do it.
If you have often struggled with reading the Bible, the He Reads Truth Biblemay be what you need for that breakthrough. With 125 full-color charts, infographics, and illustrations; 17 full-color timelines; 21 full-color maps, this Bible can help bring clarity and revelation as you read and study God’s word. There are also two sewn-in to the binding ribbon bookmarks for you to mark your place while reading. It features a one-year reading plan for the entire Bible and a curated reading plan for each book of the Bible. The curated plans give you an opportunity to study related scriptures and passages in other parts of the Bible that provide further context and explanation of what you are reading. This Bible uses the Christian Standard Bible text, which captures the Bible’s original meaning without sacrificing clarity, which will help you read, understand, and share God’s word more effectively.
Released on May 1, the He Reads Truth Bible was put together by the He Reads Truth group. According to information provided with the Bible, this worldwide community of men reads God’s Word together every day. Founded in 2015, the group invites men to engage with scriptures through daily reading plans and devotionals. Although the Bible is edited by men and geared to men, I believe women would also benefit from reading this version of the Bible. However, there is also a She Reads Truth version. Looking through the more than 2,300 pages of this Bible, I realize that I have the tools right in front of me to take that next step. The text on the page is a bit on the small side, but don’t let that stop you from getting this Bible and hearing what God is saying today. The Bible retails for $49.99, but different online stores have various prices.
Why read God’s word?
To get to know God and have a personal relationship with Him, I know I have to read his word. I am a Christian! However, when I am asked about my faith, do I really know Him? Well, this is a great way to get to know Him and have one-on-one time with God. Our Lord talks to His children through His word and what better way to start than with the He Reads Truth Bible.
Why a book instead of a tablet or phone?
I also use my iPhone and an iPad to read the Bible. Those pieces of technology are awesome, I know that there is nothing like having a book in my hands that you can make notes and highlight as I please.
GIVEAWAY
Here is your chance to win your own copy of this amazing Bible, with Smyth-sewn binding and Bible Serif typeface. In collaboration with LEV3L Digital, we are giving away ONE copy. To enter the giveaway, simply leave a comment below, stating why you would like to receive this Bible. Then, one commenter will be selected at random, to receive his or her own copy. But hurry, the giveaway closes at 11:59 pm (CT) Saturday, June 22, 2019. The winner will be announced on Sunday, June 23, 2019.
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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