Thanking my Lord and Savior for everlasting life. Thankful for being surrounded by my hubby and my family.
“I thank you from my heart, and I will never stop singing your praises, my Lord and my God.” Ps. 30:12 (CEV)
Thanksgiving Day is a time to reflect back on what I am thankful for. Thank God each and everyday for health, family, abundance of prosperity, and much more.
What about creating a list?
It’s so good to sit down and make a list. When you make of list of what you are thankful for, you can always go back to it for encouragement and even add more to it.
Thanksgiving is about the food, right?
No, it’s not just about the food. A lot is going on in America and the World right now, and we have so much on our prayer agendas to put before the Lord. I was searching for more information about the protest over the Dakota pipeline, and adding that on my prayer list. Praying for the Indian nation.
With today being Thanksgiving and thinking about the origins of the holiday, I remembered back to what I was taught in history class about the Pilgrims and the Indians. I didn’t know it was the Wampanoags nation, nor did I know much about these encounters. It is a shame that the history books then did not more provide the students with the full story. As a child I would read about that first thanksgiving and would watch cartoons during the holiday that depicted peace and unity.
However, I was not taught that the peace agreement between the Wampanoag nation and the Pilgrims did not last very long. On the Manataka American Indian Council website I read, “The Real Story of Thanksgiving,” the relationship between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag nation turned from peace to hatred. There was once peace but it didn’t even last 50 years. the The Pilgrims looked at the Wampanoag nation as teachers who taught them how to sustain the land they came to on the Mayflower, In contrast shortly after the peace agreement the relationship deteriorated in a downward spiral.
As a person of color researching her ancestry, I am disheartened because the story of Thanksgiving is not an entirely happy as some may have thought. Most of the time we only read one side of the story, but it is important that we take the time to read and study the whole story from all viewpoints.
I recently watched an American Experience (PBS) documentary about the Puritans. I don’t want to spoil it for you and give you all the highlights.However, I found it very interesting and thought-provoking. It made me want to learn more. The documentary is an hour and fifty four minutes so grab a cup of tea and let me know what you think afterwards.
Knowledge is power. Thanksgiving is not just another day.
A resource I plan to read:
“Invasion of American” by Francis Jennings on Amazon.com
Have a Blessed Thanksgiving and remember that if you are not with your loved ones or friends remember that Jesus loves you and you are special to Him and to us here at
BubblingwithEleganceandGrace.com
It is hard to believe that it has been ten years since our favorite beagle came running into our life. Back in November 2006; a runaway beagle had been rescued by a friend of a colleague from work. However, the friend and her family could not keep him because they already had three beagles of their own who didn’t like the new addition to their family. The friend was desperate to find a new home for him. She contacted her neighbors, her family and her friends, one of which was our colleague. Our colleague talked let us know that he was available because at the time, we wanted to have a second dog in the family. Not sure how it would go, we met the lady and her family and the beagle. But once we meet him, we knew we wanted to add him to our family.
On November 15, 2006; Giovanni David – “GIO” – came home with us. Needless to say, our life has never been the same since. Nor has it been quite either.
The many faces of Gio!
The early days with Gio were touch and go. He was a runaway dog from the streets that needed to learn how to love and how to be discipled. He could not be trusted in the house by himself. He would scratch up the walls, he would leave us presents in odd places and he would bark all the time. We recruited the help of a trainer to see what could be done. After she spent only 90 minutes with him, he was now staying in a crate when were gone, he stopped leaving the presents and he started to show us love. Through tough love and discipline, he is now a sweet and lovable; but still very loud beagle. And we would not have it any other way.
True to his beagle nature, Gio is called to the wild and wants to be outside any opportunity he can. No, he is not chasing rabbits, instead he is often in hot pursuit of the squirrels who call our backyard home. Gio is chasing them up the tree, across the yard and any which way he came. He is doing all he can to catch one of them. And I know with his determination that he just might do it.
If being outside is Gio’s number one love, then eating would be a close second. Gio is always ready for food. He often reminds us when it is time to eat. We see him looking at his Snoopy watch; getting ready for breakfast, lunch and dinner. And my goodness, don’t be a minute late from the regularly scheduled meal; he will let you know. He will bark at you, he will nudge you and will not leave you alone until you give him the food. He is also the King of Treats in the house. Once we finish our dinner, he is ready for his treats. It could be one of his biscuits, or it could be baby carrots (yes, carrots) or even nuts. Oh don’t forget the cheese. He loves him some cheese. It doesn’t matter the kind – hard cheese or shredded, Italian or Colby Jack. He will eat it all. He can hear the crinkling of the plastic wrapper in the refrigerator and he will come running.
Gio waiting for a treat (or two, or possibly even three or four).
Gio is a super-excited beagle and has a strong attitude at times. Okay, all the time. When we come home from work or church and we let him out of his crate; it is a barking fest until he gets outside and takes care of his business. He is also in hot pursuit of those squirrels to make sure they get out of his backyard. Then when we come back inside, he knows it is time to eat. And he won’t stop the barking until you give him the food. Sometimes I wonder who is in charge of this household.
Trying to get Gio to focus
Just as much as Gio loves to play hard and also sleeps hard too. When his squirrel chasing duties are done for the day; he will snuggle in bed, cover up in his blankets and snore l louder than any human that I know. It is also so sweet to know, when we go to the living room and read our Bible Chapter; GIo will come up there, laying on the carpet right next to us. And when we finish, he is ready to go back on his own bed.
Gio laying next to us while we are ready our daily Bible chapter.
Please join with me in wishing Gio a very happy birthday.
I pray your week has been great. February is upon us and during this month of Valentine’s Day; I wanted to write a few posts that focus on marriage. My hubby and I have been married for sixteen and a half years; and while we do not claim to be marriage experts, we wanted to share some of our moments that make our marriage special.
Saturday morning breakfast is one of those special times for us. We start our weekend with great breakfast and great conversation. We typically stay up late on Friday night, so we sleep a little later than usual. By the time we get up, we are ready to eat and start our day.
My hubby is the chef in the house and he makes the breakfast for us. Depending on our cravings and how hungry we are, we may have a mushroom and spinach omelet and a bagel with peanut butter; or possibly a bowl of granola and fresh fruit; or even a mixed berry smoothie with protein powder. While we are eating, we start to plan our weekend. My hubby may be off to work or off to get his hair cut and run a few errands. Either way, we want to make sure we start the day together. If he is not heading off to work or getting his hair cut, breakfast can last for an hour or more. We talk about what we want to accomplish for the day; whether it is cleaning the house, completing other around-the-house tasks, or exercising.We also want to plan time to read from our Bible Reading Plan; practice the piano, or if we are planning to go church in the evening. The conversation is not just about completing these tasks. We talk about what is on our mind. It may be related to our jobs, or the message that our pastor is teaching on at Church; or the current book we are reading. Sometimes the conversation is light-hearted and filled with many laughs, while other times it is serious and filled with a cry or two. Either way, it is a great opportunity for us to enjoy some quiet time with each other; without any distractions from the outside world. In a world that can be hectic at times, it is wonderful to have this time together so that we can draw closer and enjoy each other. I cherish this time we have together.
All the while we are eating, planning, talking, laughing and / or crying, I am having a cup of hot tea. Hot tea has been a part of my life for a long while. Before my hubby and I were married, my daddy would bring a cup of tea before I went to bed at night. And now, my hubby has carried on that tradition. I will have a cup before bed, but I will also get a cup in the morning with my breakfast. At night, I enjoy tea that will help me relax and unwind. But in the morning, I will go for a tea that will energize my day; like Japanese Matcha Green Tea by Matcha Organics. This tea taste very soft and smooth and provides so many health benefits. It will give me a boost if I am planning to exercise or will help me stay mentally sharp if I am planning to finish some house work. It is filled with so many antioxidants that I like drinking it for all that it does for my body.
JT enjoying a cup of Japanese Matcha Green Tea while having breakfast with her hubby.
No breakfast would be complete without our puppies joining us. Gio and Vinny are close at hand whenever we are eating. They have their specific spot. Gio is under the table, while Vinny is next to the table. Gio is a smaller dog that acts like he is a big dog. And Vinny is a big dog that acts like he is a smaller dog. If my hubby and I are eating early, they will be getting breakfast after we finish ours. So here, they are trying to remain patient as we finish our meal.
Gio (the Beagle) and Vinny (the Collie) waiting for their breakfast, as we eat, talk, plan and enjoy the company of each other.
Saturday morning breakfast is a special time for my hubby and I because it allows us to connect and draw closer together. Every married couple needs a time like this in order for their marriage to flourish and prosper. If you and your spouse have a time like this, tell us what it is in the comments section below. We would love to hear about it.
DISCLAIMER: Bubbling With Elegance And Grace purchased the Japanese Matcha Green Tea at a discounted price in order to write this review. We received no monetary compensation and all opinions are strictly our own.
This is an open letter to the Retail Industry
of the United States!
Today we, as Americans, honor the life and remember the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It is a solemn day because Dr. King lived his life to fight the oppression and the racism that plagued America during the 1950s and 1960s. He gave speeches, lead marches and even went to prison in an effort to break this curse that had a stronghold on the American culture from the beginning of slavery. He had a dream where people of all colors and backgrounds would come together and live in peace and harmony. Unfortunately, King’s life ended prematurely by an assassin’s bullet in April 1968 while he was in Memphis, fighting for the rights of striking sanitation workers.
Room 306: The room where Martin Luther King stayed and the balcony where he was assassinated.
Today is not a day when you, as the retailers of America, need to have specials deals and sales in your stores. It is not a day for a “Holiday Sale!” You do not need to mail fliers that are labeled as “Martin Luther King Day Specials.” You do not need to send emails with “Martin Luther King Day Coupons.” I don’t need another excuse to save 50 percent on that winter coat that you could not sale over Christmas, or during the New Year’s clearance sale.
With the racism and oppression that is so deeply rooted in American culture, it is a mockery to King’s Dream and his fight to encourage people to head to the mall to find the latest deals. We, as Americans, do not need to be shopping. We need to come together to break these strongholds and find a way where Dr. King’s Dream is no longer a dream, but a reality.
We need to be going to Libraries, Museums or other Cultural Institutions where King celebrations are being held. if people of all colors and backgrounds could sit down and find the thread that binds us together as Americans. It is a day to come together in peace and not finding the pair of shoes at a rock-bottom price.
The future of America is dependent on working and living together as one America, not how much we can save on flannel bed sheets.
Hey Retailers, save the specials and sales for another day. What about Groundhog’s Day? How about that day?
If the Groundhog says we are having six more weeks of winter, put the winter coats on sale. If the Groundhog says spring is on the way, the put the garden supplies on sale.
But not today! Not Martin Luther King Day! His life and his legacy is much too important to be used with a clearance event at your store.
“This is not a black holiday; it is a people’s holiday,” Coretta Scott King after President Ronald Reagan signed the King Holiday Bill into law on Nov. 2, 1983.
Today we, as Americans, honor the life and remember the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It is a solemn day because Dr. King lived his life to fight the oppression and the racism that plagued America during the 1950s and 1960s. He gave speeches, lead marches and even went to prison in an effort to break this curse that had a stronghold on the American culture from the beginning of slavery. He had a dream where people of all colors and backgrounds would come together and live in peace and harmony. Unfortunately, King’s life ended prematurely by an assassin’s bullet in April 1968 while he was in Memphis, fighting for the rights of striking sanitation workers.
JT standing in front of The Lorraine Motel, where Martin Luther King was assassinated.
With the racism and oppression that is so deeply rooted in American culture, we need to come together to break these strongholds and find a way where Dr. King’s Dream is no longer a dream, but a reality. Today, hopefully all Americans are reflecting on the Dr. King’s fight and struggles to make America a country that was described in the Declaration of Independence, that all men are created equal, regardless of their skin color. We all have a part to play in this together. Racism is not a black problem or a white problem. It is a spirit problem that needs to be broken; and it will take prayer, intercession and effort from everyone.
We need to sit down with people of all colors and backgrounds and find the thread that binds us together as Americans. We all bleed red. We often look at reasons why we cannot get along or look at our differences to keep us a part. But, I know that if we sit down and took the time to communicate, we could find at least one or two things that we have in common. It could be something as simple as sports.
Many Americans, no matter their background, have a passion for a specific sport and claim a favorite team. I challenge you to sit down with someone who does not look like you and see if you can find that common thread. It may be that you have the same favorite team. The both of you might been life-long fans of the Pittsburg Steelers. Or, it might be that you dislike the same team. You might have a strong distaste for the New England Patriots. There is nothing like bonding a friendship over your passion for football: talking about your favorite players, last year’s draft picks, last week’s game, or talking about how much you despise the team who won the last year’s Super Bowl.
Give it a chance. We are not much different if we take the time to find the similarities. So often, we only look at the surface. But if we take the time and dig a little deeper, you will find that bond that can bring you together to a lasting and enduring friendship. And then Dr. King’s Dream will be come lasting reality.
I pray that you are having a wonderful and peaceful Christmas Holiday Season! Christmas is my favorite time of the year. My wife and I decorate our home with four trees and put up lights on the outside. With all the Christmas hype, are you feeling a Christmas Letdown? In speaking with people and how they describe their holiday, this is a very true emotion felt by many people.
JT standing next to one of our Christmas Trees
The buildup to Christmas is months in the making. You start seeing retailers advertise for Christmas in July specials. And then once Halloween is over, the gift-giving season is in full-swing. Every store you go into, or every website you click through, they are trying to sell you something. Black Friday Steals, Doorbusters Deals, Cyber Monday Deals! It’s everywhere! Retailers are telling you that you need to buy a gift for everyone, from your mailman to your co-workers, to your long lost cousin Jimmy who you haven’t seen in twenty years.
Christmas Day arrives. You have your gatherings, whether with family or friends. You distribute your gifts, and partake in a feast (or two) and have a sweet treat (or two). And then before you know it, it is over. Just that fast, all the hoopla is over and Christmas is done for another year. It’s time to start planning for New Years. And the Christmas LetDown starts! Why? With the months of planning and purchasing gifts, preparing meals and organizing gatherings; it is all over in a matter of few hours. Here are a few quick tips to avoid the LetDown and to be able to enjoy more of Christmas.
Celebrate the True Meaning of Christmas With retailers forcing their agenda of purchasing a gifts for everyone; you must step back from the commercialization and shift your focus on why you are celebrating Christmas. My wife and I celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, first and foremost. Without Jesus, there would be no Christmas and no gift-giving season. If you are a Christian, Jesus should be the center of every part of your life, including Christmas. As Christmas Day approaches, take some time to read about the Birth of Jesus and reflect how His birth forever changed the world and forever changed humanity. It is an amazing story that should never be forgotten through the deluge of gifts. Many churches often have a Christmas celebration. Find one in your area and be sure to attend. This will help keep the true message of Christmas in the foreground.
Make Christmas Last More Than One Day Christmas is only one day on the calendar – December 25th. Many people plan their celebration for that day, or maybe Christmas Eve. Since the holiday is on a random day during the week, many people only have that one day to celebrate before going back to work. And with New Years Eve the next week, people turn their attention to the next holiday. The key is to make Christmas last longer is to spread out the festivities. If you are planning a gathering for friends, try for the weekend before. If your family is out-of-town, you can visit them on a weekend in January. Another thing that I like to do is to continue saying “Merry Christmas” beyond December 25. If you have many people who you are giving gifts to, then spread out the distribution throughout the entire month of December. If you have more than one gift for a spouse or a child, then give the gifts to them over a course of days. All of these things will keep the Christmas Spirit alive and burning in your heart.
Avoid the Hoopla and Enjoy the Season The Christmas season is a fast-paced ride and it can be quite overwhelming. The key to really enjoying the Season is to step back, slow down and enjoy every moment. If you are buying gifts for friends and family, be sure to make a list of who you are buying for, how much you want to spend for that person and then start searching for the gift as early as possible. Don’t wait until the last moment before going out and finding the gift. It will make the buying process less stressful. If you are making home-made gifts – cookies, lotions or crafty items, make sure you have all of your supplies and start the process early. Then as the Christmas approaches, you are already finished and you can sit back and enjoy visiting with family and friends.
The Christmas LetDown can easily set in when we get caught up in the craziness that other people have placed on Christmas. If you step back and remember why you are celebrating and learn how to avoid the rush and hoopla; then Christmas will never be a burden again. You have to put your mind to it and make an effort to follow through with these tips.
Let me know if you have felt a Christmas LetDown and what you did to do to combat it. Or if any of these tips have helped you through the Season.
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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