The Star of Bethlehem

My appreciation for God, my life, my study of Scripture--none of those will ever be the same again. I mean that from the depths of my soul.

From the Producer of The Passion of the Christ, Stephen McEveety, comes The Star of Bethlehem.


This documentary takes us on Attorney Rick Larson's journey from a Christmastime yard display of the Wise Men to some very incredible and powerful discoveries the sky has been holding--and we are able to witness the phenomenal poetry that is Christ's birth that God set in motion when He first laid out the universe.

It might sound melodramatic for me to say that this hour-long documentary was nearly as powerful to me as was The Passion of the Christ, however, it is the truth.

And remember when you saw The Passion of the Christ, how quiet and still you became? Do you remember how deep in your soul you felt Christ's love?

This is like that.

The exception is this is not about Christ's pain and suffering. This is about God's majesty. His Power. His creativity.

While it starts off slow, it certainly ends with a bang. A big, cuts-like-a-knife emotional bang.

And I can't give it away.

It's about The Star of Bethlehem, what the skies looked like around Christ's conception and birth as well as when the Magi's came from the East. It continues to astound with communication from the sky at the hour Christ cried out, "My God, my God, why have you foresaken me?"

You can buy the DVD here. It is only $11.85 or 6 for $60. (I seriously think I'm buying six as Christmas gifts.)

Here is a 2ish minute promo video, but it does not do justice to the whole story.

You can also visit BethlehemStar.net and read for yourself. But that's really not as effective as watching the footage.


Final note. I'm having a hard time labeling this as a review. It's an immense blessing that right now, I'm having trouble comprehending. It's that big.

Please. See for yourself. Then come back and talk to me about it.

Tackle it Tuesday--Kitchen Counter Clutter

You can see all of my Tackles here.

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Wordless Wednesday--Christmas Ornament

Rolled Canvas Giveaway!!

Digital Room would like one of my readers to win a 16x20 rolled canvas! Keep it for yourself or give it as a gift!

If you've never thought about a canvas print, here's your chance. (I LOVE them)

I will draw one winner on the morning of November 23, 2009. Good luck!



To enter: Leave a comment on this blog post telling me what you would do with your rolled canvas print from Digital Room if you win.

Extra entries: (Leave an extra and separate comment on this post for your extra entries!)

1. Twitter this:

Win a 16x20 rolled canvas print from @michpendergrass. Enter by 11-23. http://bit.ly/2mRVSO #giveaway

2. Follow this blog.

3. Follow me on twitter: MichPendergrass

4. Blog about this giveaway and link back to this post.


* * *

Legal Stuff:

Giveaway Prize: (1) 16x20” Rolled Canvas for One Lucky Winner

Size: 16x20 rolled canvas

Shipping: FREE UPS Ground Shipping in the US

Eligibility: Limited to US Residents.

The Artist in Me

Valparaiso University Department of Art held their annual (and free!) Draw-a-thon yesterday which focuses on alternative drawing processes.

The first session was Flashlight Drawing, but I can't talk about that until I receive my disc of artwork the instructor is sending. (It was my favorite session!) But if you look here you might get a taste of what's to come.

We did a surrealist method called Exquisite Corpses in which a piece of paper is folded in thirds and artists draw either a head, a torso, or feet without having seen the rest of the drawing then pass the sketch to the next artist until it is a wild creature.

Here are a few examples:

This is a head the instructor drew.
Here's a horse head I drew.

I drew Ghost Lady and she happens to be my favorite, so I brought her home and I'm going to frame her and put her in my office.

I think she has a story to tell.But of course, I'll have to tell it for her since she has no mouth. (There is a layered meaning here.)



I learned that I want an art studio. And maybe, even if I'm reluctant to admit it because I don't really believe it, maybe I'm a little bit of an artist on the inside.

Ringling Bros. Zing, Zang, Zoom! Part 2

See part one here.


The elephants were my favorite. I took a LOT more photos but I'll try and limit myself here. It could get out of control.
These people scared me--I can balance, but I don't know about that high up!


I didn't expect the artistic aspect of the show!

Oh and the tigers. Full of awesomeness.


Zane loved it when the cat appeared to go after the trainer. He takes after his father.
I love the elephants. Have I mentioned that?
Zane stuffed his pocket full of the ticker tape!

Recap.

Our happy friends Sarah and Mark. And then there's Zane. Before:

Mark, Sarah, and Zane After:What? You can't see the excitement on my child's face? You are totally blind.





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You can totally afford to take your family with the discount code offered by MomCentral.

4 tickets for $44

What a bargain! Click here to find your city and then at Ticketmaster enter the code MOM for your deal.


The Chicago event has two venues:

Allstate Arena in Rosemont, IL: November 5-15, 2009 Click here for tickets.

United Center in Chicago, IL: November 17-29, 2009 Click here for tickets.

Not in Chicago? Click here for a schedule of the Ringling Bros. Zing, Zang, Zoom tour. The MomCentral coupon code will work for your city!

You Capture--Real Life

The You Capture theme for this week was Real Life.

I gotta be honest. Real life right now is a mess of blessings packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, poured into my lap.

If I had to tell of one complete good year in my life, one full year of contentment, one full year of no pain or no suffering, I'm afraid I couldn't.

Until now.

Something is different about 2009 for me, for us. I might not have dared whisper this idea, this hope, at the beginning.

It even feels different in my heart. My soul feels content.


I go to sleep every night wrapped in the arms of the most amazing man alive--and I get to wake up there, too. No more worrying about middle of the night fuel tanker explosions. Thank you God.
And my toes warmed with unconditional love.

We dared to dream the impossible dream. We fought to find a way we could all three be home with each other 24/7, because that's when we're complete-when we're together. But in the back of my mind, I didn't really believe it would ever happen. God had other plans, though. So we're here, at Inspiration Wood. We're home.


Homeschooling.

A fire on a frosty morning in an amazing house.

A beautiful view.

A storehouse of hard work flowing from summer's bounty.

A restored relationship with Phil's daughter. No more tears of pain and sadness. Only joy. Complete and total joy. And our first grandson.

There was a hint of it early on, but like most times, I didn't believe it was possible to be blessed.

You Capture: Real Life

Wordless Wednesday--Dried Chiles

Tackle it Tuesday--Hanging Stuff

You can see all of my Tackles here.

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This week. I hung things up. Alright. Phil hung things up. But I stood nearby handing him screws, drills, levels, and pencils. So I helped. And I told him where to put things.

I don't have before pictures this week. Mostly because pictures of blank walls would be, well, stupid.

Stuff on the downstairs powder room walls.

A hook with no lantern.
A mirror and a sign in the hall. Phil promptly informed me that now he has to stare at his crotch every time he walks down the hall.
I bought a frame that's too small for the photo I intended for it because I have no brain.

Bought the right sized frame for this one, but couldn't figure out a wall to put it on.
Coffee for the kitchen.
Sunflowers. Because I live in the Sunflower house.
More downstairs powder room stuff. That wrapped canvas? Compliments of ZaZa Gallery. (Blog coming soon about the awesomeness of it!) I need 3 more for the powder room and more for other rooms.

Inspiration for the hallway. Other than Phil's crotch in the mirror.

Reminder for the dining room. Because I forget and argue.

Reminder in the living room. Because God is unbelievable and He makes me work really hard. And I still have a hard time believing Him.

I did not take down my cute little jack-o-lanterns.
And I made Pineapple Pork.

Ringling Bros. Zing Zang Zoom! Part 1

Sarah, Mark, and Zane before the circus. Notice how excited my child is. Yeah. Nice.






The Ringmaster had these sweet kids in the center ring and when he asked their names and announced Maria--I knew it was my good friend, Toni's bff's daughter Maria!! I started snapping pictures of her like mad...until...


Until the Ringmaster moved Maria from center stage over to my right, then I realized Toni was out there too!!

So Maria levitated Toni. No big deal. I wanna know how it worked. Toni?? Do you know?
Then they came back to their seats and they were in the same row as us! Doh!

The kids loved the dogs (and the dogs were so excited to perform!)


Can you imagine?!



You can totally afford to take your family with the discount code offered by MomCentral.

4 tickets for $44

What a bargain! Click here to find your city and then at Ticketmaster enter the code MOM for your deal.






The Chicago event has two venues:

Allstate Arena in Rosemont, IL: November 5-15, 2009 Click here for tickets.

United Center in Chicago, IL: November 17-29, 2009 Click here for tickets.

Not in Chicago? Click here for a schedule of the Ringling Bros. Zing, Zang, Zoom tour. The MomCentral coupon code will work for your city!

You Capture--Photographer's Choice

You know how I love randomness, so here are my You Capture's for this week's Photographer's Choice.

Patches

Glowing Sunset in our back yard

You Capture: Photographer's Choice

Wordless Wednesday--Morning Moon

A Slow Burn by Mary DeMuth

The CFBA featured book this week is A Slow Burn by Mary DeMuth.

This is the second book in the Defiance, Texas trilogy.

This suspenseful novel is about courageous love, the burden of regret, and bonds that never break. It is about the beauty and the pain of telling the truth. Most of all, it is about the power of forgiveness and what remains when shame no longer holds us captive.



If you would like to read the first chapter of A Slow Burn, go HERE

Nothing Gold Can Stay

Nature's first green is gold

Her hardest hue to hold

Her early leaf's a flower;

But only so an hour.

Then leaf subsides to leaf.

So Eden sank to grief,

So dawn goes down to day.

Nothing gold can stay.

--Robert Frost

You Capture: Autumn

Wordless Wednesday--Autumn Storm

SOOC (Straight out of the camera--no Photoshopping at all.

Tackle It Tuesday--$4 Garage Sale Table!

You can see all of my Tackles here.

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I'd been looking for a craft table, figuring I'd spend $20 or so.
I stopped at my brother's house to visit one morning and when I left, I found this gem just a few houses down. (I called and made him come get it for me!)

The best part? It was only $4.00!!
Then Phil took me to Menard's and I picked out the paint.
And he transformed it into the most awesome craft table ever!
And it even matches the room!

Tackle it Tuesday--New House

You can see all of my Tackles here.

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I haven't participated in Tackle It Tuesdays for quite some time now. Since May, to be exact. And now that I look back on that, I see I can update the remodeling tackles because we're done with a lot more!

We've moved into our new home and I've put most of our belongings in their places.
But things still get cluttered. So here's the new dining room before:


After:
And the new living room before:



And after:
And my laundry room-slash-office before.
After:


Before:
After:

Uprinting Postcard Giveaway!Time's Up!

The winner is Toni!!!

* * *

What would you do with 100 free postcards?

Uprinting.com is offering one of my readers this very thing. All you have to do is tell me what you'd use your cards for.

Do you have a business? Would you use them as a calling card to hand out at conferences or blogger events? Baby announcements? Thank you cards? The choices are limitless! Leave your answer in the comments for your entry.

Want more than one entry?
(Don't forget to come back and leave a comment for each additional entry you make!)

1. Follow me on Twitter and tweet: Win 100 postcards (no strings attached) from @uprinting &@michpendergrass http://bit.ly/3JWyhV #giveaway

2. Follow this blog.

3. Write a postcard haiku in the comments.

Winner will be drawn October 28th around noonish central standard time using Random.org.

The legal stuff:

Giveaway Prize: 100 Postcards for One Lucky Winner
Size: 4x6; Paper: 14pt Cardstock Gloss; Printing: Full color both sides
Shipping: FREE UPS Ground Shipping in the US (Canadian residents pay shipping and taxes. Offer not available to residents outside of the US and Canada)
Prize will be awarded by coupon code on November 6, 2009. Keep an eye on your registered e-mail.

Blogger Appreciation Prize:
Hosting Blogger is receiving 100 postcards.

Restrictions:
Free UPS Ground Shipping in the USA. Canadian Residents must Pay Shipping and Taxes. Residents of other countries are not eligible.

Wordless Wednesday

Alton Brown

Ok. So I might like living near Chicago.


Zane is not so much a city-boy. Chip off the old block. My fiercely independent ten year old boy, the one who chides me for saying "I have to go potty" because "potty" embarrasses him and can't I just say bathroom or restroom like everyone else? The one who is starting to not want me to kiss him and hug him and love him when people are around (oh my heart.)

This boy clung for dear life to my hand while crossing Michigan Avenue. He grabbed my hand himself. No prompting. Grabbed it and then held it with both of his and said, "This is a lot of traffic."

And now I want to take him back to Michigan Avenue to play in traffic. I'm only kidding a little. This boy who suckled my breast for his first three years of his life and wouldn't go to anyone except me now thinks I'm uncool and I might need one of the pretty white jackets and a few strong martinis (lemon drop, thank you) to get through what comes next. Who are you to judge if I take him to play in traffic so he'll hold on a tighter for awhile longer?

That's what I thought.

Alton Brown has been a staple in our home for quite some time now. We all love Good Eats and Iron Chef America. When I heard Alton was going to be in Chicago doing a discussion and signing for his newest book <---see the picture and click to see the information at Amazon.com, I knew we had to go. Even though the wait was long and the line was longer, I'm really glad we went.

Dear Alton,

We canceled our trip to Legoland to come see you and it was all Zane's decision. I think you should feel pretty good considering Zane has three billion Legos in his room and has been bugging me to go to Legoland. Borders bookstore is the suck though. They baited us with hope of hearing your discussion then told us if we weren't in the first 100 we couldn't listen. Some crazies waited in line from 1pm til 7pm to see you. Not that you're not worth it, but, uhm, that's a long time. So we got there at 6pm and we HAD to buy your current book, otherwise we couldn't see you either. So we bought it, we would've anyway, but they were mean about it. So really, we probably won't ever go back to Borders (those bullies.)

You, however, redeemed the evening, Mr. Brown.

We sat on the floor of Borders and waited in line, talking to the nicest couple. For hours. Now, Zane is 10 and he's pretty patient, but he was about ready to bail. Good thing the line moved. It was nearing 10pm and he was getting nervous as we neared the front of the line. The way you stopped and took time to look Zane in the eyes and ask him questions made my heart swell. You are such and admirable man. Thank you.

And then you did something I didn't expect. Zane was the first kid you signed a book for, I think. When you left your place behind your signing table and went out into the line to sign all the kid's books so they could go home and get to bed...That was integrity.

Thank you for that display of your character. I'm glad I got to witness it.

~michelle

I wanted to tell the whole world what a good guy you are Alton Brown!

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey--Zing, Zang, Zoom Ticket Giveaway! Time's Up!

And the winner is...

Congrats Christine Aspros!!!
You are the winner!! I'll be emailing you!





* * *

Confession: The only circuses I've been to are the smallish ones that come to town. I've never, ever seen a Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus. Now I get to go! Ahem. I mean, I get to take my son to see the circus!!

MomCentral and Feld Entertainment (y'know? The people who promote the PBR finals! The people I begged to send Phil and I to cover the PBR finals? Yes, them.) have teamed up and are pouring out their generosity on YOU!

4 tickets for $44

What a bargain! Click here to find your city and then at Ticketmaster enter the code MOM for your deal.



But wait! Win a family pack FREE here!

All you have to do is comment here and tell me a favorite circus memory! (or, if you're like me, tell me you were neglected as a child and never got to see the real circus.)


Want extra entries?
(Don't forget to add an extra comment for each of the extras!)

1. Follow me on Twitter and Tweet: Win tickets to see Ringling Bros. in Chicago from @michpendergrass & @momcentral http://bit.ly/z4rzN #giveaway
   
2. You can tweet the above once a day for an entry a day.
   
3. Subscribe to this blog.
4. Write a circus haiku in the comments.
   

Oh and look: You can also visit my friend Toni's blog for more chances to win.


Notes: You will pick up your tickets at the Will Call window with a photo ID. Tickets are good for the November 5th, 7pm show or the November 18th 7pm show, you choose one. I will draw the winner on Wednesday October 28th around noonish using Random.org.

**note as of 11/26, I was informed seating is becoming limited so I must draw my winner October 27th at 9am.


Worried about the treatment of elephants and circus animals? Don't! Click here. And here.



The Chicago event has two venues:

Allstate Arena in Rosemont, IL: November 5-15, 2009 Click here for tickets.

United Center in Chicago, IL: November 17-29, 2009 Click here for tickets.

Not in Chicago? Click here for a schedule of the Ringling Bros. Zing, Zang, Zoom tour. The MomCentral coupon code will work for your city!

Fresh Life Bible Study Series

David C. Cook has been rocking the Christian publishing world lately as far as I'm concerned. Of the last handful of Christian book reviews I've done, David C. Cook has dominated. The Blue Umbrella, Praying In Color, Wounded, Zora and Nicky, Making Crosses (reviews coming soon for these two.)  I'm really enjoying what I've been reading.


Fresh life is a 20 minute a day study.

Awesome!

What I really loved was that the Scripture was right in the text of the study.  No chance for distractions by going back and forth from workbook to Bible. (And I do get distracted like that.)

I loved the notes in the margins and sometimes wished the entire study could be just the margin notes. But y'know, I'm strange like that.

I read through Live Relationally:  Lessons from the Women of Genesis.  Sometimes it seemed a little simplistic.  More "milk" less "meat" if y'know what I mean.  Not that there aren't women who need milk mind you. That's probably why I enjoyed the margin notes so well. More to chew on.

I will probably read through Live Deeply: A Study in the Parables of Jesus as well. These are the two sent to me to review. There are two others in the series.  Live Fearlessly: A Study in the Book of Joshua and Live Intimately: A Study from the Upper Room.

What's also nice about this series is you can definitely study alone but also with a group. I find it irritating when companies (Lifeway) have these great studies that an individual can't afford to do because they'd have to buy a video curriculum that's hundreds of dollars plus the participant's guide. Not very conducive to getting the Word of God out there, as far as I'm concerned. I realize the benefit of group study, but sometimes that's not possible. Like when you move and don't have a church. Or when you just want some quiet time with God.  So kudos to David C. Cook for giving us a Bible study that works with the time constraints of so many women as well as a budget conscious series!

Business Card Giveaway! Time's Up!

The Winner Is: Cornfed Grooves!!
Congrats!

I'll be emailing you!
*Sorry I was late drawing the winner. I had to go out of town unexpectedly yesterday.

So...what would you do with, say, 250 free business cards?

Uprinting.com is offering one of my readers this very thing. All you have to do is tell me what you'd use your cards for. Do you have a business? Would you use them as a calling card to hand out at conferences or blogger events? Leave your answer in the comments for your entry.

Want more than one entry? Twitter @uprinting and me @michpendergrass with the hashtag: #giveaway then come back here and tell me (if you don't come back here, you won't get your extra entry. Makes for easier counting when doing the random.org number picking!)

Winner will be drawn October 19th around noonish central standard time.


* * *

Jenny won my last giveaway from Uprinting.com--take a look at her awesome cards!! (seriously awesome!)

* * *

The legal stuff:

Giveaway Prize:
250 business cards for One Lucky Winner (Free UPS Ground Shipping in USA)
Sizes: 2 x 3.5”, 2 x 3”, 2 x 2” (square card) or 1.5 x 3.5” (skinny card)
Paper: 14 pt gloss cardstock, 14 pt matte cardstock or 13 pt recycled uncoated cardstock
Specifications: Full Color Both Sides; Offset Press; 3 Business Day Printing

Blogger Appreciation Prize:
Hosting Blogger is receiving 250 Business Cards.

Restrictions:
Free UPS Ground Shipping in the USA. Canadian Residents must Pay Shipping and Taxes. Residents of other countries are not eligible.

Zane's 10th Birthday--Transformers Cake!

My boy is a decade old.

Remember 10? Mrs. Kaczmarek was my teacher. I was the only one who could spell her name right. It was a bonus word on our first spelling test. And I was also the only one who spelled the bonus word "rendezvous" correct on a different test. We had to write a dictionary that year of something we were interested in. Mine was on car parts. Mrs. Kaczmarek told me I needed to be more of a girl. I told her I was going to sign up for the Army and then I was going to be a truck driver and a writer.

I did sign up for the Army. I was a truck driver. I am a writer.

She didn't believe me. I don't know if anyone did.

Zane hasn't told me yet what he wants to be. Engineering will be a part of it, I imagine.

I want to pay attention to his desires, his goal, his dreams. I wonder what he will do? What he will be?

Happy Birthday my love!

Kudos to Amie from Clemons Cakery!

She bakes the most yummilicious cakes.

The Blue Umbrella by Mike Mason

The Blue Umbrella by Mike Mason is a literary fantasy, the first in a series written for 9-12 year olds.

I agreed to review this because I thought it would be a great book for our homeschool reading--we're not finished with it yet and I promised I'd have something up by October 13.

The book is being talked about as a sci-fi story for everyone, not just children, in the vein of Madeleine L'Engle, Lewis, and Tolkein. How could I not agree to review it??

You'll be hearing from me soon on this one. And maybe I can teach that son of mine to write reviews?

Here's the first chapter if you're interested.