Light of the World + $10 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway

  This post may contain affiliate links. MarksvilleandMe may collect a share of sales if you decide to shop from them. Please see my full disclosure policy for details.

Disclosure: Many thanks to Salvation Poem for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.

Welcome to Light of the World

$10 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway!

hosted by 

MarksvilleandMe

sponsored by

Salvation Poem

I am so blessed to have another faith-filled family movie to tell you about. Light of the World is a 2D hand-drawn animation. This is the first movie from Salvation Poem Project, which is a ministry committed to sharing Jesus with the world. Director Jon Schafer was the producer of the beloved program Superbook. Director Tom Bancroft was a long-time animator with Disney who worked on films like The Lion King, Mulan, and Beauty and the Beast. Movieguide is quoted as saying, "It stresses faith, family, and trusting in God's plan. It's beautifully animated and entertaining...based entirely on the Bible" 

Learn more about Light of the World at lightoftheworld.com 

Synopsis:

It’s AD 30 and everyone is expectantly awaiting the coming Messiah. While Jesus isn’t exactly what they imagined, there is something special about this man. Soon, John, James, Andrew, Peter, and their new friends begin to follow Jesus on an unexpected adventure. This beautiful, 2D-animated story of Jesus is told through the eyes of his beloved young friend, the Apostle John. From the beginning of Jesus’ ministry through his crucifixion and resurrection, LIGHT OF THE WORLD powerfully illustrates how Jesus of Nazareth changed the world forever and still changes lives today! 

LIGHT OF THE WORLD 

opens in theaters September 5, 2025

Get your tickets here. 

 

Interview with Momentum and Producer Brennan McPherson about Light of the World below

Light of the World Trailer Below

My review

Light of the World was a fresh take on how things might have been through the youngest disciple, John. The animation and the portrayal of John's age in the movie will capture the attention of both children and adults. Even my husband, who reads the Bible almost every day didn't know John was the youngest disciple, so it opened his eyes a bit and he wants to revisit the books of John again. 

I love it when movies encourage you to seek more information. This movie did that, and I can't wait to hear what my son and grandsons think of the film.

Now for the Giveaway!

MarksvilleandMe would like to wish all those who enter

Good Luck!

Entry-Form

One winner will have the chance to win a $10 Amazon Gift Card! Open to residents of the United States and those who haven't won via another blogger's campaign. You must be 18 years old to enter to win. This giveaway ends at 1.00 AM EST on 9.12.25. If you have any problems entering the giveaway, please email marksvilleandme@gmail.com. See below for terms and conditions.

All entries will be verified—only one entrant per mailing address per giveaway. Any person who has won a prize (or whose household has won a prize) in any promotion for this campaign is not eligible to win a prize. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you will not be eligible to win it again. Entrants who have created social accounts to enter Competitions or Sweepstakes will not be eligible to win. All social accounts used must be public.

The winner will be chosen randomly and contacted via email. Void where prohibited by law. One person entering per household, please. MarksvilleandMe and other participating bloggers are not responsible for the prize shipment.

A Week Away: The Series + Amazon Gift Card Giveaway

This post may contain affiliate links. MarksvilleandMe may collect a share of sales if you decide to shop from them. Please see my full disclosure policy for details. 

Many thanks to Angel for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.

Welcome to the

A Week Away: The Series

$10 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway!

hosted by

MarksvilleandMe

sponsored by

Angel Studios & Momentum

I am so excited to be able to share this news with my readers. Maybe you have already seen A Week Away, the movie. We loved it. Now you can see A Week Away: The Series available on Angel.com.

A Week Away: The Series is targeted towards young adults, but is also great for families and adults. 

About the Film

THIS MUSICAL SERIES follows a group of teens as they embark on a summer at Camp Aweegaway

— a Christian camp filled with adventure, friendships, and unexpected self-discovery

It’s an expressive and resonant story about identity, trust, and the courage to confront oneself. A Week Away: The Series offers a tender space for those burdened by doubt and pain to explore the possibility of hope and the power of a found family.

The story follows a defiant foster teen who is dragged to church camp, determined to resist what he sees as the hollow promises of faith. But rejection gives way to introspection, and the walls he’s built begin to crack. As he discovers he’s not alone in the struggle against grief, anger, and the ache of belonging, he learns that healing can’t be forced— it must be chosen.

A Week Away: The series is fun, engaging, and suitable for the whole family, exploring themes of faith and values through character-driven storytelling rather than direct sermons.

"Christian High School Musical" / "Camp Rock with faith message" / "Disney Channel meets Bible camp"

Now Streaming on Angel.

 

After seeing the movie A Week Away which I loved by the way, I kind of knew what to expect going into A Week Away: The Series. Since this is a musical, think High School Musical meets Salute Your Shorts but with a faith-based theme. It not only shows young adults with doubts about God but how they work through those feelings to begin or continue their own jouney with God. 

Today some young adults have seen and or been through so much it can be hard for them to find where they belong, much less believe in God, or heal from where they are. This show shows some of what it may look like for someone struggling to break free from the chains holding them back and move forward with their lives. This is a great show to watch together as a family, full of fun, music, while encouraging faith in God.

Now for the Giveaway!

MarksvilleandMe would like to wish all those who enter

Good Luck!

Entry-Form

One winner will have the chance to win a $10 Amazon Gift Card! Open to residents of the United States. You must be 18 years old to enter to win. This giveaway ends at 1:00 AM EST on 9.19.25. If you have any problems entering the giveaway, please email marksvilleandme@gmail.com. See below for terms and conditions.

All entries will be verified—only one entrant per mailing address per giveaway. Any person who has won a prize (or whose household has won a prize) in any promotion for this campaign is not eligible to win a prize. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you will not be eligible to win it again. Entrants who have created social accounts to enter Competitions or Sweepstakes will not be eligible to win. All social accounts used must be public.

The winner will be chosen randomly and contacted via email. Void where prohibited by law. One person entering per household, please. MarksvilleandMe and other participating bloggers are not responsible for the prize shipment.

Light of the World

This post may contain affiliate links. MarksvilleandMe may collect a share of sales if you decide to shop from them. Please see my full disclosure policy for details. 

I am here to tell you about a new movie called Light of the World. 

Synopsis:
It’s AD 30 and everyone is expectantly awaiting the coming Messiah. While Jesus isn’t exactly what they imagined, there is something special about this man. Soon, John, James, Andrew, Peter, and their new friends begin to follow Jesus on an unexpected adventure. This beautiful, 2D-animated story of Jesus is told through the eyes of his beloved young friend, the Apostle John. From the beginning of Jesus’ ministry through his crucifixion and resurrection, LIGHT OF THE WORLD powerfully illustrates how Jesus of Nazareth changed the world forever and still changes lives today! 

LIGHT OF THE WORLD opens in theaters September 5.

Find out more about Light of the World here.

Purchase tickets to Light of the World here.

The King of Kings + Amazon Gift Card Giveaway

 This post may contain affiliate links. MarksvilleandMe may collect a share of sales if you decide to shop from them. Please see my full disclosure policy for details.

Many thanks to Angel for providing a one-month Angel Guild membership for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.

Welcome to the King of Kings

$10 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway!

hosted by 

MarksvilleandMe

sponsored by

Angel Studios

I am so excited to bring this to my family, friends, and readers. Angel Studios brings stories that matter like TheKing of Kings and many more.When you sign up for the Angel Guild it isn't just another subscription. It is a membership where you can help give feedback to film makers and vote on what projects Angel accepts. Family entertainment that opens conversation and instills learning about Jesus in both children and adults.

The animated film The King of Kings is now streaming on Angel.com and the Angel App and available to all Angel Guild members.

Inspired by Charles Dickens "The Life of Our Lord", The King of Kings features a father telling his son the greatest story ever told, and what begins as a bedtime tale becomes a life-changing journey. Through vivid imagination, the boy walks alongside Jesus, witnessing His miracles, facing His trials, and understanding His ultimate sacrifice. The King of Kings invites us to rediscover the enduring power of hope, love, and redemption through the eyes of a child.

Directed by Seong-Ho Jang and featuring an all-star voice cast—including Kenneth Branagh as Charles Dickens, Uma Thurman as Catherine Dickens, Pierce Brosnan as Pontius Pilate, Mark Hamill as King Herod, Roman Griffin Davis as Walter Dickens, Forest Whitaker as Peter, Ben Kingsley as High Priest Caiaphas, and Oscar Isaac as Jesus Christ —The King of Kings has captivated audiences worldwide. Inspired by Charles Dickens, the film follows a father and son as they embark on an imaginative journey through the life of Jesus, delivering a fresh and heartfelt take on the greatest story ever told.

About Angel: Angel is a values-based distribution company for stories that amplify light to mainstream audiences. Through the Angel Guild, over 1,100,000 paying members from more than 170 different countries help decide what film and television projects the studio will market and distribute, and support the filmmakers who create films and series that amplify light. Learn more at Angel.com

Check back here after 7/19/25 for my review of The King of Kings.

Now for the Giveaway!

MarksvilleandMe would like to wish all those who enter

Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

One winner will have the chance to win a $10 Amazon Gift Card! Open to residents of the United States. You must be 18 years old to enter to win. This giveaway ends at 11:59 PM EST on 7.31.25. If you have any problems entering the giveaway, please email marksvilleandme@gmail.com. See below for terms and conditions.

All entries will be verified—only one entrant per mailing address per giveaway. Any person who has won a prize (or whose household has won a prize) in any promotion for this campaign is not eligible to win a prize. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you will not be eligible to win it again. Entrants who have created social accounts to enter Competitions or Sweepstakes will not be eligible to win. All social accounts used must be public.

The winner will be chosen randomly and contacted via email. Void where prohibited by law. One person entering per household, please. MarksvilleandMe and other participating bloggers are not responsible for the prize shipment.

Living Scriptures+ Summer Deal and Giveaway

 This post may contain affiliate links. MarksvilleandMe may collect a share of sales if you decide to shop from them. Please see my full disclosure policy for details.

Many thanks to Living Scriptures+ for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.

Welcome to the 

$10 Amazon Gift Card

and 

3 months of Living Scriptures+ Giveaway!

Recently, I was able to try out the Living Scriptures+ Streaming service. I found quite a few movies that I want to watch and have already watched a few. As a young mother, I didn't realize that what you watch is what you invite into your home, I just wish I had taken more care in what we watched with our own children as I did with our child care children. As a much more mature mom turned Grandmother, I cringe at what I used to let my children watch growing up. With Living Scriptures + it takes the guessing out of your content choices. 

Living Scriptures + has roots dating back to 1974, and has spent five decades creating and curating content that strengthens families through meaningful storytelling. My readers can take advantage Living Scriptures + Summer Deal and get 2 whole months of content for just .99 a month. That is a huge discount, and what better time to get started than during Summer Vacation! 

I was able to easily add the app to our Living room TV, which is our oldest and cheapest TV, while our Bedroom TV, which is newer and more costly, did not have the app available. I can still watch in our bedroom through my computer or tablet but hope with the next update to our TV the Living Scriptures + App will be available. So before you sign up, make sure your TV either has the app or the app can be installed. 

Below my readers can also enter to win a $10 Amazon Gift Card and 3 months of Living Scriptures + at no cost. 

Now for the Giveaway!
MarksvilleandMe would like to wish all those who enterGood Luck!

and 

3 months of Living Scriptures+

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 One winner will have the chance to win a $10 Amazon Gift Card and 3 months of Living Scriptrues+! Open to residents of the United States. You must be 18 years old to enter to win. This giveaway ends at 11:59 PM EST on 7.18.25. If you have any problems entering the giveaway, please email marksvilleandme@gmail.com. See below for terms and conditions.

All entries will be verified—only one entrant per mailing address per giveaway. Any person who has won a prize (or whose household has won a prize) in any promotion for this campaign is not eligible to win a prize. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you will not be eligible to win it again. Entrants who have created social accounts to enter Competitions or Sweepstakes will not be eligible to win. All social accounts used must be public.

The winner will be chosen randomly and contacted via email. Void where prohibited by law. One person entering per household, please. MarksvilleandMe and other participating bloggers are not responsible for the prize shipment.

The Chosen: Last Supper Official Trailer (Season 5)

I am so excited that the trailer for The Chosen: Last Supper has dropped. I haven't seen it filmed this way and look forward to seeing it. 

Scan and Test results.

 I haven't really written about my health issues since it all began but will be backtracking and adding in posts and hope to be able to have them in some kind of order if you would like to go back and read from the beginning. If the latter is true then just keep your eyes open for that post. 

 When this all began I wanted to keep an online journal here on my blog but things went so quickly even though at the time it didn't seem quick at all. I thought so many things would happen or I would have time for this or that but to my surprise, it didn't go quite like I would have liked it to. 

 For anyone just hoping on this rollercoaster, I call my life, Welcome, grab something to drink maybe even a snack. My name is Pamela, I have been married to my husband for 32 years and dating him for 33 years. We have 6 children. My son is 31, my daughter Samantha is 28, Bryan is 25, Nesie is 25, Deanna is 19, and Dorothy is 14. We also have 4 grandchildren 2 grandsons and 2 granddaughters. 

 I was adopted by my paternal Uncle and his wife. They are who I take about whenever I write about my parents if I talk about my biological then that will be the term I use while talking about them. My parents received me when I was two weeks old. 

 I hadn't been feeling well for quite some time (although to be honest I have been getting sick from the very day I was born). I kept losing strength and sleep was taking up most of my days and nights leaving me feeling even more tired. I knew something was wrong and when I found out I had diverticulitis we thought that was the answer but during a colonoscopy to check on my diverticulitis and at the time seeking a surgeon to remove my sigmoid from my colon they found a mass which they cut and removed which showed Cancer. 

 They were pretty sure they had it all and that I was at most stage 1 Colon Cancer but once they were able to do the Cancer Removal Surgery my results came back Stage 3 Colon Cancer. It had spread to my lymph nodes. As I said I am working on getting my notes from the last year or so together and adding them here so we are now going to take a big jump to now. 

 I finished my chemotherapy on July 21st. I had a few appointments after that date that will be added as I go along but we are going to keep our attention on my first set of scans and tests since then. 

 I had my colonoscopy in mid-September 2022. I have hemorrhoids, and my diverticulitis is still there, but where they did my surgery has healed well, and looks beautiful they said. My mammogram came back clean, but I am still waiting on the ultrasound they took of my ovaries. No news is good news, right? I see that Dr. later this month.

 I had my cat scans last Thursday. My Oncologists office called today to go over them with me. There is something on my thyroid (I already have hypothyroidism, and growth in the same area but not attached to the thyroid) that I didn't get the name of but will be confirming what action is needed next with my Primary Doctor who was given a copy of the scans. Called today but he had already left for the day so hope to hear from him by tomorrow. My oncologist is monitoring a few nodules on or in my lungs. Do forgive me I will update you when I know which it is. Instead of having a clear scan and being able to go another 6 months till my next scan I will be getting more scans in three months to check on my lungs.

 I had hoped to give everyone the all-clear for the next 6 months but it just isn't the case. I guess once you get Cancer you are always waiting for it to strike again. I didn't worry about it till I had it and now I can't shake the feeling of dread every time there is a test no matter how positive I try to be. I have a hard time sleeping and want to spend as much time with my family as I can. There is just never enough time to do it all. 

Today was a good day

 Today was a good day, I had breakfast, and a snack, and looking forward to dinner and dessert. Stuffed peppers, spaghetti, and Waldorf salad.

The mirage of an Oasis

 

Finally, they are letting me have clear liquids. Apple juice, water, and ginger ale.

Update: Shortly after they gave me liquids they took them back away someone made a mistake. So I am back to no solids or liquids only iv fluids, antibiotics, and the small sips of water to take any of the pill forms of medications that I am on. I can’t even chew gum because it stimulates my belly and colon. My mouth and throat are so dry.

At least I have lip balm to keep my lips moist. I had a very uncomfortable night but did get a few hours of sleep. The team and my Drs checked on me this morning they want the antibiotics to get a good hold before reintroducing liquids or solids so not sure how long this stay will be. Thank you to everyone for the calls, texts, comments, and prayers. They mean so much. Hugs

At a standstill

    Between homeschooling, family day, Narnia Night, and having my granddaughter over for the weekend, we have been super busy. Also, we were hit with a lot of information and are still sorting things out.

    First of all, when they find cancer they like to come up with a plan within the first 30 days. Because of my other health issues, it will take a bit more time to sort out. I have to get my Gynecologist to contact my Surgeon to see what his plan for the growth on my ovaries will be.

    When and if they cut me they want it to be once. My biopsies have been sent to a second pathologist for more testing. Also, I have to have more tests to make sure my cancer has not spread. They don't want to do anything with my diverticulitis right now unless it is an emergency and I was told I could eat anything as the seeds, nuts, etc are only a myth (so many doctors and patients disagree with this).

    We talked about weight loss surgery but we have kept food diaries in the past and I eat less than most people so my weight gain doesn't match my intake, so maybe more movement is needed which has gotten seriously less over the last 13 years due to pain from my fibromyalgia, back, and of course more weight gain from not moving as much. There just isn't an easy answer to all of this.

    To be quite honest it seems like we don't have all of the information we need yet. So until the doctor's talk, the results from the pathology come back, and I get more testing we are at a standstill. I am sorry I don't have any better news, my health issues just make it extremely hard for the doctors to come up with a plan to treat or medicate me.

    I hope to have more of an update in the coming weeks. I am scared, this isn't easy on me or my family. We are just praying and taking one day at a time, enjoying the time we have together, and finding joy in each day, until we can take the next step. Thank you to everyone who keeps asking how we are doing and for updates. Keep the prayers coming. Hugs.

A year in the life of Marksville

I won't paint a pretty picture for you because this year was not full of happy stories in the least. We lost 10 friends and family this year. such a large amount to lose in a years time. Sadly most were from overdoses which just floors me that the epidemic has hit so close to home. A few died of old age or accidents. So many lives lost and I know some did not have a relationship with the Lord which makes it all that much heartbreaking.

For our family even though we feel blessed for what we have, we lost so much over the last year. My faith was really tested. Some of my readers who know a few years after my husband's accident when all of our savings had been depleted  and before his disability kicked in, (which took forever) we ended up separated and homeless for just shy of two years combined. After all of that we just found out in October after paying on our storage unit that it had been sold for 300.00. It had our personal papers, pictures, lifelong objects, etc. We had been paying on it for more then a year we have been in our apartment. They wouldn't let us take anything out till it was paid off so we were making monthly payments and extra for the overdue amount. The numbers seemed to never end. We went without in many areas trying to make these payments as what my husband gets for disability hardly covers the bills. A few times we had car repairs or upkeep that kept us from paying so that didn't help either. Then our van broke down and there it sits in our yard useless till we can get it fixed. Not sure how long that will take.

This may sound gloom and some days it is. I am often reminded of an item or more that we really need or used to have and I get angered. It doesn't last long but it hurts. I feel for those who have fires I do, but with this our stuff is somewhere so I know it is out there being used. We just pray that no one steals our identities with the information that was in the storage unit. I ask my readers that if they know someone is going to become homeless to offer a safe place for their belongings till they get back on their feet.

Don't get me wrong, some days I feel relieved to not have to worry about the things that were in storage we didn't need that were just taking up space. I know most of the things can be replaced, but for the items that have sentimental value, worth, or personal. They can't be replaced, and those hurt the most. When my husband got his disability the state took most of it because they were housing our family in motels which we understand but because they took so much we had just enough to get a used vehicle and a down payment on our apartment. There wasn't enough left over to get both storage units open. I even borrowed money to be able to just get our furniture out of storage and a few other things.

Sometimes people don't understand what others are going through or just how hard things can be. What is sad is there are many people who don't even have what we have and that is scary. This is why when we can we try to help others out even if it makes things hard on our family.

So yes a few bad and sad things happened in the last year but there were also great moments. We have a church family that cares for us. Our older children visit when they can. We have our grand daughter Lilly over a few times a month, and had her most of the summer too. We became grandparents to another grandson this last summer so we now have two grand daughters and two grandsons to love.

We were able to take part in a few outings with our family which was much needed. Our children took part in many opportunities in our town and with their friends families which kept them pretty busy throughout the year. They are also doing well in school. Dorothy loves to swim and even though she had to give up swim club due to our van breaking down looks forward to swimming again as soon as she can. Deanna is over half way through her Criminal Justice classes this year and loves the classes she takes and has a clear goal for what she wants in the future. My son has become Deacon of our Home Church, Samantha is still struggling but making strides in her life path, Bryan got into some trouble last year and we have yet to be able to track him down or hear from him so we have been keeping him in our prayers, last but certainly not least Nesie is doing well, has a job she loves and enjoys going to each day as well as a volunteer job she does in between everything.

Besides our health issues my husband and I are doing well, making the best out of each day. I was able to read many books this year and even joined a book club. Check out my reading log here. I don't get there every month but I do read the books and keep up with what they are doing. One of our favorite things to do is play Call of Duty together. We would love to play games like Apex and Fornite together but we only have one TV and game system, so my husband plays those. I am yet to learn. I know that sounds silly but it has become one of the things we do for fun.

I want to thank all of our readers, friends, family, subscribers, and of course all of the companies I have had the pleasure of reviewing products for, for all of your support. A heartfelt thank you for the last year and for the year ahead. May everyone find something to be thankful for even in the darkest of times.