{Mighty Macs DVD Review & Giveaway!!}

The time is 1971 and the place is Immaculata College for women in Philadelphia. Cathy Rush has no experience with coaching, but she played basketball in college very well. She is newly married to a popular men's basketball referee. In the 70's not many women worked outside of the home so when Cathy Rush gets the job as head coach of a college women's basketball team it doesn't sit too well with her husband. Women's basketball was just becoming popular. As Cathy starts to form a team out of the women who try out, she learns a lot about each of the girls. Some of the girls don't like her rules so a few of them quit the team before they even play their first game.

Cathy struggles to get help from the college because of financial problems. She has no gym to practice or play games, only one ball to practice with, no assistant coaches, and very outdated uniforms. Through the struggles she keeps her head up. She never gives up. Cathy pushes her team to their limits and they start to win games. She gains the trust of the team and of the school officials as well as other Nuns at the school. I don't want to give away too much of the movie, but I really enjoyed it. There was no bad language, sexual content, or abuse of any kind (including physical, substance, etc.). I would highly recommend this movie for the entire family. It would actually make a great movie night pick.

"It's 1971. Cathy Rush is a woman ahead of her time ... and she's about to embark on an adventure for the ages. A new era is dawning in the country and in collegiate athletics, where a national champion will be crowned for the first time in women's basketball.

In the lead up to this historical season, major universities are preparing their game plans to win that first title. Meanwhile a tiny all-women's Catholic college in Philadelphia has a more modest goal: find a coach before the season begins. Providentially, Cathy Rush is about to find Immaculata College.

Recently married, Cathy is dealing with the aftermath of a truncated playing career. While cultural norms would have her staying at home, she's willing to do the hard work necessary to help her new team reach their goals—or perhaps she's just trying to achieve her unfulfilled dreams through them.

From the beginning, her challenges are as imposing as the big-school teams Immaculata will face on the court. Cathy learns there is no gymnasium on campus, she receives little support from the school's Mother Superior, and the school is in dire financial straits. To top it off, she may not even have enough players to field a team!

While it appears the Macs don't have a prayer, all hope is not lost. With the help of Sister Sunday—a spunky assistant coach—and the support of a booster club of elderly nuns, Coach Rush creates a new game plan that just might bring the team—and the school—together.

Will this pioneer buck cultural norms and spur her rag-tag team to unexpected heights? Or will her hard-driving ways create a wedge between the coach and everyone around her? One thing's for certain: there's never been anyone like Cathy Rush at Immaculata!"

Resources:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Mighty-Macs/103765496328333

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/MightyMacsMovie

If you would like to win a copy of The Mighty Macs for your home here is your chance. Just visit their Facebook page and leave a comment below. For an extra entry follow my blog. Leave a separate comment for each entry. Don't forget to leave your email address so I can contact you if you win! Winner will be announced on Monday, March 5, 2012.

God Bless,

Kristy

*This DVD was given to me for review. All opinions expressed here are solely my own.*

{Three Hearts DVD Review and Giveaway}

I recently had the pleasure of viewing a new documentary called Three Hearts. Here is a bit about the movie:




"A passionate team of people work to save the lives of three Mongolian children with life-threatening heart defects.

Graduating college senior, Cissie Graham Lynch, granddaughter of evangelist Billy Graham, takes on an internship at Samaritan’s Purse working with the Children’s Heart Project. This project is dedicated to saving the lives of children by providing medical procedures that aren’t available in many countries. Cissie is charged with supervising the arrival and surgeries of three Mongolian children suffering from fatal congenital heart defects.
But the task is not easy and filled with unexpected challenges.  Cissie balances responsibilities as a newly married wife to a professional football player and her tasks with the internship.  Meanwhile the Children’s Heart team turns to a Texas family who travels to Mongolia for the adventure of a lifetime to help bring the children to San Antonio for their surgeries.  In Texas, two host families make sacrifices to care for these children and their mothers, while a team of doctors and nurses volunteer their time only to stare directly into the face of life and death. How far would you go to save a life?
It’s a fight for survival, a fight of faith, and a fight for a new life for these three hearts."

Cissie Graham Lynch is the daughter of Franklin Graham, the world famous evangelist from North Carolina. She is interning at Children's Heart Project. Children's Heart Project is sponsored by Samaritan's Purse. I have worked with Samaritan's Purse (indirectly) a few times doing the Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes. My husand and I and his parents helped to collect almost 1000 boxes last Christmas for Operation Christmas Child. I was so delighted to get the chance to watch the documentary and just know that Samaritan's Purse is a part of it makes it even more special to me.

During the movie, three children ages 18, 16, and 3 are chosen to come to the U.S. for heart surgery. They are all from Mongolia and travel to San Antonio, Texas. All three of the children have heart failure and have a high risk of sudden death. When they were interviewed in their homes in Mongolia it was a struggle for them to even breath. There is a hospital overseas that checks out each patient and then puts them on a list to have surgery. In Mongolia, they do not have the knowledge and equipment, nor the money, to operate on these children. Hospitals in the U.S. take these cases 1-3 at a time as a pro bono. The only expense is the traveling expenses.

When the children and their mother's arrive in the U.S. they stay with host families who take them to church and teach them about Jesus. The surgeries are very graphic (I would recommend that younger children not view it unless supervised). I got attached to the children and cried and cried after their surgeries were over. I don't want to give too much away, but I really enjoyed watching this movie. It inspired me to go out and sponsor a child right away. I wish I had a bunch of money I didn't need. I would give it all to this cause. Children's Heart Project is saving lives. They have done over 800 surgeries so far. There are about 200 children on waiting lists to be operated on. I am praying for each of them.

Youtube Trailer Links: http://youtu.be/sMUA8lbbkDU
Youtube Trailer Links: http://youtu.be/1aUxbJd15fk 
Christian Book Distributors Link: http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=320721
*To enter the GIVEAWAY, just leave a comment below INCLUDING your email address and tell me why you would like to win this DVD. Open to U.S. residents only. Giveaway winner will be announced on March 2, 2012.*

God Bless,


Kristy

*I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."*

{Everything Romance}

Everything Romance is a book about love compiled by Todd Hafer and Rebecca Currington. Inside of the book you will find:

"Ways to engage your loved one with conversation starters for couples,

Fun and creative date and gift ideas for any budget,

Heartwarming love stories and poems,

Love busters and love boosters to add fun, zing, and zest,

Trivia about the history of love and romance,

Recipes to fan the heartflames."

-Quote from back of book

I really enjoyed reading and looking through this cute book. There are so many cute ideas for dates for your loved one. There's even a section called "What I Love About You". It a section that is fill-in-the-blank. You fill in what you love about your spouse. That was a lot of fun. I really liked all of the recipes as well. There are breakfast ideas such as the Berry Sweet Breakfast Parfaits For Two. Then, there are the snack ideas like the Hot And Spicy Guacamole. There are also dinner recipes such as the Perfect Pair Pizza Pita's. I would eat any of the recipes and the names are so cute too.

Included in the book are also prayers for your spouse. I loved that part of the book because we all need prayer and need to pray. We need to especially pray for our spouse's. They give you a list of all of the traditional wedding anniversary gifts by year. For instance, for your first wedding anniversary you traditionally give "paper". The examples they give you for ideas are: homemade card, photo, framed copy of your marriage certificate. I thought they were very neat ideas that I would try myself. I love to make homemade things. Bible verses about love are scattered throughout the book. It is a way to understand what God says about love.

The poems and quotes are truly sweet. I love poetry and I really love poetry about love. It makes my heart just melt because someone wrote that poem for a person they truly love. There are love letters dating back a hundred or more years to long, lost loved ones. They are very inspiring and it made me want to write a love letter to my husband. I really adored this book and will be using it for reference in the future. I recommend this book to couples young and old, engaged or married for a lifetime. It is a sweet, simple, lovely book about love.

God Bless,

Kristy

*This book was given to me for review. All opinions expressed here are solely my own.*  





{Life Promises For Couples by Gary Chapman}

My husband and I are constantly trying to connect spiritually. We have read many devotionals for couples and taken Bible studies together. We have learned a lot through most of them. Gary Chapman wrote this book to share God's promises for married couples. Gary Chapman wrote the bestseller The Five Love Languages that became very famous in the Christian realm. He is a pastor, counselor, and author who travels all over the U.S. speaking about marriage, family, and relationships. He really knows what he is talking about when it comes to marriage.

In Life Promises For Couples he really did an excellent job getting my husband and I to connect with God. Each little day of promises starts with a few scripture verses referring to that day's promise. Then, there is a 2-3 minute devotion. He speaks on patience, burdens, love, respect, strength, happiness, etc. I really enjoyed reading this little book. It encouraged me in my marriage and helped me to better understand how to have a better marriage according to the Bible. I recommend this book to married couples, old and new, and also those couples thinking of getting married. It would make a perfect engagement present or shower gift for the bride.

God Bless,


Kristy

*This book was given to me for review. All opinions expressed here are solely my own.*

{And the WINNER is...}

Traci @ Ordinary Inspirations!!

You have won a copy of Cooper and Me and the Military!

 

Congratulations!

I hope you enjoy the book as much as we have!

God Bless,

Kristy

{Straight to the Heart of Revelation by Phil Moore}

Straight to the Heart of Revelation does just that. It goes through the whole entire book of Revelation in the Bible. Phil Moore is from Wimbledon, London and leads a thriving church there. He graduated from Cambridge University and spent time in the mission field. For many years now he has studied the Hebrew and Greek scriptures and explains Revelation in a language we can understand today.

He has broken this book up into nine sections with each of those sections having anywhere from 2-9 sub-sections. They are all in the order that they appear in Revelation in the Bible. The main sections are:
1. The Vision of Jesus (Rev. 1)
2. The First Overview of AD History (Rev. 2-3)
3. The Vision of Heaven (Rev. 4-5)
4. The Second Overview of AD History (Rev. 6-7)
5. The Third Overview of AD History (Rev. 8-11)
6. The Fourth Overview of AD History (Rev. 12-14)
7. The Fifth Overview of AD History (Rev. 15-16)
8. The Sixth Overview of AD History (Rev. 17-20)
9. The Vision of the Age to Come (Rev. 21-22)

In the introduction to this book Phil Moore says this about Revelation: "The last book of the Bible is not primarily about weird beasts, strange allegories, or encoded detail about the final years of Planet Earth. It's a book which focuses on one great fact which trumps all others throughout the whole of AD history. It's a simple fact, but a fact which changes everything: God is on the Throne of the universe." (pg. 14).

I have listened to many sermons and read Revelation for myself. Honestly, it's a little scary if you don't know exactly what you are reading. This book helped me to better understand the history and background of the book of Revelation. You could actually use this book as a daily devotion or Bible study (using your Bible as your main resource).

Phil Moore really did a lot of extensive research and it is proven here. He explains things in terms that everyday people, such as myself, can understand. He doesn't leave you wondering what happened or why something happened. I recommend this book to new and "veteran" Christians alike. If you've never read Revelation it will be a guide to help you understand what is going on along the way without having to have too many other resources to search through. If, like me, you've read and studied it many times it will give you a more clear understanding of why and how God operates in Revelation.


God Bless,


Kristy

*This book was given to me for review. All opinions expressed here are solely my own.*

{Cooper and Me and the Military Review & Giveaway}

I just love the Cooper and Me books for children. They teach your children life lessons on how to treat others and how to act in a positive way. The newest addition to the series is called Cooper and Me and the Military. No, Cooper (the dog) does not join the military. But, he has a friend, Trooper, who was a military dog. Gracie and Joe are friends with Cooper and his owner. Gracie and Joe have a dog named Trooper. They all meet up at the park one afternoon. Gracie and Joe are sad because their mommy and daddy are gone overseas because they are both serving in the military. That is how they got to have Trooper. He was serving overseas at a military hospital helping patients get better from their injuries. One day, Trooper got hurt and Gracie and Joe's parents decided to take him home with them. He became part of the family.

When Gracie and Joe's parents are gone they miss them very much. So, they all come up with the idea to write them a letter and send some pictures so their parents could feel better and they would cheer up. They even put a stuffed "Trooper" dog in the box to be mailed. When the box got to their parents it was exciting. They were so happy to have pictures and letters from their loved ones. They really loved the stuffed "Trooper". It reminded them of home and how much they love their children and Trooper.

I really adored this book. I live in an area where there are many military bases. The church I go to actually has mostly military families. It is sad to see them come and go. But, I am so grateful that they are willing to serve our country. The book really puts military life into perspective. Especially for the young children who get very sad when their parents have to leave. This will help them to cope better. At the end of the book, there are many wonderful things. First, there is a mock letter you can fill in and write to a service member. It even give you a website to go to so you can send it to an actual person serving in the military who might be missing their family. Then, there is the "Life Lesson" section that tells you the moral of the story and what you should be getting out of the book. There is a questions section as well so you can ask your little ones about the book so they better understand what was going on. At the very end there is a "Learning Together" section that asks tougher questions like "Have you ever felt sad when someone you love has to leave?" I thought this was perfect because it makes your children reach deep into their hearts and minds and think about how they feel.

I would recommend this book to anyone. It's not just for military families. I think all families should read it because if you don't live in a place that is populated by military families then you don't really get a real grasp of the sacrifices that they make daily.

Website: http://www.cooperandme.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cooper-and-Me-Inc/214695101924101

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/cooper_and_me

*If you would like to win a copy of this wonderful book for yourself, here's your chance. Just comment below and tell me that you would like to win. For an extra entry, follow my blog and leave a separate comment telling me you did so. The winner will be annouced in one week (on the 17th of February) so you have until then to enter. Open to U.S. residents only.*


God Bless,


Kristy

*This book was given to me for review. All opinions expressed here are solely my own.*

{Fierce Beauty By: Kim Meeder}

When I chose Fierce Beauty by Kim Meeder to review, I thought this was going to be a breeze. I thought I knew what beauty was. Kim Meeder really makes you dig deeper into your soul to find your true beauty. She starts off by talking about her parents and the fact that they were killed in a murder/suicide. She was then raised by her grandmother. Her stories are full of sadness. But, they are also filled with the hope of God's grace and forgiveness. Her life could be described by the world as tragic. Since she is a follower of Christ I would call it triumphant. She has overcome so many obstacles and challenges that God has shown her through all of these things who she really is. She is beautifully and wonderfully made just like every person on earth.

Beauty is not just skin deep. True beauty is in our hearts. It is how we love others, treat others, view others, and respond to every situation in our lives. Fierce Beauty is a book of stories from Kim Meeder's life. She overcame death, loneliness, self-pity, and many other problems. I have been through these same things. I know everyone has been through at least one of these things. This is a relatable book to just about everyone. It's not just for women, men can benefit from reading this book as well. Especially if they are surrounded by women.

"True beauty is not about how you look but how you live."

-Quote from the back of the book

At the beginning of the book Kim Meeder writes a dedication to her friend Jenni Reiling. As I read the words written there, I couldn't help but cry. Her friendship with Jenni was so strong. Jenni is with the Lord now, but went through so much pain and suffering before her death. She showed Kim what real beauty in a person looks like while going through cancer and chemo treatments. Jenni's faith in God never failed during that time and only shined brighter. I hope to be like that in my life. A light that shines so bright that it impacts others even when I am gone.


God Bless,


Kristy

*This book was given to me for review. All opinions expressed here are solely my own.*