Yard Sale or Garage Sale Items?

It's early in the morning. The sun is on the move to rise above the eastern sky and head west and the breeze is still cool. One of my favorite times of the day when things are still quiet. Peace still exists.

Then you begin your quest. You make sure you have an adequate amount of small bills and head out, looking for the signs you are bound to find on street corners, whether taped to poles or propped up in cardboard boxes, but they all point to one thing. Yard Sales or Garage Sales.

Whether you have one of your own for the purpose of clearing out space in your home, garage or yard or simply on the hunt for something you need, a bargain awaits. It seems like lately however, yard sales or garage sales are everywhere. Before you use to find them only on Saturday or Sunday mornings, but now they begin as early as Thursdays now. In some cases they run the entire week.

With the latest additions of reality shows like the Antique Road Show and now Pawn Stars, American Pickers, and Auction Kings, everyone is looking for a deal. Lately your junk is someone's else's treasure. Whether it's in search of some long lost childhood memory or fulfilling a need you have, these sales are now going full force.

I've even had the pleasure to share with some bloggers who have captured their latest finds and have come across some amazing bargains. Even if you can't wait for a sale, you can always find something you're looking for on Craig's list or now even Freecycle. We just found a video game system we had growing up, and got quite the deal. Sorry Steven and Caitlyn! We'll keep checking for you!

So it begs to ask the question, where did this all start? When did buying someone's junk become the latest fad? It certainly isn't because you feel that you will snatch up some priceless treasure someone didn't realize that they had. I think it's because deep down inside we're all still searching for something. Something that may fulfill a need, a want, a desire, or a hope for happiness. Yet in this search for a treasure among someone' junk, we find what we are looking for, the price is perfect or often times it can be negotiated to what we would love, a smile appears on our face when the deal is secured and off we go back to our car. It's truly a win/win for both buyer and seller.

Sometimes, we are searching for treasures that most don't see. It may be a cobalt blue glass vase that speaks to our heart because our grandparents may have had one and we are searching to find a way to reconnect to that memory or perhaps decorate a room with unique knick-knacks that tell a story. But someone along that way, genius was discovered. Someone who would turn useless stuff into a great treasure.

Much like what God does with us. He takes us at often times at our complete worse and smiles once He sees us sitting like junk on a shelf. He sees the value behind our facade, deep into our hearts. There is no price too great for Him to pay to purchase us. We are worth every single penny. No matter what condition God finds you in, He is satisfied with you just the way you are right this minute. No need to rush off to be refurbished or restored before He'll pick you up! Nope, He wants you just the way you are. God knew all along right where you'd be, He's never going to give up searching for you.

You are priceless in His eyes, always will be, no matter your condition. So stop worrying about being perfect. Be willing to turn yourself over to God right where you are at now. You will make His day and all of Heaven will stop and celebrate over your decision. The best part, is that you will never find yourself unworthy in His eyes ever again. We place the value on ourselves, but to God, you are the best thing He's ever discovered and created. We only have to believe it.

The best part is that it will completely change your life forever. If your willing, of course?

What do you have to lose?

If your tired of feeling less than perfect, looking for acceptance and unconditional love and want more out of your life than what you've been getting lately, invite Him into your heart. He stands at the door, are you willing to let Him in? What can it hurt?

Believe me, it will completely change your life for the better! Here's all you need to do:

1. Talk to God. You don't need anyone's help. Just stop where you are right now and ask God to change you. Tell Him how difficult your life has been up this point. Ask Him into your life.

2. Ask God to forgive you for failing to meet up to His expectations for your life. Believe He will change you and love you unconditionally. Believe He is the only one who can completely change you. Believe that He is the one true God and that He died for you to pay the price for all your sins, past, present and future. That He rose again on the third day and is now residing in Heaven, waiting for all of us to join Him.

3. Ask Him to show you the path for your life now. Open a Bible and begin reading what life is really about. I'd suggest start in the book of John. Read it like you were there and ask God to reveal Himself to you through His word.

Then believe, you are now a perfect child, a heir to the throne of God, a prince or princess that will live forever in a kingdom far perfect from the world we live in now, and that when this life ends, yours will not! You will dwell in a perfect place filled with streets of gold, and no more tears, death, fear or pain exists. Trust me, Heaven and Hell are very real places and there will be no partying in Hell, but there will be in Heaven. The choice is yours today! I hope you make this the best sale ever in your life!

How Would You Respond?

Most of you that read my blog posts either directly through blogspot, email or via Facebook are either moms or know of a mom to whom this would apply and would LOVE your feedback in the bottom comment box below once you finish reading this post.

Let me start off with a slight recap of just how this weekend went, after spending a week being a "single parent" since hubby has been traveling to San Francisco for a work related project. On the heels of being what I could call "Do it all for you Mommy!" I find myself, overly tired, cranky, and barely able to concentrate to figure out where does the milk go? Oh yeah, I forgot not the cupboard, but the refrigerator!

Who knows what I'll find when I go searching for something I may have inadvertently "put away" this week! Yet, I press on. But after the weekend arrived, something I so desperately wait for because it means some of my "required" work, like home schooling and taking the kids to their after school activities, I can get a break. But ha! That's where the humor comes in. I scheduled a hair appointment after receiving a gift certificate almost a month ago for my birthday and my oldest daughter asks me if I am excited to "get away" to get my hair done. I stared at her and I'm not even sure if I blinked or not and said, "No not really because at this point it feels like an item on my already too full "To Do List."

She smiled and attempted to explain her point further to me, " Well if it were me, I would so be enjoying all that pampering and couldn't wait to spend some time getting my hair done!"

I'm not sure I blinked again. Seriously??

This is from someone whose idea of being busy is an overly full social calendar and having to choose between which she would rather do, head to Disneyland mid week or attend a late night movie premiere with her boyfriend and cousin?

I don't think I need to explain as all the moms know where this is probably headed.

I'm not sure what to think of the generation that now lies before us. The one's who fail to see that living at home rent free, bill free and having most of your meals provided for you whenever you make it home. The one's who wonder just who left that towel on the living room floor but won't stop to pick it up because it wasn't them who left it there. Here's an example of our frustrated conversation over who left out a can of orange soda,(mind you, it's still cold, so it has to be someone who is still in the house currently!)

Me: Hey guys? Who's Orange soda is this on the kitchen counter?

Oldest Daughter: Which can? (There is only one can of soda on the counter, so I politely point to the exact item in question)

Me: That one!

Old Daughter: Not mine. (and walks away).

Me: (trying not to roll my eyes and not shout) Hey! Who's can of soda is this?

No answer but the other two teens in my house continue to ignore me and keep playing with their phones.

Me: (now physically picking up the can and walking the soda can over to them and ask again, trying not to raise my voice) Does this belong to any of you?

They all look at me, the soda can, shake their heads no and go back to playing their games on their phones.

This time I think the eye rolling works because I bump into the counter on my way back into the kitchen to dispose of the can of soda.

It appears to me that unless I specifically inform my household what I want done, it won't get done. No one will do laundry unless it's their own laundry. Towels remain on the bathroom floor and people come and go in my house at all hours of the day.

I find myself not needing to work out anymore because as I explained (not so nicely) to my hubby that I can stay so busy enough, picking stuff up and cleaning up after everyone that I don't have a minute of free time. I can literally clean one room walk away to work on something else and come back to a mess that "no one" made!

It is during this time I can tell, God's calling me to walk away. Head toward the hills and escape for some quiet time. The major signal for me that this time is coming is that I can't deal with two things happening at the same time, for example the television on and someone talking. It really grinds on my nerves the ones that I have left that is.

If I don't get away for some serious ALONE time, I will evidently break down and cry. This is a clear sign to me that Mom is empty and in need of replenishment. Today was no exception either, on the tail end of a rough weekend I wake up to find hubby's first initial flight out was cancelled and he had to rebook his flight out this morning. My oldest daughter and her boyfriend made plans to head to Big Bear to visit with his grandparents and I'm left home alone once again to handle the weight of running a busy household of 5 while hubby is gone. Calgon doesn't even offer an escape plan.

So while hubby is phoning me from a busy airport telling me his flight is delayed for 4 hours, the kids are running in and out of the shower before I even have a chance to get in, thus a cold shower for mom. At the end of proverbially rope this morning I find this in my devotional:

"The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told him all they had done and taught. Then Jesus said, "Let's go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile." He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn't even have time to eat." ~ Mark 6:30-31

My question that was posed to me during my Faith Step was simply this, Imagine Jesus is saying to you: "Let's go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile." How will you respond?

My answer: Lead the way!!

I think the point is that as moms we have a tendency to commit to our own ministries of taking care of our families to the point we have nothing left to offer when we collapse in bed at midnight. We have to remember that while Jesus calls us to serve, he also calls us to rest. So don't feel guilty for taking a nap, a time out, a quiet moment to just be still and refresh and let God renew you and refill you to overflowing. What would that look like in your life?

I'd love to hear your answers and anxiously await the end of my busy day to rest and lay my head down and just listen to God sing me to sleep tonight.

Prays appreciated my dearest friends. Not to mention I found out that my hubby's aunt lapsed into a diabetic coma yesterday on top of our snow ball express!

Celebrating First Day of Spring 2012

Little did I remember when I awoke this morning besides being another beautiful Southern California sunny day, that it was the first official day of Spring for 2012. Spring is a great time of year because it shows us of God's plan for resurrection. Just when we think things are dead and asleep for the winter, spring comes along and reminds us that only God determines what is final. Spring provides renewal and hope despite what things may have looked like before, dismal, lost, unbelief, grief and even death.

Spring shows us that God will renew everything again, that there will come a time, when things look to be their absolute darkest and then God will turn the light on situations and reveal the beauty in it all. I thought I would share some of my pictures I captured today with you along with my favorite scriptures that I hope will inspire you and give you hope that this is just a temporary stop in life for believers. We are just passing through on our way to our eternal home. Heaven awaits!



"it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy." ~ Isaiah 35:2a







“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ~ Matthew 6:28






I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.” ~ Psalm 77:12








"Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land." ~ Song of Solomon 2:12








"Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy." ~ Psalm 96:12








"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" ~ Matthew 6:26

Happy First Day of Spring 2012!

Getting Ready To Write A Book!

I've longed for the day when inspiration will finally hit and I can begin my dream of writing a book. Every time I've ever shared anything I've written from a simple email, to a song, poem or short story, I've been told that I should write a book. Even my husband teases me that I should hurry up and write a book so he can quit his job and we both can work from home. Ha!

I guess for me the answer is always, I'm waiting on God's calling, and for the life of me, I've been waiting for some kind of divine inspiration or a desire to be able to just sit down and write. But I have been also thinking lately, that God's given me the gift to tell a story, the ability to write or type and time to do it, so I'm thinking, He's sitting back just asking me, "Well what are you waiting for?"

So now I just need to consider what to write. The advice I've always heard was write what you know or perhaps I need to do a bit of research. I've had the wonderful opportunity over the last three years to share the love of reading what other amazing and talented authors have been writing and now I am preparing myself for that giant leap forward.

The best part of writing in the "Christian" genre, is that I've met some incredible authors who are more than willing to help me on my writing path. These are the author's I've admired and whose genre's are the same for what I'm leaning to in regards to what I feel like writing. So as I prepare to take that leap this summer, and finalize all the 7th grade home school work I'm tackling for now, I'd love to hear your thoughts from my readers on what you think? I've been writing on and off on my blog for almost 4 years now and would love to know what books speak to your heart?

I used to be able to say that my favorite genre books were Historical Fictions, Amish Fiction, Thriller, Suspense, Horror, Fantasy, Science Fiction, all within the Christian genre, but lately I've been so exposed over the years to many amazing and talented authors I would never had the opportunity to read if I stuck to my comfort zone.

I guess my challenging question besides just begin writing the book is what are some things to be concerned about and how does one go about being published?

I look forward to your comments and suggestions as I begin my undertaking and will be blogging about it every step of the way. Hoping you are all having a simply wonderful weekend.

RIP Toshie Man - Prayers Needed!

Oh how I am so sad and melancholy today! It's been just 48 hours since the passing of our young cat, Tosh that died suddenly on March 3rd, my birthday of all days. While Facebook was supposed to make me feel better with all the updates of birthday wishes and blessings that day, it was a bittersweet day, one spent filled with tears and grief.

So how could this happen so unexpectedly and where were all the answers to the questions of why? Well let me go back and fill you in a bit more. This will also help when I need to look back on the day and hopefully not feel as sad and lonely as I do today.

We woke up Saturday morning at about 7:00am with my oldest daughter promptly waking us up to tell us that something was wrong with Tosh and that he wasn't moving. I vaguely recall hearing one of the cats meowing just before she came in and thought they must have had a conflict over something. We both raced out of bed to find him just laying on his side just inside her door, not moving at all. We called out to him and tried to revive him, tried moving his head or legs to see if perhaps he had had a stroke, but his eyes remained unmoving and his mouth was open. It was then that my husband noticed he wasn't breathing any longer. He tried to give the cat mouth to mouth while my daughter watched just crying, hoping that something might help. After a few moments, he said he's still not breathing and we both realized, he had passed away. The only thing I could think of as we continued to stroke his super soft fur was "Oh please no! Not Tosh!" The only thing I can think of is that he must have had heart failure because it was so sudden, even though he never had any breathing problems or was diagnosed at a young age.

I looked over to my daughter and sadly told her I believe he has died and watched her run down stairs to get her boyfriend and then the crying began for all of us. Our youngest daughter woke up to us all crying and we had to unfortunately tell her the same thing.

Oh what a day to begin with. We carried him downstairs and wrapped him in his favorite blanket and placed him in a box and buried him. The kids made memorials and brought him flowers. Even though I know he didn't suffer, doesn't make the loss any easier to bear. The only thing we know for certain, I believe, is that we will see him again.

I mean God created animals for us in the Garden and it certainly doesn't seem like he would allow them to die for us to never see them again. They certainly are his creation and I don't believe God would allow His creation to never exist again. God also went through the provisions of making sure that one of each animal would be allowed on the ARK even though he planned on destroying the world. He wanted them to gone on. That is my hope certainly and one I desperately cling to even today.



But for me, this is my first loss of a pet and definitely one I didn't see coming. I am grieving so hard for the cat who made my life a whole lot more richer just by him being here. Even at only 3, I have to hold on to the fact, I had him for 3 years to love and adore. He made our lives a better place by being in it. As a rescue kitten from the pound, he gave us all his unconditional love. He loved Johnson's baby lotion and if you put it on your hands, he would lovingly grab them and try to like and nuzzle your hands.



He was also fond of chocolate. He loved smelling it and we had to make sure at all costs, he didn't eat any, although he loved scooping them out of the candy dishes and even found him licking an M & M at one point. He loved to jump up on my vanity in the bathroom as I got ready for the day and loved for me to brush his face with the round brush. Not only that, each time we opened our mini blinds and curtains in our bedroom, he was the first to jump to the top of our headboard and check out the view til we were done.

He gave us his all every single day and now there is such an empty hole where he used to be. One of my Facebook followers commented that the hardest thing to do, is see where they used to sleep and realize they are not there. How true that statement is! We would find him sleeping on our loveseat on his blanket just looking out the window or curled up on my pillow on my side of the bed if you went looking.

If you called him, he would float down our stairs and wait for you on the landing. He loved to be outside, whenever we would take him out and let him wander in our back yard garden. He loved sleeping under blankets or simply lay in the windows.

Oh how I look around our house and feel the emptiness here. The worst part is our other cat Bella seems to be searching for him. They were as close as a brother and sister could be because we adopted them at the same time so they grew up together. You can almost sense her deep sadness and she has been meowing for him and searching for him under the blankets where he used to be.



So today I ask for your prayers for not only myself and our family but also for Bella, his sister that each day will find hope again and the sadness with gradually decrease. We've all been asking God for help during this time and it seems like He is silent even though I know deep in my heart He isn't. We need sleep and are plagued by the morning of his passing each night as we try to sleep. I am hoping it gets better and again thank you in advance for your prayers.

Rest in Peace, Kitty Soft Paws in Jesus' loving arms! You will be missed deeply!May you wander in God's heavenly gardens until we are all reunited one day!

The Mighty Macs DVD Review and Giveaway

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!

THE MIGHTY MACS is based on the incredible true story of the 1971-72 Immaculata College team that started in obscurity but became the original Cinderella story in women's basketball. This team of pioneers went from barely making that inaugural tournament to the first dynasty in their game. And Cathy Rush, the woman that was ahead of her time, became immortalized when she was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

THE MIGHTY MACS stars Carla Gugino as Cathy Rush; David Boreanaz as her husband, NBA referee Ed Rush; Marley Shelton as Sister Sunday; and Academy Award and Tony Award winner Ellen Burstyn as Mother St. John. The film was written, directed, and produced by Tim Chambers. The film's executive producers are Pat Croce, the former president of the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers, and Vince Curran, a successful businessman and former basketball star at Penn. Curran and Chambers are founders and partners of Quaker Media.

As a concerned parent, we are always looking for great movies that have a truth about them, a moral message to be gained from simply just heading to the movies for a night of family fun and entertainment, and it's such an honor to share this one with my readers. For those of you that are huge fans of family-feel good movies like Fireproof, Courageous or Seven Days To Utopia, then I know you will want to see this one. This movie is now playing in select theaters near you. I received this opportunity to preview this before it was released compliments of Propeller, Quaker Media and Affirm Films, and can't wait for you all to see it. Hands down another 5 out of 5 stars!

For more information about this movie, click on the links below:

The Mighty Macs

You can also find them on Facebook by clicking here.

Twitter fans can find the Mighty Macs here.

Here's the best part, thanks to the generosity of Propeller, Quaker Media and Affirm Films they are providing a giveaway copy of this DVD to one lucky follower of my blog. Here are your details to enter.

1. Be a follower of my blog, Reviews From The Heart.

2. Like my Facebook page, Reviews From The Heart by clicking here.

3. Leave me a comment on my Facebook page, Reviews From The Heart on the movie giveaway link. You may have to scroll down a few reviews to find it.

4. Be a resident of the US or have a US shipping address. Please No P.O Boxes.

5. Leave me a comment telling me why you'd love to win this DVD on the Reviews From The Heart Blog Post. I have closed comments on this one so you will be entered if you leave a comment on the correct blog. Don't forget to include your email address so I can get in touch with you if you're the lucky winner. You can use the words (at) and (dot) instead of the symbols.

The giveaway will end on February 28th and I will notify the winner via email.

Where is God When I Need Him?

It's been quite awhile since I can honestly say I have been inspired by God to write a post that I felt is something that needed to be told. Funny thing was that this topic was inspired by a conversation I had this morning with my daughter. We were speaking about how people can be so endowed with their God-given faith and then fall up short for some reason.

The conversation was based around spiritual warfare and how some people can wage war against evil and not have come to God before heading to battle, even though they may be called to that purpose. I explained that it is possible to step out and think you're doing God's will because it may be the purpose your life has been designed around but to leave God behind in the process.

Too often I feel that we pray to God for an answer to a prayer we so desperately need to be answered and when it doesn't come, we feel God left us hanging. What we may in fact fail to see is God just simply didn't answer it the way you might have desired, but God never left you hanging.

I think too often as children of faith, we feel a sense of entitlement that because we are God's children, He owes us those answers to prayer we need. What we fail to understand is God knows what we need and what is best for us. I explained it to my daughter this way, as a parent I only want what is best for you and even though I want nothing more than to give you whatever it is you ask for, sometimes it's not what you need. For example, lets say you want another pair of shoes but you really don't need them and even though you may beg and plead for those shoes, I don't give them to you. Not because you don't deserve them, not because I don't love you, not because you are a child of mine, but because I see a bigger need for you to be addressed even though you can't.

So you think I didn't answer your prayer. You think I failed you. You think I don't love you and in fact, you must have done something wrong so maybe I am punishing you. So now you turn the other direction and simply stop asking me for anything.

It's funny when we can view things quite simply from a parent/child perspective and not from a human/God perspective, yet it is the same.

God perhaps didn't answer your prayer because it wasn't what you really needed, in fact perhaps He had something else in mind. Too often our expectations of God are that He will always answer us in the way we expect, but when that doesn't happen, we think God abandoned us. Now we are like spoiled children, turning our backs on God and walking away.

God doesn't owe us explanations or answers for anything He does. We will never have the answers to the question, "Why, God, why?" In some cases I think the answer to that would be beyond our comprehension to understand His reasoning, so we are not told. Yet one day, we will know the answers to all those times we cried out for help and didn't receive it like we wanted. I do know this, God loves us more than we could ever imagine. He never fails us. NEVER!

So when bad things happen, when you cry out to Him and He doesn't answer like you think He should, accept it. He has answered. You can ask for an explanation but it may not come. This is life in a sin-filled world. Choice are made every single day by Christians and non-Christians alike, and sometimes those choices will affect us in life-changing ways, however don't be bitter or angry at God. Ask Him to help you deal with your emotions and feelings.

Instead of running away from Him, run to Him. God will NEVER forsake you. Even if faced with a life and death situation and you cry out for His help and He doesn't answer in the manner you wanted, He still has answered. He has kept you safe, but you may still have to endure the battle and the injuries. Hold on to this scripture when hard times come...

A bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.
In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;
he will not falter or be discouraged
till he establishes justice on earth.

Isaiah 42:3-4

God will bring you through your battles in this world, but whatever you do, do not go into the darkness unarmed and without Him by your side. He may keep you from harm but it's not worth the price.

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. " ~ Ephesians 6:10-13