Small U.S. businesses thrive with Ethiopian woman’s help. Read the story on CNN here.

Also, Obama recognizes Hero - Follow up story

Pixar grants girl’s dying wish to see ‘Up’

“A thousand words will not leave so deep an impression as one deed.” Henrik Ibsen

Image source

Let not Kindness and fidelity leave you. Bind them around your neck. Then will you win favor and good esteem before God and man! Proverbs:Chapter 3 verses 3&4 New American Bible

Check out this awesome video, Turn up your volume. This video is very true and very powerful. Please view it until the end.

Old friendships are like old songs.
They can either fit in with our
changing lifestyle and thoughts,
or be placed upon a shelf…
save for a few meaningful lyrics.

Lorraine Jara 1989

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.
So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails.
Explore. Dream. Discover.

Mark Twain

Spring is when you feel like whistling even with a shoe full of slush. ~Doug Larson

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

from “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” - Robert Frost (1875 - 1963)

A couple of years ago I posted a poem written by Martin Buxbaum. His poem is featured on a beautiful poster. The poster consists of one women in 3 separate stages of her life…one as a young girl, then a young woman and finally an old woman. The poem written by Martin Buxbaum on the poster is as follows: “Some people, No matter how old they get, Never lose their beauty. They merely move it from their faces, into their hearts.” - Martin Buxbaum

• The poem in the image above by Martin Buxbaum

I have seen the sea
when it is stormy
and wild;
when it is quiet
and serene’
when it is dark
and moody.
And in all its moods
I have seen myself.

• Martin Buxbaum

Below is the poster and under the poster is information about Mr. Buxbaum and his daughter Kate Buxbaum Prado. To my delight and surprise, Kate had contacted me recently. Read what Kate shared with us about our posting of her dad’s poetry. Thanks so much Kate for sharing your dad’s work with us, and for sharing your work with us as well! It’s beautiful!

Kate Buxbaum Prado writes:

My dad has been gone since 1991 and I miss him every day. He had a full life and gave much to others, and continues to give, even though he is not here. This is the same desire I have for my work. I wish I knew who was the artist that did the work with my father’s verse on beauty. It has been on the Internet for ages and nobody seems to know.

Visit www.pradospen.com and go to Prado’s Picks to view additional photo’s of Martin Buxbaum along with his poetry and that of his daughter’s.

• My Father

When I was small
my father traveled,
and then he would
come home.
But even when
he went away,
we never felt alone.
We did not have
to see him,
to know how much
he cared.
He would always
be our father,
and his love
was always there.

• By
  Kate Prado

• “I will never leave thee
  nor forsake thee.”
  Hebrews 13:5

What Will You Leave Behind? It is not just only the rich and famous who will leave a legacy, but every man, woman and child ever born, no matter who they are. Our society has become so fixated on the lives of movie stars, those in the news and the people on reality television, to where the importance of the seemingly unimportant goes unnoticed. As students graduate and head out into the world, do they carry with them the knowledge of how the life they live and the choices they make, have the potential to change a nation,or possibly change an entire world? It is up to each one of us as parents, teachers, family or friends of children of any age, to send the right message. A young man sat in the office of his guidance counselor before graduating from high school. His eye was black from having gotten into another fight. The adviser was serious when he told the student he was very smart, but it was now up to him as to where he would be in the future. Today that young man is grown. He became a very successful businessman, is a good father, a wonderful husband and gives back so much into the world around him. Did the words spoken to him by the concerned counselor change his destiny? I believe they may have. My own father wrote, “Leave more for others to follow than footprints in the water.” These few simple words have stayed with me throughout my own life as I ask myself the question, “What will you leave behind?”

Here is a verse I wrote that I use all the time for cards.

• Kindness

Kindness planted in the soil
of another with a need,
will one day blossom
back to you,
a product of
this spirit seed.

• Kate Prado

• “Give and it, shall be given unto you…” Luke 6:38

Be sure to visit scrapbook.com to view Kate’s creations (listed under “KatesCreations”).

Kageno urgently needs your support to help the community members meet their critical needs through these tough times. Donations, no matter how large or small, can make a big difference in the lives of these children. They are in need of sewing kits/sewing supplies/Needles-Thread ect. so that their caretakers can sew their clothing. Please do not send material as it will be too costly to mail. As quoted by my nephew who is working there, ” We went on a school visit yesterday and it is sad to see how many of the children come to school with clothes that are more missing than that are there. I am talking about shirts with holes that take up most of the shirt. It is really sad.” To find out more information about this worthwhile organization, please visit their web site.

The mailing address for donations is as follows:

• Michael Maloff (BK2HK)
• Kageno Worldwide, Inc.
• 261 Broadway 10D
• New York, NY 10007

Michael Maloff’s email: michael.maloff@gmail.com

“Be Kind to Humankind” crosses all borders. We cannot thank you enough for your generosity. Much Kindness 2U, Lorraine

If you go to this web site, www.letssaythanks.com you can pick out a thank you card and Xerox will print it and it will be sent to a soldier that is currently serving in Iraq. You can’t pick out who gets it, but it will go to some member of the armed services.

How amazing it would be if we could get everyone we know to send one!!! This is a great site. Please send a card. It is free and it only takes a second.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the soldiers received a bunch of these? Whether you are for or against the war, our guys and gals over there need to know we are behind them.

Listen to “People Got to Be Free” by The Rascals

Elena Patrice and Elizabeth Sills are sisters who became my friends through our mutual interest in promoting kindness. Elena and Elizabeth are the creators of a web site called laughfriendly.com. I had mentioned to them that I am a new God-mother to my nieces son Jack. What a surprise I got when I received the gift pictured above sent by Elena and Elizabeth for Jack!!! They are also authors of childrens books called the Nana Star storybook series. This dynamic duo developed the world of Nana Star, comprised of a picture book series and a lovable, huggable character plushies, based on magical characters created by their grandmother. The stories gently inspire character by modeling such timeless virtues as compassion, kindness, and generosity in little listeners. Elizabeth and Elena raise their families, run their business, crack each other up, and endeavor to change the world in Virginia. Knowing them has certainly changed my world for the better, and I THANK you both for sending me this thoughtful gift for Jack!! Please visit their web site posted below. Their publishing company is ee Publishing & Productions, llc. Their web site is NanaStar.com.

Above is a photo taken of a special gift given to me recently from a friend here in Michigan! Cindy Strang of Dexter Michigan gave me this wonderful basket of goodies “Just Because.” What an amazingly thoughtful thing to do for me Cindy! I cannot thank you enough! Cindy knows that I am dog lover, actually I love all animals…and this gift basket includes 2 bottles of wine from our Michigan vineyards, 2 adorable puppy post cards from “The Dogs of North America” and a hardcover book titled “Wine Dogs” USA Edition; the dogs of North American Wineries. Authors; Craig McGill and Susan Elliott. The book focuses on dogs and the part they play in their owners daily lives of running wineries. This book is full of adorable pictures of adorable dogs, and I look forward to reading it!! Thanks again Cindy for your thoughtfulness!!!

One small act of kindness is always remembered.
Be a joy to this world
Help others
Be a shoulder to lean on
Lend-a-hand
Life is short. Eternity is long. Decide to be kind.

St. Valentine’s Day, as we know it today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. So, who was Saint Valentine and how did he become associated with this ancient rite? Find out below by reading the history of St. Valentine’s Day. Celebrate love, celebrate kindness, celebrate life and count your blessings! Write your sorrows in the sand and carve your blessings in stone. Share your all with all and make this world a better place one person at a time!

• Links:
• The history of Valentine’s Day on history.com
• Read about Valentine’s Day on Wikipedia
• Listen to There’s A Kind Of Hush by Herman’s Hermits

See a full size version of this postcard. This post card is an original antique dated 1910. Postage was 10 cents. I collect antique post cards. Lorraine

Homelessness in the richest most powerful country in the world? I admit it, I am not politically savvy, however I do see what is before me. Dallas is not the only major city in our country to suffer homelessness. It is in all of our major cities, including here in Ann Arbor, Michigan. I feel as though I will weep when I pass by a man standing at one of our major highway intersections with the stump of what was once his leg, held up by a spackle bucket. A hand scribbled sign asking; HELP ME PLEASE, I AM A VET AND I AM HOMELESS. If I catch the red light, I exit my car and hand him a few dollars. He is so grateful. What he chooses to do with that money is just that…his choice. At least I know that I have possibly given him a warm meal that day.

Please seek out your local homeless shelter and place them on your donation list for 2009. Hopefully, you will continue to support the shelters efforts to alleviate some of these peoples problems. We’re all one. Their problems are our problems. The homeless need our help. Please be compassionate and generous. Thank you.

• Homeless in Dallas Video
• http://www.centraldallasministries.org/homeless/

May the good Lord guide you, protect you and your family,fill you with His wisdom and grace, encourage you to always seek out His leadership in all decisions, and may God, in partnership with you, lead us into being a prosperous, compassionate and generous Country.

• Love and truth will meet;
• justice and peace will kiss.
• Truth will spring from the earth;
• justice will look down from
• heaven.
• The Lord will surely grant
• abundance;
• our land will yield its increase.
• Prosperity will march before the Lord,
• and good fortune will follow behind.
• The New American Bible
• Psalm 85; 11-14

Below is an article which ran in The Ann Arbor News this past summer. I wish to thank everyone for their support of Be Kind to Humankind (BK2HK) for the past 20+ years! I am sure that BK2HK will continue to thrive thanks to your support and enthusiasm! Again I want to take this opportunity to wish everyone a healthy and happy 2009!

Below are a few additional links to publicity which BK2HK has received from this past summer of 2008.

• http://blog.mlive.com/annarbornews

With Much Kindness Sent 2U,
Lorraine

• Additional publicity
• http://www.merriam-webster.com (Click on red megaphone)
• http://blog.mlive.com
• http://www.sanibelcaptivadaily.com
• http://blog.wired.com
• http://www.laughfriendly.com
• http://www.happynews.com/news/
• http://www.doonenicething.com
• http://www.thefamilygroove.com/nov_MomStreet.htm

Listen to “Kind and Generous” by Natalie Merchant