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)

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.

Our latest Kind Acts in Action involves a collection for donations of personal items to benefit the clients at the Robert J. Delonis Homeless Center at 312 W.Huron Street in Ann Arbor Michigan. This donation is being taken up by The Country Market at 7001 Dexter/Ann Arbor Road in Dexter Twp. Michigan. The manager of The Country Market, Veronica Hackworth has been a tremendous help to Be Kind to Humankind (BK2HK) with assisting us in helping to meet the needs of the homeless. Thank you Veronica!!! If you would like to make a contribution to our collection, you will find a notation at each register explaining which items are most needed for the center. BK2HK had set up a large blue bin with our logo on the front, and this is where you may drop off any items. Thank you for you support!

Much Kindness sent to you,
Lorraine

Kimberly Becker of Labyrinth Consultants, Inc. is from Ft. Myers, Florida and she had asked me how she and her coworkers could bring “Be Kind to Humankind Week” into their area to help with the many wonderful things that their organization does to help others. This year they would specifically like to help collect food and other needed goods for the folks at Community Cooperative Ministries Incorporated (CCMI).

CCMI is the umbrella agency that serves multiple organizations in downtown Fort Myers, including The Soup Kitchen, Meals on Wheels and Faith in Action. Labyrinth Consultants will have a number of locations to drop off items during the week. Canned goods, non-perishable foods, toiletries, and monetary donations are all accepted.

• Links:
• Labyrinth Consultants
• CCMI

• Downloads:
• Press Release for the event
• Download the Event Poster - PDF | JPG
• Download the Event Flyer - PDF | JPG

• Note:
• Poster and Flyer Design by: Bryan Chaikin
  bryan@dofgdesign.com

I would like to express my thanks and gratitude to Kim and Labyrinth Consultants, Inc., you guys are awesome! We wish you luck with your week!

Update: The efforts taken up for donations for the CCMI totaled $1,500.00 and 900 lbs. of food in ONE WEEK!!! Great job!!

Drop Off Locations and Events in SW Florida

Below is an idea submitted by Tiffany Wright:

My husband and I have been trying something new for a couple of years now. On our birthdays, we make a point to do something for someone else. We have tried to break the tradition of celebrating this day as our own. Instead we try to recognize the world around us and give back as a celebration of life. There are little things we do from making a small donation to the causes we believe in to being extra nice to strangers on the street this day. As new parents to be we will be starting this tradition in our new family and wanted to pass it on to others that may also agree its a good idea.

Peace and Love from Los Angeles, California!

Listen to “Aquarius - Let the Sunshine In” by The Fifth Dimension

New picture inside

This is an update to The Gary Family Goes to Guatemala Part 1

The Gary family and the other team members recently returned from a week-long mission trip to San Juan Sacatepéquez, Guatemala. Here is a follow-up of some of the things they experienced, written by Shelli Gary.

“San Juan Sacatepéquez is a beautiful town located in the Guatemalan highlands. There is a town center where daily open markets take place, selling fruits and vegetables, fabric and beautiful flowers that are grown throughout the city. It was interesting to see the hustle and bustle of commerce taking place with the amazingly colorful background of the local Mayan clothing and culture.

We stayed at a church located right in town. Pastor Santos, his family and the people were so welcoming and showed us so much love and hospitality. The genuine affection we were given was heart touching. It is something I will never forget.

Continue reading this post…

On June 14, a team of nine from Connexions Church in Dexter, MI, will be headed to San Juan Sacatepéquez, Guatemala on a mission trip to serve the needs of the people in the community. Among the team will be the Gary Family, who will be returning to Guatemala for their second time in less than a year.

“Last year we were in the Mayan Highlands in Santa Apolonia. The town was beautiful, and full of the traditional Mayan culture, that has not changed much over the years. The women and young girls still wear the traditional Mayan Huipals and Cortes (hand woven and multi-colored tops and wrap skirts). We served in a church by hosting a children’s fair and Vacation Bible School for more than 250 children! But, it was the Mayan people who captured our hearts and we fell in love with them. The Mayans are very warm and beautiful people, and very family oriented. It is not uncommon to see older siblings carrying their younger brothers and sisters around on their hip, or grandfathers carrying their grandchildren around on their shoulders. The family unit is very strong in the Mayan culture. But we also witnessed much need. There is great need for health education and medical and dental services, and the illiteracy rate is 64%, one of the highest in Central America.

Listen to “Get Together” by The Youngbloods

Continue reading this post…

A BIG THANK YOU to Meijer Department Store in Scio Twp. Michigan….

The Meijer Department Store on Jackson Road in Scio Township was once again super generous by donating a $250.00 gift card to the Ann Arbor, Robert J. Delonis Homeless Shelter!!! This is the 2nd year in a row that Meijer has been so wonderful!!! The money which they donated will help so many people! Please do not forget your home towns homeless shelters. Donations are always appreciated!!! Thank You again and Merry Christmas!!!

Below is an email sent to HappyNews by one of its readers.

Hello Happy News, I love your site.

I wanted to let you know about a special little girl named Taylor and her dad, who’s biking across the country to help save her life. It would mean a lot if you could help spread the word about Taylor, her Dad, and their cause. Taylor’s story is below, and you can learn more about Taylor, her dad, and the other childeren and dads at www.loneliestroad.org.

Taylor is a vibrant, blue-eyed, funny two-year old girl who loves to dance, loves princesses, and loves playing with her older brothers. Taylor has a devastating pediatric cancer called Neuroblastoma. She is stage 4-High Risk. She has been incredibly strong in her fight against this disease, enduring 7 rounds of chemo before age two. She is now being treated at Sloan Kettering in NYC because the local doctors have done all they can with their resources.

In New York, there is a new treatment against the disease that could be manufactured, but the funding is currently unavailable. The survival rate for high-risk neuroblastoma is a grim 30% with a 50% relapse rate. This new treatment gives much hope to the families being treated there, but they needed to come up with a way to fund it. Taylor’s dad, along with other dads have taken it upon themselves to raise the funds. On Monday, September 10th they began the long trek across our country on their bicycles in a campaign they are calling “The Loneliest Road.” They will travel mostly along US Rte. 50, against the elements, and fatigue. It is an echo of what their children are going through each and every day. They hope to raise much needed awareness for this devastating and often “silent” cancer, as well as raise the funds for the new treatment.

Thanks for your time, I appreciate any help you can provided.

Sincerely,
Michael Waisley
Ashburn, VA

• Visit The Loneliest Road.

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