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”).

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

I expect to pass this way but once; any good therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any fellow creature. Let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.

Etienne Griellet

As CHRISTmas soon approaches let your hearts be filled with JOY (Jesus-Others-Yourself). Not so filled with worry over getting that perfect toy. Remember the celebration of our Lord the infants birth. And keep CHRIST in CHRISTmas and your soul will fill with mirth. So as CHRISTmas soon approaches, remember this one thing… to always keep praise on your lips for Christ our Savior and King!!!

Wouldn’t it be nice to see holding hand in hand, different races of the World, all from different lands… In peace and love, no hatred to be found, knowing that our destiny is always Heaven bound…

Wouldn’t it be nice to know there are no more wars to fight, because we stand united with God our strength and might… passing through our hands of love, compassion for each other, knowing that we truly are God’s sisters and His brothers…

Wouldn’t it be nice to hear kind words for our fellowman, though different in so many ways, can still hold hand in hand, with faith in God, who made this world just for us to live, and all he asks us in return, is all our love to give…

Wouldn’t it be nice to touch the hearts of all mankind, vanishing the hatred, and having peace of mind… with all our different customs, and our different ways, can learn to live together in harmony each day…

Wouldn’t it be nice to pray, as I do today, that peace on Earth will surely come, and God will lead the way….

• Rae Harris
• 2007

Thank you Rae for sharing this beautiful poem. Now that we have entered into December, the month of our Lords birth into the World, we hope that everyone will have a Blessed and happy Christmas and a healthy and peace filled New Year 2009!!!

Kindness is a state of mind, Given by our Lord, Divine….
It’s helping others in simple ways, To lighten their burdens, and brighten their days…
It’s saying kind words direct from our hearts, for that is where the compassion starts…

It’s lending a hand to a stranger or friend; It’s praying for someone at day’s end…
It’s feeding the hungry, sharing a smile, Walking with someone that extra mile…
It’s feeling their sorrow, sharing their pain, Knowing that sunshine follows the rain…
It’s generosity, good will, and love, Which generates from God above…

Kindness is a virtue that not only gives, It’s a feeling of joy inside that lives…
For in sharing your love, your talents, and gifts, Brings peace to your mind, and your heart a lift…
Kindness is something we’re all capable of, If we open our hearts, and let out the love…

• Rae V. Harris
• November 10, 2008

Listen to “Bridge Over Troubled Water” by Simon and Garfunkel

The autumn leaves engulf me. They swallow me whole with the splendor of their color. Bright yellow, orange, red…yet still a splash of green. The green leaves, their slow and ever so slight change of shade, still clinging with the hope of staying green forever. What beauty these leaves take on in dying. Proud beauty…only to be re-born again in the spring.

Our soldiers are now overseas fighting in various countries, for various reasons. Some of those reasons many of us do not understand. We love our brave men and women who risk their lives for our freedom everyday. No…Freedom is not free! And, to all of the families who have lost loved ones in the war -that includes all wars, past and present- how difficult it must be to even begin to forgive the foes who have killed their sons or daughters. Some may think one has to be a saint to be capable of such forgiveness. I think so. But sainthood is open to all of us and being able to forgive comes from prayer. Having the strength to forgive comes from God. Having the power to forgive is a showering of God’s grace upon our hearts, and although time may feel like an enemy in the forgiving process… I think that God’s love and patience is eternal, and He will help our grief. May peace replace the grief you may feel in your heart.

The Faded yellow ribbon tied tight around the tree. A tree so large and lovely, 200 years old is she. Who thought she would be holding a faded ribbon tight. Of someones son or daughter, remembered day and night. We see this yellow ribbon and pray that all goes well. Its not my son or daughter, but I feel they are and tell. I tell my friends and family to keep them in their prayers. For God to hold them closely and wash away their fears. We thank our men and women. While these faded ribbons wave. We never will forget. The sacrifice they gave.

• Lorraine Jara 2006

• Links:
• wilbanksonthewater.blogspot.com

Ray Crowe is one of Australia’s leading contemporary magicians. Here he is performing a shadow puppet sequence at the 7th Annual Helpmann Awards. Raymond Crowe offers a captivating combination of visual comedy, ventriloquism, shadow puppetry and magic. Raymond Crowe is writing a book on hand shadows.

• Links:
• View the shadow puppet show on YouTube.
• Visit Ray’s website: http://www.raymondcrowe.com
• Helpmann Official Site: http://www.helpmannawards.com.au