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

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

Image source

Hurray!! Thanks to so many generous people “Be Kind to Humankind” (BK2HK) has collected over 1,000 pairs of used prescription eyeglasses and sunglasses for the folks in Guatemala!!! BK2HK cannot THANK YOU enough for your efforts to help these folks. We will have a complete update in late July as to how many eyeglasses we were able to collect for the Gary family’s trip to Guatemala which is taking place in July. We will also have a list of those who participated in the collection. The collection will go on indefinitely, as the Gary’s make this trip every summer. See Ann Arbor News article here BK2HK looks forward to June when we can estimate how many pairs of eye wear we have collected! THANK YOU again and please continue to donate.

Much Kindness and Appreciation to All,
Lorraine

Address for Donations:

Lorraine Jara (BK2HK)
P.O. Box 131397
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48113-1397

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/

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

I wish Tiffiny and her family a wonderful Christmas and New Year. Please check out Tiffiny’s previous posting’s here on BK2HK.

Promoting Peace and Helping The Less Fortunate

Try To Do Something For Someone Else On Your Birthday

They say that the months of October, November and December are perfect months for star-gazers. If you look up into the darkest night sky on a clear night it seems as though the stars are so close to the earth that you can reach up and grab one. I have also heard a saying that the stars are the souls of our deceased loved ones gazing down upon us, never too far from our side.

I hope that your star shines brightly both here on earth through your daily acts of kindness and your stars luminescence lingers above the earth for eternity.

I was on the 110th floor in a smoke filled room with a man who called his wife to say ‘Good-Bye.’ I held his fingers steady as he dialed. I gave him the peace to say, ‘Honey, I am not going to make it, but it is OK..I am ready to go.’ I was with his wife when he called as she fed breakfast to their children. I held her up as she tried to understand his words and as she realized he wasn’t coming home that night. I was on all four of those planes, in every seat, with every prayer. I was with the crew as they were overtaken. I was in the very hearts of the believers there, comforting and assuring them that their faith has saved them.

I want you to know that I saw every face. I knew every name - though not all know Me. Some met me for the first time on the 86th floor. Some sought Me with their last breath. Some couldn’t hear Me calling to them through the smoke and flames; ‘Come to Me… this way… take my hand.’ Some chose, for the final time, to ignore Me. But, I was there. Sept. 11, 2001, was not the end of the journey for you. But someday your journey will end. And I will be there for you as well. Seek Me now while I may be found. Then, at any moment, you know you are ‘ready to go.’