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)

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

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