Maureen McCormick credits her marriage of 37 years to their faith

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Monica P
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Maureen McCormick rose to fame with her role of Marcia Brady in the ABC television sitcom The Brady Bunch, which ran from 1969 to 1974. Later, she appeared in several spin-offs, including The Brady Kids, The Brady Bunch Hour, The Brady Brides and A Very Brady Christmas.

Maureen started her career when she was just six years old after she won the Baby Miss San Fernando Valley contest. What followed were a number of commercials. For a long time, Maureen was considered a teen idol with millions of fans.

Photo by Newsmakers

At the time The Brady Bunch ended, Maureen’s career didn’t go as planned and she started using substances. On top of that, she struggled mentally as well.

“I’ve been through a lot of hard times, but I take all those experiences and learn and grow from them,” she told People in 2016.

Getty Images

During the darkest period of her life, when she felt like there was no way out and struggled to keep herself away from drugs, she met the man of her life at a concert.

“I turned around and saw this guy behind me,” McCormick wrote in her autobiography, Here’s the Story: Surviving Marcia Brady and Finding My True Voice.

“I’d never seen him before. He had dark hair, a great build, and chiseled features. I looked straight into his eyes and thought, ‘This is the man I’m going to marry.’”

The man was Michael Cummings. Once she learnt his name and who he was, Maureen started attending the same Bible studies as him. She would also sit next to him at church.

Once they went on a date, they both knew they were meant for each other and it was the start of a relationship and later a marriage which still lasts.

”She was very honest with me from day one. She has always been honest with me, an open book. And I was never worried about her reverting to her old behavior as I figured, whatever comes up, we will just deal with it,” Cummings told Daily Mail in 2015. He was her biggest support whenever she felt fragile and was tempted to turn to alcohol and drugs. “Michael said that he’d made a life-long commitment and decided he was going to work at it until it’s unworkable,” she wrote in her 2008 autobiography. “He thought child stardom had arrested my development, and in many ways he was right.”

The couple welcomed daughter Natalie and will be celebrating their 37th wedding anniversary in March of this year.

“I know there’s one reason that Michael and I managed to stay together through all the heavy-duty ups and downs: our faith,” she wrote. “The two of us had faith that our love, despite all of our problems, was real, strong, durable, and worth sticking around for. Our faith made us believe our love was real.”

Besides being a huge film star back in the day, Maureen has also released a music album which received negative reviews from music critics. She has also been part of few reality shows, including Celebrity Fit Club and I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!

Four decades after forced apart due to race, high school sweethearts get second chance at love

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Monica P
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True love always finds a way. No matter the circumstances, when two people are in love, they would do all in their power to stay together even if it takes years for them to reunite.

When Penny Umbers and Mark Bethel met, they both knew they were meant for one another. She was living and England and he was from Nassau, Bahamas, but was studying in Nottingham. She was 16 and he was 17 at the time. The two stayed together through secondary school and college. They studied at different universities which were located nearby so that they could continue seeing each other.

Their love was pure and strong, that is why Penny was left utterly heartbroken when he decided to return to his homeland and leave her behind.

Source: BPM Media

Years passed by, but Penny never forgot her first and true love. She married twice and divorced both times. Mark also married someone else, but that union also ended with divorce.

39 years later, he reached to her through social media and that’s when she learned the heartbreaking reason behind his decision to leave her when they were young.

Source: BPM Media

Mark explained how Penny’s father was against their relationship because his daughter is white and Mark is black. While at secondary school, Penny’s dad approached Mark and said to him: “You’ve had your fun, now move on, boy.”

When he realized that Mark wasn’t planning on splitting with Penny, her father went to Mark’s college and threatened to pull ties to have his scholarship taken away.

“I didn’t have a lot of force. I was in a new nation, 3,000 kilometres from home. My scholarship was my only source of income.” Mark explained. Unfortunately, Mark was still very young and felt like he didn’t have a choice.

Source: BPM Media

However, just as the two agreed to reunite, the COVID-19 pandemic prevented them to see each other again. They had to wait a year and a half before Penny was able to travel to Nassau. When they saw each other, they picked up where they left off almost four decades ago. What’s most, they are now planning their wedding.

Penny was heartbroken to learn that it was her father who ruined her relationship, but since he’s suffering from Alzheimer’s, she can’t confront him.

Penny and Mark published a book about their life titled “39 Years in the Wilderness.”

“We have had 39 lost years yet we are anticipating a truly incredible future,” Mark said.

Source: BPM Media

We are glad these two finally found their happiness.

Dog saves baby girl’s life after she stops breathing in the middle of the night

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Monica P
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Henry is a cute Boston Terrier whose humans love him to the moon and back. Having him around is a true blessing, especially after a heroic deed he did recently.

One night, Henry started acting strange. He never barked at night, but this particular evening he seemed quite distressed and wouldn’t let his owners sleep. He also kept getting inside and out the nursery where the baby was sleeping and was trying to keep her awake. The baby’s mom, Kelly Andrew, got a bit mad and decided to get up and see why the dog was upset. She didn’t want him waking up the baby because she was sick and needed a good night sleep.

Twitter/@KayAyDrew

When she approached her baby, Kelly realized the little one wasn’t breathing. She called the ambulance and the girl was rushed to the hospital. It was then that Kelly learned the dog could sense there was a problem and was only trying to alert the family.

“I don’t know what would have happened if he hadn’t woken her,” Kelly wrote on Twitter. “We don’t deserve dogs.”

The baby spent the night at the hospital and is now doing much better.

Kelly also thanked the staff at the ER for their quick reaction and for saving her daughter. Had it not been for them and Henry the night could easily end up with a tragedy.

Twitter/@KayAyDrew

Once the story of Henry went viral, other dog owners shared similar experiences which only confirmed once again that dogs are the best pets and friends we could ever ask for.

“We couldn’t figure out for the longest time why my service dog kept going in to my parents room several times a night sniffing my dad’s face and nudging him repeatedly,” one woman shared. “They always pushed her away and she would still circle back. She stopped as soon as he got his pacemaker.”

“I’m chronically ill. There’s been many a time I’ve gone to the hospital because one of my dogs has started sniffing and paying attention to a body part and alerting something’s wrong,” another person wrote. “Dogs are heroes!”

Garbage man surprises great grandmother on her 100th birthday with heartwarming gesture

By
Maryane
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As people get older, the circle of their friends is getting smaller and smaller, and sadly, many of them don’t have any kind of social interaction but spend their days in solitude. 

An elderly lady from England named Dorothy ‘Mercy’ Ballard is looking forward to any chance of being around people. That is why she enjoys the company of the garbage collector Ben who picks her trash once a week. 

Although they chat for like 10 minutes only, the two became very close friends over the years. In one occasion, Ben told Mercy how he would bring her a cake on her 100th birthday. And a great man he is, Ben kept the promise. 

The video of the amazing act vent viral in a matter of days and people are left speechless. They all agree that what Ben did is truly special.

He can be seen walking towards Mercy’s home caring a birthday cake. But he’s not alone. His colleagues are there to wish Mercy a happy birthday too. 

Once she opens the door and sees the cake, Mercy is overjoyed. She just got the best surprise ever and she even got to blow candles. 

Ben is happy to have someone like Mercy in his life. He says how he has picked her trash in years and she always waits for him at the door with a huge smile on her face. Mercy loves sharing stories about her life with Ben, and he’s more than happy to tell her about the new technologies and gadgets that didn’t exist back then. 

I’ve been a binman for about 11 years and love listening to her stories about her life – having been born in 1919 she can hardly believe what technology can do now and she can’t get her head round my phone.

When I was taking the selfie of us with my two colleagues she was saying ‘Where do I look?

These two are an example that when it comes to true friendship, years are just a number. 

People loved the story of Mercy and Ben so much that the two became sort of celebrities in the area. Some TV news and outlets even asked them for an interview. 

Mercy says she’s very happy that there are still people like Ben out there who respect elderly people that much. As for him, he says he’s happy to be her best friend and wishes for her to reach her 105th birthday so that he can surprise her again.

Lovely Mercy, however, believes that living for a century is more than enough. She has seen so much during her lifetime and we can learn a lot from this charming and wise elderly lady.

Take a look at their interview in the video below and make sure you share it with your friends. 

Girl Sent Home By Doctors To Pass Away Peacefully, Jesus Calls to Her, A Miracle Happens!

By
Kelly White
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Jaime, who was Brittany Backenhaster’s mother said that her child was so “full of life” and enjoyed singing in church. One day, on the morning, Jamie found her daughter on the floor of her bedroom… She was lay on the floor having some sort of fit, shaking and gurgling, she was actually having a grand mal seizure, Jamie was familiar with this type of seizure herself. Jamie had control of her condition with medicine, but conventional means were failing Brittany completely, they began to lose sight of their hope that Brittany could live a normal, whatever that is, life. Jamie took it very personally and blamed herself for all that was happening, she just kept thinking about how it was her condition she gave to her daughter, she even said it to the Christian Broadcasting Network. Brittany had such severe fits that she had to wear a protective helmet, so when she had one of the seizures she had some amount of protection from injury, her medicine to try to help her was expensive too! The strain of having a child that was sick was hard and took its toll both emotionally and financially, one stage Brittany had been in the hospital for three weeks. Her brain scans showed that her whole brain was seizing, there was nothing they could do for her, doctors told the family to take her home and let her be relaxed and feel surrounded by things she knew at home in her final moments… Jamie prayed all night long for her daughter, then in the morning, Brittany began to respond for the first time in a year! The very first words she said were:

“Jesus! Jesus!”

She looked up at her mother and said that she had an encounter with Jesus, she described her experience vividly, not at all like a five-year-old normally would… Doctors were completely surprised by what had happened, they said that she had a clean bill of health just the day after! See the story below yourself in the video, and please SHARE with friends and family this truly astounding story…
Peace and Love Bored Daddy

U.S. soldier snapped standing to attention in the pouring rain

By
Monica P
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Many times in life, we experience certain difficulties and get disappointed by those around us, and then out of the blue, something or someone comes along our way and restores our faith in humanity. 

Erin Hester shared an amazing story with Love What Matters and we are all stunned by the touching and unselfish act of the soldier this woman stumbled upon on a rainy day. 

She was sitting at a stoplight when she saw a funeral procession on the opposite line. And while many people who were driving didn’t even notice the procession, one person pulled over, got out of his vehicle, and paid the deceased person respect. 

“I was so completely touched by this today. A funeral procession was passing by and this soldier got out of his jeep to stand at attention in the pouring rain,” Hester wrote.

“I always get frustrated when I see cars that don’t pull to the side and stop for a procession, but this gentlemen went above and beyond. I feel pretty confident that there isn’t a military rule that soldiers have to do this. 

This made my heart happy to see the amount of respect that this gentleman showed a family that he doesn’t even know.”

The poring rain didn’t stop this military man from doing the right thing. He showed us that these little things are what makes us all humans. In the world that slowly becomes a place of cold-hearted and emotionless creatures whose only job is to follow strict schedules and make money, seeing someone showing compassion warms our hearts and reminds us that humanity isn’t dead.

Source: Facebook/ Love What Matters

Once Hester’s photo went viral, thousands of people praised the soldier’s act. He was later located by WHAS11 and identified as Col Jack L. Usrey, the Senior Army Advisor of the Tennessee Army National Guard.

However, when he learned how his act was praised by many, he said: “I also owe it to my parents, Jim and Judy Usrey, from Martin, TN. They taught me to do this from when I have memory.

“I’m humbled and surprised at the reaction to such a simple gesture. My first thoughts were about how the bad weather can’t be helping how the family feels and I was hoping my small action would let them know we care.”

Thank you soldier for your kind deed, and thank you Hester for sharing this story with us!

Please share to inspire others to show their appreciation for those who risk their lives every day to keep us safe.

Peace and Love

Bored Daddy

This is how charming model and actor Fabio Lanzoni looks like today

By
Monica P
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0

Remember the handsome guy with long hair that was hard not to notice because of his numerous on screen appearances as an actor, fashion model, and a spokesperson?

Well, Fabio Lanzoni, who will be 63 in a few days, looks as gorgeous as he did back in the day when many women fell for his distinctive looks and charm.

Fabio was born in Italy, to a father who was a wealthy company owner and a mother who was a former beauty queen. Speaking to The Washington Post in 2015, he recalled the time he decided to move to the States and live the American dream. His dad was against it and said that then 21-year-old Fabio, “is going to get it out of his system and come back with his tail between his legs.” That, obviously, wasn’t the case.

Right after moving to “The Big Apple,” Fabio became the face of GAP. From that moment on, nothing was the same for the Italian model who rose to fame and caught the attention of millions Americans.

Fabio Lanzoni with nephews

Fabio’s popularity helped him appear on around 400 romance novel covers. Later, he published a book himself, but he wasn’t the author, instead a ghost writer was hired to tell his story.

He tried himself as an actor and usually played himself in the movies. He also appeared in major advertising campaigns and became a spokesman for I Can’t Believe it’s Not Butter.

Despite being adored by women, the heart-throb never married. He spoke openly of his love for Jennifer, a 19-year-old model working for L’Oreal. Fabio was 23 at the time he met her but said he was “too young and crazy” for a serious relationship. However, the couple dated for six years before Jennifer decided to call it quits and changed her phone number.

Fabio moved on and not much has been known about his love life ever since. In 2016 he became an American citizen. He lives in L.A. and enjoys his life to the fullest. What’s most, he’s still very attractive. This is what he looks like today.

31-year-old invites 89-year-old neighbor whose health deteriorated to move in with him

By
Monica P
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When 31-year-old Chris Salvatore moved into a new apartment back in 2013, the first person he made friends with were 85-year-old Norma Cook and her cat Hermes. It all started with a hello, and once Chris introduced himself, they became really close. Chris would always help his elderly neighbor with her errands and was there for her whenever she needed any sort of help.

As she turned 89, Norma’s health started to decline and she ended up at the hospital. The only way for her to be able to get back home was to have around the clock assistance. However, as she had no one to take care of her, chances of returning back home were slim.

When Chris learned what was going on, he decided to step in. He was the only person Norma could rely on and he didn’t want to fail her. So, Chris started a GoFundMe and was able to raise $25,000 in just seven hours. A month later, the campaign helped raise $50,000, but as the 24-hour healthcare costs a lot of money, Chris knew he needed to find a long-term solution.

“The only other option was for her to go into a facility,” he told TODAY. “I just couldn’t do that to someone who is like my own grandmother.”

So, Chris invited Norma to move in with him. “I’m so happy I was able to give her this gift of living her last days at home,” Chris said. “I can’t imagine what it’s like to go through the end of your life at a hospital without your friends or pets.”

Unfortunately, Norma died in February 2017, but she spent the final days of her life knowing she was loved and cared for.

Chris shared the sad news with his followers on his Instagram where he would post photos and videos of him and his “granny” having fun by watching the news, talking, and eating peanuts.

“She called me the grandson she never had,” Chris said of Norma.

What a loving and thoughtful young man. May God bless you for everything you did for your neighbor.

Please SHARE this inspiring story with your family and friends on Facebook.

Bored Daddy

Love and Peace

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