As a parent, it’s easy to worry about your children day in and day out. One tries to keep them safe by advising them of possible threats, hoping that if a situation arises and you’re not around that your child will know how to stay safe.
When 7-year-old Emmy McCardell decided to go outside her house to sunbathe her mom didn’t think much of it. Emmy was relaxing on her sidewalk when suddenly a car slowly crept up to her house and a stranger inside said “Hello.”
In an instant Emmy knew something wasn’t right.
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Confused, Emmy looked up from where she was lying and caught sight of the stranger. She immediately got up and that’s when the stranger asked a question that would pique the interest of any child.
The stranger asked:
“Do you want a bicycle?”
By that point, Emmy was already running towards the door when the stranger asked the question and she shouted “No!” as she ran inside.
Once inside, her mother Michelle was horror struck the minute she saw Emmy run through the door. She knew something wasn’t right and that’s when Emmy began explaining what had just happened.
It was every mother’s worst nightmare…
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In Emmy’s words, a “Tricky Man” had greeted her, making her feel uneasy because he was a stranger. Emmy’s mom Michelle says she has always told her two kids never to trust or listen to a stranger that may approach them.
This was the moment Michelle’s lesson would either pop into Emmy’s head, or she would be lured into a dangerous stranger’s car!
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Thankfully, in her daughter’s case, Emmy knew just what to do and didn’t hesitate to run to safety. Her quick thinking likely saved her life – and Michelle couldn’t have been more proud of her little girl.
Surveillance footage outside the home captured the whole thing and mom gets chills watching the footage. She can’t even imagine the horror that could have been if her daughter would have approached the stranger. As far as the suspicious man, police are now working hard to track down the vehicle.
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Watch the chilling footage for yourself in the video below. It serves as a good reminder to all parents to educate their kids on staying safe.
The intellectually disabled community has more freedom, respect and compassion from the world around them today than ever before. Even though most of us are thrilled to see people with intellectual disabilities thrive in the world, not everyone feels the same way. There are some people who don’t understand how things work and how independent most people with these conditions can be! That’s what this episode of “What Would You Do” with John Quinones aimed to tackle. Would people side with a man verbally harassing another customer for his disability? Or would they rush to defend the disabled man?
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According to the National Down Syndrome Society and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in every 700 babies in the United States are born with Down syndrome. Since it occurs so often, Down syndrome is actually the most common chromosomal condition – more than 6,000 babies are born with this in the United States every year. Due to the prevalence of Down syndrome, a massive amount of resources have been allocated to making sure this group gets the opportunities, support and sense of community they need! In the last decade, people with Down syndrome have been welcomed into the business world, can hold esteemed positions in local government and are helping shape society. Even with all of the positive things that the intellectually disabled community has done for the world, there are still small-minded people out there who have hate to spew…
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Sadly, that’s what happened inside this restaurant. A man with Down syndrome sat at a table and waited patiently for the waitress to take his order – just like we all do when we eat out! But when the waitress approached his table and began to explain some of the menu items, another man spoke up. He wasn’t helping the disabled young man select a meal. He was verbally harassing him instead! People in the restaurant couldn’t believe their eyes. How could someone treat another human being with such disrespect? See how other patrons handled the rude restaurant goer in the video below. Would you do the same thing?
When something just doesn’t seem right, there are those who feel compelled to act even if the situation doesn’t involve them. That’s exactly what happened one hot day in Oklahoma City.
Randy Jones was outside marking warning signs for some new construction when he came upon an intersection. There on the side of the road was a teenage boy, who was grasping onto the pole of a stop sign.
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Believing it seemed odd, Randy decided to approach the teen and ask him why he was holding the stop sign. Not only was it something you don’t normally see – the temperature was a scorching 95 degrees and he had no shade or water.
Randy told News 9:
“I was like ‘what in the world is this kid doing.'”
But it was the 17-year-old’s response, whose name is Logan, that really threw him for a loop.
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Logan explained to Randy that he had noticed that the stop sign had been knocked down. On top of that, he also almost witnessed a car accident because of it.
Not wanting anyone to get hurt, Logan picked up the stop sign during his lunch break from work. He then stood there holding it in position so that drivers could safely cross over the intersection.
Randy was blown away by the young man’s thoughtfulness and how quick he was to step into action during the potentially dangerous situation. He said:
“Not a lot of people would do what he did. To have the awareness to know to get out and help, it’s pretty cool.”
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Randy immediately contacted the City of Oklahoma City, who then sent a truck out to fix the stop sign. In addition, he also shared a photo he had taken of Logan holding up the sign on Facebook, along with the rest of the story.
Unsurprisingly, Randy’s post went viral and has been shared more than 3,500 times. Many people have been expressing their appreciation and kind words for what a great job Logan did – because sometimes stepping up is what makes the world of difference.
Randy closed his post saying:
“Hopefully this gets back to this young man, you did a good job and I’m sure the citizens of the city of Oklahoma city appreciate it as well.”
Watch the KOCO 5 News video below to hear what Logan has to say about everything!
As many of us already know, seniors can have quite the sense of humor. Maybe it’s thanks to their vast life experiences, or simply a different perspective on life altogether. Whatever the reason may be, sometimes it is the older members of society that bring us the most joy. One such 88-year-old is proof of just that, and her hilarious phone call with Ellen DeGeneres will leave you weak with laughter.
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Although this clip is years old, Ellen still considers this segment one of her favorite memories of all time – and when you hear their unforgettable conversation you will quickly understand why! It all started when the famous host caught wind of one of her biggest fans. Unable to resist the chance to talk to her, Ellen decided to phone up the woman live on the air. What happened next left the audience in stitches, as 88-year-old Gladys Hardy’s sassy attitude and comebacks have Ellen doubling over with laughter.
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Not only is she absolutely hilarious, but her personality is larger than life. The audience erupts with laughter as she unexpectedly confesses to Ellen “Listen, I’ll be honest with you. I love Jesus but I drink a little.” By the time their conversation is over, Ellen has tears in her eyes from laughing so hard. See the famous clip for yourself in the video below – no wonder this is one of Ellen’s favorite memories of all times!
Parents love when their kids have friends over, but aren’t always as fond of the messes left behind. Hearing the laughter from the living room or the banter from the basement warms a mom’s heart.
However, sometimes it can be overwhelming when your house is the one where everyone loves to crash. Sweeping up the crumbs, washing a pile of towels, baking an endless stream of pizza, tripping over extra shoes, not to mention the empty fridge and cupboards once a hungry group of kids have their way.
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Heather Duckworth of Love, Faith & Chaos is a mom who understands those feelings all too well. She shared on Facebook that many parents have only 18 summers with their kids and as the end of her 18th summer with her teens draws to a close, she began feeling differently about those piles of shoes she found strewn about her front porch.
“These shoes are a sure sign that it is summer and school is out. These shoes mean there is probably no food left in my house. These shoes mean noise and chaos and laughter and music. It means there are probably kids lounging on my sofa, floating in my pool, playing air hockey or watching a movie somewhere. These shoes mean that we are the designated hang-out house today.”
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But one day, she paused before perusing past the pile of shoes and felt a wave of sadness wash over her. The kids to whom those shoes belong had been hanging out at her house for four years now.
They are kids who have played sports with hers, who have been in the same classes dating all the way back to elementary school, kids she has watched grow up with her own. But those shoes will be going different directions come fall, a melancholy thought she didn’t welcome.
“Big changes are happening around here – for me and all these kids in my house. My heart knows it and feels it and that’s why the sight of these shoes has me feeling a little sentimental. I know that after this summer, things will never be the same again. This is a bittersweet part of parenthood . . . this transition from having them home to watching them leave. My head knows this is a good thing, but my heart . . . it just hurts.”
Seeing those shoes means her kids are home. It means Heather knows where they are at, who they are with and that everyone is safe under her roof.
Yet those shoes won’t be there much longer. Soon, those shoes will be kicked off in dorm rooms across the country as the kids to whom they belong take their first big steps into adulthood.
“And I know that all of these shoes might not find their way back home next summer as life takes them on new adventures. These thoughts hang over my head like a dark cloud . . . trying to steal the joy from the present moments. I shake my head, trying to force those wistful feelings away. I don’t want the sadness of what is to come to take away the happiness of today. But I am finding that I have to remind myself of that often during this 18th summer because every moment seems bittersweet.”
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For now, Heather said she will “embrace these shoes and I will be so thankful for them.” She will immerse herself in every last minute before her beloveds spread their wings and leave the nest.
“I will buy all the snacks. I will welcome these kids into my home and let them crash on my couches. I will soak up the sounds of their laughter and I will make them clean up all of their messes. I will pray that everyone drives home safely and I will love having a full house. But most of all, I will do my best to choose happiness and joy for this moment right now and not let that dark cloud of sadness swallow me up. Because this moment right now . . . it is really good.”
Before Heather helps her college-bound kids pack and embark upon an exciting adventure, she will “treasure this summer of the shoes.” Because all too soon, the shoes will be gone and her porch, sadly, will be empty.
Since writing her touching post – it’s gone viral and been shared more than 100,000 times.
Sometimes, we get to experience something so special and unforeseen that we wonder whether it is a pure magic, a miracle, or maybe a plain coincidence. These events are those moments in life that leave us astounded, and take our breath away.
This is the story of Peter Bilello that testifies about those one-of-a-kind miracles. He was born in Sicily, but came to the U.S when he was young, in the early 1960s. In one occasion, when he went back home to visit his parents, his mother introduced him to a beautiful young woman who became his soul mate and a life companion shortly after.
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The newlyweds decided to move back to America together, and settled down in Harford, Connecticut. Their life was a happy one. They got two lovely children and four grandchildren.
Peter loved his wife endlessly and came up with a nice idea that would stand as a symbol for the affection they felt for each other. He took two dollar bills out of his pocket, signed the one, and then gave the other to Grace to sign it. He promised to keep the bills in his wallet forever.
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Peter explained in an interview with WTNH News, “Then I put them in my wallet. And I said, ‘These dollars are going to be in my wallet forever.'”
However, five years later, he somehow spent the two bucks by mistake. He says: “I feel so mad, I feel sorry. I said, ‘I was never going to see those two dollars back again.'”
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Peter and Grace got to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary surrounded by their family and friends. But sadly, a few months after that, Grace passed away and left her husband heartbroken.
Then, seven months after he lost her, Peter witnessed something truly amazing, a sign from God that the spirit of his beloved wife was still there, looking after him and the family.
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He entered a restaurant with one of his grandchildren and what he received by the waitress was a fortunate stroke of serendipity.
He felt the urge to visit the cemetery and Grace’s grave and tell her what happened.
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Watch the video below to see Peter’s real-life miracle:
Stacey Philpot is a blogger and a mother who decided she had it enough of the social media she honestly believed was quite toxic. She wanted to stay away from all those social networking sites and the virtual world, and actually try to experience the real one.
But it turned our her idea to ditch the Internet wasn’t going as planned because just as she reached that decision, she got a message from a friend about something posted on Facebook that she had to see. Breaking up with the digital world wasn’t going to happen that day, because she was way too curious and had to log into her account.
Once she saw the news she simply couldn’t believe her eyes. A random person had caught one boy doing something all of the other students refused to do. Stacey felt overwhelmed when she realized it was a photo of her son, and his picture along with his story were spreading on Facebook like a wildfire.
Stacey realized that everyone was talking about her son’s act, and she couldn’t be more proud. Complete strangers were praising her son’s behavior and she knew she did just the right thing when she taught him the true values of life. His action was considered courageous by most of the people who read the story behind the photo of Hayden.
Stacey said how her son
“… captured the attention of our community by standing alone, by doing everything we’d ever taught him, everything we’d ever hoped he would do. I was completely undone.”
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Hayden was spotted standing next to the Lake Minneola High School’s flagpole during the annual See You At The Pole day. That’s an event that encourages young students to gather around the flagpole and pray for the well-being of those they love, their church, and the whole community.
“My son says at first, he thought he would simply pray until someone else came along. Eventually, he realized no one else was coming. Then, the cry of his heart changed. He asked that God would do something with his standing alone.”
He didn’t care if he was standing alone, as long as he did what he truly believed in.
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Stacey was eager for Hayden to learn that he was a real sensation among the people from his community, as well as the whole country, so she sent him a message while he was still at school, saying:
“You should know that people in our community are going crazy about a young man who stood at a flag pole alone and prayed this morning. They are talking about what an amazing young man he must be and how proud his parent’s should be. And I want you to know that your parents are so proud of you. You are an amazing young man. I love you so much.”
This mother and son spent that night reading all those positive comments that meant the world to a young boy like Hayden. Stacey added:
“So to you, wherever it is in your life you stand alone, be it a flag pole or a marriage, a place of work or a seemingly impossible situation, I believe my son would like to remind you God can do big things with your standing alone. Perhaps, for now, you are praying until someone else shows up or takes notice. God sees, he knows, and he can do big things.”
It turns out Internet and the social media are not that toxic after all and could be used for good words to be spread.
Birthdays are big occasions for little kids. It’s not just the anticipation of tearing into presents, but also having fun with family and friends, enjoying delicious cake and celebrating the big milestone.
While Lexie’s family was busy bustling around preparing for her ninth birthday party, something tragic and terrible was unfolding. Only Lexie was aware of what was happening, but she couldn’t tell anyone.
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Lexie has celebral palsy and is wheelchair-bound. She cannot walk or talk.
On the day of her birthday party, danger was lurking nearby. Her rambunctious and adventurous little brother, 18-month-old Leeland, was in harm’s way and no knew except for Lexie.
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Their mom Kelly Jackson headed upstairs to change clothes for the party while their grandmother Nancy Comeau-Drisdelle brought Leeland downstairs after he awoke from his nap. Nancy continued working on party details in the kitchen while Leeland toddled about.
That’s when Lexie spied Leeland slipping out the unlocked patio door. He closed the door behind him and headed straight for the family’s swimming pool.
Lexie knew Leeland was in harm’s way. But she couldn’t rush after him or holler for help.
So the brave little girl mustered all of her strength and began shrieking. She managed to point at the door while screeching, alerting her family that something was wrong, Kelly told CTV Atlantic.
“All of the sudden, I’m upstairs and I hear her screaming… We’ve never heard her scream like that.”
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Nancy heard Lexie and spun around. Leeland was gone.
“She’s yelling and she’s pointing at the door, and I realize Leeland’s not with her. I took off outside and I’m not seeing him. I ran, and he’s right by the edge (of the pool) and I took him out.”
It was a miracle that Leeland did not drown. He ingested water, but after being checked out at the local hospital, his family was told he was fine.
Little Leeland owes everything to his big sister who, despite her physical challenges, truly saved his life. Lexie’s family said it was a birthday they will never forget.
Kelly shared with CTV Atlantic:
“I hugged her, I cried and I still thank her every day. Because honestly, in that matter, two seconds makes a huge difference.”
The following day, the family put a fence up around the pool. They also installed a locking gate between their home at their pool.
As for Lexie, this sweet little superhero has received awards from the Halifax Regional Police and her local MLA for her life-saving efforts.
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Watch the video below to see more on this incredible story!
