Members of the military don’t have it easy. Many of them end up deployed away from home and from their loved ones. It happens that they miss lots of important events such as holidays, family gatherings, birthdays, and even the birth of their children. They do all this for the sake of the ordinary people like you and me. And we should always be beyond grateful for the sacrifice they make.
However, we have to agree that the best part of serving in the army is the reunion with the family. These encounters are always emotional and involve tears of joy.
One little girl’s father was away for too long and she couldn’t wait for him to get back home. Being aware of this, her father decided to send her a gift from abroad. The cutie pie was overly excited believing she got the cookies she loves so much. But it turned out this surprise was way sweeter than that.
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Maci missed her father so much that she had a doll named ‘Daddy Doll.’ This huggable toy would always be by the girl’s side making sure she’s safe from the monsters hiding under her bed.
One day, Maci’s mom asked her to come down and check out the gift her daddy sent her. Having the doll cradled in her arm, she was in anticipation to get what she believed were sweet cookies. Running down the stairs barefoot, wearing the cutest pink dress with her blond hair in a bun, she started walking around the room looking for the sweet surprise.
Her mom told her to get outside and check whether the gift was there. Maci ran towards the front door and opened it in excitement.
She was a bit puzzled once she noticed that huge box on the doorstep. What could it be? If that’s cookies, there have to be lots of them inside. Was it something else? Well, she just had to unwrap the box and see it for herself.
Her mommy helped her rip the wrapping off, and then asked her little girl:
“Can you knock on it? Say ‘Cookies.'”
Maci knocked on the box and was eagerly waiting for some sweets when her father, dressed in his uniform, got out of it. He greeted his sweet daughter who screamed and fell on her butt. It was the ultimate surprise.
The two kissed and firmly hugged each other, and when he asked Maci whether she liked the surprise she answered with a resounding yes.
We are sure she wasn’t mad she didn’t get any cookies because we know her daddy would get her as much as she wants now the two are together again.
Check the heartwarming father-daughter moment in the video below.
The wedding day is finally here and everyone is excited to be part of the very special event that celebrates the true love and that happily ever after we are all striving for. The groom is waiting for his loved one to walk down the aisle into his arms and stay there forever. The stunning bride is eager to say the wedding wows and promise to love and to cherish her husband until eternity.
This is pretty much what all weddings are about, and attending one brings joy in everyone’s heart. But, when we think about it, for this day to be perfect a lot of people should be taking part in the organization. However, out of all those involved, the maid of honor and the best man have the most special roles. They go above and beyond just to make sure the newly weds get the day of their dreams. And as the bride’s best friend is handling stressful situations and people, as well as going through all the fittings and other decisions making processes, the best man is there to support the groom and give the “killer speech” that would make everyone laugh and get emotional at the same time.
A groom named Nick knew exactly who would perfectly fit the role of a best man on his wedding day: his 7-year-old son Vincent.
The boy probably didn’t do any planning regarding the bachelor party, but the speech this charmer gave was so out of the ordinary that we are sure you haven’t heard anything sweeter.
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Although many expected Vincent to experience sort of stage fright, he acted as though this was something he did countless of times before. Pretty confident in himself, he took the microphone in his hand and presented his speech which was an engaging mix of jokes, lovely anecdotes, and well wishes. This made his father and his stepmother Lauren very emotional.
Using sweet instances, Vincent talked about how much of a superhero his dad was for him.
“Every real superhero needs a sidekick, and that’s me. And every TRUE superhero needs a pretty girl by his side, and that’s Lauren. In my opinion, we make an unstoppable team.”
These are truly remarkable words coming from someone so young. The guests were left with tears in their eyes. They cried and laughed at the same time as young Vincent raised the bar.
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The ending was most hilarious of all as handsome Vincent proposed a toast and politely refused the glass of water he was offered. He did give his daddy a huge hug and a high-five at the end which was a sweet father-son moment.
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We are sure both Nick and Lauren are happy to have such a loving young boy who loves them so much by their side.
God works in mysterious ways and every now and then lets us experience magical moments that only deepen our faith in His existence and in the divine. The story of Dorothy “Dottie” Booth is one such occurrence.
This 97-year-old mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother was about to say the final goodbye to her loving family. The time has come for her to leave the earth and head to Heaven. This kind and loving old lady used to say:
“Be good…but if you can’t be good, be careful,”
and her grandchildren will live by these words.
Facebook/Angela Abbott Patteson
Dottie’s two daughters, Debbie and Jeanne had long conversations with their dying mother and would often discuss the afterlife. They believed there was something greater than life once the soul departs the body and asked their mother to send them a sign telling them she is fine once she goes to the new adventure. They particularly asked for a cardinal to be involved in the message she would send from Heaven.
The day after the memorial service, the family gathered in the house and decided to play one of Dottie’s favorite card games in her honor. During the gathering, they’ve heard unusual noise coming from the kitchen.
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One of the family members went to check out what it was, and the discovery left everyone speechless. There was a cardinal there, calm and serene as if it was waiting for them. The most amazing thing happened when they got closer. The bird didn’t move at all.
Jeannie and Debbie’s eyes filled with tears of joy as they knew it was their mother’s way of saying one last goodbye and sending a sign from the great beyond. They were quick to take some pictures with the cardinal before they released it. But, it refused to leave. The beautiful bird enjoyed the sisters’ company and it was the most incredible sight.
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Debbie tried to give it a little push by gently tossing it into the air, but the cardinal turned and landed on her shoulder. It definitely didn’t want to leave the sisters’ side.
This made both of them beyond happy because now they were certain that their mother was at the right place.
After spending some time with it, the bird finally flew away and reached for the blue sky. This unusual visit was just the closure this family needed.
We are so glad this enchanting moment was caught on camera. Go to the video below to witness the magic for yourself.
If you think judges who are part of talent shows and cooking competitions have it easy, think twice. Telling someone how bad they are at something they believe they are talented for makes them dream crushers. But at the end of the day they are paid to be brutally honest and that doesn’t involve taking competitors’ feelings into consideration.
This chili cook-off judge, however, had a memorable experience we know he’ll never forget. As for being part of a competition ever again, we are certain he’ll think twice before saying yes.
This story is going to make you burst out laughing.
“Recently, I was honored to be selected as a judge at a chili cook-off. The original person called in sick at the last moment and I happened to be standing there at the judge’s table, asking for directions to the Coors Light truck, when the call came in… I was assured by the other two judges (Native New Mexicans) that the chili wouldn’t be all that spicy; and, besides, they told me I could have free beer during the tasting, so I accepted and became Judge 3.”
Here are the scorecard notes from the event:
CHILI # 1 – MIKE’S MANIAC MONSTER CHILI
Judge # 1 — A little too heavy on the tomato. Amusing kick. Judge # 2 — Nice, smooth tomato flavor. Very mild. Judge # 3 (Frank) — Holy cr*p, what the heck is this stuff? You could remove dried paint from your driveway. Took me two beers to put the flames out. I hope that’s the worst one. These New Mexicans are crazy.
CHILI # 2 – EL RANCHO’S AFTERBURNER CHILI
Judge # 1 — Smoky, with a hint of pork. Slight jalapeno tang. Judge # 2 — Exciting BBQ flavor, needs more peppers to be taken seriously. Judge # 3 — Keep this out of the reach of children. I’m not sure what I’m supposed to taste besides pain. I had to wave off two people who wanted to give me the Heimlich maneuver. They had to rush in more beer when they saw the look on my face.
CHILI # 3 – ALFREDO’S FAMOUS BURN DOWN THE BARN CHILI
Judge # 1 — Excellent firehouse chili. Great kick. Judge # 2 — A bit salty, good use of peppers. Judge # 3 — Call the EPA. I’ve located a uranium spill. My nose feels like I have been snorting Drano. Everyone knows the routine by now. Get me more beer before I ignite. Barmaid pounded me on the back, now my backbone is in the front part of my chest. I’m getting red-faced from all of the beer.
CHILI # 4 – BUBBA’S BLACK MAGIC
Judge # 1 — Black bean chili with almost no spice. Disappointing. Judge # 2 — Hint of lime in the black beans. Good side dish for fish or other mild foods, not much of a chili. Judge # 3 — I felt something scraping across my tongue, but was unable to taste it. Is it possible to burn out taste buds? Sally, the beer maid, was standing behind me with fresh refills. This 300 lb. Woman is starting to look HOT … Just like this nuclear waste I’m eating! Is chili an aphrodisiac?
CHILI # 5 – LISA’S LEGAL LIP REMOVER
Judge # 1 — Meaty, strong chili. Jalapeno peppers freshly ground, adding considerable kick. Very impressive. Judge # 2 — Chili using shredded beef, could use more tomato. Must admit the jalapeno peppers make a strong statement. Judge # 3 — My ears are ringing, sweat is pouring off my forehead and I can no longer focus my eyes. I farted, and four people behind me needed paramedics. The contestant seemed offended when I told her that her chili had given me brain damage. Sally saved my tongue from bleeding by pouring beer directly on it from the pitcher. I wonder if I’m burning my lips off. It really ticks me off that the other judges asked me to stop screaming.
CHILI # 6 – VARGA’S VERY VEGETARIAN VARIETY
Judge # 1 — Thin yet bold vegetarian variety chili. Good balance of spices and peppers. Judge # 2 — The best yet. Aggressive use of peppers, onions, garlic. Superb. Judge # 3 — My intestines are now a straight pipe filled with gaseous, sulfuric flames. I cr*pped on myself when I farted, and I’m worried it will eat through the chair. No one seems inclined to stand behind me except that Sally. Can’t feel my lips anymore. I need to wipe my butt with a snow cone.
CHILI # 7 – SUSAN’S SCREAMING SENSATION CHILI
Judge # 1 — A mediocre chili with too much reliance on canned peppers. Judge # 2 — Ho hum, tastes as if the chef literally threw in a can of chili peppers at the last moment **I should take note that I am worried about Judge #3. He appears to be in a bit of distress as he is cursing uncontrollably. Judge # 3 — You could put a grenade in my mouth, pull the pin, and I wouldn’t feel a thing. I’ve lost sight in one eye, and the world sounds like it is made of rushing water. My shirt is covered with chili, which slid unnoticed out of my mouth. My pants are full of lava to match my shirt. At least during the autopsy, they’ll know what killed me. I’ve decided to stop breathing. It’s too painful. I’m not getting any oxygen anyway. If I need air, I’ll just suck it in through the 4-inch hole in my stomach.
CHILI # 8 – BIG TOM’S TOENAIL CURLING CHILI
Judge # 1 — The perfect ending, this is a nice blend chili. Not too bold but spicy enough to declare its existence. Judge # 2 — This final entry is a good, balanced chili. Neither mild nor hot. Sorry to see that most of it was lost when Judge #3 farted, passed out, fell over and pulled the chili pot down on top of himself. Not sure if he’s going to make it. Poor fella, wonder how he’d have reacted to really hot chili? Judge # 3 — No report.
Living with autism can be challenging for so many people who are diagnosed with the disorder. But I guess it’s a bit more for young children and teenagers who are yet to find their place in the world.
These people are very often misunderstood and considered ‘different’ and even ‘awkward’ by the members of the society, thus they struggle to fit in.
A 10-year-old boy from Plattsburgh, New York, named Benjamin Giroux was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome, a form of autism, when we was very young. He could feel he was a bit different from the rest of his peers and he wasn’t afraid to speak of his condition out loud. How he did it? He wrote how he felt like on a piece of paper which was given to him as an assignment by his teacher.
The poem he wrote was so deep and touching that his teacher and his parents were at a loss for words. He named his poetic work “I am!”
Benjamin’s poem was spread on the social media like a wildfire. People would share it along with the hashtag #oddtoo as a form of support for him and everyone else who is on the autism spectrum.
National Autism Association shared his incredibly touching but very true poem, too.
Cancer is a notoriously well-known disease to many, due to the horrible and devastating traits it carries. It affects many families and had many deaths every year, with those failing to detect it in its earliest stages and thus, failing to treat it on time.
Although there is still absence of a definitive cure in which scientists are still in the midst of creating, many have tried to develop new ways for early detection in the earliest stages of cancer – on their own. One example was Julian Rios Cantu, who was just 13-years-old when his mother was unfortunately diagnosed with breast cancer. Although his mother was able was overcome the disease the first time, she was not so lucky the second time, and it really tugged at Julian’s heartstrings.
His mother’s ordeal caused Julian to take a stand against cancer by channeling all of his time, money, brains and energy in creating a special invention. To him, it has the potential to help many families to avoid what he had to go through before.
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Now the ripe age of 18, Julian has very likely changed how cancer diagnosis would be conducted. Together with three of his friends, Julian founded Higia Technologies, a company with an aim of detecting and overcoming cancer. One of his technologies focused on the very deadly and common breast cancer, and detecting the disease early could literally make a huge difference between life and death. Julian’s mother had unfortunately, lost both her breasts in her battle – but she was fortunately able to survive the ordeal. It was his mother’s struggle that greatly inspired Julian’s initiative towards the illness – through an invention named the “auto exploration” bra.
It has more than 200 sensors installed and specifically designed to detect subtle changes in a woman’s breasts. Julian and his friends entered their product into the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards, and were even gifted a $20,000 grant to continue their research and possibly, product production.
YouTube / Health Plus Fitness
Users are advised to wear the bra for 60 to 90 minutes each week, while taking note of the changes in the temperature, color and texture of the breasts via readings. Cancerous tumors alters the rate of blood flow as well, in which the bra is able to detect. The information is then delivered to an app, alerting clients via the advisory of their chosen personal medical professional – just before the cancer develops past a treatable stage.
It is truly an inspirational and miraculous invention which Julian and his friends certainly, very much deserve plenty of praise for their innovative idea!
Police officers Jeremy Halek and Tony Weeks from the Brooklyn Park police station have had many unusual encounters throughout their career, but this has to be the one they will never forget.
While on the job, they noticed a car parked on the side of the road. The door was wide open so they assumed something might be wrong. They wondered where could the driver of the vehicle be and why would they leave an open car in the middle of a busy road. But, what they didn’t know was how they were about to witness something amazing.
They soon learned the car belonged to the 19-year-old teenager named Chris Felix and the reason why he was out there left them overwhelmed.
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While on the road, Chris could feel how something hit his car. When he got out he realized it was a squirrel that ended up under his vehicle. The kind boy never thought of leaving it there before he made sure the poor creature was doing fine. The first thing that came to his mind was to revive it through CPR. Yes, you’ve heard that right.
The squirrel didn’t show any signs of life, but Chris never gave up on it. He later told the Dodo: “All I was thinking about was just to try to help the squirrel out, because I just thought that would have been the best thing. The poor squirrel wasn’t able to move, so I pick it up with my glove, set it on the grass and started to do chest compression.”
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The officers were glad they found themselves in the right place at the right time. It’s not everyday that we see someone giving CPR to a squirrel, so they made sure they put the amazing scene on tape.
When asked why he did what he did, Chris told CBS Sunday Morning: “It didn’t look like he had any life, you know? It doesn’t matter if it’s a little life or a big life. Life is life.”
After some time, the lovely creature could be seen running into the woods, safe and sound.
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To be honest, we are not really sure we would believe this story if we weren’t able to see it ourselves.
Chris showed how amazing of a person he is by providing a large dose of compassion for someone so small and so vulnerable. If more people treat animals this way, the world will be a much better place and we will live in harmony with all God’s creatures.
We are happy to learn Chris is planning on pursuing a career in the medical field because he’s got all the traits needed to become a great doctor.
Make sure you don’t miss this extraordinary and inspirational story.
Animals and babies make best of friends, and apparently that goes for insects too. It’s lovely seeing parents who teach their children that no matter how big or small, every living being should be treated with utmost respect because it has its own place on this planet and makes it more beautiful.
When one couple decided to take their baby at the San Diego Zoo, they had no idea it will turn into one of their most memorable trips together only because of one very special butterfly. And as everyone had fun looking at those stunning wings, the little baby girl had no idea why her parents were overly excited.
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The gorgeous and pretty big butterfly casually landed on the baby’s forehead and made her way to the top of the cutie pie’s head. The baby couldn’t feel the insect was walking on her and was left wondering why was everyone staring at her.
Some random kids tried to make the baby smile, but she was only looking at them unaware of the unique moment that was taking place.
It’s great the parents managed to put everything on tape as we are sure the baby girl would appreciate it when she gets older.
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When the butterfly opens her wings, we get to see the mesmerizing blue pattern. The color is so vivid that it’s really breathtaking. This has to be nature at it’s finest.
She seems to be enjoying the attention she is getting and the baby’s head is just the perfect place for taking some rest. Even when the baby moves her head, the butterfly doesn’t fall.
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These butterflies are known as The Blue Morpho Butterflies and are one of the largest and most beautiful in the world.
Certain tribes of the Amazon believe these butterflies have magical powers and grant wishes. That is the reason why they are creating masks resembling their wings during their festivals.
It’s amazing how their wings are plain brown on the outside which allows them to camouflage when not flying.
This one, however, really made this family’s day special.
