I’m sure everyone remembers when Susan Boyle first took the stage of one of the most popular music shows, Britain’s Got Talent. When the judges saw the middle-aged woman walking in, they didn’t expect much, but once she started singing, she left everyone in awe. Her voice spread to the end of the huge place and some strangely magical beauty could be felt in the air.
Now, with the Christmas just around the corner and all the holiday songs that announce the birth of our Savior, we get to listen to many renditions of those familiar melodies. However, this year, nothing compares to Susan’s performance of the classic “Away In A Manger,” which comes from her second album, “The Gift.”
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The soul and the deep emotions that pour from this incredible song are enough to get anyone in the Christmas spirit! She wows everyone who gets to listen to her angelic voice that sends chills down our spine. The version of this song is bound to become your favorite.
Susan is a devoted Christian who keeps the faith near to her heart. She explained her religious beliefs to Christian Post saying:
“My faith is incredibly important to me on every level. It gets me through those moments of self-doubt and also allows me to understand that this gift of my career, later in life, is from a higher power. Religion is very important to me and I still attend church services regularly. As a young child, I went with my family to church and sang in the choir. I find that my religion gives me a direction in life and brings great happiness. “
She performs at the Rockefeller Plaza in New York in front of a huge crowd that gathered to feel the magic and the spirit of the holiday during the annual lightning of the Christmas tree.
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This once-in-a-lifetime show starts with little children dressed in outfits that speak Christmas singing in a choir. They might be young and tiny but their voices are incredibly powerful. They start singing the introductory lyrics and when we think it can’t get any better, Susan takes the stage and it’s impossible not to get goosebumps while listening to her amazing vocal abilities.
What a wonderful way to ring in the holiday season.
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Listen to Susan’s performance for yourself below. She is amazingly talented.
If you have ever questioned the existence of true love, the story of Isabell Whitney and Preble Staver will make all your doubts fade away.
The two first met before the WWII took place and were separated until it came to an end. During those years, Preble was serving in the Marines and the love of his life joined as a nurse in the Navy.
This loving couple was married more than 70 years and stood by each other’s side for better and for worse and ended their life dying on the same day, embracing each other and holding hands.
The sweethearts got hitched in 1946 and raised five children together.
Laurie Staver Clinton
One of their children, Laurie Staver Clinton, told PEOPLE, “They were great people. Mom really taught me that you can’t change another person but you can change your attitude towards them. Dad was a bit of a prickly pear!”
As time passed by and they got old, they were placed at a care facility as Isabell started suffering from dementia which was getting worse over time. Unfortunately, that resulted in having to keep the lovebirds in a separate rooms.
Laurie Staver Clinton
62-year-old Laurie said how his mother was forgetful and didn’t recognize many people who were part of her life, but she never forgot Preble. “Sometimes we’d have to tell her to focus and look but when she looked and knew it was dad, she’d get that little smile”
On Preble’s 93rd birthday, he only had one wish, and that was to be allowed to spend some time with his wife of seventy years. The facility staff were glad to grant him the wish and the two laid next to each other for more than 3 hours.
Laurie Staver Clinton
“There was not a single word spoken between the two of them. They held hands and just fell asleep. I told dad, ‘This is mom’s birthday present for you.’ He was just so happy that he got to take his nap with her,” Laurie said.
On October 25, Laurie got the devastating news of her mother’s passing. She rushed to the hospital to say the final goodbye with Preble by her side.
“He held her hand, and it was just so tender. I asked him if he wanted to stay after the prayers, and he shook his head. I said, ‘Okay, but you know that means you’re going to have to let go of her hand?’ I was crying, and he was crying,” Laurie recalled.
Preble died hours after his loving wife. It’s unusual how the two left the world on the same day. It was as though they were destined to live together, and die together.
Their marriage was one of those that not everyone gets to experience. The old-school union in which a couple lives by the real values of honest love, respect, and never letting go.
“Mom and dad really lived out that, if you make a commitment, and even though life gets rough or life gets in the way, you work through life, and you live your life together.”
The below video is of a 92-year-old Veteran who sings to his wife. The relationships like that of Isabell and Preble, and the one below, are a reminder that true love still exists.
Our all time favorite a capella group, Pentatonix, never ceases to take our breath away while performing the much anticipated holiday hits. In the latest video they released, they give new life to the song “Mary Did You Know” and the whole experience is touching.
They perfectly season the hit with a pinch of a modern-day flare and the final result is astounding.
The scenery they chose only adds to the magic they create, which can’t be compared to any other rendition we’ve stumbled upon this following season. They make the Christmas spirit be felt as their voices blend in perfect harmony and fill the air with joy.
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The song that catches the hearts of millions of people each season was originally written back in 1984 by Mark Lowry and despite its many renditions, none touches the soul as this one. The purity and the perfect blending of the voices of the members of Pentatonix will send shivers down your spine.
Mark told The St. Augustine Record:
“At the cross on Mount Calvary, while Jesus was dying, [Mary’s] silence was a great testimony to the fact of who he was and is. He said to them, ‘When you have seen me, you have seen the Father.’ Of course, for this they nailed him to a cross, and his mother never said a word.
As my mind went back to the manger scene, I began to think about the power, authority and majesty she cradled in her arms. Those little lips were the same lips that had spoken worlds into existence. All of those things were contained in the young child lying quietly on her bosom. Even now, he was the very one who had given life to his mother, Mary.
I began writing a list of questions I would like to ask Mary if I could sit down with her – questions such as, ‘Mary, do you know who is in your arms?’
‘Did you know the one who holds creation together, and the one who holds you together is lying helpless in the manger?’
‘Did you know that your baby boy will walk on water, give sight to a blind man and calm a storm at sea with his hand?'”
From the moment it was initially released, the song had been performed by many talented musicians in very different stiles, but this version is sure to become your favorite.
The melody and the lyrics coming from the hearts of these performers reflect on the blessings Christmas have for each of us.
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The five skilled vocalists from Texas put their talents on display for the world to see as they gently crooned out each note. Not only their voices are captivating, but the way they act and let the emotion of the song be shown through their facial expressions is just amazing.
Once you hear them, you’ll want more. They beautifully capture the spirit of the song and the season.
Only a few more “sleeps” until Santa comes to town!
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Hear for yourself how the best rendition of this song sounds in the video below.
Among all the pranks we get to see on YouTube, most of which tend to bamboozle people and make them feel bad about themselves, a man named Stuart Edge who is widely known as an ultimate prankster, brings to us something quite different.
His viral videos of good pranks bring laughter and joy at the people from all around the world. To be honest, to come up with a perfect prank is not an easy job, but Stuart gets assistance from real professionals who help him pull his ideas off. In the last video, he got a helping hand from his friends Bart Johnson and Charan Prabhakar, from Disney’s High School Musical.
As Stuart says, “It’s the holiday season and it’s a great time to focus our efforts on giving back,” and we can’t agree more.
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Bart and Charan are playing store cashiers, nicely dressed in green aprons, and completely into their role.
Stuart comes up with the ultimate plan of helping random customers by offering to pay for their groceries pretending to be an angel sent from Heaven.
So, while many people who are doing their shopping at the store wait in queue, out of the blue, a man in a fully white outfit comes along and starts a conversation with them.
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Stuart approaches and says he is coming from “management” that’s “upstairs.”
The cashiers are very chatty and “can’t see” the man in white who makes small talks with the customers insinuating he is a real angel. The next thing he does leaves them completely puzzled as he places his smartphone near the pay station and pays for their bill. Once he does it, he just walks off while the people stare at him wondering what is going on.
After this, the cashiers ask the customers whether they’ll use their credit card or cash to pay for their groceries, which confuses them even further. They say how their bill was paid already by the man in white who had just wandered off the store.
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The shoppers are left in disbelief and can’t figure out how the cashiers don’t see the “angel.” When they point to the direction he left, Bart and Charan tell them how the managements’ offices are in the opposite direction which baffles the shoppers even more.
Most people reacted with a smile, but there was one particular family whose reaction was so overwhelming that Stuart couldn’t proceed with the prank.
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This family was struggling to make ends meet as they were about to pay for the groceries using their credit card. It was their son’s fifth birthday so they simply had to do everything in their power to buy things and celebrate it the right way.
This touched Stuart and the whole crew so they asked the parents to get back into the store and buy everything they need, all covered up.
They couldn’t believe the kind gesture and tears of joy rolled down their faces. This kindness was their ultimate Christmas present. Now they wanted to do a good deed for someone else and pay the generosity forward. This was the best “thank you” Stuart could get.
Take a look at the heartwarming video below. It may inspire you to become a “Secret Santa”, or like in this case a “Secret Angel” to someone in need of some holiday magic.
We’ve witnesses many times in life how an act of kindness, no matter how big or small, can go a long way and even change someone’s life forever. Being there for other people when they need us the most is what makes the world go round.
Take a look at the following story that will remind you that no good deed ever goes unnoticed.
A young boy approached the counter of Freddy’s Frozen Custard and Steakburgers in Katy, Texas, with a handful of coins, trying to pay for a frozen dessert. Travis Sattler, the guy behind the register, took the money and after carefully counting it, he could see the boy was $2 short.
“He wants to order dessert,” said Sattler. “He was a little nervous. Ends up handing me everything he had.”
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Sattler couldn’t let the boy leave the store without the treat so he pulled his credit card and paid the rest of the money.
“It’s on me,” the cashier said, and the child was very thankful. “He had the biggest eyes, the widest smile.”
Some time later, before that same boy and his mother left the store, he approached Sattler again and handed him a note.
“It says, ‘Thank you for being so nice and paying for my custard. We need more people like you,’” Sattler read.
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Wrapped inside the note was a $100 bill. Sattler couldn’t believe how his $2 dollars brought him a tip so huge. He was rewarded for his kind heart, and he was beaming with joy knowing he made an impact and made someone’s day.
“I like to think that I made a good impact on their day, and I kind of brightened it up, just like they did mine,” Sattler said.
Sattler says that it’s not about the money but about that feeling of fulfillment knowing you are a hero in the eyes of a little boy who may just follow your example and become a good person.
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Both Travis and the boy were complete strangers before that day, but still they managed to share a very special moment none of them will ever forget.
“Travis’ face is probably a face that boy will remember for a long time,” said Padden Nelson, owner of the Katy location of the franchise.
As good news spreads really fast, Travis’ deed was noticed by the restaurant owner who rewarded the generous employee with additional $100.
Travis is an example of how every employee should treat the customers.
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The restaurant now wants to track the boy and his mother down because they have some gifts for them. Everyone is happy how this story turned out, with many people wanting to do a good deed themselves. Travis and the boy are such inspiration.
Check the video below to see what Travis has to say about the whole thing in his interview for USA Today.
It’s simply amazing how the holidays bring in people the need to be kinder towards the less fortunate and spread more love to everyone around. It’s the Christmas spirit that makes us think of the way we treat others and how we can become better people and an important part of our community.
What everyone strives for when it comes to the holidays is to spend them in the company of the loved ones. Unfortunately, not everyone is lucky to be around family and friends for the special day. Many homeless people on the streets and elderly whose families seem to have forgotten about them are about to be all alone and not able to feel warmth or kindness on the day that’s all about spreading love and good vibes, and that really saddens our hearts.
Helping these people and making them feel important should be our number one priority, no matter their or our religion, or race.
A restaurant owner from London is showing us what Christmas is all about by doing an amazing act of kindness. He opens the doors to the place and offers free courses of meal for those who have no family or friends. Hasan Masud is a Muslim, and he doesn’t celebrate Christmas, but he is a generous and kindhearted man whose action touched the hearts of many. His sign has gone viral and people from all around the world regard him as an amazing guy whose example we should all follow.
In this restaurant that serves traditional Turkish food, no one dines alone!
The restaurant, named Shish is located in Bexley, London. The owner spread the word through social media to benefit maximum people who can try the delicious taste of the Turkish specialties.
The menu for the occasion will include starters like soup and cacik. The main course will include chicken or vegetarian casserole or chicken shish. There will be rice pudding for dessert.
“We’re just helping people,” Hasan Masud, an employee at the restaurant, told Buzzfeed. “Lots of people stay home alone for Christmas. They don’t need to. They can come here and have some fun.”
“We are here to sit with you,” owner wrote in a note about the offer posted to the restaurant window.
This could be one of the most charming Christmas stories we’ve stumbled upon.
As we are all anticipating the arrival of the holidays, many musicians and singers try to lift up high the Christmas spirit by treating the listeners with amazing and breathtaking renditions of the songs that grew close to our hearts because they are the true melody of Christmas.
The trio GENTRI released an alluring performance of “O Holy Night” and proved their talents once again. Their dazzling voices blend in a perfect harmony that creates a feeling of warmth. In a very powerful way, these men bring to us the true meaning of Christmas.
The song comes with a video which is as powerful as the soothing sound they create.
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The story that follows the song is about a father who’s doing final preparations for the most beautiful time of the year. At one moment, he comes across a homeless man who offers him to help attach the Christmas tree to the top of the car. Throughout the rest of the video, the father can’t stop thinking of the homeless man sitting on the cold all alone. That’s when he decides to do something in the spirit of Christmas, and that’s to provide kindness and a helping hand to someone in need. Isn’t that what Christmas is all about?
He tracks the man down and what follows is simply heartwarming.
Doing the “right thing” is something the men of GENTRI want their listeners to feel inspired to do after listening to their music. They told the Prelude Press:
“We wanted to make sure that the messages conveyed in our songs were those that challenged the listener to live life more fully and love more deeply. The messages of these songs are an extension of the core message of GENTRI itself. When it comes to self-improvement and trying to be better today than we were yesterday, we are certainly no exception…”
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“We wanted the music and lyrics to reflect the things that matter most to us – relationships with family, chasing our dreams, and living life to the fullest. The biggest challenge when writing and recording an album always seems to be putting it all together in a way that comes across as authentic. “
The video ends with the text from Matthew 25:40 on the screen, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”
Being there for those who are facing hard times in life is what makes us good Christians, not the presents we buy for each other, but what we do for the less fortunate.
We as well hope that this amazing performance along with the video will inspire many people to do the right thing.
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Watch these gentlemen’s video below and remember that even a small act of kindness can go a long way.
A California doctor has been suspended from her duties as an emergency room physician and is being investigated after a video shows her grabbing and mocking a patient who reportedly was suffering from an anxiety attack.
Samuel Bardwell is a college athlete who suffers from severe anxiety and panic attacks. Recently he suffered one that was so serious it caused him to collapse during a summer basketball class.
His coach, Scott Eitelgeorge said Bardwell was struggling.
Samuel Bardwell recalls the incident. Image courtesy of ABC News
“He wasn’t looking too good,” the coach said. “It looked like he was having a pretty severe anxiety attack. Sam played for maybe five minutes before he had to step out. He collapsed on the grass outside the weight room. When we went outside he tried to get up but fell back down.”
To keep his condition under control Samuel takes Klonopin, his dad Donald Bardwell told The Mercury News.
Donald Bardwell says he videotaped the incident. Screenshot by ABC News
“He was on medication for his anxiety but was off his meds for two days because he couldn’t get to the pharmacy before it closed,” Donald Bardwell said.
The situation was serious enough that Samuel, 20, was rushed by paramedics to El Camino Hospital in Los Gatos, California.
Donald and his son assumed they would receive professional help at the hospital. They assumed the young man would be helped in a timely and benevolent manner.
The doctor who treated Samuel sure proved that to be wrong!
Doctor Had A Horrible Bedside Manner
Keegstra was allegedly rude and physically abusive to Bardwell. Image courtesy of Donald Bardwell via Facebook.
Her behavior was captured on video. As a result, she was suspended when the hospital got wind of it. The two men say they waited in the hospital for an absurdly long time as the doctor allegedly laughed and chatted with her co-workers.
Keegstra can be heard harshly mocking newly enrolled West Valley College student on the video.
“I’m sorry sir, you were the least sick of all the people who are here who are dying,” she says in the video. “There, so you picked your head up. Now don’t try to tell me you can’t move. C’mon, sit up.”
She tugs his arm, telling him to sit up. Bardwell tells her he can’t get up and can’t inhale.
Her response?
“He can’t inhale. Wow! He must be dead. Are you dead, sir?
Doctor turns belligerent
At one point, she can even be heard swearing, having accused Bardwell of changing his story about why he was in the emergency room, ABC News reports.
“You’re full of sh*t,” she can be heard saying.
Watch the doctor in this video below
This is how they treat people in Los Gatos emergency room. SMH Everyone share this video. For the record this is my son.
Keegstra, a practicing physician for 31 years found herself suspended from all of the facilities associated with the hospital. In a statement, Dan Wood, chief executive officer of El Camino Hospital said her “demeanor was unprofessional and not the standard we require of all who provide care through El Camino Hospital.”
“We have expressed our sincere apologies and are working directly with the patient on this matter,” Wood said. “Please know that we take this matter very seriously and the contracted physician involved has been removed from the work schedule, pending further investigation.”
And Donald Bardwell seemed to concur with Wood that the doctor acted in a manner that was “unprofessional.”
“In my mind, I don’t think she should be practicing medicine at all,” he said during an interview on Good Morning America.
Keegstra appears to berate the patient. Screenshot by Donald Bardwell via Facebook
Samuel Bardwell says he asked his dad to videotape the situation after noticing Keegstra eyeing him suspiciously while talking to a security guard in the emergency room.
In an interview with Inside Edition, Samuel Bardwell says he made every effort to sit up but was unable to. Screenshot by Inside Edition via YouTube.
Bardwell says he knew trouble might be brewing because the doctor kept eyeing him suspiciously while she was talking to a security guard in the waiting room. So he asked his dad to grab his phone and start taking a video.
Anxiety is a common problem in the U.S.
A patient can’t be bullied out of an anxiety attack. Doing something this callous is sure to make it worse. Anxiety disorders are the most common form of mental illness in the U.S. They affect 40 million adults each year in the U.S., the Anxiety and Depression Association of America reports.
Samuel Bardwell was struggling or he wouldn’t have gone to the emergency room. What this doctor did is inexcusable.
