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Big brother cuts his sister’s hair – but stylist works magic and saves the day

Having two toddlers under one roof means constantly trying to keep your house from looking like a bomb went off. Running after them and making sure they don’t get hurt or get into a fight between each other can be tiring, and most moms would definitely agree, but we also have to admit that toddlers are fun to be around. 

A mom of two, Breana Naylor of Queens Creek, Arizona, knows that the silence in the house speaks trouble. So, when she noticed it was quiet for some time, she just knew her 2-year-old daughter Kimberly and her 3-year-old brother Colt were up to something. And guess what? She was totally right!

Sharing her story with Mom.com, Naylor wrote:

“A few more peaceful minutes pass and I’m like, ‘Fine, I’ll be a responsible parent and check on my kids.’”

When she went to check up on them she noticed the two were hiding in the closet. She though they were just having fun time and decided to leave them alone when she suddenly noticed a lock of hair on the floor. 

It didn’t take long before she realized that someone was getting the well-known ‘toddler haircut.’ 

Once she opened the door, she could see Cold holding the scissors and cutting his little sister’s hair while she was sitting still and waiting for her new hairstyle. 

Naylor was glad the kids didn’t hurt themselves with those scissors and was quick to grab them from Colt’s hands. But what Kimberly was left with couldn’t be put into words. 

“When I saw the damage, I just laughed,” Naylor told Mom.com.

The girl’s hair was a total disaster and it needed to be fixed. 

Naylor then texted her hairstylists Jen Bullock whom she had an appointment with already, saying:

“Jen, forget about my hair, Kimber needs your help!”

It turned out that a new hairstyle was all sweet Kimberly needed as Jen worked her magic on her and not only fixed her hair but made her look stunning. 

Kimberly now looks very stylish and her mom says how her new hair matches her personality. 

“I’m not sure if Kimber realizes how rad she really looks. It’s as though her hair matches her spunky personality now, or maybe she’s more spunky because of her rad hair.”

Jen though she should share her little client’s photos with her friends not knowing that thousands of other people would love her work too. 

The perfect example of what not to say to a police officer ever

I don’t know about you, but I believe that most police officers aren’t given the respect they deserve. They are the first to arrive when we are in trouble and make sure the members of their community are safe and sound at all times.

People sometimes get mad when an officer makes them pull over and asks for their licence and registration, but it’s their job to keep the traffic safe for everyone involved in it, and we have to understand that.

One thing we should never do when a cop stops us is make fun of them or use inappropriate language because that would definitely lead to getting ourselves in trouble.

But, it looks like no one warned this guy from the story to never mess with the police officers. This is what he had to say:

Yesterday I had a flat tire on the interstate.

So I eased my car over to the shoulder of the road, carefully got out of the car and opened the trunk. I took out 2 cardboard men, unfolded them and stood them at the rear of my car facing oncoming traffic. They looked so lifelike you wouldn’t believe! They are in trench coats exposing their nude bodies and private parts to the approaching drivers.

But to my surprise, cars started slowing down looking at my lifelike men. And of course, traffic started backing up. Everybody was tooting their horns and waving like crazy.

It wasn’t long before a state trooper pulled up behind me. He got out of his car and started walking towards me. I could tell he was not a happy camper!
“What’s going on here?’

‘My car has a flat tire,’ I said calmly.

‘Well, what the heck are those obscene cardboard men doing here by the road?’

I couldn’t believe that he didn’t know. So I told him,

‘Hell000000, those are my emergency flashers!’

Little girl gives dad a no-nonsense lecture on why it’s not OK to leave the toilet seat up

When it comes to using the toilet there are some rules that everyone should respect. Putting the toilet seat down is definitely one of them. Well, it looks like that this ‘issue’ turned into an endless war between the male and the female world. So whereas women get mad with men for not putting the seat down, men don’t find that a big deal and simply refuse to listen. 

Bradlee Rae Hayes is a three-year-old girl from Bedford, Texas, who hates stumbling upon a toilet seat up when entering the bathroom. But, her personality won’t let her pretend as it has never happened. In fact, she’s ready to confront her father and teach him some lessons on good manners. 

The video of Bradlee stole the hearts of the whole country some three years ago, but it looks like we can never get enough of her, especially because the issue with the toilet seat is always ongoing. 

“How many times do I have to tell you when you put the seat up and I tell you to put it down for me? Why do you keep doing that?” the little girl says.

Her dad thinks that leaving the seat up isn’t really a big of a deal and asks Bradlee why wouldn’t she just put it down if that bothers her so much to what she responds that he is the one who should do that, not her. 

“I don’t want to [put it down], I just want you to do it.”

Seeing her coming up with some great arguments, her daddy Jeremiah won’t stop saying no just to make her speak more. And boy, we are glad he does that. 

“Daddy, listen to me, when you’re done with the potty, you gotta put it down when big girl come in and need go… So you’re got to put it down for girls.”

Although he’s doing it wrong when it comes to the toilet seat, Jeremiah is a great parent who taught her young daughter to speak up when she comes across things in life which she believes are not fair and bother her.

Jeremiah told Caters News Agency how Bradlee tells him off every once in a while when she doesn’t agree with his parenting. 

“This is her down to a T, as she is always letting me know when I am slacking,” he said. “If I am not doing my job as a dad properly she isn’t afraid to let me know. Especially when it comes to putting the toilet seat down.”

He even joked how he will never let women win the war over the toilet seat. 

“Despite her recriminations, I will stand firm for all men in the great debate of whether or not to put the seat down.”

This girl is just awesome. She will definitely make your day.

Boy Throws A Tantrum On A Plane But Gets Put In His Place

Having kids is a real blessing, but everyone is pretty much aware that with them around things can be tough at times. I don’t think there is a single parent out there who hasn’t wished for the ground to swallow them up when their little ones decide to throw a tantrum at a public place. I guess you are smiling as you are reading this if you are a proud mom or a dad of a little kid, aren’t you?

One mom found herself in such situation where she wasn’t able to calm her noddy and misbehaving child, but luckily, there was someone on the plane who could.

As a crowded airliner is about to take off, the peace is shattered by a 5-year-old boy who picks that moment to throw a wild temper tantrum. No matter what his frustrated, embarrassed mother does to try to calm him down, the boy continues to scream furiously and kick the seats around him.

Suddenly, from the rear of the plane, an elderly man in the uniform of an Air Force General is seen slowly walking forward up the aisle.

Stopping the flustered mother with an upraised hand, the white-haired, courtly, soft-spoken General leans down and, motioning toward his chest, whispers something into the boy’s ear.

Instantly, the boy calms down, gently takes his mother’s hand, and quietly fastens his seat belt. All the other passengers burst into spontaneous applause.
As the General slowly makes his way back to his seat, one of the cabin attendants touches his sleeve.

“Excuse me, General,” she asks quietly, “but could I ask you what magic words you used on that little boy?”

The old man smiles serenely and gently confides, “I showed him my pilot’s wings, service stars, and battle ribbons, and explained that they entitle me to throw one passenger out the plane door on any flight I choose.”

Everyone ignores desperate woman who needs help with flat tire except for one homeless man

Anna Davidson is the owner of Jessie Jean’s Historic 25th Cafe in Ogden, Utah. In the 20 years during which she and her husband have run the place, they’ve seen many people pass by and witnessed many incredible things. But a photo that they took recently and posted on Facebook along with the story behind it has gone viral. 

As Anna was looking through the window one day, she spotted a woman stuck in the traffic and blocking it because of a flat tire. The poor woman had no idea what to do and asked people around to help her, but no one was willing to stop. Well, except for someone Anna knew very well. A homeless man named Charles “Chuck” Logan who was a regular at her cafe. 

Once everyone started speaking of the kindness Chuck offered, the woman with the flat tire, Shuree Michelle spoke of it and thanked her savior publicly. 

“Out comes this guy and he asked if I had a spare tire and a jack,” she told Yahoo Lifestyle. “He didn’t hesitate to help — it was very sweet.”

Chuck’s deed not only helped Michelle, but also the way people from the community saw the homeless people sticking around the area. Namely, most of the Ogden residents were against homeless people living on their streets, but now that they have seen how generous one of them was, they realized they misjudged them in the first place.

During the period when large population of government IRS workers lost their jobs because of the government shutdown, Anna’s cafe offered discounts and it attracted homeless people even more, which community members didn’t like. 

Anna told Yahoo Lifestyle:

“We have about 5,000 government workers living in Ogden so when they couldn’t work, it was traumatic. We figured, ‘If we’re going to lose our business, we may as well help people on our way out.”

At the time, Anna’s place, with the help of local donations, started offering coffee and beignets for only $2. This made many furious because that meant many homeless would start visiting the place and the city. 

But Anna and her husband didn’t care, because they believe everyone deserves a hot meal. On top of that, by sharing Chuck’s photo they proved everyone who was against them wrong. Because Chuck was in fact the only person who lent a helping hand to someone in need. 

Now, customers can add a “Pay it forward” extra to their bill. Money that are used for meals each day. 

“I felt like the universe was telling me to do this,” said Anna.

The kind homeless man is now part of the cafe, where he cleans and gets to have a meal and some money. 

“He’s a safety net around here,” Davidson said.

This is Anna’s original post. 

“Looked out the window to see this happening. This is Chuck… he’s homeless and works his ass off helping every day in the cafe. This is ‘one of those people’ that get labeled. Ya know the ones everyone wants outta sight, outta mind. I didn’t see anyone else out helping this young lady, just Chuck… the homeless guy… thank you Chuck.” #findthekind and #kindnessmatters.

Yahoo Lifestyle contacted Chuck too as they wanted to hear his thoughts on everything that was going on. 

“Treat people as they would like to be treated, with respect,” he said, matter-of-factly.

Chuck is an incredible man and an example of why we should never judge a book by its cover. 

Little girl sees a man with white beard while shopping and mistakes him for Santa Claus

Who knew that an ordinary visit to the local Walmart could turn into one of the best Christmas stories the country has stumbled upon.

When sweet Sophie Jo Riley visited the store with her daddy and her sister, she never expected to meet the white-bearded man who brings so much happiness in the life of little children; Santa Claus. 

“She was just sneaking around the aisle, had her back against the toys,” her older sister Miya Lupashunski told WSAZ News. “We were behind her, and she’d put her finger up to her lips and go ‘Shh! It’s Santa!’”

The man that resembled Santa so much, Roger Larck, didn’t want to ruin the girl’s excitement so he decided to play along.

“Santa?” she asked as she headed towards him. “I’ve been called worse,” he replied.

When he put the red sweater on that day, Larck had no idea he will be mistaken for the ‘big guy’ but he was glad he did because it didn’t only made Sophie’s day, but his too. 

Although this incredible and serendipitous encounter took place some 4 years ago, it never ceases to put a smile on our face whenever Christmas is around the corner. 

Still a bit shocked from meeting Santa, Sophie nervously plays with her ponytail before she goes on and brags with her nails, to what ‘Santa’ exclaims, “Wow, that’s very pretty.” 

Sophie’s sister than reminds her to tell ‘Santa’ what she wants for Christmas and without hesitating even a bit, Sophie hands him in her New Year’s wish list.

And yes, she mentions how she would leave some cookies for him when he comes to bring her the present, but tells him to have only one as the rest are for the reindeer. 

That Christmas is Sophie’s favorite time of the year speaks the fact that she knows so much about Santa, his elves, and his reindeer. 

Larck was overjoyed he made Sophie happy that day and said how he loved to oblige and play the ‘big guy’ for a couple of minutes. 

“I’m tickled I’ve been a part of something that other people have enjoyed,” he said. “It was just me having a conversation with a little girl. It melted my heart when it happened.”

According to Sophie’s dad, Robert Reily, Larck contacted him after the encounter and told him how meeting the young girl was “the best present he has received for a long time.”

The video melted millions of hearts and Sophie became sort of celebrity in the town as she and her dad were guests on many shows where they spoke of the experience. 

In one occasion, she was invited at a talk show and there was someone special waiting for her there. You are guessing right, it was Larck who spoke to Sophie about her Christmas wishes. 

This is definitely a must see. It will remind you of the beauty of the most beautiful holiday season and of children’s innocence and honesty. 

Dad and daughter Rascal Flatts sing-a-long is going viral because it’s just too darn cute for words

Babies and music really go great together, so it doesn’t really come as a surprise that even the greatest singing dummies of moms and dads perform for their little ones. 

And now if you think that having a baby entertained revolves around songs like Baby Shark only, you might be completely wrong. It turns out that little kids and babies love other types of music too.

When this mom posted a video of her hubby and their daughter having fun along with Rascal Flatts and wrote the caption “He’s going to kill me for posting this” we just knew it will be something to remember. 

Now, although we all believe that our bundles of joy enjoy listening to high-pitched squeaky noises, we somehow underrate their taste for good music. 

According to a research conducted back in 2015 by the McGill University researchers, infants really love being exposed to “a repeating vowel sound that mimicked those made by an adult woman or those by a baby.” 

Well, this video that we’ve mentioned before proves this to be right. 

Namely, daddy Ryan and baby girl Mary were having the time of their life doing sweet karaoke that mom managed to put on tape. Oh boy, we are so glad she did it. 

The two chose just the song that put little Mary in the mood; Rascal Flatts’ “I’m Moving On.” 

But it’s not just the choice of song that made the girl go wild, but the way her dad sang it to her, looking her straight in the eyes. He showered her with affection and love and she could feel that. 

As a thank you, she tries to mimic his moves and makes him laugh. 

This duo is so amazingly fun that what they had to offer was seen more than 13 million times. 

It looks as Mary will start belting the lyrics any second, although she doesn’t know how to speak yet. 

We believe all the happiness and love between a father and his daughter are packed in this short video, don’t you think so?

Take a look at the amazing performance in the video below. 

Toddler with Down syndrome who beat cancer twice now hears sound for the first time

Having a healthy baby is everything that parents-to-be dream of. But not everyone gets a chance like that in life.

When baby Grace Rosian was born, she was diagnosed with transient myeloproliferative disorder, which is a form of leukemia.

The poor baby that was welcomed into the world two months prematurely had to undergo her first treatment just 48 hours after she was born. 

But her parents knew their little bundle of joy, who also has Down Syndrome, is a fighter. They were there to give her all the love she needed in order to come out as a winner. 

And they were right. After two months of invasive treatments and a bunch of medicine, Grace was cancer free and able to finally leave the hospital and feel the warmth of her home. 

Her parents were overjoyed by the though of finally getting to hold their daughter. 

Sadly, the family’s joy only lasted for eight months as Grace was again diagnosed with leukemia, but this time, it was more serious than the first time. 

That meant the pain and the struggles they believed were buried in the past were there for them to face again. 

The form of cancer Grace had to fight against this time was acute myeloid leukemia, which is something children with Down Syndrome have a high risk of developing. 

Grace’s bone marrow was also affected. 

This second stay in the hospital lasted for eight long months. Looking their daughter going through so many chemotherapy treatments and operations broke Grace’s parents’ hearts into a million pieces, especially because there was nothing they could do to ease her pain. 

As the AML was located in the little girl’s spine, the chemotherapy was administered into her spinal fluid. 

Grace’s vibrant personality and her fighting spirit along with all the love and support she was getting from her parents and the doctors helped her kick the cancer’s butt for the second time. 

Now that she was healthy again, the doctors decided to help Grace with another problem she was facing, her hearing. 

Namely, this sweet little angel never got to hear her parents’ kind words of support because she was hearing impaired. 

The new aids she got opened the door to a completely new world for Grace, the world of sounds and music. 

The experience of hearing for the first time was a bit overwhelming for this cute girl, but she got used to it very soon and she now enjoys listening to people talking to her. 

Everyone at the hospital was overjoyed for little Grace. All the doctors and the rest of the staff were crossing their fingers for their favorite patient for so long and now that she could finally go home they all said that they would miss her dearly. 

The sweetest thing of all was that all of them were there to wish Grace good luck on her way home. 

We are so happy for this extraordinary girl. She’s the bravest little girl we’ve ever seen and we can’t be happier for her and her family.

Take a look at the whole story in the video below. 

Man feels something below the surface, notices a little foot and pulls drowning 4-year-old out of water

What looked like an ordinary day at the lake turned into an experience 32-year-old plumber Angelo Mondragon will never forget. 

As he was swimming in the water, something touched his leg. And we all know that it’s not the most pleasant feeling. Believing it was fish or seaweed, Angelo turned around and that’s when he noticed the most shocking thing ever. It was a foot with tiny toes, and this quick-thinking man knew it was a drowning child he stumbled upon. 

“It felt like something you normally wouldn’t feel in the water,” Angelo told the Coloradoan.

“The baby’s toes surfaced. I saw the bottom of her feet surface and that right then at that moment that became my child. I was yelling, screaming, terrified. So I sounded very terrified but I felt an amazing calm.”

Thankfully, he was able to pull the lifeless looking body to the shore. Not knowing what to do next, Angelo kept screaming and asking for help. 

As luck would have it, 4-year-old Sitali Hernandez wasn’t meant to die on that faithful day. Two nurses found themselves on the beach and the moment they heard Angelo’s cries for help, they rushed towards him and the helpless girl and started performing CPR on her. 

Soon after, an ambulance arrived and little Sitali was transferred to the hospital. 

Angelo saved a life that day. His bravery made him a real hero. 

The girl’s mom said there were no words to describe how thankful they are to Angelo for saving their little girl. 

“You saved her. You saved my baby,” Sitali’s mom told Angelo when he came to visit her at the hospital the following day.

The story of Sitali’s accident was shared on the social media to raise awareness of the usage of vests for kids while swimming. 

Angelo even went a step further and is getting into contact with local businesses that are willing to contribute to the safety of the children by offering free life vests to those who can’t afford them. 

Sitali was lucky that someone like Angelo found himself in the right place at the right time to offer her a second chance for life. Now three days after the accident, Saiti is doing fine and can run and play again. 

“She’s really strong, she’s really strong,” said the mom. “Her lungs are good, her heartbeat is good. Everything is good.”

Share Angelo and Sitali’s story with your friends. 

Adopted baby with Down Syndrome smiles for her new mom

For many parents, having a child with Down Syndrome is a blessing and they see that extra chromosome as an extra gift from God. Others, sadly, are not ready to give a bit of additional love to these children so they give them for adoption.

The thing is that babies with Down Syndrome are less likely to be adopted as many adoptive parents don’t really understand that people with the condition are not that different from the rest of us. On the contrary, they are a valuable part of the society. 

The non profit organization National Down Syndrome Adoption Network aims at finding babies and children with Down Syndrome a home. 

Just recently, they shared the most charming video ever. A baby girl with Down Syndrome was adopted and she gave her new mommy an incredibly cute smile. 

It looks as though she knows she had found her parents for life and now she wants to tell them how happy she is being around them. 

This cutie will definitely make your day, and hopefully, she will change the way some people see individuals with Down Syndrome. 

She’s adorable beyond words!

Well that clip certainly brought a big smile to my face! How about you?

Share this article and help us spread some happiness today.

Excited dad shares the moment his youngest daughter hears for the first time

A couple of days ago, one dad from Australia shared with the world an incredible family moment that melted everyone’s heart.

Little Macy was born deaf and she never got to hear her parents’ voice, neither did she know how hers sounded like. But finally, that was about to change thanks to the advances in the field of technology and hearing aids. 

When the Aussie father, Tristan Storer, saw his girl being both puzzled and excited at the same time after she heard voices for the first time in her life, he couldn’t contain his happiness.  

The sweet little girl touches her ears in confusion and is left overwhelmed by the incredible experience. Little does she know her life is completely changed forever. 

She’ll get to hear music, songs, birds singing, and her family’s kind words of love and encouragement. 

The first song she got to listen to is Hot Potato by the fun group every child is crazy about, The Wiggles. 

Along with a video of the incredible moment, Tristan wrote: “Today our youngest daughter had the sound ‘switched on’ for the very first time. Can’t speak highly enough of the team at hearing Australia who have guided us through this journey over the last month. #oneprouddad#hearingaids”

Being surrounded by so much negativity every single day, this heartwarming video came as a refreshment and people couldn’t help by share their excitement and happiness for sweet Macy.

In just a couple of days, the video has been seen more than 2.6 million times. Well, that doesn’t really come as a surprise and once you see it you’ll definitely agree with us. Enjoy!

Pregnant woman undergoes chemo for aggressive stage 2 breast cancer and has successful delivery

The pregnancy has to be the most beautiful and the most exciting period for every mother-to-be. It’s the time when you get ready to welcome that little bundle of joy that will change your life forever. 

Well, there are also things like morning sickness, hormone imbalance that can affect your mood, and even worries regarding the process of delivery and whether the baby will be born healthy, but that’s nothing compared to the joy of holding the baby in your arms. 

A 36-year-old mom-to-be named Jade Devis was over the moon when she learned she was expecting a baby. But her pregnancy wasn’t a careless one. 

When she was just in her second month of pregnancy, Jade learned she was having a very rare and aggressive form of breast cancer. She feared for her life, but not as much as she feared for the well-being of the soul she was carrying inside her. 

It all started when she first experienced pain in her breasts. However, everyone assured her it was pretty normal as her hormones were changing. 

But no matter how much people tried to calm her down, Jade wasn’t at ease as she somehow knew things weren’t right, so she insisted for a biopsy.

I wouldn’t be here today if I didn’t ask for that biopsy. Had I followed the doctor’s recommendations, I would be dead. It was such an aggressive tumor.

Her doctor and her radiologist told her she was overreacting even after she felt a lump on one of her breasts. But trusting her guts was the right thing to do as the results of the biopsy showed she had stage 2 breast cancer and that meant one thing, she had to undergo an urgent surgery.

Jade was scared for the baby’s life and doctors advised her to terminate the pregnancy as there was a high possibility that the fetus’ growth could be affected. 

I wasn’t going to let anybody tell me his fate. I was going to do everything I could to save the baby. I wasn’t going to let a disease take the baby from me.

Jade never considered abortion as an option. She had her surgery and underwent 3 cycles of chemo before she welcomed her healthy baby boy into the world. 

This mom believed she owned that child a fighting chance, and he grabbed it with both hands and turned out a winner. 

The only way out was to do the one thing that I thought I wasn’t supposed to do, which is put my baby in harm’s way.

Bradley, the tiny fighter, has been developing perfectly. The chemo didn’t have any negative effects on him. 

He’s one happy and brave little baby who got his fierce fighting spirit from his determined mommy. 

Jade is over the moon having her son in her life. 

After finishing the chemo therapies, she’s now cancer free and her story serves as an inspiration as it teaches us that we should never give up. 

West Point pays tribute to first female 4-star-general in the history of the U.S Army

Over the years, the role of women in the society changed a great deal. They are now taking jobs that were once considered men’s only and are showing the world that they can cope with any obstacle that comes along their way.

Retired Army Gen. Ann Dunwoody is one of them. Not only she showed incredible courage throughout the years of serving the country and its people, but she also achieved a four-star officer rank in November 14, 2008 which made her the first ever woman in the history to get it. 

She’s now a role model many young girls and women look up to. Army Gen. Dunwoody showed the whole country there is nothing that can’t be reached as only the sky is the limit. 

On October 10, 2019, she was given the Thayer award as a tribute to her success and achievement in the military. She was presented with the award by West Point’s Association of Graduates. At the ceremony, many well-known individuals among which Bob Hope, Tom Brokaw, Dwight D. Eisenhower and Robert Mueller were present. Gen. Dunwoody was just the person to be given this highly valuable award that stands for “Duty, Honor, Country.”

When Gen. Dunwoody retired, she had four stars on her shoulders which makes her the first woman in history to have achieved this rank. During her 38 years of service she has done so much for America, and we are always thankful for that. 

“I grew up in the Army and came from a family who, since 1862, has defended our nation,” she said, speaking to Military Logistic Forum. “My great grandfather, my grandfather, my father, my brother, my sister, my niece, and my husband are all veterans of this country’s wars. My father is a veteran of three wars and is one of the 25 million veterans living today who served the nation with such incredible courage.”

An interesting moment of this incredible woman’s story is that she never planned nor believed that she would spend her whole life as part of the military. 

“While I joined the Army right out of college, I planned to only stay in the Army to complete my two-year commitment, but it wasn’t too long before I realized that there are no other shoes [boots] I would rather fill than the ones I am wearing right now. As a soldier, you can continually serve. It is a calling to be a soldier and there is a great sense of pride and camaraderie in serving the greatest Army in the world.”

Somehow, Gen. Dunwoody’s achievement isn’t all about her, but about all the females out there.

Speaking to Army Times, she shares what it feels like to be so successful in a field that was for so many years dominated by men. 

“In the military, I had advocates, then there were detractors. They just don’t like you, maybe they think it’s a man’s Army and women don’t belong here. The key is how you deal with people. You don’t stoop to name-calling. You be professional, demonstrate you’re capable and sometimes you convert people. In the military, people want the best leader on the team. They want the best, and we have a profession that’s looking for and rewards that kind of behavior.”

Gen. Dunwoody you are such an inspiration. Thank you for your service!

Marine veteran walks 810 miles in 42 days to raise awareness about veteran suicide

Service men and women sacrifice a lot for the country. So every night when we get into the comfort of our bed, we shouldn’t forget that many of our people who serve in the military don’t get that opportunity all for the sake of our safety and well-being.

The life of deployment has deep effects on many of the veterans. It’s not uncommon for them to suffer from Post Traumatic Disorder and have difficulties adapting to their life back home. As a result, in 2017, more than 6,000 veterans took their own life. 

The Department of Veteran Affairs announced this devastating data and put it more simple, saying that this number counts for 16.8 veteran suicides per day. 

An Afghanistan veteran and former corporal Travis Snyder was aware of these numbers, but was still shocked and angry when he learned of the suicide of one of his friends whom he served along with. 

“Before that I read about it and had awareness but I didn’t fully understand the magnitude that this epidemic has on people.” Snyder said.

Snyder knew something had to be done. He couldn’t do a lot all by himself but he was aware that every journey starts with a single step.

Raising awareness of the veteran suicides became Snyder’s personal goal and mission in life.

He undertook an adventure; to hike 810 miles around Lake Michigan for 42 days. Before he started, he created a Facebook page where he planned to document his journey. He didn’t really expect for many people to learn of what he was doing, but soon after, his story spread around and was featured on FOX News, CNN, ABC and other news outlets. 

In order to fund his journey, Snyder sold his jeep and other of his belongings. 

Snyder walked around 20 miles every day of his journey. He was stunned of how many people were interested to learn where he was and how he was doing. His initial plan was to sleep outside and camp, but kind strangers offered him their place every step of his way. 

“Every single day people were reaching out to support the cause whether it was a roof or a meal… I did not sleep outside once.” he said about the trip.

The journey ended and Snyder’s goal was achieved. He wanted more people to become aware of the devastatingly huge numbers of veteran suicides. His Facebook posts were seen by thousands of people who offered their kind words and support. 

“I’m still getting messages and phone calls from people who just want to talk and share their story,” Snyder said, “Just when I think I understand the magnitude, I learn more.”

He says that his Facebook page will be active and invites people who lost a loved one of suicide to share their story and provide support for veterans who find it hard to hope with their life back home. 

“I feel humbled and honored to share the burden of those who are still healing from losing a loved one or feeling the pain of someone going through challenges that they’ve been facing.”

Grandpa saves three-year-old granddaughter from explosion, passes away after he brings her to safety

The love grandparents have for their grandchildren can’t be measured nor compared to any other kind of love. 

The elderly are there to keep the little ones save and spoil them rotten. So growing up with a grandma and a grandpa means having an awesome childhood.

Don Osteen, a 69-year-old Vietnam veteran was over the moon having to take care of his sweet granddaughter Paetyn while her parents were at work. He always made sure she was having lots of fun when around his house and would always make her lunch.

One day, as he was in the kitchen preparing food a tragedy struck. 

The oven started seeping out gas and in the next moment, a huge explosion happened. The flames started spreading uncontrollably and there was no time for anything to be done. 

The explosion threw Osteen across the kitchen. He was terribly burned and in a lot of pain, but knowing his granddaughter could die, he gathered his strength and lifted himself up.

The smoke and the flames disabled him from seeing Paetyn so he started calling her name. The terrified girl then started screaming and Osteen could locate her. Incredibly, despite his severe injuries, Osteen took the girl in his hands and brought her out of the burning place whose roof already collapsed.

Knowing Paetyn needed to be taken to the doctors, Osteen carried her in his arms for more than a quarter of a mile to the main road. 

Very soon, people who saw them called the ambulance and the two were airlifted and rushed to the emergency room. 

When the doctors realized the severity of Osteen’s injuries, 80% of his body was burned and he had a collapsed lung, they couldn’t believe he was able to carry the girl out of the place. His bravery saved the girl’s life.

Paetyn experienced burns on 30% of her body but doctors treated her and she is now recovering and doing fine. 

Sadly, Osteen didn’t make it. After spending four days at the ICU, he died of a heart attack. But he left the world knowing his granddaughter was saved and it was all that mattered to this courageous man. 

Brandon, Osteen’s son, took to Facebook to share the sad news of his dad’s passing writing:

“He loved my daughter unconditionally. And he gave it all for her to live. He was a great God fearing man who impacted so many people. And he will be missed dearly.”

Osteen’s bravery was known to everyone even from before. During his service in Vietnam, he received the Purple Heart. He’s done so much for our country throughout his life and was always willing to sacrifice himself for the well-being of others.

This last time, his sacrifice cost him his life, but he didn’t care.

People from all over the country were deeply shocked by the sad news. They offered their condolences and prayers to the family. 

Don Osteen will always be remembered as a hero who had done so much for the country and his family.

We are sure little Paetyn will never forget what her grandfather did for her. 

Young doctor whose father has Down Syndrome shares what it was like growing up with his dad

Most teenagers are embarrassed of their parents at some point in their life. No matter if it’s because of the way their mom and dad dress or act, which kids find outdated and not cool very often, or because they don’t get along, this embarrassment is just a stage that passes quickly.

However, there are also those kids who are never ashamed to confess that their parents are their best friends and greatest support in life. 

Sader Issa, a dentistry student from Syria, is one of them. Namely, Sader’s dad Jad has Down Syndrome, but he’s the coolest and the most loving dad out there, and if you ever believed that people who have the condition are not great at parenting, Jad is there to prove you wrong. 

Sader had an amazing childhood. During his teenage years he always got the support from his parents and his father did all he could in order to help him pursue the career he has always dreamed of. 

This young man says how his dad is his greatest support and a role model. One he has a family on his own, he would love to be as caring and as loving with his children as his father was and still is with him. 

When he’s asked what it looks and feels like to have a parent with Down Syndrome, Sader is more than happy to share his family’s story and tell everyone how lucky he is to have Jad as his dad. 

This family is no different than any other family out there. They have their ups and downs, pretty much as everyone else has, but they always manage to overcome any obstacles because they all love each other so very much. 

Speaking to Bored Panda, Sader said:

“I’m proud of my father. Throughout my life he has been the greatest support for me when I needed it.” 

Although he has experienced certain difficulties because of his condition, it never stood on the way of Jad’s happiness. This amazing father has worked at the nearby mill almost all his life and has always provided for his family.

Now, he’s proud to be a dad of such successful son like Sader. Whenever he speaks to someone new, he never forgets to mention that his son is a doctor. Saying those words always put a huge smile on Jad’s face and fill his heart with joy. 

“It’s possible to see when his eyes are filled with joy and satisfaction, as if to express: yes, I have Down syndrome, but I raised this man and did everything in my power to make him become a doctor and help others,” Sader Issa explained in his interview.

Sader shares his story because he wants to show people that being different can be beautiful.

We should all get rid of the stigmas attached to people with Down Syndrome and finally start treating them as normal people who are a valuable part of our communities. 

“We wish all people were able to accept that being different is not something to be ashamed of. “

“People with Down syndrome are different but they have feelings, aspirations, a mind of their own, and they are capable of living a normal life when there is social acceptance and a society that is supportive,” Sader said. 

Jad and Sader truly are an inspiration as they teach us to embrace differences.

We wish all sons and daughters out there were as close and as proud of their parents like Sader is.

Judges Weren’t Impressed By This Trio’s Choice of Song, But Then The Music Started

Looks can be deceiving, and when it comes to talent shows, the choice of songs too. 

Three brothers that perform under the name AKNU which stands for A Kind Never Understood took the stage of X-Factor back in 2013 but the judges were a bit skeptical about their performance when they learned what song they were singing and dancing on. 

They chose ‘Valerie’ because they were emotionally attached to the piece of music as it was also their mom’s name. They later said how their mother was their biggest support and sacrificed a lot for them to be able to upgrade their dancing and singing talents. 

Although they were aware the start wasn’t as smooth as they expected to because of Simon’s comment that he wasn’t fond of the song, they put their hearts on the stage and gave the audience one of the best renditions of the song ever performed. 

These brothers’ incredible singing skills made the crowd go crazy. Listening to them belting the lyrics made Simon smile as he knew he misjudged them in the first place. 

Their out-of-this-world vocals along with their moves were enough for everyone to fall in love with them and their work. The video has been seen more than 27 million times and people agree that the performance is truly unique. Many compare them to Jackson 5 and honestly, the resemblance is uncanny.

It looks like this L.A trio was born to rock. 

Take a look at them in the video below and don’t forget to share it with your friends.  

Everyone has heard the iconic piece “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” before, but not many know who performed it

Medley of the popular songs “Over the Rainbow” and “What a Wonderful World,” the iconic piece “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” is still touching hearts of millions who got to listen to it performed by the great Israel Ka’ano’i Kamakawiwo’ole. His mild and soft voice along with his undeniable talent for music made him a true Hawaiian legend.  

The story behind this piece of music is as exceptional as the song itself. Recording engineer Milan Bertosa said how he got a call one night at 3 a.m by a man who wanted to record a song. “And in walks the largest human being I had seen in my life,” Bertosa was reported to have said. “Then I put up some microphones, do a quick sound check, roll tape, and the first thing he does is ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow.’ He played and sang, one take, and it was over.” 

Thirty years later, Israel’s song is still as popular as on the day it was first released. 

Over the years, the song has been used by many film companies and producers. 

Israel, whom people loved to call “Bruddah Iz” and “Gentle Giant,” passed away in 1997 at the age of 38 as a result of a cardiac and respiratory issues but his music continues to live on.

Take a look at the video of him performing. This is truly heartwarming. Enjoy!

School Refuses to Take 8-Year-Old Girl’s Photo Because Her Hair is Dyed Red – She Leaves in Tears

Most of us remember picture days at school and how excited we were to get group photos with our classmates. I still have mine from the time I was a student and whenever I see them I recall those fun and careless times. 

An 8-year-old girl named Marian Scott won’t be able to see a 3rd grade picture of herself and her classmates years from now because she was denied one. 

Apparently, she broke the school’s dress code, in her case the hairstyle code, and was told to wait in the corridor while everyone else was being taken photo of. The reason why made many people mad as they agree that most times school rules and policies are kind of stupid and limit students’ creativity and suppress their self-expression. 

Marian was overly excited for the picture day and asked her mom to take her to the hair salon so that she could have a new hairstyle which included a hair cut and some red dyed extensions. 

According to Marian’s mom, Latoya Howard, the girl was very pleased with the way she looked and just “couldn’t stop staring at herself in the mirror.”

Marian’s hair for the picture day was nicely and neatly braided in a bun. But when her teachers spotted her new hairstyle, they told Marian that she didn’t look decent and that she couldn’t be part of the photo shooting. They even excluded her from the group photo. 

The poor girl was confused because she believed that she would be paid some compliment. Instead, she was told off and left to spend the day all alone while everyone else was having fun and hanged out together. 

Marian started crying and couldn’t wait to get home. When she told her parents what happened, they got really angry because they believed their daughter shouldn’t have gone through such an unpleasant experience because of something like a dyed hair. 

After they contacted the school Marian attends, Paragon Charter Academy in Michigan, the teachers told them it was a rule and that they didn’t feel guilty for excluding Marian from the photos. 

They even said how the parents should have known the school rules which said that students were only allowed ‘natural hair tones.’

Instead of an apology from the principal, the family was given a week ‘to correct’ their daughter’s hair. In case they didn’t, she would not be allowed to attend classes. 

Marian’s mom and dad believe their daughter didn’t do anything wrong, but still got rid of her extensions because they didn’t want her to be suspended and miss classes. 

They still believe that the school should apologize for making the girl cry that day.

What are your thoughts on this matter? Please share them with us in the comments section below. 

Mom Buys Girls Glow In The Dark Pajamas, Tells Them They Need To Stay Still To ‘Charge’ Them

Let’s get honest, when children come into our life there is very little chance that we ever take some time for ourselves. Starting from preparing healthy meals and spending a bunch of time in the kitchen, taking them out for a walk or at the park, making their days fun, and struggling to get them to sleep at night make parents exhausted. 

One clever mom, however, found a cool way to get her two girls to sleep without begging them to stop fighting and being naughty.

When she bought those glow-in-the-dark pajamas, mom Jessica D’Entremont had no idea she was buying her self some free time. 

Jessica exposed the pajamas to some light before the girls got to bed and they were overjoyed wearing their unique piece of clothing. The second night, however, Jessica ‘forgot’ to keep the pajamas under light which meant they didn’t work. The girls were disappointed and kept asking what was wrong. It was then that their mommy told them how in order for the pajamas to work and glow they had to put them on, lie down under some light, and stay completely still. 

The moment she realized her two beautiful girls were getting very sleepy, Jessica turned the lights off and both girls drifted off to sleep in a matter of minutes. 

Jessica couldn’t believe what had happened as getting them into bed would rarely pass without the girls fighting and refusing to sleep.

The night was peaceful and this tired mom could have it all for herself. 

Needless to say, as she had a glass of wine and her favorite book in her hands, Jessica couldn’t stop wondering whether her trick was a one time lucky pass or it will work in the days to come as well. 

The next night, Jessica asked her girls to lie still again so that their pajamas could be charged. To her surprise, once the girls relaxed, they fell asleep very quickly and Jessica was over the moon she could skip hours of calming them down and forcing them to go to bed. 

Her trick works and she is more than happy to share it with other parents out there. 

Of course, Jessica makes sure the pajamas are out of light during the day so that the girls can ‘charge’ them before going to bed. 

She hopes others will find this useful. If you have young kids yourself, let us know of the outcome in case you are giving this trick a go. 

Ice Skaters Make The Crowd Go Wild With Daring Performance To ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’

Great Freddie Mercury once said, “You can do what you want with my music, but don’t make me boring,” and it looks like this team of Canadian ice skaters live by these words.

What they had to give the cheering crowd at the Canadian Synchronized Skating Championship resembles pure magic. 

The moment the music of ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ filled the air, the audience couldn’t wait to see what the NEXXICE Senior team had up their sleeves. 

With such melody that changes tempo and tone many times during the six minutes it lasts, the performance had to be one to remember. 

Not everyone would agree to dance and skate to such iconic song, but this team lived up to their expectations. They have been the first Canadian team in history to be crowned the title of World Synchronized Skating Champions in April 2009 and again in April 2015 for a good reason.  

The months of hard work paid off as the remarkable routine has stolen the hearts of everyone who got to see it unfolding right in front of their eyes. 

At the beginning of the performance, the team divides into four groups and everyone is eager to see what comes next as the opening lyrics “Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?” make people sing along as they have their eyes glued to the ice. 

Next, two of the groups of skaters split off and join hands together as the other two groups get closer. In the next moment, one of the performers is lifted into the air. 

After that, the two inner groups formed a circle, and the outer groups formed wings. Now imagine that this is just the beginning of what you are about to see from the NEXXICE Senior team. 

Sliding on their knees was also part of the incredible act that left people amazed. 

With the start of the second sequence of the song, the group stayed in a solid formation and skated backwards and forward from one edge of the ring to the other. But once the lyrics “I don’t wanna die” were heard, they split into two lines, then four, and weaved in between each other. 

At one point the group members joined their arms and can-canned across the rink. 

During the solo part of the iconic song, the group formed a square that later split into four. Each skater leaned forward and had one of their legs into the sky. 

As the song came to the end, one of the skaters performed a handstand in the middle of the rank and it was the icing on the cake. Breathtaking, indeed!

People praised the skaters for their incredible performance. All 16 of the team members breathed as one and skated in perfect harmony.

This is definitely something you don’t want to miss. 

Bus driver decorates her bus to celebrate her favorite rider’s 5th birthday

Most people do their jobs for the sake of the money they make, but there are also those who put their heart into what they do. 

Arletha Sherman is a 64-year-old bus driver who loves and cares for her riders as though they were her own children. However, there is one special girl who stole Sherman’s heart from day one, and she doesn’t mind going an extra mile to make this little passenger’s life more fun.

5-year-old Anna Hopson suffers from a disorder known as Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease which affects the nerves in the limbs. Sadly, it means that Anna has to use a wheelchair most of the time. 

The sweet girl is now attending pre-kindergarted at the Sabal Palm Elementary school in Jacksonville and goes to and from school with Sherman’s bus. This is how these two became very close, and despite the huge age difference they are kind of best friends. 

Anna’s mom and dad had no idea that Sherman took that much care of their daughter until one day she showed up on their door just to make sure the girl was all right after she missed a day at kindergarten. 

“I thought, ‘Well, she didn’t have to do that,’” said Anna’s mother Kathleen Hopson.

Sherman makes sure little Anna is comfortable during the rides. 

“I mean, I may have a bad morning, but once I see her, it’s different,” Sherman told CBS News. “The fact that she has so much going on in her life, but she’s always happy — and she’s always bubbly — and she’s always, ‘Hey, Ms. Sherman!’ And then we just started communicating.”

Anna’s fifth birthday was a day to remember. When she boarded the bus, she got a surprise of a lifetime. The whole vehicle was decorated with balloons an a big ‘happy birthday’ banner. Everyone had lots of fun on the way to school. They sang songs and laughed, and Anna got a princess dress and a bunch of other gifts. 

Anna’s parents were over the moon knowing their girl was loved that much. They felt like they had to share the photos of Sherman’s act of kindness on the Instagram page dedicated to Anna named Sunshine and the Shark.

“Anna’s bus driver #wentallout to make Anna’s birthday special! This princess dress and tiara are gifts from her, she decorated the bus, and gave Anna cards, toys, and hair clips. Anna felt like a real #princess going to school this morning! “

People were overjoyed and loved the dedication of the bus driver. She really became an important part of the girl’s life. 

“All she could do was just take her hands up and say, ‘All this for me?’ It was just so overwhelming,” Sherman recalled.

On Sherman’s big day, she invited Anna and her parents to be her guests. Sweet Anna was the flower girl and one of the most special people at the wedding reception. 

Words couldn’t express how honored the family was to be sharing such an important moment with the woman who did so much for their girl. 

“Anna’s bus driver has been a blessing in our lives from day one. Yesterday she was a beautiful bride and Anna was honored to serve as her flower girl! “

Sherman’s heart of gold made her the most loved bus driver in town and maybe the whole country. The parents whose kids she drives must be very happy knowing they are in safe hands.

“Arletha is an excellent bus driver and a very caring person,” Kathleen told Good Morning America. “She loves all the kids that she drives and always goes above and beyond to make them feel safe and happy on the bus.”

Take a look at the video below to learn more of this amazing woman. 

Woman has her nails done at a salon, contracts flesh-eating bacteria

A woman named Jayne Sharp paid the price of beauty after she visited a nail salon one day. All she hoped for was getting a nice manicure, but she ended up contracting a flash-eating bacteria that left her fighting for her life. 

During the process of having her nails done, the nail technician cut Jayne’s right thumb. 

However, the cut was slight and that didn’t bother Jayne a great deal so she stayed until the end. 

Once home, she started feeling odd. The pain on her thumb was persistent and didn’t fade away even after she took painkillers. What’s most, she couldn’t even sleep as the pain intensified with every passing moment. 

In the morning, Jayne felt really ill and visited the doctor believing she caught the flu, but it was her thumb that caught the doctor’s attention. There was a swollen lump on it and it didn’t look good. 

He advised her to go home but pay close attention to the lump and visit the emergency room in case it grows bigger. 

The following day, she noticed that not only her finger swallowed even more, but her whole hand was covered in red marks. This raised a red flag. 

She rushed to her doctor again and that’s when she was told the devastating news that she had contracted a flesh-eating bacteria. There was no time to waste and Jayne underwent a surgery right away. 

The chances of her losing her hand or even the arm were high. 

Thankfully, the surgery was a successful one and amputation was avoided. She’s still recovering and is unable to use her right arm completely. Doctors believe that more months will pass until she’s completely healed. 

The mortality rate of flesh-eating bacteria is up to 80% and Jayne knows just how lucky she is to be alive. 

Her thumb now has an awkward shape but she doesn’t mind it. She’s thankful she reacted on time, because if she went to the doctor even a day later, the bacteria could have spread and she could have easily died. 

Doctors don’t know how she contracted the bacteria but say that people like Jayne who suffer from diabetes and whose immune system is compromised are more likely to catch it than someone who is completely healthy.

After Jayne’s story spread, the nail salon where she got the cut, Jazzy Nail Bar, was under inspection but they passed it with no health issues. The owner and the employees were shocked to learn that they could be the reason for Jayne’s ordeal.

Although she could have contracted the bacteria anywhere as she had an open cut, she claims that she started feeling the pain very shortly after she left the salon and is certain she caught the virus there.

However, what’s most important is that she is recovering and can put her ordeal in the past. 

Hundreds of students were denied regular school lunch over debts, so a stranger offered to wipe the slate clean

Eating healthy is crucial for the right development of children. That is why most parents include fruits, vegetables, eggs, meat, and a variety of other nutrients on their kids’ menus. 

However, it’s not only important for them to consume quality food at home, but while at school too. Sadly, not every student is able to afford a healthy meal. In fact, those who have lunch dept only get an alternative meal such as a cheese sandwich and are often publicly “lunch shamed.”

The overall dept of the students from the school district of Jupiter Florida was around $994, which meant that around 400 students weren’t getting items from the regular menu but an alternative lunch. 

This was something that most people and parents were aware of, but it wasn’t until a woman named Angie Vyas-Knight wrote about it on Facebook that the problem was finally solved. 

“I was like, that’s not OK,” she told WPTV. “These kids are starting off the school year with a negative balance, won’t even have a shot at starting with a clean slate.”

“It has a lot of impacts if a child is happy and well-fed.”

As Angie’s post spread quickly a kind-hearted man named Andrew Levy stumbled upon it and was touched by the story. This real estate agent from Palm Beach Gardens felt uneasy knowing that such high number of students can’t afford decent food. 

“Food is something that you shouldn’t have to think about,” Andrew told CBS Miami. “Children shouldn’t have to learn hungry.”

He had the money and believed that covering the dept would make those students’ life a bit easier. 

“I went in there and I said ‘I want to pay off the lunch debt.’”

Andrew decided that it would be for the best if he paid the school a visit and see the real situation. He met with the food service department and offered to wipe the debt slate clean for the whole district. 

“The thought of a fairly small sum being able to rectify that situation and clear the debt of all these families so the children could eat warm meals is really what got me,” he told WPTV.

The problem was, however, that the debt was likely to accumulate again as the parents of a number of kids were struggling to make ends meet and pay for their children’s lunch. So, Andrew went an extra mile and came up with a plan. He was about to spread the story to people who would be able to donate every once in a while, among which his clients. 

“I even have had some clients over the past 48 hours say ‘you know something, I want to help, I want to give too,” he told CBS Miami. “Every quarter I’m going to do either a GoFundMe page or a fundraising page that can raise money every quarter so the lunch debt never accumulates.”

The sad reality is that most school districts around the U.S face the same problem as Jupiter did. The lunch debt in some of them is even higher that $50,000. Such is the case with the Palm Beach County. 

As for now, the only solution to this problem is helping the schools and the students with donations. So in case you know of schools who need help covering their students lunch debt please consider donating. 

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