Great Confucius once said, “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life,” and although not many of us are lucky enough to pursue a career in our dream field, there are those who complete their desire of doing what they truly love. One of those fortunate people is Mark Gilberg. This incredibly dedicated man spent 37 years and three weeks working as a trooper at the Department of Public Safety, Arizona.
After that many years, Mark was about to retire, and his last day on the job was so emotional that it touched the hearts of millions who heard him making his last radio call to his colleagues.
Mark announced, “Badge 2988 began his career March 11, 1981… this will be my final 10-7” as tears were rolling down his face. The dispatcher then said, “10-4, and you’re making me cry too, did everyone copy that?”
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The trooper went on to thank his colleagues saying, “It’s been an honor and a privilege. And a great career, it’s been a great adventure.” Neither he nor his coworkers could hide their emotions. It’s been a very special day for the whole unit. “Badge 2988, Thirty-seven years and three weeks later – it’s been a great ride, thank you very much and keep smiling” Mark said. The dispatcher responded that they all appreciated everything he’s done during his career of almost four decades.
We thank trooper Mark Gilbert for his service and wish him a happy retirement.
You can see the video of the touching farewell below. Don’t forget to share it with your friends.
What I love about lip-sync challenges is that they bring out the creativity in people. You know, seeing someone doing that just makes you do it better, so you come up with some bright and fun ideas that would put a smile on the faces of those who’ll watch you sing and dance.
Recently, a number of police departments from all over the country have taken part in such challenge and they are all doing a great job because they remind us that no matter the importance of their job, like keeping us safe at all times, they too need to have some fun every now and them.
The latest challenge that caught our attention is that by the Nixa Police Department in Missouri. They opted for the epic song “Footloose”and made everyone want to put their dancing shoes on.
Facebook/Nixa Police Department
What is pretty awesome is that the police officers didn’t do the choreography themselves but asked from the members of the community to join in so that they could ‘kick off their Sunday shoes’ together.
These people’s dancing is so contagious.
Facebook/Nixa Police Department
“I’ve got this feeling
That time’s just holding me down
I’ll hit the ceiling
Or else I’ll tear up this town…”
Needless to say, the cool video has been shared thousands of times with that many people praising their ‘work.’
“No budget, no production company (shot and edited by our Public Information Officer who studied film production), and all officers donated their time to participate. We believe in being responsible with tax payer dollars and we made an extra effort to do so while having fun,” they wrote on Facebook.
Facebook/Nixa Police Department
This video is definitely a must watch. Check it out below!
Meet Brent Walker, an incredibly good elementary teacher. Walker is a Maths teacher at Sheehy Elementary School in Tampa, Florida. Last year, he wanted to do something different for his fifth-grade students, besides his teaching. He wanted to surprise his students for the Easter holidays.
Therefore, Walker went to the local Walmart with intention of buying plastic Easter eggs for one of his classrooms. He wanted to buy enough eggs for his 20 students. However, upon coming to the store, he saw something different. There were baskets full with chocolate, candies and toys. His plan changed. He wanted to get those instead.
Nevertheless, Walker did not have enough money to cover the expenses. Therefore, he used his Facebook page to call for sponsors. He announced that all three fifth-grade classes, in total 63 kids, could be pleasantly surprised if only sponsors donated enough money. The surprise was going to be realised very soon.
The next morning, Walker went to the school a bit earlier. He started preparing the classroom for the big surprise. His co-workers, teachers, also helped him. This surprise was going to be one of the best moments in the children’s lives since many of the students could not afford stuff like that.
Upon coming to the classroom, the kids were amazed. Their happy and smiling faces say it all. The students’ reaction is priceless.
FOX13 recorded this amazing moment. For FOX13 Walker said:
“I think it will encourage them, hopefully, to really do their best and try harder, because they know people they’ve never met before are fighting for them and are encouraging them from all over the place. I mean this was coming from all over the country.”
One of the best things I have seen recently in the classrooms. This gesture, though not too expensive, are priceless for the kids. Their reaction is just so adorable. We hope we will see more surprises like this.
When Kaden was a little baby, his parents’ couldn’t help by notice his huge smile whenever they would unswaddle him in the morning. Throwing his arms up for joy and enjoying his worry-free life, Kaden was a delight to see.
Wanting to share his joy with the rest of the world and bring smiles on people faces, the mom and dad decided to film the cute routine and post it online. To their surprise, Kaden’s morning reaction has been seen over 4 million times.
Source: KPtheBaby/YouTube
For those wondering why Kaden was swaddled, the parents explained how he loved that because his startle reflex was strong.
Source: KPtheBaby/YouTube
After the sweet video of Kaden got the attention of so many people, he became a sort of celebrity. Everyone kept wondering what the happy baby and his family were up to, so mom and dad decided to keep their fans updated by posting more videos of their bundle of joy.
The one below shows Kaden learning how to drink from a bottle. “An epic battle between baby and bottle. Who will win and who will lose? Who will get stuck cleaning up?” the description asks.
Kaden also has a Facebook page dedicated to him and around 44,000 followers who enjoy his everyday antics.
One of the videos posted there shows him getting overly excited for a plate of French fries. His parents wrote how he always greets this dish with clapping and it’s so adorable to witness.
The journey of Kaden going from a little baby of just a couple of months into a toddler features many milestones captured on videos including Kaden’s first words.
Recently, the family welcomed another family member, a sweet baby girl. Kaden became a big brother and it looks like he loves his new role. Although he’s still very young himself, he’s loving and caring and people love him even more than before because of that.
We have witnessed how ordinary people who became celebrities in split seconds allowed the fame to affect them to the extent that they no longer resemble the individuals they once were.
That is not a case with the Britain’s sweetheart Susan Boyle, however. This incredibly talented singer has always been very modest, and being dubbed one of the best female vocals ever hasn’t changed that at all.
Source: NorCalKay/YouTube
Today, after her worldwide fame and her huge success in the music industry, Boyle is still living in her house in the small Scottish town where she has lived her entire life. Her typical British house is now renovated and got a completely different look on the inside.
Boyle was happy to open the doors to her home for the cameras, so people got to know her even better now.
Source: NorCalKay/YouTube
When you enter the place, you can notice the great number of items and ornaments that highlight her faith in Christianity. She also has plenty of photos that witness of her experiences such as that of meeting the pope.
Source: NorCalKay/YouTube
The first room is the piano room. After she became a celebrity, Boyle expressed a wish to learn how to play the piano, so this room has a huge piano and plenty of Boyle’s photos, many of which seem to be drawings her fans made.
Source: NorCalKay/YouTube
The kitchen has a spacious counter and looks very modern so Boyle is happy to show it.
The walls in the living room are covered in blue and white stripe wallpapers and the room looks modern and cozy at the same time. Beautiful paintings as well as photos of Boyle’s youth can be seen around.
A huge grandfather clock adorns the top of the stairs where the dressing room is. In a couple of places in the room there is the word “dream” written on, which stands for the singer’s motto, “Follow your dreams.”
Source: NorCalKay/YouTube
That Boyle is one of our favorite singers speaks the fact that more than 800,000 people have seen the video so far. It means they want to see the unique insight of her life that she offered. She’s still very modest and down to Earth. One person wrote, “She could have bought a movie star mansion but she chose to remodel her previous home. It’s tasteful and not ostentatious at all. More respect to her.”
No matter how sad it sounds, we have to agree that this world has gone completely mad. The pandemic is still preventing us to get back to the old way of living and is affecting everyone, especially the elderly people who are way too fragile to fight against the virus. And if that isn’t bad enough, there are still people out there who treat this category of citizens in a very unacceptable manner.
79-year-old Angel Diaz was walking outside his building at Hoyt Street in Downtown Brooklyn when a young man approached him and started hitting him out of the blue. The video footage clearly shows that the gruesome attack was unprovoked. After Diaz lost his cane, he fell on the ground, but the attacker didn’t stop there and continued hitting and punching the helpless man.
79-year-old man dies weeks after being knocked to the ground, punched repeatedly on Brooklyn street, police say
The footage then shows the attacked fleeing the scene on foot. Diaz was spotted by passersby and taken to the nearest hospital. His condition seemed stable, but unfortunately, he passed away on October 29.
The incident took place on September 13, around 9 p.m.
The exact reason of Diaz’s death is yet to be examined and police are urging the public to come forward with information that would lead to identification as well as arrest of the attacker.
DO YOU RECOGNIZE HIM? The NYPD says a 79-year-old man has died over one month after he was repeatedly punched by a man on the street in Brooklyn. https://t.co/F1Nm2JVatg
Looks can be deceiving, they say, and in the case of the Davis family this turned to be very true.
Daniel Andrew Davis, 37, and his wife Kelley Lynne, 36, have always been considered a normal couple. They had five daughters together and lived an ordinary life. Well, at least that is what their neighbors thought.
To everyone’s surprise, the Davis family also had a son, an eight-year-old boy who never saw the sunlight and spent his whole life locked in a tiny room with no electricity. The only thing in that filthy room covered in urine and feces were a blanket and a mattress.
The story of the severe neglect and abuse came to light after the boy set the blanket on fire and authorities visited the house to inspect the matter. When they discovered the dark and dirty room, they were shocked.
HAPPENING NOW: @PascoSheriff describes “deplorable” conditions Spring Hill parents kept their child in – locked in a room with no electricity/windows boarded up since early March. The child lit a mattress in the room on fire to eventually escape. @abcactionnews
It was later reported by Fox 13, that none of the girls was ever treated in the manner the family’s son was.
None of the neighbors has ever seen the boy. They said that they had no idea he was living in the house. The girls, on the other hand, were always let to play outside. When the parents were arrested, the father “freely admitted, without hesitation, that the dogs in the household had more freedom and better living conditions than the victim,” according to detectives.
Before the fire incident, there were 911 calls made from the house, but no one suspected abuse was taking place there. One of the neighbors, Charles Clutter, told Tampa Bay Times, “They seemed normal. You truly don’t know who your neighbors are.”
The evil and sadistic parents were released on $10,000 bonds on October 5.
I believe that the kind of love couples had for one another in the past was somehow deeper and purer than what we have nowadays. The true family values were something people lived by and they had greater respect for one another.
Take a look at Derek and Phyllis Mapes from Norwich, England. These two are both 90 years old and have been married for 66 years. They have always celebrated their anniversary together, except for this year.
World News Era
Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the two were forced to spend eight months separated.
Phyllis was admitted to the hospital as she didn’t feel fine and was transferred to a nursing home right after that. Because of the social distancing, her family wasn’t allowed to visit her there. In fact, they could only see her when the nursing home organized socially distanced meetings, but that wasn’t enough for her family, especially her husband, who missed her dearly.
World News Era
Then, some time later, Derek was also taken to a nursing home, a different one than that where the love of his life was. The two felt like the gap between them grew bigger, but then, Derek was transferred to Phyllis’ nursing home, Laurel Lodge Care Home.
World News Era
The staff there were aware that being together with someone for over six decades must have been special, so they organized a romantic dinner for the elderly couple. This was supposed to make up for the anniversary they missed in February.
The place was decorated with a huge number of rose petals and live music was playing. Derek and Phyllis were all dressed up and had an amazing night.
“It’s brilliant, it’s good to be back together. You realize what’s been missing. The fact I had been a little bit lonely in a bungalow, I was in there on my own,” a teary Derek told Metro News.
BBC News
Danielle Bullent, the nursing home manager, said, “It felt as if we were not at Laurel Lodge but in this posh restaurant. It was all about them, they had no clue. They’ve been apart for so long.”
The Mapes have three children, seven grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren. We are so happy this loving couple is finally together again and we wish them more happy years together.
Some people are simply born to do what they do. Let’s be honest, it takes some very special personality to be a veterinarian and work with animals, don’t you agree?
Dr. Karri is a vet who is always there for any animal in need of help. She, along with her colleagues at the Vet Ranch and her husband, Dr. Judd, are working around the clock to make sure as many animals gets the right amount of love, affection, and dedication.
Recently, Dr. Karri treated a baby Pit Bull who was brought at the clinic with a broken jaw. The poor animal got hurt by her own mother. As Dr. Karri explains in the video below, the mother has been aggressive about her food, so when the little pup approached her food bawl, she attacked her. Of, course, they believe she didn’t mean to break her puppy’s jaw but was lead by her natural reflexes.
YouTube
The pup needed a surgery and doctors feared whether she would be able to get enough nutrition. After the surgery, however, the sweet animal started feeling better and better. Her path to a normal life is documented in the video below, and it’s amazing to witness.
Amid the coronavirus pandemic, which affected the way we live, staying positive and optimistic seems like the only reasonable thing if we don’t want to crush mentally. Many people lost their jobs and are struggling to make ends meet as a number of businesses closed, and if we want this craziness to come to an end as soon as possible we have to respect the measures of protection of deadly COVID-19.
The members of the community at Brimfield, a town in Massachusetts, are reminded of the precautions against the virus in a quite odd but lovely manner.
Facebook
As it turns out, there is a huge statue of Bigfoot in front of the house of a man named Todd Disotell. What is interesting about the statue is that there are different messages about the fight against the coronavirus. Some of them say, “Be the missing link. Stay home,” “Avoid the Covid bug. Cover your mug,” “Safe distance = six (big) feet,” and “If I can avoid people, so can you.” Creative, isn’t it?
The champion in “hide and seek” also has some valuable advice when it comes to the importance of keeping the hygiene habit at the highest level.
“Stomp out Corona, one Bigfoot at a time,” “Sasqwash your hands for at least 20 seconds,” “Squatch your desire for a haircut,” and “The best is Yeti come.”
Facebook
Sadly, once the statue of the mythical creature gained popularity among the residents, it was stolen. Disotell offered $2,400 for having Bigfoot back, and luckily, just a few days later, the thieves were reported to have abandoned the statue at the yard of a family house.
Speaking of just how important this Bigfoot statue turned out to be during these tough times for the humanity, Sarah Prager, a mother of a 7-month-old baby who drives around Brimfield when her daughter has a hard time sleeping, says, “The amount I missed Sasquatch surprised me, and I realized how much this creature had become my cheerleader to avoid humans like he does. It takes a lot of willpower to stay away from your friends when you desperately want to see them, and Bigfoot’s messages had made me feel like I was accountable to someone who was directly asking me to keep my distance. The signs were written by a neighbor for other neighbors: We were all in this together.”
Facebook
The messages Bigfoot sends highlight the importance of the measures and spread positivity and comfort at the same time.
Col. Lorna M. Mahlock, who was born in Jamaica and immigrated to Brooklyn, was nominated by president Trump the first African-American female to become a general in the U.S. Marine Corps.
Mahlock has had a very successful career as a tower control officer, among the rest. When she was a soldier, she served in Germany, operated in the Office of Legislative Affairs, and served in Okinawa, Japan.
Today, she holds four master degrees, one in Adult and Higher Education from the University of Oklahoma at Norman, one in National Security and Strategic Studies with distinction for the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, third in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College, and her fourth masters degree is in Information Operations.
Throughout her career as a commander, director of the Marine Corps Instructional Management School, and serving as a Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Instructor, she has given so much to our country.
We are very happy she was nominated for yet another role which she will definitely excel.
Take a look at the video below to learn more of this incredible woman.
When Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman tied the knot, they instantly became on the most loved Hollywood couples. Fans loved seeing them together as they looked adorable by each other’s side. But as most other celebrity couples, they split and took different paths. Rumors were that the Church of Scientology, Cruise is a devoted member of, wasn’t a fan of Kidman.
Before they untied the knot, they adopted two children, daughter Isabella Jane son Connor Antony. Magazines have been reporting how the kids have a closer relationship with their dad, but both Kidman and her adopted children said it wasn’t really true because they are on good terms and always have been.
Shutterstock
What is interesting about Isabella and Connor is that despite having A-list celebrity parents, they have always tend to live a quiet life out of the public eye.
In an interview with the Australian Who Magazine, Kidman spoke of her kids and their decision to become members of the Church of Scientology themselves, which deemed her an SP, or Suppressive Person, and said, “They have made choices to be Scientologists and as a mother, it’s my job to love them,” she explained.
“And I am an example of that tolerance and that’s what I believe — that no matter what your child does, the child has love and the child has to know there is available love and I’m open here.”
Isabella, 27, is married to husband Max Parker and lives in London where she works as an artist. She tends to share photos of her artwork, but rarely posts photos of herself.
Just recently, however, she treated her 18.000 followers with a selfie and wrote, “All that glitters is gold…oh wait, it’s just another Instagram filter.”
Some three months ago, she also posted a photo of herself posing in the kitchen with the hand on her head accompanied with the caption, “The procrastination station.”
Connor also tends to keep a low profile. Recently, he and dad Tom were spotted together. He rarely shares photos of himself, but from what he has on his Instagram account, we can see he’s a fan of fishing.
Are you one of those people who love solving riddles, or at least giving it a try? I know I love them and I always get excited when I stumble upon one. However, after spending just a minute or two trying to find the “secret” behind it, I simply give up and look for comments or ask Google to help me with the answer.
Now, we have one super riddle for you. It does sounds very confusing, but many solved it on their own. So, if you are ready, take a look at the photo below.
Image source: The Laugh Club / Newsner
It goes like this: The day before yesterday, I was 17 years old. But next year I will be 20. How is that possible?
Any guesses? Does this make your head hurt? Well, if you can’t figure it out yourself, check the answer under the photo below.
Image source: Pixabay
Answer: I wrote this statement on January 1st, and my birthday is December 31st.
If you found this fun, make sure you challenge your friends by sharing it.
If you were a fan of the Clampett family, who turned multi-millionaires over night after finding a huge oil resource in their land, and if you were eagerly waiting for each episode and each of their adventure, then stay with us and read about some of the “secrets” of the best show ever, The Beverly Hillbillies.
The show ran from September 26, 1962 until March 23, 1971 and made millions laugh. It truly was one-of-a-kind and fans were left wondering why it was cancelled when it never lost its popularity, not until today, almost 50 years after the last episode aired.
Facebook / TheBeverlyHillbilliesTV
1. CBS forgot to renew the copyright
If you ever wondered why the first 55 episodes of the show can be watched pretty much everywhere, including low-budget channels, that’s because CBS forgot to renew the copyright for those episodes once the show was cancelled.
Wikipedia Commons
2. Buddy Ebsen and Nancy Kulp weren’t fond of one another
Those who were present on the set of The Beverly Hillbillies, confirmed many times how Buddy Ebsen, who portrayed the role of Jed Clampett, and Nancy Kulp, who played Miss Jane Hathaway, would often argue while filming.
Their fights and disagreements were mainly a result of their different political views.
Years after the show ended, Nancy ran for Congress at the age of 62, and many believe she lost the election because her former colleague slammed her publicly and criticized her for her views.
Reddit
3. Max Baer Jr. played his twin sister
The skillful son of Jed’s cousin, Pearl, wit-dimmed Jethro Bodine was portrayed by actor Max Baer Jr. However, Max also played the role of his onscreen twin sister Jethrine in 11 episodes. And although he excelled the role, Jethrine’s voice was done by the daughter to the series’ creator, Linda Kaye Henning.
4. The series creator regretted doing a movie after the show was over
Some ten years after the popular show was over, creator Paul Henning did the movie The Return of the Beverly Hillbillies? To his surprise, his project got very bad critics and reviews as many fans believed it was far from what the series depicted, with some saying the movie lacked the original spirit of the series.
Youtube
5. The original name and set of the series differed from how we know them today
The initial plan was for the Clampett family to move to one of New York’s fancy neighborhoods, but due to financial reasons, they started their new life in Beverly Hills. The original title of the series was The Hillbillies of Beverly Hills, and it was changed to The Beverly Hillbillies just after the first episode aired.
Facebook / TheBeverlyHillbilliesTV
6. Max Baer Jr. sued CBS
Baer accused CBS in 2014 that they were using his character’s name without his knowledge and made a secret deal with Jethro’s BBQ. That apparently prevented him from making money on his role. Eventually, Baer and the network came to an agreement.
7. John Wayne was paid in bourbon
Actor John Wayne was part of the episode The Indians Are Coming from season five of the show and allegedly was paid in bourbon instead of money.
8. Sonny Drysdale was just eight years younger than his onscreen mother
Sonny played the role of the spoiled rich step-son of Milburn Drysdale. His onscreen mother, Mrs. Drysdale, was only eight years older than him. Well, no one could notice this fact and it’s not really unusual for actors to play someone who is way younger or older than they really are in real life.
9. Sharon Tate
The murder of pregnant Sharon Tate shook the world. The beauty, who was married to Roman Polanski at the time of her death, was killed by the members of the Charles Manson “Family” while she and friends were having dinner in her home.
Tate appeared in 15 episodes of The Beverly Hillbillies. On the show, she wore a brunette wig which made it hard for people to recognize it was her.
Sharon Tate in The Beverly Hillbillies (1962)
10. The reason why the show was cancelled
Although it still had high ratings and people anticipated each new adventure of the Clampett family and their relatives and friends, CBS axed the show. It was reported how they were making a change and were focusing on more cultured, metropolitan audience.
Fans, as well as the cast, were shocked by the decision. Actor Pat Buttram of Green Acres said, “CBS canceled everything with a tree — including Lassie.”
CBS
I loved this show so very much. I guess it was somehow pure and its only goal was to make the audience happy.
From working as a milkman, a lorry driver and a coffin polisher in his young days, to being knighted in 2000, the first ever secret agent James Bond had an incredible life. Born to parents who were poor, he left school at the age of 13 to be able to work and help his family make ends meet.
Sean Connery, one of the most charming men on the planet, who was named the sexiest man alive twice by the People magazine, passed away at 90. He always won each battle on the screen, but lost the most important one just a few days ago when he left the world mourning him.
Sean, the 007 agent who played in seven Bond films and won an Academy Award for The Untouchables, once said that his favorite movie was From Russia with Love.
After playing James Bond, Sean maintained a very successful career and landed roles in a number of famous movies like Alfred Hitchcock’s Marnie , The Hill, Murder on the Orient Express, The Man Who Would Be King, Highlander, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, The Hunt for Red October, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, and a lot more.
Sean was married two times. In 1962, the actor married Diane Cilento with whom he had son Jason Connery, his only biological child. In 1975, he tied the knot with Micheline Roquebrune and stayed together with her until the rest of his life. Their relationship and marriage withstood time despite Sean’s well-documented love affair with Lynsey de Paul during the late ’80s.
Wife Micheline told Mail on Sunday that her husband was suffering from dementia and added how the condition affected his life.
“It was no life for him,” she said. “He was not able to express himself latterly. At least he died in his sleep and it was just so peaceful. I was with him all the time and he just slipped away. It was what he wanted,” she continued. “He had dementia and it took its toll on him. He got his final wish to slip away without any fuss.”
Rest in peace Sir Sean Connery, you were a legend!
The moment the divine felines enter our life, they take all the control, and the sad reality is that we as humans can’t do anything about it. It looks as the mighty cats know how they were worshiped for centuries, and it’s still in their DNA to act like Gods who need to be well fed and taken good care of whenever THEY want it.
They do know how to express their affection towards someone, but only choose to love certain people, so if you ever get approached by a cat it means you are a very special person, and yes, you should be very grateful for that.
Many times, no matter how hard you try, it’s simply impossible to make your cat happy. I am sure cat owner will agree on this one. You went shopping and got overly excited for that new cat toy, envisioning how your cute furry pal would be over the moon once they try it, and then you realize how the toy box is what they really want to play with.
Cats are picky, and even if that leaves owners frustrated they will always opt for what they enjoy and not what humans want.
YouTube
Philo is just another smarty pants cat who has an unusual quirk. His owner Brian was overly excited for the present he got for his fur baby. A cat door that would make it easier for Philo to go in and out of the house, which is something he really loves doing. Apparently, installing that cat flap wasn’t the best idea this owner could have come up with.
Now when everything was properly installed, Brian took his camera and couldn’t wait to see the joy in Philo’s eyes after he sees and hopefully uses the tiny door. As the cat approached the door, Brian encouraged him to get inside through the new opening, and as you may assume, Philo didn’t even notice what his owner did for him. He could have at least got curious and sniff the opening, but no, no reaction at all.
What he did instead is sort of amazing. He got on his hind legs and pulled down the door handle with his tiny paws. The door opened and he casually entered the place leaving his owner in disbelief.
Well, Brian, you could have thought better than this. Why would an intelligent cat as Philo even need a special door when he can just open the big one like a boss.
This is so funny, you have to see it for yourself.
After the horrendous murder of the mother of two who was pregnant with her third child, Shanann, and her girls, Bella, 4, and Celeste, 3, by their husband and father, the cold-blooded murderer’s parents still stay by his side and say he’s not a monster.
Details of the tragic killing of the family was depicted by the new Netflix series, American Murder: The Family Next Door. The father of the killer Chris Watts said his son didn’t ask to see the documentary. “…He has not been able to watch it [the documentary], he was never told about it or asked about it.”
Chris, who asked from the public to help him find his wife and daughters whom he previously killed, confessed to the crime and even told investigators how his older daughter begged him not to do to her what he did to her sister.
Chris’ parents couldn’t believe he was capable of murdering anyone, let alone his own family.
His father, Ronnie, said of his son who’s serving life behind bars at a maximum security prison, “He’s taking it one day at a time, just like we are. We still love our son no matter what and we miss our grandbabies. We’re trying to move forward but it’s a very hard task.”
According to The Sun, when Chris pleaded guilty in the courtroom, his mother Cindy said, “I have always loved you and I still do. We love you and forgive you, son;” while Ronnie added, “Chris, I forgive you and your sister forgives you and we will never abandon you.”
To the surprise of the wide public, the killer’s parents even tried to portray their late daughter-in-law as the one responsible for their son’s action of killing her. They claimed Shannan was hard to deal with and Chris was just a normal and easy-going guy before he married her.
“He’s not a sociopath. He’s not a psychopath,” Cindy told Denver7 as she tried to defend her son.
After hearing Cindy suggesting that it was more likely that Shannan killed her girls, Shannan’s family put out a statement, according to Denver 7, writing, “Shanann Watts was a faithful wife, and the most gentle and loving mother in the world to her children Bella, Celeste, and Nico… Everyone who knew Shanann knows this to be true. Even Chris Watts knows this to be true. Yet Chris Watts still chose to murder Shanann, Bella, Celeste, and Nico. Chris Watts still chose to dump the bodies of his own family in oil tanks. And Chris Watts still chose to lie about it until he could lie no more. He pled (sic) guilty to murdering his family because he is guilty.”
Frank Rzucek, father of Shanann Watts and her brother, Frankie Rzucek in court for Christopher Watts arraignment hearing at the Weld County Courthouse in Greeley, Colorado on August 21, 2018. (Source: Getty Images | Photo by RJ Sangosti – Pool)
“…Their false statements, however hurtful and inaccurate, will never alter the truth about Shanann, and will never alter the truth about the crimes committed by their son, Chris Watts,” Shannan’s family’s statement added.
We are very sorry for the loss of this loving mother, her beautiful girls, and her unborn son Nico, may you all rest in peace.
Wild animals are meant to be free and live in their natural habitat. Unfortunately, many are held in captivity. A huge number of these creatures are sold for money and even a greater number live in animal zoos where people pay to see them.
Unfortunately for one lion cub, he was taken away from his mother when he was just a couple of months old. The poor animal tried to free himself and in order for him not to ever try to do that again, his handlers broke his legs and his spine. He was used for photos with tourists who were probably unaware of the condition of the animal.
Source: Instagram
His fragile body was dirty and covered in scars from the mistreatment he suffered on a daily basis. Luckily, the baby lion was discovered by kindhearted people who wouldn’t let him suffer any longer. After a long time of abuse and life in chains, the sweet animal was rescued.
Source: Instagram
His story spread around like a wildfire and even reached president of Russia, Vladimir Putin, who urged the authorities to criminally investigate the case thoroughly. He said that the wrongdoers deserved to be punished for what they did.
Source: Instagram
The care for the lion, who was named Simba, was taken by a Russian vet named Karen Dallakyan. In fact, it was Karen who rescued Simba in the first place. Throughout his career as a doctor, this man with a heart of gold has changed the life of many animals for the better.
Source: Instagram
Today, after a year in the hands of the right people who showed him that they care, Simba is trusting humans again and is a playful animal. Simba underwent a number of surgeries and it looks like he could be getting towards being completely healed.
Source: Instagram
We are very happy for Simba, but at the same time we are sad for all the other animals who are exploited and held in captivity without ever getting a chance to be rescued.
Recently, I stumbled upon a very powerful photo which went viral and shows some of the celebrities who took their own lives with huge smiles on their faces, among which Chester Bennington, the Linkin Park singer. The caption said, “This is what depression looks like,” and it made me think of the words late Robin William who fought against depression and anxiety himself used to say, “Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind. Always.”
Depression makes you see the world differently, in a negative way. And sadly, people struggling with the condition believe things are even worse than what they seem. They have a hard time finding a reason to get out of bed and live.
YouTube
Bekah Miles, a psychology major at George Fox University, caught the attention of millions when she shared a photo of her tattoo. At first glance, it resembles just an ordinary piece of body art which says, “I’m fine.” But there’s something hidden behind it. In fact, Miles is suffering from depression and ever since 2016 she has been feeling like there is no way out. But she stills finds a way to cope with it every single day.
If seen from the opposite angle, the tattoo says, “Save me.” The message she wants to spread is that these people often need the help and the compassion from those around them, even from strangers.
After the photo of her tattoo has been shared around million times, Miles is glad she could make a difference and raise awareness. This is her story, take a look at it in the video below.
Every parents’ dream is their children to be happy and healthy. Sadly, there are things in life that we don’t have control over, and that includes diseases.
Tommy Calder is a sweet young boy with Down Syndrome who was diagnosed with leukemia on February 18, 2018. The moment his parents Robert and Tina learned the devastating news, they felt like their world collapsed, but at the same time, they knew they had to stay strong for their boy and be by his side every step of the way.
It took a lot of sacrifice and almost three years for Tommy to kick the cancer’s ass, but he and his parents ended up winners.
The moment Tommy started receiving his treatments, dad Robert quit his job so that they could travel for two hours from Warren, Minnesota to the Roger Maris Cancer Center in Fargo countless of times.
During the whole time, Tommy showed he’s one of the bravest young boys there are. “He’s very tough. When he walks in this door, they have an iPad waiting for him because they know all they have to do is give him that iPad and he lets them do whatever,” his mom told KVRR News. “I don’t think he has ever cried once,” his dad added.
KVRR News
As the treatments cost a lot of money, a friend of the family started a GoFundMe page on the behalf of dad Robert which described Tommy as a beautiful soul and an enthusiastic drummer.
It explained the burden the family was feeling and asked from those moved by Tommy’s story to step in and donate. It also read, “I met Tommy’s father, Robert through our “Band of Brothers” page for fathers of children with Down syndrome. His obvious love and wholehearted inclusion of little Tommy really touched my heart as serendipity brought us together as family with a love in common.”
KVRR News
Finally, almost three years later, the family’s biggest dream came true. Their little boy, but a big fighter and a hero, has been cancer free. Tommy got to ring the hospital bell and spread the good news.
The parents thanked everyone involved in their son’s fight against the disease, especially the kind doctors and nurses. “This hospital has been amazing. Everybody from the doctors to the nurses to Child Life. They are spectacular,” Robert said. “We couldn’t think of a better place for him to get treatment.”
We are very happy for the family and hope Tommy will have an awesome childhood.
After the successful operations by the U.S. Marshals in the past months during which a great number of children were saved from the hands of sex traffickers, our heroes yet again give us great news and make us proud of them and their work.
During the operation “Autumn Hope,” 45 children were located and rescued. 169 arrests were made by the Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force and U.S. Marshals with the help of the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.
U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of Ohio, Peter C. Tobin, said, “My thanks to all personnel who have stepped up for this operation. These are the same personnel who hunt down violent fugitives every day. I’m incredibly proud of them and pleased that they were able to apply those same skills to finding missing children. I know Operation Autumn Hope has made a difference in a lot of young lives.”
US Marshals rescue 45 missing children and 109 human trafficking survivors in ‘Autumn Hope’ operation https://t.co/97Ek9LIbBh
In August of this year, 40 missing children were saved by U.S. Marshals during sex trafficking bust in Georgia. All of the children involved in the operation “Not Forgotten” were taken to a safe place and no longer need to fear for their lives. A month later, in September, there were two more successful operations reported.
Operation “Safety Net” resulted in 25 children aged 13 to 18 to be located and saved in Ohio. What followed was operation “Triple Beam”in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma during which 262 suspects were arrested and five children were rescued.
We are very thankful for the effort and the hard work by the U.S. Marshals who make such a huge change in the lives of innocent children who were kidnapped.
This is one of those stories that will warm your heart and remind you how there are angels disguised in humans among us, and 58-year-old Linda Trepanier is definitely one of them. This Minnesota nurse went an extra mile when it came to taking care for two of her patients, the twin babies born with a rare genetic condition known as Pfeiffer syndrome.
Having three biological children and three grandchildren on her own, being a foster parent to 16 other children over the years, and an adoptive parent of three, this fierce lady is really one-of-a-kind. With her experience in bringing up so many kids, she knew she was the right person who could help in the case of the sweet twins.
Pfeiffer syndrome is a genetic disorder characterized by the premature fusion of certain skull bones which prevents the skull from growing normally and affects the shape of the head and face.
Babies Marshal and Matthew were diagnosed with this syndrome right after they were born. The condition also affected their breathing.
After the Child Protective Services found the newborns’ parents not fit to keep the babies under their wing, they were placed into foster care with Trepanier, who was well aware they needed around the clock attention.
Regarding her decision to foster Marshal and Matthew, this fairy grandmother says how she gets comments from people who tell her how she should retire and enjoy her life instead of dedicating her days to special needs kids. Trepanier’s answer to these remarks is that she loves these boys so much that she would never even think leaving their side.
“When I first saw the twins, I thought they were the most adorable babies I’ve ever seen,” said Trepanier.
“They had big heads and tiny bodies. As soon as I saw them, I fell in love. I knew in myself that these boys were mine.”
By the time the boys turned three, Trepanier had already adopted them and now they are officially her sons. She says how she was first offered to adopt one of them, but even the though of separating them was killing her.
Trepanier takes the boys’ temperature every few hours and constantly monitors their breathing tubes. This may sound like a quite a lot of work, which really is, but this lady says seeing her boys smile makes her forget of all the struggles. She also hopes that over time their condition would improve and they would be able to lead normal and independent lives.
“I feel blessed that I can make the lives of these children better,” said Trepanier. “It’s a really hard job but seeing them happy makes me happy too.”
Everyone who gets around the twins should make sure they are completely healthy since the boys are prone to infections.
So far, they have undergone three head surgeries.
“I just fell in love with them. I knew in my heart that they were my boys,” Trepanier said. “People struggle to understand. They say, ‘Oh, those kids are going to tie you down.’”
Despite their health condition, Marshal and Matthew are happy kids who spend their days laughing and having lots of fun.
A lot of times people feel the urge to share their deepest emotions with complete strangers and soothe their soul. This way they feel like their pain is out there, free and walking out of their body, until they realize the naked truth that grief doesn’t just fade away. But, at least someone heard how harsh life was towards them.
One young mother shared her life story with Love What Matters and left many crying over her ordeal.
On that fateful day, nothing could prepare Angela Menci for what was coming. She was staying home with her kids when her husband Gare called her on the phone asking from her to go and pick him up. The 39-year-old dentist was in the middle of a procedure of a root canal when he felt “off.” He though he was experiencing a heart attack and made it clear the situation was urgent.
Angela quickly put her kids inside her car and headed towards her husband’s practice, praying nothing was really wrong with him. But luck wasn’t on her side on this one. They rushed to the hospital where he was admitted.
After spending hours waiting for some news on his condition, doctor’s finally informed her how he had a tear in his aorta. She remembers how they described his case as “catastrophic.”
This came as a shock to Angela who had to deliver the news of his state to her husband herself. She asked from a friend to come and pick her kids up and did her best to pull herself together before entering Gare’s room.
“My husband was conscious, I had to deliver the news to him. His job now was to remain calm and keep his heart rate from elevating. The more it pumped, the more he bled out. He couldn’t freak out but that didn’t stop me from falling to the floor and crying as hospital personnel walked around me.”
As doctors couldn’t do anything, they suggested he was transferred to a hospital in Portland.
“It was determined he would need to be life-flighted to a hospital in Portland, more equipped for the severity of his surgery. Sam, the life-flight nurse grabbed me by the shoulders and looked me straight in the eyes. He told me that his job was to keep Gary alive. He told me he was great at his job and he had confidence in delivering my husband safely to skilled surgeons that would fix him. He took my number and promised to update me from the flight.”
Both Angela and Gare were aware things didn’t look good. But there was always a spark of hope throughout the whole time.
After four hours on the road, Angela was about to arrive at the hospital. The life-nurse kept her updated as promised and even let her to talk to her husband and remind him how much she loved him. Sadly, that would be the last time she gets to say those words to Gare.
Once there, two nurses were getting out of Gare’s room crying. Angela’s heart broke into a million pieces. She feared the worst, but they told her how he was still in surgery. They couldn’t tell her for sure whether he would survive it or not.
Eight long hours that resembled eternity passed before she got some good news. But the joy didn’t last long.
“I pressed the nurses’ button and they came out to tell me that the surgery was successful and that they would be bringing him up to the ICU. I jumped up and down and cried tears of joy. He is okay! He is going to live!”
The surgeon came out and said what she feared the most. After they administered the anesthesia, his aorta tore completely and he spent 5 minutes without oxygen. Gare was brain-dead.
“The nurses tried to prepare me for what I would see when I entered the room. I appreciated their efforts but nothing can prepare you to see your sweet, loving husband laying there ventilated, swollen and unconscious. They told me that hearing is the last thing to go so to talk to him, tell him to keep fighting. I sat next to his lifeless body and encouraged him to keep fighting, that I would never be okay without him.”
The chain of bad events wasn’t about to end. Devastating news came from Angela’s mother. Her sister passed away.
“My mom showed up and she was hysterical. I thought to myself, ‘pull yourself together, I need you to be strong and support me.’ She immediately pulled me out into the hall and said, ‘Your sister died last night.’ What. It took a few minutes before my brain could register the words my mom was speaking. I walked back into the room and screamed ‘MY SISTER DIED!’ and I chucked a cup of water across the room. A wave of relief washed over me as I thought now that my sister is gone, there was no way God would take my husband too.”
Unfortunately, this woman lost two people she loved the most on the same day. Was this really happening?
“I went into the hospital room as the neurologist performed multiple tests to check for brain activity. Tears filled the neurologist’s eyes as I looked at him and said, ‘He is gone, isn’t he?’ Yes. He was gone and I had to sign paperwork to take him off life support.”
His kids were there, saying the last goodbye to their father. It was a heartbreaking moment that made everyone cry.
“The image of those final moments with my children and their Dad will never leave me. It was the most heart wrenching part of this whole experience. They said goodbye and left the hospital. I climbed up on the bed and stroked his hair as the nurses turned the machines off. He was gone within minutes.”
As if life wasn’t cruel enough, Angela and her kids spent her youngest son’s first birthday at the funeral home.
Angela’s other sister offered her and her children a home.
“I don’t know why my husband and sister had to die. All I can do is have trust that God is here with me and is molding me to be the woman he knows that I can be. He gave me a wonderful sister and brother-in-law who immediately called and said they were finishing their basement into an apartment for me. Not only would I be living with them but they have been helping me raise my children. We have made our own little tribe.”
It’s hard, and it looks as if it’s not getting any easier, but life moves on. She has to be strong for her kids. She’s doing her best to be the best mother for them.
Many times, when we go through tough times and face certain obstacles, we turn to God and believe how our faith and love for the divine would help us overcome the issues. This is also true for those who suffer from certain illnesses such as cancer.
But the fact is that not everyone is religious, and not everyone finds comfort in practicing prayers.
After one nurse was fired from her job after she offered her Bible to a cancer patient, the question of whether we should ‘impose’ and offer our faith and beliefs to others has been raised.
Sarah Kuteh is a devoted Christian who trusts in the power of God. But did that gave her the right to make others share her beliefs? According to the Nursing and Midwifery Council, doing so, this nurse broke the code and the rules of her profession.
However, this wasn’t the first time for Kuteh to talk about faith in God to her patients. After Darent Valley Hospital found her behavior inappropriate, she got “sacked.” Kuteh believed she did nothing wrong and took the case to court, which ruled in the hospital’s favor.
Daily Mail reported that the patient said how Kuteh told him the way to reach God was through the words of Jesus. Below is the court’s statement.
“(She) told him she would give him her bible if he did not have one; gripped his hand tightly and said a prayer that was very intense and went ‘on and on’; and asked him to sing Psalm 23 [The Lord is My Shepherd] after which he was so astounded that he had sung the first verse with her. He described the encounter as ‘very bizarre’ and ‘like a Monty Python skit.”
Despite losing her job, Kuteh is certain her actions didn’t violate the code. On the contrary, she believes she was the one whose rights to express her religious beliefs were violated by the hospital.
