In order for them to build their self-confidence and learn how to love themselves from early age, children need to be supported and praised for all their efforts and hard work.
A teacher named Amanda Cox is sharing an uplifting story that comes from her classroom. One day, she forgot to bring her pencils in class and asked from her students to lend her some. A boy, who had plenty of pencils, offered to give her some but asked from her to return them to him at the end of the day.
Source: Facebook – Amanda Cox
Amanda thanked him and promised to give them back. But it wasn’t until she tried to sharpen one that she realized why those pencils were so important to her student.
Namely, she noticed something written on them with a red pen. When she took a closer look, Amanda realized those were personal messages. The one in her hand said, “You are so talented.” She then took another one and read another message. Some of those encouraging words were, “This will be a great year,” “You are creative” and “You are phenomenal.”
Source: Pikrepo
Amanda approached the boy and asked if he could show her the rest of his pencils. And just as she assumed, each and every one of them had a different message written on it. This teacher’s heart melted. She was very happy to see how this student’s mother took the time to do something so special for her son. “Thanks to his mom, he was reminded of his self worth and wanted to share the same feeling with his classmates,” Amanda said.
It was obvious that his mother’s encouraging messages meant a lot to the boy because they reminded him how special he was and how great things would be for him in the future.
After Amanda shared the story along with the photos of the pencils on her Facebook page, it caught the attention of thousands of people who agreed the mother was doing parenting right.
Source: Facebook – Amanda Cox
Over 451,000 positive comments spoke of just how much everyone loved the mom’s idea.
We should never forget that our little ones need a little push every now and then in order to achieve what they are truly capable of. If you loved this story make sure you share it with your friends.
A great number of celebrities tend to keep their children out of the spotlight and provide them with as much normal life as possible because they are aware of the influence media and newspapers can have on the kids. However, this was never the case with Kelly Osbourne, the daughter of rock ‘n’ roll icon Ozzy Osbourne.
According to Kelly herself, she was just three months old when her parents took her with them on tour so she got used to that life practically since the moment she was welcomed into the world. “So, there was no discovering Black Sabbath or rock ‘n’ roll music. That was my life! I didn’t know any different. It was when I started going to school that I realized that we were a little bit different.”
Being a child of someone famous as Ozzy Osbourne wasn’t easy. During her childhood, Kelly witnessed her dad struggling with drug and alcohol abuse. According to her brother, Jack, during one of their parents’ fights, Ozzy tried strangling his wife Sharon and was forced to spend a couple of months in a mental health center after that.
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“I’ve had a mad life. As a child [the heavy-metal band] Mötley Crüe used to babysit me,” Kelly told Daily Mail.
“My father taught us about music – we learned about everyone from the Beatles to Mariah Carey; I have fond memories of getting calls from her at Christmas singing Black Sabbath songs.”
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People learned more of Kelly during the show The Osbournes which aired back in 2002 and featured the domestic life of the family, excluding Kelly’s sister Aimee who refused to be involved.
“I didn’t like the judgment and criticism,” Kelly told Daily Mail some time ago. “I am so grateful that there wasn’t social media then. You’ve got to let people grow up, let them fall and pick themselves up again. I was a billion times worse than the kids that get a bad rap now. It really breaks my heart watching what some of the young people in Hollywood have to go through.”
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Kelly tried herself in acting, singing, modeling and fashion design over the years. Her cover of Madonna’s hit Papa Don’t Preach reached the music charts in the U.K. but her album Shut Up! wasn’t well-accepted by the fans, so she turned to fashion design instead.
In 2006, Kelly went to rehab to help herself with the drug and alcohol abuse. “What bugs me the most is that people think I was a party girl and I went around having a great time,” she writes in her page. “I did drugs because I hated myself and I was miserable, and I didn’t want to think about it anymore.”
Luckily, those days are far behind her. Not only she overcame her addictions, but she turned to a healthy lifestyle as well. The vegan diet helped her lose over 85 pounds and Kelly looks stunning today.
She makes sure she keeps her fans updated about her life, including her weight-loss journey. Kelly says that staying healthy isn’t easy sometimes, but she has some valuable advice. “For me, what it’s all about is finding that healthy moderation, which is easier said than done,” she told The Beet. “When you sat there in front of a plate of french fries, there is no moderation. So you have to realize if I’m going to eat this, I’m going to do an extra 15 minutes of working out … just balance everything out.”
A few weeks ago, beautiful Kelly shared this photo of her wearing black dress and wrote how she can’t believe that’s her.
“I still can’t believe that this is actually me in these pictures. Hard work, acceptance of who you really Deep down under all that insecurity/fat can turn into a beautiful thing,” she wrote. “In the past I lost weight for social acceptance. This time… I did not lose weight anyone but myself and it feels great!!! If you too are on a path transformation before you do anything… you have to learn to love yourself. I love you guys so much.”
We are so glad she finally found herself and decided to take control over her life. Kelly you are such an inspiration!
The definition of beauty has changed over the years, but the time when we would stop judging people based on their looks is yet to come.
Being different is not bad, in fact it gives you the chance to be unique and feel special as long as you learn how to accept yourself the way you are. A woman named Tessa Schiethart from The Netherlands is doing exactly that. She loves herself no matter what.
This incredibly brave young lady was born with a birthmark on her face, or a condition known as Sturge-Weber Syndrome.
Tessa’s parents were concerned because they know people can be judgmental and they didn’t want their girl to go through a hard time during her life, so they decided to take the doctor’s advice and take her to treatments that would make the birthmark lighter.
Unfortunately, wanting to offer the best to their little girl, they made things worse. The treatments weren’t successful and Tessa was left with scars on her face.
“When I was six we stopped laser treatment because my eyes became more important and there was high eye pressure and we needed to lower it in order to keep my left eye from becoming blind as well,” she told Barcroft TV.
All this didn’t make Tessa feel sorry for herself. Instead, she decided to embrace the fact that her face is different and now spreads her positivity to people who don’t feel confident because they are different themselves.
She works as a life coach and helps change the lives of many.
”My birthmark and my different look has never stopped me from pursuing my dreams. I have studied the studies I wanted to, I work, have many friends and have travelled the world extensively all by myself. I love the little things in life, and practice yoga every morning to set my intention for the day”, she says.
“I chose not to spent two hours of my morning in front of a mirror putting on a mask of chemical make-up to cover my stain so that ‘society’ would accept me and I would fit some ‘standard of normalcy.’”
She used to spend a lot of time covering her birthmark but seeing herself in the mirror without it was “such a weird distorted feeling.”
Tessa believes that the term normal is overrated and that we shouldn’t identify ourselves with our bodies.
We believe that what Tessa does is so inspirational that it becomes life changing. She truly is a very special young woman who looks absolutely stunning the way she is.
It’s not often that we hear of famous people staying together in marriage for many years, but when we do, we are glad they are sharing a positive example and assure us that not everything in the world of celebrities is about gathering attention and being in the spotlight.
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Faith Hill and Tim McGraw are one of the most beautiful celeb couples we know. They have been married for 24 years now and have three stunning daughters who are now all grown up and resemble their stunning mother a lot.
Gracie Katherine is 23, Maggie Elizabeth is 22, and Audrey Caroline is 18.
However, it was just recently that Maggie’s beauty caught the eye of the wide public and people became interested to learn more about her and her life.
Her dad Tim posted a photo of her for her birthday and his followers couldn’t stop commenting about how gorgeous she is and how she inherited her mom’s smile.
“So hard to believe that this little thing turns 22 today! Life sure goes by fast. Soak it up Maggie May. We love you and are so proud of you, Dad,” Tim wrote.
Her mom also took to Instagram to congratulate on her daughter’s birthday by posting photos of the two. Faith wrote, “Happy Birthday to our Maggie !!!!!! 22 years old today. “A throwback photo from our cross country road trip 4 years ago. I love you my sweet.”
Instagram / Faith Hill
Fans of the musicians say they are glad the stars installed in their daughter the life values they themselves live by, and that’s love, honesty, devotion, and helping others.
”As a parent, you do not want to stand in the way of their dreams,” Faith told AOL a few years ago. ”You want to protect them; you want to make sure they aren’t disappointed…Sometimes, it’s better to let your children go through things on their own and let them experience it instead of saying, ‘Don’t do it this way, or you must do it this way.’”
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Maggie graduated from the Stanford University in California this year and is planning on obtaining a master’s degree in sustainability science. Despite being an excellent student, Maggie is also part of a rock band called ”Sister Supply.” They are a new group, but they already performed at festivals. On top of that, Maggie is known as a girl with a heart of gold who is always there for those in need of help and support. The charity she is part of, Feed The Front Line Live, has helped many people from Nashville during the pandemics. Being devoted and working hard for the cause, she was named vice president of the organization recently.
“I think I grew up with a mentality that it’s kind of an obligation for you if you have more than other people, to give back,” Maggie said speaking to Us Weekly.
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It’s awesome that someone that young has their priorities straight and knows exactly what their goals in life are. Maggie and her sisters are happy to have parents who set good examples for the girls to follow. We can’t wait to see what Maggie will do in the years to come, and we hope she will be as famous as her mom and dad one day.
Actor John Travolta has suffered two major tragedies. He and wife Kelly lost their son Jett in 2009 while on holiday in the Bahamas. Jett suffered a seizure which lead to his passing. Both John and Kelly were heartbroken and went through a very long process of grieving. The actor told US Weekly, “It’s the worst thing that’s ever happened in my life. The truth is, I didn’t know if I was going to make it.”
John and Kelly first met on the set of The Experts in 1989 and were considered one of the best and most loved Hollywood couples.
A post shared by Kelly Preston (@therealkellypreston) on
Sadly, Kelly was diagnosed with breast cancer and after battling with the disease for two years, she died in July 2020. John posted on the social media to inform friends and fans of the loss of his loving life, writing, “My family and I will forever be grateful to her doctors and nurses at MD Anderson Cancer Center, all the medical centers that have helped, as well as her many friends and loved ones who have been by her side. Kelly’s love and life will always be remembered.”
As though suffering the deaths of two people who meant the world to him wasn’t enough painful for the Pulp Fiction actor, a month ago, John lost his nephew Sam Travolta Jr., the son of his older brother Sam. The news of his death wasn’t revealed until now, however. Sam was 52 and was working as a screenwriter who had a hard time making ends meet at times.
He once said how his uncle John was giving him monthly allowance and told Esquire Magazine, “I’m a struggling screenwriter living in a tiny one-bedroom apartment, so John’s money helps.”
Sam Travolta Jr. died just months after the actor lost his wife Kelly Preston to breast cancerhttps://t.co/w6c8OU8Ahk
It has been reported that Sam passed away in his home in Mount Horeb, Wisconsin.
One of his school friends, Nick Mavrostomos, told The Sun, “He will be greatly missed, but he will always be with us. I found out through high school friends, they reached out to me to let me know. We had a great time when we used to hang together in high school.”
Speaking of Sam’s relationship with the actor, Nick added, “Sam was definitely proud of being related to John Travolta. He was happy go lucky and a good friend, good-spirited.”
We are very sorry John had to go through such a hard time in his life. Our thoughts are with him.
Music has a healing power and everyone who has ever found comfort in the tune of their favorite song can tell you that.
Today, when the pandemic that changed the way we live is still ongoing, looking at some incredible gatherings between strangers that took place by pure chance remind us of the good times and teach us a lesson that we should never take things for granted.
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The video below which shows an elderly lady playing the piano in public was taken before the lockdown, but was now shared to remind us of the beauty of being together.
The lady plays like a real goddess and the passersby can’t help by stop and listen to the incredible music she produces. She plays the stride and ragtime and people take their phones out to take videos. Well, this isn’t something you come across every day.
Take a look at the incredible atmosphere this lady created. I really wish I was at the mall that day.
Appearance can be deceiving and that is why we should never judge a book by its cover. On top of that, we should never treat the poor any different than the rich. Some people may not have a lot of money, but they are rich in heart, and that’s what matters most.
A waitress named Maria was told by her colleagues to only be nice to those who are well dressed because they are the ones who leave generous tips and not to waste a lot of time with the “rest” of the customers. Maria, however, knew she should treat everyone the same, regardless of their appearance or status.
One day, a homeless man entered the diner where she worked and asked for several dishes. Although he looked like someone who couldn’t afford that much food, Maria brought to him everything he asked for. She was well aware that in case the person doesn’t pay she would be the one paying instead.
After some time, the man left the place and left a $100 tip along with a piece of paper with a message written on it. He praised Maria for what she did and how she treated him.
If you want to know who that person was, check out the whole story in the video below.
We don’t know whether this is a true story or not, but anyways, it is a nice reminder that we should always be kind.
Kirk Kellerhals from Virginia Beach spent 50 years of his life believing his biological parents were killed in the Vietnam War and that’s how he ended up in an orphanage and later adopted by an American family. What this man didn’t know was that the truth was way different than that.
Kirk’s biological mother was only 17 when she gave birth. She was a young Vietnamese woman who fell for an American soldier, but her father was against her carrying a serviceman’s child so he gave his newborn grandson at an orphanage.
Source: CBN News/YouTube
Over the years, Kirk often thought of his origin and wanted to learn more about his heritage, so he decided to submit his information to an online DNA database.
Source: CBN News/YouTube
Not long after that, he received an e-mail saying “call me.” He thought the mail was vague but decided to see who sent it not knowing it was the woman who gave birth to him on the other side of the line. She said, “I think you’re my son.”
Source: CBN News/YouTube
Kirk couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He recalled the DNA database sending him a message saying there was a match with the info he submitted but he didn’t take it seriously.
His mother, Thuy-Nga Thi, was living in America with her husband, and soon after the phone call, these mother and son finally met. It was a moment so emotional and touching that no one who witnessed it was able to stop tears from rolling down their faces.
It took five decades for one family to be reunited. A family that shouldn’t have been separated in the first place. Although both Kirk and Thuy-Nga Thi missed out on so much throughout the years, they could now be where they always belonged; by each other’s side.
Take a look at the video below for the whole story. Make sure you grab some tissues before hitting play.
Music is the universal language. It has the power to lift you up even during the darkest of times and serves as consolation whenever we feel down. Our favorite songs are there with us when we celebrate life and the good things that happen along the way.
So, do you need to be talented in order to belt out the lyrics of that music piece that fills your heart with pleasure? Definitely not.
If you haven’t heard of the Choir! Choir! Choir! you are missing a lot. This duo was founded in 2011 by Daveed Goldman and Nobu Adilman, by chance. It all started as a one-off event for a birthday party and turned into something marvelous.
In fact, this group isn’t a traditional one by any means. This duo’s performances revolve around a single song. People from all ages are welcomed to participate in the singing of the song after Goldman and Adilman teach the song’s arrangement to everyone who wants to be part of something so unique.
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The duo gathered the attention of the public after a marvelous performance of Cohen’s iconic song Hallelujah. Over 1500 people joined in to sing the tune together at the Luminato Festival in Toronto, Canada back in June, 2016.
Rufus Wainwright was a special guest who led the way.
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The performance has been seen over 11 million times and people love it. One person wrote, “I’m here in my house during quarantine and I’m watching my favorite things. I’ve probably watched this video a thousand times and this time I cried harder than ever. Strangers coming together and making something beautiful.”
We hope the pandemic will be over soon and this incredible duo will continue with their live performances again.
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Take a look at the video below to see what 1500 voices singing Hallelujah all at once sounds like. You’ll be amazed.
What was supposed to be a single appearance in an episode, turned into a role that we all love so very much. Family Matters would have never been the same if the producers only hired the suspenders-wearing pre-teen Steve Urkel as a guest star as they initially planned. The viewers went crazy over the Winslow family’s nerd neighbor and the show somehow morphed into The Steve Urkel Show.
Steve was played by young Jaleel White whose talent for acting was discovered when he was just 3 years old by his preschool teacher. One of his first ever commercials was the one for Jell-O pudding.
Jaleel White / Instagram
White became part of Family Matters when he was just 12, and his undeniable talent made millions laugh. His character was easy to fall for and he became a huge star almost overnight.
Steve Urkel changed White’s life forever. After the show was over, however, he had a hard time landing a role as everyone only saw him as Steve Urkel. Back in the day, the actor spoke of this role which marked his acting career and said, “If you ever see me do that character again, take me out and put a bullet in my head and put me out of my misery,” according to The New York Times.
Jaleel White / Instagram
In 2011, White told Vanity Fair that his words were taken out of context during the interview and said, “It’s one of those things that it’s very unfortunate how quotes are taken out of context. I remember that interview very vividly. I loved playing those characters […] But the fact is that I was maturing. […] To be honest, I was retarding my own growth as a man to maintain the authenticity to what I thought that character should be.”
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The impact Steve Urkel had on the wide public was immense. The name became a brand itself and people could buy posters, clothes, trading cards, and even a talking doll of the nerd who wore multi-colored cardigan sweaters and stole the heart of every American out there.
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So, where is Jaleel White today?
Steve Urkel turned into a very handsome man. He graduated from UCLA where he studied film and television and was part of the show Dancing With the Stars. Recently, White launched his podcast Ever After where he speaks with other fellow child stars to see what they are up to nowadays.
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White has a daughter, Samaya, with ex-girlfriend Bridget Hardy. They share the custody but are not on good terms as their split was a nasty one. They both accused each other of domestic violence.
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Family Matters is definitely one of the best sitcoms there are. However, asked whether he would ever agree to do the role of Steve Urkel again, White says, ”I don’t think we need it. I think “Family Matters” belongs in the era of life before cellphones.” He, however, says that a reunion with the cast can take place.
According to Celebrity Net Worth, White’s net worth is $10 million.
Most of us are used to seeing police officers patrolling around the town streets to make sure everyone stays safe and pulling speeding drivers over. One Portland Police Officer has his very own secret weapon in his back pocket, which is a degree in performing musical pieces! Now famous in the local community for his angelic voice, this officer has become an overnight sensation online! It was 20 December 2017 when officer Jeremy Turner had decided to belt out a tune of his own according to the tune of a well-known Christmas classic.
After Officer Jeremy Turner’s partner cracked a joke about singing while out on foot patrol in the Old Port, Turner stood right in the middle of Tommy’s Park and sang his own version of ‘O Holy Night.’ Passersby stopped in their tracks, looked at him and pulled out their phones – nevertheless, Turner continued to sing.
At the end of his performance, the crowd gave him a huge applause!
Although his partner was joking, Officer Turner was proud of his secret weapon. “I’ve been singing since I was 6-years-old and I went to the University of Southern Maine – and have a degree in music performance,” he said. Turner graduated and became a dispatcher – afterwards, a police officer. To some of his colleagues, Turner’s singing skills didn’t come as a surprise. Turner was already well-known in his workplace for his singing abilities, as he also sang the National Anthem during his graduation from the local police academy.
The video footage went viral overnight almost instantly, gathering as much as 10,000 worth of views from across the country. Turner’s boss, Portland Police Chief Michael Sauschuck, welcomes the attention by saying: “It humanizes law enforcement officers at a completely different level. That’s who Jeremy Turner is. That’s the real deal. He’s always smiling, he’s always laughing.”
Simon Cowell is definitely the most famous name in the music industry. And as we all know just how successful he is in his profession, his love life had some turbulence over the years.
Today, he’s together with the mother of his child, Lauren Silverman. Their story started as an affair while she was still married to husband Andrew Silverman.
Before he settled down, however, Cowell had other relationships with very beautiful women, which isn’t surprising, really.
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When he was 16, Cowell dated Paula Hamilton for a couple of years. She later became a model and spoke of just how important he was for her. “I couldn’t read or write until I was 11. So I was called stupid and bullied by teachers,” Hamilton said according to Yahoo. “Simon was really important to me because he stopped them picking on me.”
His next relationship was with model Louise Payne. The two were very much in love and Cowell asked her to marry him, but they broke off their engagement in 1998. Apparently, the reason was that she wanted to have children and he didn’t. In 2002, Cowell started dating Terri Seymour. Their relationship ended after six years, but the two remained very close friends until this day. “We will be the best of mates, but I think in relationships, you have to be totally honest. I have always been and I know Terri knows that,” Cowell said after the breakup.
Teri is now a very good friend of Lauren as well. They hang out together very often and their kids are playing together. Cowell even organized Teri’s daughter, Coco, her fifth birthday party.
Terri Seymore Wikipedia Commons
Cowell met Lauren during a vacation in Barbados in 2004. She was married to his very close friend, New York real estate mogul, Andrew Silverman. They started an affair in 2009 and in 2013, Lauren got pregnant. Everyone was in complete shock to learn that the father of the baby was Simon Cowell.
What followed was a nasty divorce battle between Lauren and Andrew, who felt betrayed by his long time friend Cowell. Until January 2015, Cowell wasn’t allowed to get near the now ex-couple’s son Adam. Andrew requested that in case Cowell saw Adam more than three times, Lauren would lose the rights to contact with her son until it was decided what will happen next.
Simon Cowell and Andrew Silverman Youtube/Patrick Wanis
Andrew finally decided to speak openly of what was going behind his back all those years and told New York Observer, “I learned a lot about myself as an individual, the importance of family. My focus has been on my son, Adam, throughout the whole ordeal. I think for both of us, making sure our son has a normal environment is the primary focus.”
Cowell also spoke of the affair he had with Lauren, saying, “It is not something I am proud of or wanted to happen in terms of hurting anyone. It just happened,” according to Mirror.
Eric was born on Valentine’s Day in 2013 and was named after Cowell’s father. It seemed like the judge whom we all know as the harsh critic on the show needed a child to soften his heart. “People have asked me if I have changed since I have had Eric and of course you do, you can’t help it,” he told Daily Mail.
Simon Cowell and Lauren Silverman are very happy together. “I think Simon has changed me,” she told Hello Magazine in 2015. “He makes me laugh all the time. I can’t get angry with him because when I’m trying to be cross he just makes me laugh. I feel I learn so much from him, which is incredibly inspiring. He’s very talented.”
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When asked whether they are planning on getting married, Cowell says he never really plans in advance because it’s always for the best to let things happen they way they do.
In-laws! When you get married, they enter your life whether you like that or not. Most people get along with their spouse’s family, but let’s get honest, when it comes to mothers-in-law, things can get messy at times. I don’t know why it is like that, but I am sure you’ve all been there, done that, at certain point in your life.
One mom was happy to get her her baby daughter to her husband’s family. As they were all gathered around the cute bundle of joy, the mom realized she had to leave the house and pick up a prescription. But, she was leaving her baby in the safe hands of her husband and his mother, so what could go wrong?
Well, it looked like the grandma was waiting for an opportunity to spend some time alone with her granddaughter for some time now. Why? Because she didn’t like the girl’s hair. So, she decided to change it without the mother’s permission.
When the baby’s mother got back home she was in complete shock. Her baby daughter’s hair was complete shaved off.
The explanation behind the act of the grandmother was that all babies should go bald.
Needless to say, the daughter-in-law was angry and mad. She turned to her husband and asked him how he could allow for something like that to happen. She was out for just a couple of minutes and she came to this, so what could have possibly taken place if she had left her little one with the mother-in-law for a day or longer?
The baby’s father could see how angry his wife was. But he then confessed how he was the one who agreed for his mother to shave his daughter’s head. What’s most, he even helped in the process.
The grandma tried to defend herself by saying how she had to do what she did in secret because she asked her daughter-in-law to shave the baby’s head before but she kept saying no. Well, she’s the baby’s mother, and if she doesn’t want for her daughter’s head to be shaved why would you even ask twice, let alone do it behind closed doors?
Eventually, the three had a long conversation and the mother-in-law said how she would never do anything against her daughter-in-law’s will when it comes to raising her granddaughter. As for the husband, he did agree to be less of a mamma’s boy.
People’s opinions regarding this story were divided. Some believed the mother was completely right for getting mad, but others believe how grandmas should have a say as well. So what are your thoughts on this?
All the decorations around us, the sparkling Christmas trees, people rushing to buy gifts for their loved ones, and the euphoria felt in every neighborhood announce the arrival of the so much-anticipated holidays.
However, the festivity is not the same without the beautiful nativity scenes that depict the birth of our Savior. They are pretty much everywhere, in every church and every house, but this year, a nativity scene like no other was set at the Wags To Riches, a grooming company in England.
And as you might be guessing, what makes this particular scene so unique is that the main characters are freshly groomed pups. To be honest, we think this is beyond adorable.
And now if you wonder how these lovely doggies managed to stay still during the photoshoot, here’s the answer. “It’s amazing what dogs will do for a biscuit,” the owner of Wags to Riches said. “They were all happy to sit for the photo.”
The dogs are all well-behaved and belong to the shop’s clients, except for the one in the manger, which is a figurine doll.
Once these photos went viral, Wags to Riches decided to do more photoshoots for different occasions, including New Year, Valentine’s, and the Royal Wedding.
We are so excited about the royal wedding here at Wags To Riches, we decided to recreate our own wedding at doggy daycare.. 🥂🎂🌞😊🐶🐶xx pic.twitter.com/PYR6lEXAuZ
— Wags to Riches Pet Services (@to_wags) May 16, 2018
Although we love all these photos so very much, we can all agree that none really beats the nativity scene. And yes, the audition for this year’s holidays is ongoing, and it looks just like on the photo below.
Hugh Bonneville, who is probably best known for portraying the role of Lord Grantham Robert Crawley in the British historical drama series Downton Abbey, stunned his fans with his new looks after loosing weight.
Wikipedia Commons / Marie-Lan Nguyen
Well, I guess the actor himself won’t be satisfied reading an introduction like this for himself because he always spoke of his work and his movies before this hit series and says that when fans and media identify him with the role of Robert Crawley it feels to him like he never stared in a movie before he took that role. But he still confesses that it was the series that changed a lot both in his personal and professional life.
”I’ve always tried to say: “Oh it has not, it has not,” but of course it has – totally. I managed to keep working for 25 to 30 years before but in terms of the opportunities that it has afforded all of us, it has been remarkable. And the friends we’ve made around the world have been extraordinary, as well as to know that in every territory that the show has been shown it has been successful and loved,” Hugh told Berkshire Life.
Facebook / Hugh Bonneville
Of course, he was famous in Britain before, but it was after Downton Abbey that he gained a worldwide fame.
Hugh has a degree in theology from Cambridge University but his career took a different path when he realized how much he wanted to be on stage and in front of the camera. Becoming an actor turned to be his calling and he built an impressive career in the film industry over the years.
Speaking of his decision to join the National Youth Theater, Hugh told Buzz Magazine, ”It changed my life. I never thought I was going to be an actor when I was in my teens, but it gave me an opportunity to explore the thing that I loved doing as a hobby, and gradually it became something I wanted to try as a career.”
Hugh Bonneville / Instagram
Back in 1999, he was offered the role of Bernie in Notting Hill and that’s when he stole the hearts of his fellow British people.
Hugh Bonneville / Instagram
What caught the eye of his fans recently is Hugh’s “new” body. He appeared at the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of VJ Day where he read King George VI’s speech in August looking completely different. In fact, he lost a lot of weight thanks to a low carb diet. Hugh spoke openly about his weight and said how he hired a personal trainer who helps him in the process of changing his lifestyle to a healthier one.
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Many people commented how he looks gorgeous and we can’t agree more.
Lupo was a dog who held a special place in the heart of the British Royal family.
This amazing canine became part of Kate Middleton and Prince Williams’ lives before their firstborn child was welcomed into the world.
Sweet Lupo was part of the family for eight years and he was so special that he allegedly helped choosing George’s name when he pawed at the piece of paper with that name written on it, according to the Daily Star.
In fact, Lupo was welcomed in at the time Prince William was deployed with the RAF to the Falklands Islands for six weeks. “It was when they’d just got the spaniel to help her with the time apart,” and unnamed source told Hello Magazine. Lupo was part of the litter of the dog owned by Kate’s parents, Carole and Michael Middleton.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge took to Instagram to share the devastating news with their followers, writing, “Very sadly last weekend our dear dog, Lupo, passed away. He has been at the heart of our family for the past nine years and we will miss him so much.”
Kate’s brother, James Middleton, also paid tribute to Lupo. “Nothing can ever prepare you for the loss of a dog,” he wrote on Instagram. “For those who have never had a dog, it might be hard to understand the loss. However for those who have loved a dog know the truth: a dog is not just a pet; it is a member of the family, a best friend, a loyal companion, a teacher and a therapist.”
“Rest in peace Lupo. You will always be remembered and your legacy will live on forever.”
Lupo was very much loved and he was part of many of the family’s photos they shared with the public.
This year will probably be remembered as the year that changed the way we live. After the coronavirus pandemic we will hopefully learn not to take the simple things as gathering with our family for Thanksgiving and going out with friends for granted.
Sadly, many young couples who were about to get married in 2020 were left disappointed for not getting their dream wedding, but Emily Bugg and Billy Lewis’ canceled wedding ceremony brought something good for the less fortunate.
Couple cancel wedding, donate $5K deposit to the hungry. @Thresholdsctrs Emily Bugg and her husband Billy share their love with our clients. Thank you!! https://t.co/S1b8oJ8vc9
As their $5,000 deposit for the food at the reception was nonrefundable, Emily and Billy came up with an awesome idea. They used the deposit to purchase 200 Thanksgiving dinners for the clients of the nonprofit organization Thresholds which provides help for people with mental illnesses and for those who struggle with substances abuse.
Billy, who is an outreach worker at the organization told Good Morning America, “In the grand scheme of things, canceling a big wedding isn’t the worst thing that could happen. We’re happy to be married, and we’re so happy that we could help Thresholds’ clients feel the connection of a Thanksgiving meal as a result of the wedding cancellation.”
The happy couple tied the knot at the City Hall in Chicago on October 1 and said that being married is what matters most, not the lavish ceremony they once dreamed of.
Many people praised them for their kind deed because they showed that even amid the chaos the whole world is currently in, we should never forget to be humans who care for one another.
It’s been said that “love for money is root to all evil” and the sad reality is that people are often ready to cross the line solely for the purpose of becoming reach, even if that means making others miserable.
The wild animals trafficking is one of those cruel ways of making money. Recently, 79 slow lorises had been found stuffed into tiny crates. The poor animals were left with not enough food or water, starving, scared, and left fighting for their life.
Slow lorises are one of the most widely illegally traded animals. People love them for their unique looks, but very few are aware that they are on the verge of extinction.
Hopefully this story will serve as a wake-up call for the animal lovers and activists who would spread the word of the issue even further.
Source: IAR
The number of slow lorises that are poached from their natural habitat to be illegally sold is very huge. These particular animals that were reported by a neighbor who had noticed how two men were placing them into the boxes were taken from the jungle in West Java, Indonesia. The final destination was supposed to be China, where they would end up as someone’s pets.
After the authorities were informed about the case, they arrested the traffickers and quickly reached out to the officials of the West Java Regional Office of the Forestry Department (BKSDA) and International Animal Rescue (IAR).
The rescuers arrived in no time, but unfortunately, the animals were in a very horrible condition and it was way too late for some of them.
According to International Animal Rescue, during the process of transportation, which is done in overcrowded and poorly ventilated containers, 30 to 90 percent of the slow lorises die.
Source: IAR
“There were two or three in each box,” Lis Key, PR and communications manager for IAR, explained. “Being kept in there for as long as two months must have been frightful for them. For a shy, nocturnal wild animal, confinement in one of those boxes for any length of time must have been traumatizing, let alone being moved around and transported.”
After thorough examination, it was determined that almost all of the animals’ bodies were covered in bruises, wounds, and bite marks. Doctors assumed they were attacking each other in a state of panic and fear, and it is heartbreaking to hear.
Source: IAR
“Captive wild animals often develop stereotypical [abnormal] behaviors to cope with their stress,” Key said. “They are at risk of biting each other [and] carrying out repetitive movements, such as head bobbing or swaying to and fro, crying, failing to eat or drink, trying to hide in a corner of the box.”
One of the slow lorises had a BB gun pallet firmly stuck on his cute little face.
Source: IAR
“That poor animal must have been in terrible pain until he came into the care of our medical team,” Key said.
The rescuers were more than happy to be able to nurture these overly cute animals back to health, and eventually release them into the wild again. Unfortunately, many have died in the hands of the monsters who made them suffer this way.
Slow lorises are known for their potentially deadly venomous bite, so in order to make them more pet worthy before they are sent to the buyer all their teeth are extracted with a nail clipper or a wire cutter with no anesthetic.
Source: IAR
The ones that had been discovered had their teeth, and that was some good news.
You have probably come across videos online of slow lorises being tickled. This is presented as something cute and something they enjoy, but on the contrary, it is very painful for them and lifting their arms up is a defense mechanism.
What many people don’t know is that they are nocturnal animals, which means they are active during the night, so being exposed to light while being kept in brightly lit places causes pain and suffering.
“They are certainly in the best hands now, and our team will give them the best chance of recovering and returning one day to their home in the rainforest,” Key said.
The IAR staff is glad they managed to save most of the slow lorises.
Source: IAR
“It is extremely encouraging that the Majalengka Police and the Forestry Department have acted so swiftly and decisively in tackling this wildlife crime,” Key said. “And also very heartening that the local community came forward and reported the illegal activity of the two hunters. It really gives us hope to see local people and government bodies acting to protect wildlife species and punish those who exploit them.”
Take a look at the video below and remember that slow lorises should never be kept as pets.
We often tend to portray young kids as innocent, but the truth is that some of them can be mean towards their friends and classmates. Sadly, that leads to bullying, which is an issue many young people face nowadays.
Gage is a six-year-old boy who has experienced bullying by his friends because of his ears. He has been called “Elf Ears” and other names that broke his heart each time.
His parents, Kallie and Tim Berger, couldn’t stand to see their son being sad and feeling different so they made a drastic decision; to give Gage a surgery for his protruding ears.
They believed that it would help to put a stop to the bullying, although they knew children that young shouldn’t have made their son go through such an ordeal because of his looks in the first place. But as it turned out, the teasing could only be stopped if they fixed Gage’s ears. They also knew all those names his friends called him made Gage less and less self-confident with each passing day.
“He just gets really down on himself and he thinks, ‘I’m not good enough,’” Callie told CNN.
“I just don’t want to be made fun of,” Gage said.
But now, thanks to his parents and plastic surgeon Steven Mobley, Gage got his ears pinned back and is finally happy with the way he looks.
“They often get some not-so-nice names stuck to them, like ‘bat ears’ or ‘elf ears,’ and that sticks with them through middle school and high school,” doctor Mobley said.
When sweet Gage looked at himself in the mirror after the surgery, he couldn’t believe his eyes and his initial reaction was, “Oh my Gosh!” It was enough for his parents and his doctor to know that they have done just the right thing.
You can take a look at Gage’s story and his transformation in the video below. He looks awesome, although we believe he was as handsome even before the surgery.
No one can really make your day the way children can with their naive actions and kind deeds. Officer William Klees knows this all too well. His encounter with five-year-old boy named Oliver Navejar warmed the hearts of many who stumbled upon their story.
Namely, Oliver is a very friendly young man who loves spreading kindness and positive vibes wherever he goes. Just before Christmas, he and his mom Danielle went to the mall to run some errands when she needed to use the bathroom and told him to wait for her.
Source: WSAZ News Channel 3
When she got out, she noticed her son was sharing some food with officer Klees. As it turned out, while waiting for his mom, Oliver noticed the policeman having lunch all by himself so he thought he could join him. In fact, Oliver didn’t want the officer to feel lonely during the most wonderful time of the year.
Danielle wasn’t surprised by her son’s action. Oliver knows he is not supposed to talk to strangers, but he was also taught that he should trust the police officers and go to them whenever he feels he’s in trouble.
Source: Danielle Navejar/Facebook
This mother was very proud of her son. She said she always tells her son to be kind to the people he meets, and she was very glad those lessons stack with him.
The encounter between Oliver and Klees made the young boy say how he wants to be a police officer himself when he grows up. Klees was as excited for meeting someone as caring as Oliver and said how the boy made his day.
Source: WSAZ News Channel 3
Oliver on the other hand, couldn’t stop bragging that he made friends with a “real” policeman.
Everyone who has seen the photos of these two agree that it is the small things in life, like Oliver’s kind gesture of making company to someone he believed felt lonely, that matter the most.
When 26-year-old Joseph Whelan took the stage of the X Factor, no one expected so many hearts to be melted. However, no matter how great of a performance this father put in front of the cheering crowd, it was someone else who stole the show.
The reason why Joseph decided to audition in the first place was to show his little boy that if you really want something you should never quit trying, because as they say, “once you give up on your dreams, what’s really left?”
Except for being a father to the cute four-year-old boy who is his biggest support and most loyal fan, Joseph is a tool salesman who has tried his luck in music playing in various bands throughout the years.
After Joseph and his now ex-wife split, his son no longer lives with him, and that’s something this father finds heartbreaking. But no matter the circumstances, Joseph never stopped teaching his boy the true values of life. He wants to be the person the little one would always look up to, and that gives this contestant additional motivation to show his best in front of the judges.
Once you see the way Joseph looks, a handsome young man with tattoos, your first guess would be how he’s a fierce guy, but he actually experienced stage fright.
However, once he got rid of the nervousness, he took the audience by storm. Especially the ladies who cheered as loud as they could.
No one really expected for such a powerful voice to fill the air. Looking at him in disbelief, the judges knew he got that X factor in him.
But no matter how enchanted everyone was, the true fan was there in the backstage, keeping his tiny fingers crossed for daddy.
The sweet boy can’t help but move in the rhythm. He is so entertained that he forgets the cameras are on.
After Joseph’s performance came to an end, the most amazing thing happened. His son rushed to the stage and told his dad how he nailed the song and did a great job. This is way too emotional for Joseph to handle so he sheds tears of joy. And although some may say that’s not really a man’s thing to do, we believe it’s awesome when men show their emotions that way.
Many people who watched Joseph perform and got to learn his life story say how he is one hell of a father. One person even wrote: “Every girl wants to be with him. Every guy wants to look like him.”
We really hope he’ll purse a career in music and will treat us with his powerful voice in the future.
Take a look at Joseph’s memorable performance in the video below.
No matter how old one gets, we have to agree that birthdays are always a joyous occasion.
August is a Golden Retriever who turned 20 years old on April 24, 2020, and she got the title of the oldest living creature of her kind. As for the celebration for reaching this milestone, well, August, or Augie as her family loves to call her, there was a dog friendly carrot cake, lots of balloons and decorations, and the closest family members.
A huge number of animal lovers shared the joy with Augie’s family and wished this beauty a very happy birthday and many more to come. As for her, she enjoyed the attention she got and all the treats she received from her human parents and the rest of her family. Of course, things wouldn’t be complete without the cat and the doggy siblings, Sherman, Belle, and Bruce.
When August first arrived at the Golden Retriever Rescue of Southern Nevada, she was already a senior of 14 years. Knowing how hard it is for elderly dogs to find a forever home, the staff didn’t think this beautiful Goldie will ever leave their place. But that’s when Jennifer and Steve Hetterscheidt, from Oakland, Tennessee came into August’s life and knew she belonged with them. They had experience taking care of senior dogs and just wanted to make August’s final years worth living, not expecting that she will reach 20.
Many agree that it’s their love and devotion that affected this precious dog’s long life span.
August does face some health issues, mainly due to her old age, like mobility issues and long-term kidney problems, but she’s still very vibrant and loves being out with her family and her siblings. She enjoys spending time in the yard, taking walks around the neighborhood, playing fetch and swimming.
“There are many accounts of 17 or 18-year-old goldens, and even a few stories about 19-year-old goldens, but Augie is the first golden retriever to ever reach the big two-oh,” Jake from GoldHeart Golden Retrievers Rescue said. He also added how the Hetterscheidts have been involved with their organization for many years.
We are all looking forward to Augie’s 21st birthday next year. She truly is one very special Goldie.
This is one heck of a story that will definitely make your day. It is about the kindness offered from one struggling foster mother to another.
Lindsay is a mom of two biological children and takes care of seven other foster children whom she loves as through they are her own. This woman understands all too well how hard it is to be able to provide for so many kids, but on the other hand, fostering is something she loves because she knows that that way, she is changing the lives of those kids for the better.
Lindsay shared a story on her Facebook page about another foster mother who was shamed at Walmart. Her post has been shared over 250 thousand times and people agree that we should always step up for one another.
Source: Lindsay Rae/Facebook
“Last night I found myself sandwiched in line waiting to check out, this is not an odd occurrence. The woman in front of me had 5 children she was wrangling (which did not seem odd to me), as well as the fact that the children were a mix of Caucasian and Hispanic short people. (again hmph…didn’t notice until it was pointed out to me). Yes, I said pointed out.”
The people behind the mother who had a hard time using her food stamp card and didn’t know how to separate the items were saying things like, “How many baby daddies do you think she has?”“Just wait until she whips out the food stamps,” and “Can’t even dress those kids for weather,” because two of them were wearing jackets and boots and the three, which didn’t look like the mother, were dressed in shorts and flip-flops.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Lindsay had a hard time believing how cruel some people could be.
She then got close to the mother and offered her to help her with her transaction. The woman said, “New Foster Mom, this is my first time using one of these, they came 3 days days ago, gonna be with us for a while. They gave us food, but the kids needed clothes, but no stipend has come through yet.”
That’s when Lindsay told her how the computer separates the items itself and told her she would just need to pay the balance after she runs her card. The woman was very grateful. The encounter ended with a hug between two mothers who were in the same situation.
Source: Lindsay Rae/Facebook
After the transaction was done, the mother gave the three kids, the ones she fostered, their new coats.
We should all be like Lindsay. It’s because of people like her that this world becomes a better place.
Below is the original post. Make sure you share this mother’s story with your family and friends.
Whether they like it or not, the kids of celebrities always find themselves under the spotlight. Some love the attention they get from their famous parents’ fans, and others, like Reese Witherspoon’s daughter, Ava, tend to live a more normal life.
From the moment she appeared on the big screen, Reese Witherspoon became America’s favorite blonde. She starred in a number of movies, but it seems like the role in Legal Blonde was a breakthrough for the young actress.
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The portrayal of country music legend June Carter Cash in Walk the Line brought Reese an Oscar for best actress in a leading role.
Reese became a mother at a young age. When she and husband Ryan Phillippe got Ava, she was 23 years old. The couple met two years before they tied the knot in 1999. Four years later, they welcomed their second child, son Deacon.
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This year, Ava turned 21 and she looks exactly like her mother. In fact, many say that the two look more like sisters than a mother and daughter.
Unlike many children of actors, Ava didn’t follow into her parents’ footsteps. Instead, she wanted a career in the fashion industry. In 2018, Ava starred in the lookbook for Rodarte’s Fall collection and modeled for her mom’s lifestyle and clothing line Draper James. Reese says how her daughter knows a lot about fashion, so much that she even helped her choose the wedding dress when she married her second husband Jim Tooth in 2011.
“She’s very cutting-edge, and she knows a lot about fashion. And she has her own sense of style, which is amazing,” Reese said. “We try to kind of confer about new styles. She tells me whether or not I can wear things.”
Instagram
Despite pursuing a career as a model, Ava is a second-year student at at UC Berkeley outside San Francisco, California. She is staying in a dorm room and is driving a regular Volkswagen. People praise her for being grounded.
Reese said it wasn’t easy seeing Ava being away from home and spoke up about motherhood relating to the book Little Fires Everywhere.
“It’s so difficult to articulate what motherhood means, and there are so many passages in the novel that did,” the actress told People. “One passage was about training yourself to live on the smell of an apple alone, when what you really wanted was to devour it, to sink your teeth into it and consume it, seeds, core, and all.”
“It’s such a vivid way to describe the loss of your children as they grow up,” Reese added. “My daughter was applying for college back then, so it hit me like an arrow in the heart.”
On Ava’s 21st birthday, a few weeks ago, Reese posted touching message on Instagram.
“Wow! How is it possible that this little girl is now 21 years old? Happy Birthday to my sweet girl who has become the most incredible young woman,” Witherspoon wrote in the tear-jerking Instagram post. “Her kindness, her compassion, and her huge heart never cease to amaze me. Ava, there aren’t enough words to describe how proud I am of everything you’ve already accomplished. I cannot wait to see ALL the Good you will put into this world. I love you so much Ava.”
Ava is proud of her mom and thankful for everything she has done for her. She says Reese is an inspiration when it comes to style and guidance and is always there for her and her two brothers.
Although Ava didn’t pursue a career as an actress, she is a creative souls, a huge animal lover, and in love with fashion, so it’s obvious she will be as famous and as successful as her mom whatever she decides to do in the future.
