People that exceed expectations

Have you heard the story of super human, Roger Crawford? Roger was born with no left hand. A right hand with only 1 out of 5 fingers. A right foot with only 3 out of 5 toes, and if that was not bad enough, his left leg was so deformed, that it had to be amputated before Roger reached his 6th birthday.

It’s no surprise that doctors told the Crawford’s not to expect their son to ever walk. Well, once in a while, the human spirit doesn’t listen to naysayers and ‘pessimists’(in this case the doctors prognosis for Roger). I’m happy to report that, with some hard work, grit, determination, and a superbly positive mental outlook, Roger Crawford ended up walking , and walking just fine In fact, Crawford even started to run. Then he actually tried to hit a tennis ball and run around the court a bit. Then, he actually tried out for the school tennis team. Then, he actually made the tennis team and became CAPTAIN of the team. This wasn’t a sympathy assigned position. Roger Crawford actually earned 4 varsity letters and compiled a match record of 44 wins and only 6 defeats. This earned the man who was never supposed to walk, Northern California’s  Athlete of the year. Read more

8 year old girl makes huge score with $100 golf ball

We’ve all seen these young entrepreneurs. They are peddling raffle tickets, they are selling cookie dough, they are distributing refreshing lemonade on a hot summer day. All to make a small profit. All at the ages of 7, 9 or even 12 years old.

The latest I saw was a young 8 year old lady who had a golf ball stand off the first fairway of a local golf course. Twenty five cents for the decent balls and 50 cents for the top shelf. Three for $1 of any kind of ball you wanted. Being a fan of the young budding minds of America, I like to support their efforts. These  are our future business leaders. These are our hard working pre teen youth. Heck they could be off texting, playing on the wii, blogging on Facebook or at the local mall with their older siblings. But they are working, exchanging goods and services to make a buck. God bless their little souls.

Before describing what I find at the 8 yr old’s Golf Stand, I digress to share information learned just 3 days PRIOR. While on a one day trip with 3 golf freaks, one guy says to me—- “if you ever see any of those 2 colored PING  golf balls, keep them as there aren’t many of them around and they are selling for about $100 a ball on EBay”.

YIKES!   Who knew? Isn’t life all about INFORMATION?

So, I mosey on over to the golf stand to leave a $5-10 tip and take 2 of the worst looking balls she is selling( hey, got to move that inventory). What do you think I find sitting in one of the egg cartons filled with golf balls? Would you believe an orange and blue 2 colored PING golf ball Read more

A diary excerpt worth reading

I’m in the middle of a book called “Every Day Deserves a Chance”, By Max Lucado. It’s an upbeat, inspiring book, worth reading. One particular chapter caught my attention and I thought it was worth sharing.

It was an excerpt from the Diary of a DOG:

8:00am Oh boy, dog food—–my favorite.
9:30am Oh boy, a car ride—-my favorite.
9:40am Oh boy, a walk—- my favorite.
10:30am Oh boy, another car ride—- my favorite.
11:30am Oh boy, more dog food—- my favorite.
12:00pm Oh boy, the kids—- my favorite.
1:00pm Oh boy, the yard—- my favorite.
4:00pm Oh boy, the kids again—- my favorite.
5:00pm Oh boy, dog food again—- my favorite.
5:30pm Oh boy, MOM—- my favorite.
6:00pm Oh boy, playing ball—- my favorite.
8:30pm Oh boy, sleeping in my masters bed—- my favorite.

We even left out a few belly rubs and chasing the cat around the yard. What is so great about this excerpt is how dogs totally live in the moment for starters. Next, how they savor each moment and totally live like it may be their last time ever doing one of these events. Read more

Jennifer’s little miracles

My little miracles:

My husband and I did fertility treatments for 8 years and I decided enough was enough. I work at a doctor’s office with 2 obstetricians one of which had decided to retire from delivering babies. I told them I was giving up on fertility treatments and if they knew of any babies needing to be adopted, to let me know. So, literally 1 week goes by and the retiring doctor’s nurse comes out and says “Jennifer I need to talk to you RIGHT NOW”… I thought she was upset about something, so I dropped what I was doing. She tells me that there is a woman on the phone who is pregnant and wants to put her baby up for adoption, I told her about you and she wants to talk to you right now…. I was freaking out! What do I say to her… So I sat down took a deep breath and believe it or not she was really easy to talk to. She has a daughter and just can’t handle another baby as a single mom… I know, I could never do that, but things happen to people. I told her how I work here at the doctor’s office and that my husband Brian is a kindergarten teacher. We talked for at least an hour. I really don’t remember what was said; remember I was freaking out… We did talk about the adoption being open, so that we could talk or call each other when needed. So after I hung up the phone, I am sitting there in the doctor’s office completely shocked. All of those years trying, a miscarriage, I decide to give up and in 1 week the opportunity to have a child drops in my lap, this is definitely a miracle. Read more

Never give up

Here is a story I know your audience will enjoy.
Hope: A belief in a positive outcome related to events and circumstances in one’s life.

My story:
When my mother took me out of high school I knew that my life would become difficult because we were taught that you have to have an education to make it in life. Since I was only 16 I really started feeling hopeless in life because I didn’t know what I was going to do. I worked to help my mother pay bills and that was all I could do at the time. Then she started telling me that when I turn 18 I had to get out of the house. I couldn’t understand what was going on because my brother was older than I was and she didn’t want to kick him out. As I started nearing my 18th birthday I was really beginning to feel hopeless because I didn’t have an idea on what I was going to do.

One night while I was watching television a commercial came on about joining the Navy. The next day I called the number on the commercial and set up an appointment to meet the recruiter. When he heard about me not having a high school diploma he knew I had a slim chance. I explained to him that I was going to be homeless in a few months, he told me he would see what he could do. About a month later he called me and asked me to come to his office. I went in and he explained to me he would have to pull some strings to get me in the service but I had to promise him that I would make the best of this opportunity he was trying to create for me and I did. He was able to get me in the military without a high school diploma and I fulfilled my end of the bargain by doing eight years and receiving an Honorable Discharge from the service.
Now I have a status in life that many don’t, and an ability to make my life a little easier with that decision I made and the help I received. For more information you can contact Vernon Samuel author of  Virgo, She did it her way at www.vernonsamuel.com or www.myspace.com/virgoshediditherway.

About The Author:
Vernon Samuel, a self published author and C.E.O of BYRD Administration Inc, a talent promotion company published his first book, Virgo, She did it her way. The book is based on his own life story. Mr. Samuel encourages and motivates individuals not to allow their past to determine their future. A survivor and witness of life’s twist and turns, Vernon Samuel is living proof that struggles and people do not have to tear you down. No matter what you go through or what has happened to you, only you can hold yourself back from achieving your dreams and wanting more out of your life. Mr. Samuel speaks out to various groups, organizations on subjects such as abuse, taking your life back, striving when enemies are holding you down and looking into your mirror. He conducts workshops and seminars based on self growth topics.

~By Vernon Samuel

The best decision we ever made

Thank you Dr. Kiltz and the WONDERFUL staff at CNY Fertility Center. John and I think of you all often and can’t believe how blessed we were to have had the opportunity to be so well cared for during our difficult journey. All seemed hopeless and we found you and through the grace of God and your amazing ability and holistic approach we are parents to two beautiful boys!! We will never forget your patience and that you genuinely cared for us – we were never a number!!

- Please everyone who reads this – My husband and I had multiple problems – the cards were stacked against us and we became parents not once but twice!! God bless and keep the faith!!

Birth of an Angel: epilogue

This is the epilogue to a book that Manuel de leon wrote about his son Carlo and gives away for free to those he comes across in the Philippines, he has given us permission to reprint his story on MindBodySmile.com and we will publish weekly installments here. You can read all prior installments here.

Epilogue:

We are slowly coming to terms in accepting this most memorable episode in our life. Painfully, we learn to cope with each passing day without our son. His mother continues her usual domestic tasks around the house tending to our needs. Many times I would see her very sad and lonely, her eyes red and her nose swollen from tears. She continues to ache deep inside from the wide open wound left behind by her departed son. Everyday she does her chores silently as if her son were still alive watching television in our room upstairs as he often did.

I have accepted the little success of present medical treatments and care for cancer. Read more

Birth of an angel: Inspirations

This is the end of a book that Manuel de leon wrote about his son Carlo and gives away for free to those he comes across in the Philippines, he has given us permission to reprint his story on MindBodySmile.com and we will publish weekly installments here. You can read all prior installments here.

Inspirations:

Every time I think of making a change to what I have already written, I hear a whisper that reminds me that these are not my thoughts. These are mysteries from heaven. My human intellect can’t fully comprehend them, but they are as holes of inspirations through which I am allowed a peep into heaven’s interior. Quite a lot of times I went through each line, each sentence, and each paragraph to simply appreciate and absorb its meaning as if it were a revelation to me. Every word and expression is meant to reinforce my outlook on some aspects of our existence here on earth and of the world afterward. Read more

Birth of an angel: chapter 14

This is chapter 14 of a book that Manuel de leon wrote about his son Carlo and gives away for free to those he comes across in the Philippines, he has given us permission to reprint his story on MindBodySmile.com and we will publish weekly installments here.

Chapter 14: 40th Day Wonders

I opened my eyes to a dim, rainy Friday morning; it was the thirteenth of the month of July. As far as my eyes could see, dark clouds covered the sky, foretelling downpour throughout the day. It was the 40th day anniversary of the death of my son. I believe that on this day the spirit of the dead finally leaves this earth and begins the long journey to heaven. It is a long standing Catholic belief that our Lord Jesus on the 40th day after resurrection, ascended to heaven to be with the Father. This is a tradition that calls for a big celebration. Read more

Birth of an angel: chapter 13

This is chapter 13 of a book that Manuel de leon wrote about his son Carlo and gives away for free to those he comes across in the Philippines, he has given us permission to reprint his story on MindBodySmile.com and we will publish weekly installments here.

Chapter 13: Visions and Manifestations

In the many days that quickly passed by, I became aware that all manifestations of Carlo’s presence were by way of mental contacts and visions. He was always around me every time I sat down and opened the computer. I did not experience any physical or aural manifestation. I was longing for one and waited to see or feel him again. The days were running fast and I missed him dearly.

On July 7, 2007, the triple 7 date, I spent the entire day on the computer. I was able to encode so many details that day than I did in the past days since I was through writing about the most hurting part, and I breezed through the latter part of the story. I was tempted to join the happenings outside with friends and neighbors, but my mind refused the call because I was too exhausted and sleepy. Read more