for goodness' sake

Irish Sextuplets

2009-06-14T19:12:00.000+09:00

Amazing story - grab the Kleenex!

Flower Show - Inspired and Inspires

2009-05-18T20:15:00.004+09:00

Well, guys, I haven't blogged here since Christmas Day, and if I have any readers left, hello and thanks! :)

I was touched today by a story on the BBC about homeless people having their own flower exhibition at the famous Chelsea Flower Show this year. Not only did homeless people from the Shekinah Mission build this special space, but they designed it as well, giving them confidence and a wonderful feeling of accomplishment that they could proudly share with others.

Hope Touched Down

2008-12-25T20:58:00.001+09:00

Got this amazing story via Lifestream. Have your smile muscles and your tear-tissues ready.

Faith and Hope

2008-11-30T20:57:00.002+09:00

These are not just beautiful spiritual words anymore--conjoined twins Faith and Hope are alive and kicking, much to their mother and father's relief. They'll have to make a decision very soon about surgery to separate the girls, but even the fact that they are alive is a miracle in itself. The sisters each have their own heart, and even though they share a liver, amazingly this is the only organ that can regenerate itself if cut in half.

I'm looking forward to hearing a wonderfully positive outcome!

Redemption Letter from Thief

2008-11-09T14:16:00.001+09:00

A shop in Bristol, UK has received a letter of apology and 100 pounds from someone who used to be on drugs and stole from them. Sounds like a redemption story to me!

Anne Rice Writes About...

2008-11-02T21:51:00.002+09:00

...Jesus! The queen of vampire novels now wants to focus her writing, and her readers, on her re-found faith in God.

100 and counting...

2008-08-26T14:42:00.002+09:00

This is my 101st post, everybody! Give me a big pat on the back...

Or how about some mongo tears. This article about Poles being awarded for their good deeds in the Second World War really tugged on my heart strings.

Wanda Bulik and her sacrifice to save a three-year-old Jewish boy made me so grateful I can be with my two little dudes and watch them grow up. Ms. Bulik was recognized at the ceremony, but she kept the focus on the boy she raised for a few years: "Though she expressed satisfaction at being honored by Sunday's event, she said that what gave her the most happiness was the full life that Greenberg went on to live."

Babies, Sweet Babies

2008-04-09T11:37:00.003+09:00

Phuc is a Vietnamese man who takes unwed mothers and babies into his family home to care for them. Currently he's got 33 babies in his two houses and of course it's a full-time job for him and his family, but they wouldn't have it any other way. In a land where contraception is frowned upon and abortion rates are the highest in the world, this service is a welcome one that I hope spreads far and wide.

The Eyes Have It

2008-02-24T06:28:00.002+09:00

You wanna know something weird? I woke up in the middle of the night last night thinking of that title for some reason (and spelled just like that), knowing I would use that for a post title soon, and then I woke up at 5:45 this morning to eat something. Well, I fired up the trusty compooter and immediately saw this article I wanted to blog about! Then I knew what that title was for and what it meant...

Some European doctors troll through floodwaters in Bangladesh on a French barge, stopping at various eyelands (pun intended) to do eye surgeries on the boat for hundreds of people who otherwise have almost no connection to the outside world. The stories are amazing!

But don't read the last few paragraphs if you are preggers and hormonal. Wouldn't be pretty.

Guy from Slums Gets Masters Degree

2007-12-13T20:23:00.000+09:00

Sammy Gitau's story really touched my heart: He grew up in a slum area in Nairobi, Kenya, and battled drug addiction, even going into a drug-induced coma at one point. Sammy supported his family from age thirteen when his dad died, and going through garbage cans one time, he found a prospectus from Manchester University.

He got out of selling and taking drugs, started a project to help the kids in the slum, and eventually made it to Manchester University and got his masters degree.

Goosebumps.

You Go, Girls!

2007-11-27T13:13:00.000+09:00

India's "pink women" in Banda, Uttar Pradesh (India's northernmost and poorest area), have joined together and are fighting corruption and injustice. Their leader, a woman who was married off at 12 and had her first child at 13, is full of pep and ideas for helping women, the poor, and the rejected of society.

#2!!!

2007-11-10T19:25:00.001+09:00

The news that we are having Baby #2 is so good, such a miracle, that I can't even describe how exuberant we are!

If that ain't good news, I don't know what is...

Toilet Tab Paid for Elderly Man

2007-08-24T14:35:00.001+09:00

Unbelievable. An 82-year-old Colorado man (on a government pension) went away for two months, and while he was away, his toilet ran and ran and ran, running up a $1200 bill! Read more to find out about the anonymous donor who paid most of the bill, and the Colorado Springs Utility Company who pardoned the rest.

Age Doesn't Matter!

2007-08-24T08:48:00.000+09:00

When it comes to sex, apparently age has no bearing (or baring, as the case may be). New research shows that even many people in their 80's are still enjoying life in this way. God has given us such wonderful gifts, and he made our bodies beautiful, so it was encouraging to me to read that the fun doesn't have to end, no matter your age! ;)

Iraq Wins Asia Cup

2007-07-31T19:16:00.000+09:00

Despite difficult conditions for the team at home, Iraq beat Saudi Arabia in the Asia Cup soccer/football final. The Iraqi team, composed of Shias, Sunnis, and Kurds, is an inspiration for the country, and has brought some hope to their war-torn land.

Good News from Nigeria

2007-07-22T20:21:00.000+09:00

BBC's Mark Doyle is used to being pessimistic when it comes to news from Nigeria, but after interviewing one former politician and one charity aid boss (both Nigerians), things are starting to look up. Apparently the $1bn in foreign debt relief is being put to good use, and both Nigerians are pleased with what's happening.

Bonkers Mileage Runners

2007-07-11T19:23:00.000+09:00

For those of you into puzzles, here's one for you: How can you fly from Boston to Las Vegas and have layovers everywhere in between, be back in Boston by 1:00 the next morning, rack up over 6,000 air miles, and only spend $275? The mileage runners can do it, and so can you. It's good news if you're into raking in the air miles and you don't mind a bit of bonkers scheduling!

Man Wakes Up from 19-Year Coma

2007-06-06T21:15:00.000+09:00

Yep, you read the title correctly. Most people never thought Jan Grzebski would come out of his long coma, but his wife prayed and cried every day, and turned him every hour for nineteen years to prevent bedsores. Now that is devotion, and what a beautiful picture of God's love for us. He never gives up on us.

Oldest Man Has Climbed Mt. Everest

2007-05-30T09:14:00.000+09:00

Elderly Japanese people! I'm telling you, they are so genki (full of life)! A 71-year-old retired Japanese schoolteacher has climbed Mt. Everest, and is in Kathmandu now to register his achievement. What a stud!

Walk for the Cure

2007-05-25T11:50:00.001+09:00

One of my dearest friends is coming out on the other side of breast cancer, and recently (sporting pink hair!) participated in the Susan G. Komen Walk for the Cure in Ohio. It's a great way to spread the word and raise money for the cause.

Green Taxis

2007-05-25T11:46:00.000+09:00

Hey guys! I'm back. There's been lots of good news lately but I've been a bit busy...so...no posts for a while hey.

Well, here's an interesting one: New York City taxis will go completely hybrid in the next five years.

I think I'm turning green (with envy) because I'd love to have a hybrid car...someday...

Oldy But Goody

2007-05-18T09:15:00.000+09:00

This report is from the beginning of April, but World Vision workers were relieved and encouraged to find a baby among the rubble of the earthquake in the Solomon Islands. He was gasping for air but very happy to be rescued!

Ban the Bags

2007-05-17T20:40:00.000+09:00

Some American cities have already banned the use of nonbiodegradable plastic shopping bags, and others are considering it. As a result, there has been an outbreak of fashion bags appearing on the market. I can't imagine paying $960 for a Hermes silk grocery bag, but hey, the idea of banning all that plastic waste is a great one.

Kidney Miracle

2007-05-17T20:22:00.000+09:00

A couple in Pennsylvania were planning on divorcing, but read here how a kidney transplant changed their minds.

Creatures of the Deep

2007-05-17T19:53:00.000+09:00

Scientists have discovered more than 700 new species of creatures living in the deep waters near Antarctica. There is a very cool picture series you can troll through, and the underwater array of animules is amazing! Such diversity in our world. Absolutely phenomenal.

Hats Off to China the Cat

2007-05-14T08:54:00.000+09:00

"China" the cat has survived thirty-five days in a box of motorcycle helmets aboard a cargo ship from the Orient to the US. Amazing! Bad news mixed in with the good, though: She now has to live through six months of quarantine. But that is one tough cookie-cat, and I think she'll be just feline-fine, if her around-the-world voyage is anything to go by.

Do any of you blog readers out there in Cyberland have any cool animal stories to share?

More Bloomin' Azalea Pics

2007-05-10T11:11:00.000+09:00

My mother-in-law's gorgeous potted azaleas in England...

Mini-azaleas on Rokko Mountain here in Japan.

Doesn't the fact that God created such beauty just for us blow your mind? It does mine! Every season is good news to me because it points to the One who gives us every good and perfect gift.

Wallet Returned 55 Years Later

2007-05-10T11:07:00.000+09:00

You know, a lot of people mope about the world going to h*** in a handbasket, but check out this story of a wallet returned to its original owner, Mr. Goodlove, fifty-five years after he lost it in the backseat of his car (apparently that's another good love story)!

Great News for Northern Ireland

2007-05-10T11:05:00.000+09:00

Devolution is working, and the DUP and Sinn Fein's new peace agreement has the backing of loads of politicians in the area and around the world. They think it will stick this time...get some of the politicians' responses here.

Shrek Strikes Back

2007-05-07T19:31:00.000+09:00

I know this is not on a serious par with yesterday's post about more religious freedom in Vietnam, but the fact that Shrek the Third is coming out in theaters is definitely good news! Donkey's my fave...

Vietnam Allowing More Religious Freedom

2007-05-06T08:10:00.000+09:00

Since the Vietnam War ended in 1975, the Constitution of that country has guaranteed the right to choose or not choose religion. On paper.

In reality it has been very different, but The Institute for Global Engagement has seen some very promising strides forward lately. Good news indeed for Christians in Vietnam who have feared for their lives and their families.

Peace Cycling

2007-05-05T21:51:00.000+09:00

Jafar and Naseem Edrisi from Iran are cycling around the world for peace. 20,000 km sounds like a lot of work to me, but the couple enjoy traveling and are looking forward to the trip.

Miracle!

2007-05-05T20:50:00.000+09:00

Check out this cool true miracle story from my other blog.

Bloomin' Azaleas

2007-05-04T07:31:00.000+09:00

One thing I remember from my childhood are the magenta-colored azaleas in front of my parents' home, right outside my bedroom window. Here in Japan the blossoms are out now, along with irises, roses, and wisteria, and I have a deep feeling of nostalgia blooming in my heart!

Premature Twins Both Survive

2007-05-04T07:18:00.000+09:00

Nicole Ryman in Sydney was told by doctors that she had to deliver her twins at twenty-nine weeks. They had a rare disorder where one was losing blood to the other, and when they were born, Byron was three times larger than Lincoln. Both boys are still in the hospital but apparently doing well, and their mother is so thankful that she has both babies. Click the above link to read more and see a cute pic of the brothers.

Adopt A Platoon

2007-05-01T19:19:00.000+09:00

No matter your stance on the war in Iraq, the soldiers there desperately need your support. Read more here about how you can help boost their spirits! The Adopt A Platoon Web site also has some encouraging reports of how others have pitched in and helped.

Amazing Adoption

2007-05-01T19:13:00.000+09:00

61-year-old man adopts 41-one-year-old woman. You have to read this beautiful story to believe it!

Graduating Granny

2007-05-01T19:04:00.000+09:00

Nola Ochs is a 95-year-old mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother from Kansas who can clearly remember the 1930s Dust Bowl (which my husband jokes is a famous football game). Nola is graduating from college after taking classes here and there since her husband passed away in 1972. Her 21-year-old granddaughter will be graduating along with her, and Nola is proving popular among her classmates.

Go, Granny, go! What an inspiration.

Blessings From Heaven

2007-04-27T20:31:00.000+09:00

I was just reading Mark 12:41-44 the other day, the story of the widow who gave so much of her small amount of money, pretty much all she had (and widows in those times had it really rough).

Here it is from The Message: "Sitting across from the offering box, he was observing how the crowd tossed money in for the collection. Many of the rich were making large contributions. One poor widow came up and put in two small coins—a measly two cents. Jesus called his disciples over and said, 'The truth is that this poor widow gave more to the collection than all the others put together. All the others gave what they'll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn't afford—she gave her all.' "

Those verses really touched my heart, and then I found this inspiring story about a member of Cummings Street Missionary Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee. Porsche Ward went forward to give $20 of her last $40, even though she was out of a job and had a sick child, and the church collected over $8,000 for her!

Faithfulness is rewarded.

Germans Volunteer to Help Ease Holocaust Pain

2007-04-23T09:57:00.000+09:00

Many young people from Germany are serving abroad in Israel - helping out in nursing homes, libraries, and other public places to help make reparations for what Nazis did decades ago. Of course these kids did not even exist so many generations back, but they're full of heart and hope to bridge any leftover divides.

Read the full story here. It's an amazing one.

Empty Bowls

2007-04-21T20:12:00.000+09:00

This is a way-cool organization!

Here's the scoop: Local artists and college students make really beautiful pottery bowls. They host an event where they donate the bowls, the public comes, buys a bowl, gets it filled with some really good soup, and the proceeds go to soup kitchens and other organizations to help feed hungry people in need of some sustenance.

Check it out here. Maybe there will be an event near you. Buy a bowl. Support someone who needs it.

Clean Air Act

2007-04-17T06:47:00.000+09:00

Ireland has banned smoking from its pubs since 2004, and a new study shows that lung function in pub employees has vastly improved since then.

Now, if Japan would only do the same. Even in restaurants here, the "non-smoking" section is directly next to smoking tables, so there is absolutely no smoke-free place in any public area whatsoever.

I'm hoping to report some good news on this front, but I think until the government gets rid of Japan Tobacco and its vested interests in promoting tobacco use (through public advertising on TV, billboards, etc.), no change is on the horizon.

Hooray for Ireland! I hope the Japanese government can learn from this. In fact, I'm going to e-mail JT right now. Please excuse me.

Green Batteries

2007-04-15T22:12:00.000+09:00

NEC (electronics maker) and Nissan have teamed up to produce a lithium-ion battery for hybrid cars. Now that's one way to help the environment to keep going, and going, and going...

Ski Bums at the Altar

2007-04-15T21:52:00.000+09:00

Matt Dodd and Ashley Hegseth are not known to be too serious, and they love the slopes, so naturally their wedding took place on skis and a snowboard in Big Sky, Montana.

I'm most impressed, though, with their minister. He skied backwards with a pulpit and helmet cam. What a good sport!

ONE

2007-04-15T21:45:00.000+09:00

The ONE Campaign is fighting AIDS and poverty around the world. Click here to find out more and to join the cause.

Frasier's Back in the Building

2007-04-15T21:36:00.000+09:00

One of my favorite TV shows of all times, "Frasier", could be back, but this time, on the stage. I hope they break a leg in Japan so I can go see it!

Conjoined Twins Successfully Separated

2007-04-06T08:08:00.000+09:00

After a first-ever successful operation to separate twins joined at the heart and liver, eight-month-old Thai girls Pantawan and Panwad are free at last. They're still sticking close together, though --I guess it's a hard habit to break.

(The article also has a sweet picture of the girls and their gorgeous smiles!)

Award-Winning Man

2007-04-06T06:44:00.000+09:00

I know the slave trade is still in full force in the world today, and the insidiousness of it means that it permeates every country, everywhere. I suppose America is such a melting pot that unless you know what you're looking for, you could easily miss it and go on about your daily business, blissfully unaware. I did.

Then I moved to Japan. I was surprised to find out that the small "snack bars" you see absolutely everywhere can be a den of slavery. Girls, mostly foreign, are told by the Japanese mafia (yakuza) that they can come on an "entertainer" visa and work in bars. Some of them even naively think they are coming to be nannies, house maids, or wives for Japanese men. Their families desperately need the money, so they sign on.

When they arrive in the country, the yakuza slap a huge debt on them that they have to "work" off, and probably can never pay back. They end up prisoners in apartments above these snack bars, with sensors on the door and virtually no way to ever get home to see their families again. The "love hotels" (where you can rent by the hour) perpetuate this cruelty, and the girls are stuck.

These women/girls have no access to health care, no one to call an ally. The communities turn a blind eye.

I have met several of these girls (and they looked like they were in their late teens or early, early twenties) when I was at the city hall getting some paperwork done in the foreigner's section. There was a group of Filipino women with a burly man who was holding all their passports. They were waiting, and the women looked crestfallen. I sat down next to one of them, smiled, and started chatting. The muscle man said he was her husband and started laughing at his own cruel joke. I knew who they were and what they were there for. She managed a smile, though when I was leaving and I shook her hand, looked right in her eyes, and said, "God bless you," she started crying.

I felt powerless. I wanted to help, but I didn't know what to do or where to start. My first thought had been to throw her in my car and speed away, but I knew I was no match for that guy holding her passport. (Besides, I found out later that these poor women are scared to death because their families back home are threatened if the girls try to escape.)

So I started researching. The Human Rights Watch Web site was a good source. I wrote a senator, Sam Brownback, a guy known for his tenacity in fighting for the dignity of those caught up in forces beyond their control. I've also been talking to a group in Tokyo, The Asia Foundation, to figure out how one little mommy in Nishinomiya can help wage the war against this monstrous system.

Just this morning I received a newsletter from International Justice Mission. Gary Haugen, the director of this outstanding organization, has received the 2007 William Wilberforce Award for his work fighting modern-day slavery.

Like Wilberforce 200 years ago, Haugen is one man doing extraordinary things.

Sir (?) Bono

2007-04-05T09:43:00.000+09:00

U2's lead singer, Paul Hewson (aka Bono), has received an honorary British knighthood for his humanitarian work (which includes debt-relief campaigning for some African countries).

His response? '' 'You have permission to call me anything you want— except sir, all right? Lord of lords, your demigodness, that'll do.' ''

Bueno work, Bono.

Love Bridges the Gap

2007-04-05T09:34:00.000+09:00

Whatever your opinion on the Falklands War (between Argentina and Great Britain in 1982), Sebastian and Phoebe are proof that love knows no sides. They live in Port Stanley in the Falklands, a place where battle was waged over territorial disputes. That was twenty-five years ago, and the couple were both small children at the time, but they are ambassadors for unity on an island where people do remember the war.

Mama G's Got EnerG

2007-04-04T20:22:00.000+09:00

Wow. What a feisty mama. Rose Gilbert, 88, is probably one of the oldest teaching teachers in the US (and most likely one of the richest - her husband left her millions), and she's stiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiilllllllll going.

I think my favorite anecdote from the article describes "Mama G" (as her students lovingly call her) teaching about Freudian slips while wearing a slip over her clothes. I doubt anyone sleeps in her class!

The Dash

2007-04-01T13:07:00.000+09:00

Yes, it's cheesy. And yes, it has a good message. Time is short. But I think three minutes watching "The Dash" movie is a good investment. (And just the photography itself is well worth the visit.)

Free Hugs

2007-03-30T15:55:00.000+09:00

Check out this cool story of a hug-athon gone global. After you've smiled and felt the love a little bit, go to YouTube and watch the video, cum Kleenex!

Heimlich Dog

2007-03-29T08:02:00.001+09:00

Maryland canine, Toby, saved his owner by doing the doggy version of the Heimlich maneuver when she choked on a piece of apple. Debbie Parkhurst and Toby have now been invited to be on loads of talk shows around the US, but I doubt she's showing everybody the doggy-footprint bruises on her chest. Debbie's living and breathing, though, so she probably really doesn't mind those black and blue marks! In fact, she said, "'They say dogs leave a paw print on your heart. He left a paw print on my heart, that's for sure.'"

That's So Cheesy!

2007-03-28T20:48:00.000+09:00

Cheddar is one of my favorite foods of all times, and now you can log on to a Web site and watch a hunk of the stuff maturing at a not-very-rapid rate. This site has already had 400,000 visitors from around the world, if you can believe that. The description of the final product as "the color of an old gravestone" doesn't make it sound very appetizing, but the yummy colossal slab will be auctioned off later for charity.

Homeless to Home-full

2007-03-28T14:59:00.001+09:00

Genshiro Kawamoto is one of Japan's richest people, and has recently decided to spread the wealth to some native Hawaiians who have hit hard times. Kawamoto is letting eight families stay in eight of his multi-million dollar homes in Honolulu, saying they can stay for up to ten years. Everybody's happy (except for the neighbors, but they can get over it)! Read more about it here.

Going Bananas

2007-03-20T14:43:00.000+09:00

I know it's been a couple of weeks since I posted last, but that doesn't mean good things haven't been happening!

Usually I write small snippets about positive stories I've found elsewhere on the Web, but today I wanted to share a few good things that have been going on in my own life recently.

My little family unit has had a visitor from Bethel Church in California staying with us the past week. April came to our area of Japan with about fifteen others to bless people here (and I think I was one of the most encouraged).

The Bethel team saw many miraculous healings and people set free from mental and spiritual bondage. If that isn't good news, I don't know what is! April prayed for a woman who actually hadn't been able to hold her own eyes open (due to a muscular-atrophying disease), and after the prayer, the lady was ecstatic to be able to see through eyes held open by healed muscles.

One night the group went to downtown Osaka to walk around and pray for people on the streets. April plus two others were in a small separate group, and they met a guy skateboarding by himself. April prayed for words to build him up and encourage him, and what came out of her mouth was exactly what he needed to hear. His face lit up in surprise that she knew what he was thinking and feeling. Only the true God can do such miracles as these.

Personally, I saw God today at the supermarket (which is something April prayed over me before she left - another miracle in itself - and she also prayed we would meet angels). Have you ever cried at a produce stand? No, I haven't either - until today.

Matthew, my one-year-old son, and I were out on a walk, and after we stopped at the post office to pay some bills (which is what you do in Japan), I stopped at the Co-op grocery store to pick up a few things. The lobby of the store has a few small shops: a flower shop, small cafe, and vegie and fruit stands. I was in line at the fruit stand to buy some strawberries and lemons, and the elderly man paying for his things at the counter kept looking at Matthew and telling me how cute he was.

This man was full of contrasts: His face was all smiles and his eyes crinkled when he talked, but his clothes told another story. He wore plastic flip-flops (though it's really cold today) and dirty worn-out jacket and trousers.

While I was paying, I turned around and noticed the stroller-bound Matthew was holding some bananas, which I thought maybe he had pulled off the shelf, but the banana section was farther away than Matthew's little arms. The old man told me he loves children and wanted to get the fruit for Matthew. Before I knew what he was doing, he quickly paid the lady at the register and was out the door before I could properly thank him. He must not have even waited for a receipt, it was all so fast (he was mighty spry for such an old guy). I just stood staring after him, with tears in my eyes. I should have been buying his food for him, but instead, I was blessed with a beautiful gift!

Was he an angel? I'll probably never know, but that incident certainly pulled me out of my self-contained reverie and focused my eyes on God in a way they haven't been focused in a while.

You know what else is strange about all this? Up to now Matthew hasn't even liked bananas, but he gobbled some up at lunch today after we got home.

Truth is stranger (and better) than fiction.

Cool (Kidney) Beans

2007-03-08T20:00:00.000+09:00

This is way inspiring: A Methodist minister in Philly has given a kidney to a Jewish rabbi! They're both ambassadors for an organ-donor organization, and this was one heck of a way to promote their mission.

Released

2007-03-08T16:58:00.000+09:00

This is a big week for captive animals being released into real-nature settings. It was the manatee father-and-son pair the other day, and now seventeen captive-bred gazelles have been set free in Saudi Arabia.

Pretty wild!

Eclipsed

2007-03-08T16:36:00.000+09:00

Did you know that the sun, moon, and earth lined up last week? I knew it was coming, but sadly, we couldn't see it from here in Japan. I hope we'll be able to partake of the next eclipse in August!

Man Oh Manatees!

2007-03-07T21:00:00.000+09:00

Being from Florida, it just so happens that manatees are one of my absolute favorite animals of all times. They're big, they're blubbery, they're slow, they're vegetarians, and they are soooo adorable.

Gene and Dundee, father and son, have just been released back into the wild after more than thirty years in captivity. I've been swimming at Blue Springs State Park (where Gene and Dundee now reside), have seen some of these massive mammals there, and really wanted to take one home.

But my bathtub is just my size, and actually sounds really inviting right now.

Toddler Finds Cashola in Book

2007-03-07T20:59:00.000+09:00

Another reason to teach your children to love reading from an early age. Read more here.

Colorized, Not Polarized

2007-03-05T22:11:00.000+09:00

I found the love story of Rudy and Kafi Carrasco deeply moving, profoundly encouraging, and wonderfully powerful.

When Rudy, a Mexican-American from LA, and Kafi, an African-American who grew up in Brooklyn, met several years ago, they spent hours discussing a paper of Rudy's about injustice. Now they are living in a racially tense area of California, and their marriage is a beautiful example of intercultural unity.

Audrey's Dress

2007-03-03T20:37:00.000+09:00

The sale of the late Audrey Hepburn's famous black dress from "Breakfast at Tiffany's" has funded the building of fifteen schools in India, HappyNews reports. Two-hundred children will be able to attend just one of the schools recently built.

As she was a UNICEF ambassador, I think Ms. Hepburn would've been proud.

Anything Good Going On in Iraq?

2007-02-25T20:53:00.000+09:00

I know, I know, every day we read horrible stories of bombs in markets, neighborhoods, and places of worship in Iraq. Check out this story of a few good things that are happening: clean water, new roads, renovated hospitals.

Virginia Apologizes for Slavery

2007-02-25T20:49:00.000+09:00

The state of Virginia has issued an official statement of regret over its role in the horrendous slave trade of years past. So far, it is the only state to do so, but a very positive precedent has been set.

Go, Virginia!

Goodlums

2006-10-31T22:22:00.000+09:00

The Kindness Crew guys, otherwise known as "goodlums" (as HappyNews calls these blokes), have traversed Canada doing random acts of "extreme kindness." They're starting a "Kindness Revolution," and I had fun going to their Kindness Counter to see what they and others have been doing recently in the way of caring.

Go to their Web site, have a browse, and get busy kindnessing, why don't you?

Sara Salkahazi

2006-10-31T21:36:00.000+09:00

It sounds like a heroine story straight from a fictional film, but this Hungarian nun, recently beatified by the Catholic church, has been said to have saved over 100 Jews during World War II. Sara hid them in the building where she lived with other Sisters of Social Service, and was shot by the Arrow Cross for her bravery. Together, the Sisters saved over 1,000 Jews from being massacred.

Despite the deathly dangers, Sara risked all in sisterly love.

Think in terms of multiplication: She saved 100 lives. How many descendants of those people are in existence today because of what Sara did?

None of us will probably do anything quite as dramatic, but who knows how our good deeds could impact countless numbers of people?

Have a Laugh in Nigeria

2006-10-28T21:45:00.000+09:00

You might think that people in a country hounded by corruption since its independence in 1960 would be depressed. Think again. As Kieran Cooke reports from Lagos, even when his plane is grounded by a bird diving for an engine, he and the other passengers have a good laugh about it all.

Despite being an oil-rich country, many Nigerians live in poverty. Undaunted by blackouts, water shortages, and six-hour commutes to work, people in the former capital of Lagos brave these deprivations with humor. "No Tension" is the logo on one yellow painted bus.

I don't have any hardships anywhere near what a lot of Nigerians go through, but I've definitely been inspired to see the joy in any situation.

Forgiveness Rocks Our World

2006-10-16T07:09:00.000+09:00

Recently in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, the Amish community was devastated by the killing of five girls, and the injuring of five others, by a local milk delivery man. He entered an Amish school, killed and injured the girls, then shot himself.

The Amish have told Mrs. Roberts (whose husband killed the children) that they forgive Mr. Roberts, and have even started a bank account to help her family. In return, Mrs. Roberts has issued a statement thanking the Amish community for their forgiveness, and has said, "...We will continue to put our hope and trust in the God of all comfort, as we all seek to rebuild our lives."

Can you imagine forgiving someone for killing your child? Even in the midst of a dark and evil situation, God's light beams through, offering hope and healing. Now that's amazing grace.

Nobel Man

2006-10-14T07:20:00.000+09:00

Muhammad Yunus, a Bangladeshi who founded the Grameen Bank in 1976, has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for aiding those in poverty. An economist, he came up with the idea of giving micro-credit to those who need it most. Yunus founded the bank with $27, and today it has 6.6 million borrowers. 97% of those are women.

This year's winner has surprised quite a few people, who were expecting the prize to go to one of the many involved in peace talks.

But it's good news to the millions who have been touched by Yunus's generosity and giving heart.

Just for a Laugh

2006-09-23T21:47:00.000+09:00

This isn't necessarily good news (especially for CNN's Kyra Phillips), but I think her husband probably appreciated the conversation she had in the ladies' room, while wearing a mic still turned on.

She had been covering a story about Bush and Hurricane Katrina, but I'm sure everybody probably remembers the goof more than the news scoop.

I'm back!

2006-09-20T17:12:00.000+09:00

I know all of my millions of blog readers out there have wondered where I've gone; well, I've finally returned to the land of good news and happy blog thoughts. My family and I had a super-spectacular visit to the UK to see our family and friends there, and let me tell you something that was really good: rhubard-crumble ice cream, homemade by my Super Chef Mother-In-Law! We feasted on roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, rhubard crumble, summer pudding, cheese and pickle sandwiches, fruitcake, Christmas pudding (but yes, it was in August!), cooked breakfasts, and so many other delicious delicacies. This American girl was totally spoiled. It's a good thing we walked quite a bit while we were there, otherwise the happy food would've turned into extra happy pounds (and I'm afraid it wouldn't have been the monetary variety).

Today I was excited to read on the BBC about Iranian women going to college. In many classrooms, they're outnumbering their male counterparts!

The article says that so many of the Iranian men are interested in making money straight away that they are leaving lots of spaces in the universities. The women sweep in (no 1950s homemaker reference there) and do the classroom thing. Now they're having trouble finding husbands with the same level of education.

You go, girls! Bust a learning move!

Lebanon Ceasefire

2006-08-17T13:12:00.000+09:00

Three days ago, a ceasefire was called in Lebanon. That's good news.

Read more at Amnesty International's site to find out what you can do personally to help those who have suffered.

And here's a wonderful, goosebumpy story about a Christian grandmother in Beirut. She's housing Shia Muslim wives and children as their husbands hold down the fort at their bakery in the south of Lebanon.

That's taking the commandment to "love each other" seriously. I like that grandma and I don't even know her.

Stayin' Alive!

2006-08-17T12:43:00.000+09:00

The BBC had an amazing story this morning of three Mexican fishermen, rescued after nine months of being at sea. Their boat's engine broke down, so the men ate raw birds and fish, drank rainwater, and read the Bible and prayed together while they floated towards Asia.

The guys might not have had any engine power, but they received power to live from Someone who took really good care of them.

Heating Things Up

2006-07-20T10:30:00.000+09:00

As hot as the weather is now, a python named Houdini must've felt a bit chilly. He's just had an operation in Idaho to remove an electric blanket he swallowed.

Everything's just fine now. That's great news for Houdini, who somehow didn't manage to escape the call of the electric blanket ("Eat me, eat me"). I think the first Houdini could've gotten out of that one.

You Go, Girl!

2006-07-11T17:10:00.000+09:00

Most husbands don't appreciate when their wives put their oar in, but in this case, I'm sure the guy will make an exception.

An eighteen-year-old Bengali wife has saved her husband from certain death at the paws of a hungry tiger on the prowl. Mr. Tiger was dragging the poor man into the woods when his wife beat the animal into submission with her boat oar. What a woman!

Making Sweet Music

2006-07-08T07:46:00.000+09:00

This story of a "street piano" in Sheffield, England, reminds me of my parents' The Mamas and The Papas record album that my sister and I used to dance to when we were little.

The song in particular I'm thinking of has these lyrics:

All we need is music (sweet music), sweet music (sweet music). There'll be music everywhere (everywhere). There'll be swingin', and swayin', and records playin', and dancin', in the streets. Oh, it doesn't matter what you wear, just as long as you are there. So come on, every guy (come on) grab a girl, everywhere around the world. There'll be dancing--- they're dancing in the street.

So everybody, grab a street piano, grab a friend, and get moving!

Hello Dali

2006-07-08T07:11:00.000+09:00

Being a Florida girl, I must admit I have been to the current Dali Museum in St. Pete. I've even had the fun of draping myself over a melted-clock bench. I think Dali would approve of that move.

So even though I'm in Japan, I'm really looking forward to seeing the new and improved museum, which will be open in 2010.

Don't Dali around building it, though, guys! We're all waiting!

Reunion

2006-07-02T21:27:00.000+09:00

This is an amazing story of a Japanese man back again with his family, after being left behind in Russia decades ago!

Helps me to really appreciate my own family and what a gift they are.

The King and I

2006-07-01T09:07:00.000+09:00

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and President Bush have spent the day at Graceland, amid fried peanut-butter and banana sandwiches, tacky sunglasses, and one article even mentioned that the Elvis Presley fan club is giving Koizumi a lock of the king's hair. Apparently the prime minister has been a lifelong fan, even launching in to Elvis's songs with celebrities on occasion.

Not only the leader of a country, but also the king of karaoke. And you gotta love the hair.

You'll Know a Happy Japanese Motorcyclist by...

2006-06-28T20:50:00.000+09:00

...the summer dragonflies in his teeth. Yes, it's that season again, when these beautiful creatures flitter and flutter around the landscape.

It's not BIG news, but the dragonflies are pumped about it, I'm sure. Wouldn't you be ecstatic to fly around and symbolize a season?

Go the Extra Mile in the UK

2006-06-26T21:29:00.000+09:00

Have fun walking or running a mile to raise funds for poverty around the world.

Just do it.

Happy Toilets

2006-06-26T21:23:00.000+09:00

Have a look at this article about restroom specialists in Singapore. I was especially impressed with the notion to cut down on long lines in the ladies' loo. Anybody who can accomplish that has my vote for sure.

Enjoy the reading, and have a flushing good time.

Just don't forget to wash your hands afterwards, please.

Choir Brings Hope

2006-06-21T22:37:00.000+09:00

This article about the Montreal Homeless Choir gave me goosebumps. Read the update at the end of the article as well to see what's happening now. I love happy endings.

Don't Worry, Be Happy

2006-06-21T21:15:00.000+09:00

The temperatures are rising and ice cream is calling my name. I love to try out new flavors and brands here in Japan. There are some unique ones you'd never expect: green tea with sweet red beans, sweet potato, and apparently in some rural areas they actually have fish flavor, but I wouldn't like to try that one.

Well, tonight my hubby and I were having our dessert (his was chocolate), and as I spooned into my vanilla with orange and pineapple sauce, I realized the fruit flavors were in this happy shape!

Looking at this, you just gotta smile.

Body Language

2006-06-21T19:51:00.000+09:00

Did you know that 55 percent of our expression is in our body language? I found this article really interesting, especially as I have a small son who is growing faster than I can blink! These tips will come in pretty handy as he gets older and asks me 300 questions in an hour.

Uncross those legs! Don't frown! Eye contact!

I'm practicing now.

A Beauty of a Story

2006-06-21T19:41:00.000+09:00

Belle the beagle has saved her owner's life by using his cell phone to call 911. Check it out!

Not Afraid of Heights

2006-06-19T13:42:00.000+09:00

A piano has been found near the top of Britain's highest mountain, Ben Nevis. If you are feeling curious, get tuned up and read on.

Old Friends

2006-06-19T12:24:00.000+09:00

We had some good friends visit this weekend, and they are moving far, far away in two weeks. Isn't it a blessing to know that distance doesn't have to separate people from each other? Have you ever read the Anne of Green Gables series? Anne was always talking about "kindred spirits." So the fact that our friends are going to be in another land isn't good news for us, but we will definitely stay in touch and see them again, whether here or there. That's the encouraging thing about beautiful kindred spirits.

M and A, eat lots of salad!

Jamaican "Sister P"

2006-06-16T22:27:00.000+09:00

Portia Simpson Miller (aka "Mama" and "Sister P") is Jamaica's first female prime minister. Of course, she is a politician, and most politicians make promises they know they'll never be able to keep. But Prime Minister Miller is bringing lots of encouragement to the island country, which has seen its fair share of internal troubles.

Mamas do tend to bring smiles to faces and hope to hearts.

We're Walking, We're Walking

2006-06-16T21:57:00.000+09:00

Three cheers for Geoffrey and Gregory, two teenagers from California, who are walking 400 miles across their state to raise awareness and support for AIDS orphans in Kenya. Read more about it here.

Did you know that more than 15 million children around the world have lost one or both parents to AIDS? World Vision is helping. So can the rest of us. Pray. Research. Tell your friends what you find out. Give money. Share your time.

I don't know about you, but I have a baby son, and I'd be heartbroken if I was on my deathbed and knew there was no one else to take care of him. Geoffrey and Gregory, thanks for getting me thinking about how I too can help children devastated by AIDS.

Go Russia!

2006-06-15T15:17:00.000+09:00

No, I'm not rooting for them in the World Cup.

Actually, I'm encouraged because Russia has decided to write off $688 million in debts for 16 African countries. Read more about it here at HappyNews.com. The G8 will be in Russia July 15-17, so let's hope there's even more good news to report then as well.

Rain, Rain, Come Again

2006-06-15T09:22:00.000+09:00

Where would we be without precious rain? The tsuyu (rainy season) is here now in Japan, and everybody (including me sometimes) complains about it, but to me, it's the last semblance of semi-cool weather before the oven door of summer is opened. This rain helps the plants to grow, keeps the allergens at bay, and gives little kids in bright rain boots something to frolic in.

Bring it on!

The Heart of the Matter

2006-06-13T13:19:00.000+09:00

"The heart pumps about 1 million barrels of blood during an average lifetime--that's enough to fill more than 3 super tankers." Did you know that? Check out these other super facts about the human heart.

It just might make your heart pound even harder with admiration and awe!

Rush Hour

2006-06-13T12:42:00.000+09:00

This story from the BBC really does make me want to "Buckle Up for Safety." These two young brothers actually sound like better drivers than most people I know, though.

Home at Last

2006-06-12T08:35:00.000+09:00

Osama Sattar, poor kid, was stuck in Pakistan while his parents waited at their home in Scotland for him. He's back with them now, and raring to go back to school, unusually.

Unbelievable but True

2006-06-11T18:08:00.000+09:00

The little guy can win! You've got to read this article about a cat treeing a bear in New Jersey. I read it an hour ago and it's still making me smile.

I Just Knew It

2006-06-10T21:29:00.000+09:00

Chocolate is good for you! This article in MSNBC and millions of hormonal women around the world can't be wrong. (Though flavonoids don't sound exactly appetizing, do they?)

The gooey sweet treat has such a powerful influence that here in our neck of the woods, they've built a government on the premise that all chocolate is created equal. Equally more-ish.

P.S. Submit your favorite chocolate recipe here in the comments section!

It's Officially Summer

2006-06-09T10:41:00.000+09:00

Here in Japan, the rainy season started yesterday, it's pretty muggy, watermelon and sweetcorn are big sellers again in the stores, and the summer windchimes are back in action. These fuurin make a beautiful tinkling sound in the warm breeze. Japanese friends have told me the chimes make them feel cooler. So if you're in the northern hemisphere and feeling hot and sticky, just close your eyes and let your imagination sink into these refreshing melodies.