Dear Reader:

Some of you might have caught this story on the CBS Evening News earlier this week but I just discovered it on my Kindness website. Sometimes I wish that one child could be assigned to each elected representative to keep their hearts in tact, along with their moral compass, once they take office. Our children appear to be much better at seeing right from wrong than too many adults these days and Blake is definitely a better problems solver at his young age.

Blake’s school in Georgia said the students could wear any t-shirt for their first day back at school with happy pictures or words that set a positive tone for the year…sports pictures were fine too. When his mother asked Blake what he would like on his bright orange t-shirt (favorite color) he told her to put “I Will Be Your Friend.”

When his mother inquired more about his selection (he loves sports and she figured he would pick one for the front of the shirt)  he confessed to her that he had been bullied the year before when he started school and he wanted the new students to know that he would be their friend if they needed one…like he had needed a friend after his bullying episode.

His mother was so touched she put the incident on her work Facebook page (seamstress) and the response was overwhelming…everyone wanted a “I will be your friend t-shirt”….even schools began calling in  t-shirt orders for all their students for the first day of school.

“I have to brag on my son. I told him that as a back to school gift, I will make him any shirt he would like. It could have anything- a basketball theme, football, etc. which are all his favorites. He thought a while and said, “Will you please make me a shirt that says ‘I will be your friend” for all the kids who need a friend to know that I am here for them?” Never underestimate your kid’s heart for others! I love my sweet Blake!” #stopbullying

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Yesterday the two copies of a children’s book I ordered for each of my grandchildren’s households arrived. With the start of school right around the corner…I wanted all my “babies” to be aware and accepting of different children they will meet in school.

Emmy Award-winning ABC News correspondent Linsey Davis is helping families teach their children about diversity with a new children’s book

Like many people today author, wife, mother, Linsey Davis is disturbed by a growing wave of intolerance of others (as seen and heard on the daily news) who are different from the mainstream….whether by race, color, culture. She, like so many of us, firmly believes that it is important for children to learn early that different is not only okay…but diversity makes us stronger… combining all our strengths and different perceptions together to become a more united country with one shared vision of hope and acceptance.

I loved the little book, with all its rhyming jingles, and fun pictures showing children from  all backgrounds learning to play and respect each other.

I especially loved this picture (below) on a personal note. *Inside the front book cover, I wrote a little comment that my mother, their great-grandmother, Me-Mommy, only had one hand. But she raised three children by herself, while cooking, working, keeping house, and making sure her children were educated. She could do more with one hand that myself with two…even three if I had an extra one too. 🙂

Look carefully at the little girl doing a cartwheel…is there something different about her?

After looking at all kinds of diversity we find in our schools…different interests… athletic abilities, academic abilities, social abilities…besides physical or mental abilities and/or challenges… the book ends with the one thing we all share…no matter what.

                       ONE BIG HEART!

*Beverly had a good conclusion to “The best things in life are… a sound sleep.” A lot of us can agree to that ending…

So until tomorrow…

“Tomorrow is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

Have a wonderful school year everyone!

*Just heard back from Ann Graves, our bell ringer who recently finished her chemo for breast cancer and then had surgery to remove any other stray cancer cells in the shrunken tumor….like Sis Kinney the report came back that the margins still weren’t completely clear and the surgeon will need to go back in and widen the margins to remove any other cancer….Ann said he had a great game plan and she feels confident  in his plan…just ready to get this second surgery over. Please keep Ann in your prayers for a complete recovery.

*At first I couldn’t believe my eyes or ears…we have had lots of thunder and lightning this summer but, more times than not, the rain has pulled a disappearing act…Yesterday afternoon, however, the thunder and lightning returned with the third missing party of the trio….rain! And Rain did its best to try to make up for all its previous “no shows.”

A great summer rain…:)

After the rain stopped shortly before sunset…the most beautiful light in the skies appeared and the smell of freshness consumed every fiber of my being… in cool 73 degree temperatures. Pinch me! I must be dreaming!