Southfork

Our Gingerbread House rules the school.

Non-Profit Gym Helps Low-Income Community

How fantastic is this? A non-profit gym in Boston was opened in a low-income community to help combat obesity and poor health. In some communities it is not safe to walk or exercise outdoors, and we all know that gyms can be expensive. Healthy people=healthy communities! (Thanks for the article, Sonja.)

Minnesota Girl Raises Money to Help Save Polar Bears

A little 11-year-old Minnesotan named Michelle Bergh helped raise $5,000 to send to Polar Bears International in support of their mission to save cute polar bears from extinction. It is fantastic to see children donate their time and talent to worthy causes! (Thanks for the article, Wendy.)

OptiMs.M is back!

Friends, I have taken about a year off from this blog, because frankly it has been very hard to find any good news anywhere. So I am going to try hard to find good news wherever I can, and share it with you all. Please feel free to share happy news with me so I can publish it. Thanks!

You can't take it with you! Check out this article about Bill & Melinda Gates' and Warren Buffet's philanthropic endeavors.

Irena Sendler

I just became aware of this amazing humanitarian---Irena Sendler. The story of how she was "discovered" is fascinating! In 1999, a group of high school students in rural Kansas found a brief reference to Irena Sendler in an article concerning heroes of the Holocaust. When they googled Irena, only one result was returned; now a search returns 166,000 results, thanks to these students' efforts to make her heroism known.

The students discovered the following about Irena: she was a Catholic social worker in Poland during the Holocaust. She and a group of thirty others successfully smuggled 2,500 Jewish children out of the Warsaw ghetto into safety. The children were placed with Christian families until they could be reunited with their parents after the war. Tragically, most of the parents were killed in concentration camps. The smuggled children would have almost certainly been killed also.

Irena documented her secret work by keeping a jar with pieces of paper that outlined the children's names and detailed information about them; she buried the jar for safe keeping. Irena was eventually imprisoned for helping the Jewish people and was set to be executed. A guard helped her escape and she went into hiding for a few years. Irena married, had two children, and lived a normal life---her extraordinary deeds unknown to most.

The young Kansas students were able to meet Irena several times before her death in 2008---she lived to the ripe old age of 98---and bring her story to life in a play they wrote called "Life in a Jar." The play has been performed 270+ times since 1999 and poignantly tells of her bravery and the horror of the Holocaust.

Until the end, Irena was tremendously humble about saving the lives of 2,500 children. She said that she did not deserve recognition, but that helping those children was the justification for her life on earth.

Irena Sendler risked her own life to save others---what could make us feel more optimistic about the human race than that?

Susan Boyle---The Voice of an Angel

Okay, I know this is all over the news, but could this be the most beautiful story of the year?! I LOVE what this woman has taught all of us about judging others by outward appearance. And her voice is nothing short of angelic.

$45 Million Anonymously Donated to Eight Universities

Eight colleges and universities have received mysterious multi-million dollar donations over the last several weeks. The donations have been made through lawyers or third parties, so as to keep the identity of the donor or donors a secret. As a student who loves school, I find this story especially heartwarming!

Snow Plow Drivers Help Man Receive Liver Transplant

A few weeks ago, a man who was waiting for a liver transplant received a call that a liver was available. He and his wife drove a couple hundred miles toward the hospital and then were stopped by a highway closed in Wyoming due to blizzard conditions. Upon calling 911 to ask for assistance, the operator arranged for snowplow drivers to lead the couple's way so that the man could arrive in a timely fashion and receive his new liver. More than eight snowplows formed a convoy and led the couple for more than 80 miles! The man arrived safely at the hospital and successfully received his new liver.

Walgreens Will Provide Free Service to the Unemployed and Uninsured

Walgreens is offering free service at their in-store clinics for those whom are unemployed and uninsured! Just getting a strep throat test at a walk-in clinic can cost $50.00 or $60.00, so this program will most certainly help those who need it. Let's give a shout out to The Greens!

Hero Parrot! (Yes, I Said "Parrot")

This is a short story, but an amazing one!

DENVER — A parrot whose cries of alarm alerted his owner when a little girl choked on her breakfast has been honored as a hero.

Willie, a Quaker parrot, has been given the local Red Cross chapter's Animal Lifesaver Award.

In November, Willie's owner, Megan Howard, was baby-sitting for a toddler. Howard left the room and the little girl, Hannah, started to choke on her breakfast.

Willie repeatedly yelled "Mama, baby" and flapped his wings, and Howard returned in time to find the girl already turning blue.

Howard saved Hannah by performing the Heimlich maneuver but said Willie "is the real hero."

"The part where she turned blue is always when my heart drops no matter how many times I've heard it," Hannah's mother, Samantha Kuusk, told KCNC-TV. "My heart drops in my stomach and I get all teary eyed."

Willie got his award during a "Breakfast of Champions" event Friday attended by Gov. Bill Ritter and Mayor John Hickenlooper.

Man Saves Stranger on Subway Tracks

A New York man, Chad Lindsey, rescued a 60 year old man who slipped and fell on the subway tracks as a train approached. Lindsey jumped down on the tracks and pulled the unconscious man to safety with only 10 or 15 seconds to spare before the train arrived. Lindsey yelled for help, the man was taken to the hospital, and New Yorkers gathered around Lindsey to express their graditude. Then Lindsey quietly got on the train and went on his way. He was content to remain anonymous, but a friend identified him in the media as the hero he truly is!

"Compliment Guys" at Purdue University

Two sophomores at Purdue University spend two hours every Wednesday holding a sign that reads "Free Compliments" while shouting compliments to passers-by. The young men decided to spread happiness in order to combat all the negativity and gloom these days. They shout things such as "great jacket!", "that's a great color on you!" and other nice words to brighten the spirits of persons walking by. Check out the video of them complimenting people. What a great way to spread cheer in our own lives---let's remember to be liberal with our compliments to those around us.

Pax Christi Parish Collects 4,987 Pounds of Food in January

An Eden Prairie church distributed reusable canvas totes to its congregation, asking parishoners to fill the bags with food for a local food shelf. As a result, they collected more than five times the pounds of food collected last January. What a fantastic idea! What if each of us designated one of our reusable canvas totes (if you don't have them, please buy some)as our "Food Shelf" tote? Food donations can be dropped off at most churches or directly at food shelves. For those of us who struggle with having too much to eat, this Lent let's be cognizant of all those who are hungry.

Children Learn about Differences

The host of a children's television program in the U.K. has found herself on the receiving end of praise---and some criticism---due to her physical difference. Cerrie Burnell was born with only one hand; her arm ends right below the elbow. Rather than hiding her difference or (on the other end of the spectrum) making a big deal about it, the television network announced nothing in regard to her physical appearance. Instead, in a publicity photo that was released, her arm is shown as it is. Mainstream media tried to make this a story about controversy; I see it as optimistic. Persons who are different no longer have to be defined by their differences. Bravo to the television network for hiring and promoting a person who is different. And bravo to Cerrie Burnell for living her dreams and ignoring petty criticism! I believe that children will either like Cerrie Burnell's program or they won't; it will have nothing to do with her arm. Let's remember that children are much more accepting and unafraid of difference than adults.

Volunteers Help Caretakers

Volunteers at Zion Lutheran Church in Anoka, United Methodist Church in Brooklyn Center, the Church of the Epiphany in Coon Rapids, and Nativity Lutheran Church in St. Anthony, help with a caregiver respite program called the Gathering. Elderly persons who require caregiver assistance attend the Gathering once a week so their caregivers (mostly spouses and family) can leave them for a short period and have time to themselves. Volunteers who give of their time are such a blessing! Although monetary assistance definitely helps those in need, persons who use their time and talent to help others are angels on earth.

High School Athletes Understand What is Important in Life

Two high school basketball teams (one from Illinois, one from Milwaukee) faced off on the day that the senior captain of the Milwaukee team lost his beloved mother to cancer. The young man whose mother died, Johntel Franklin, showed up to the game after it had begun and asked his coach if he could play. His coach said yes, even though it would allow the Illinois team to take two penalty free throws. (It was a technical foul because Franklin had not been on the pre-game roster.) The coach from the Illinois team argued with the referees and said that he didn't want his team to have free throws; they just wanted to let Franklin play. When the referees insisted that the free throws were taken, the Illinois coach asked for volunteers to take the shots. His senior captain stepped forward and the coach said to him, "You realize you're going to miss them, don't you?" The senior captain fully understood and purposely blew both shots. The Milwaukee team went on to win the game (62-47) and Franklin scored 10 points. Afterwards both teams went out for pizza together. This story should remind all of us that the youth of today value community. What a wonderful story of sportmanship and kindness!

North Dakota Passes a Bill Defining a Fertilized Human Egg as a Human Being

The North Dakota House has given the same legal rights of a fertilized human egg as a human being. "The bill declares that 'any organism with the genome of homo sapiens' is a person protected by rights granted by the North Dakota Constitution and state laws" (www.startribune.com). Essentially, this law would ban abortion in North Dakota. Now, some people might not classify this law as "optimistic" or "good news." But it is my blog and I truly believe that it is wonderful news. Millions of couples and single persons wait for years to adopt children, and millions of children are aborted each year. Doesn't it make sense to choose adoption over abortion? I believe that we must protect the most vulnerable in our society---who is more vulnerable than a defenseless, pre-born child?

Mayo Brothers Inducted to Healthcare Hall of Fame

The founders of the Mayo clinic---brothers Dr. William Mayo and Dr. Charles Mayo---are to be inducted in to the Healthcare Hall of Fame. Both died in 1939. "The doctors created a model of integrated, multispecialty group practice which has been widely emulated at medical centers around the world. Today, leading health care analysts identify this model as the most capable of delivering high-quality, cost-effective care" (www.startribune.com). The Mayo brothers focused especially on the needs of the patients. 70 years after their deaths, the Mayo Clinic is commonly recognized as one of the best medical institutions throughout the world.

More People Volunteering

A silver lining to the difficult economy and job market is that volunteering is on the rise; the Greater Twin Cities United Way and the Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery each reports an increase in corporate volunteers and unemployed volunteers. I maintain that hard times can bring out the best in people and strengthen our communities.

Woman Donates Kidney to Fiance

Liz Kelly (29) gave her fiance Matt House (31) the gift of life by donating a kidney to him after he was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. Miraculously, her kidney was a match; she underwent surgery (her first) to save him. This story reminds us that love is not just about heart-shaped boxes of chocolate and poetic words---it is best expressed in actions. As the popular saying goes, Love is a Verb.

Random Act of Kindness Touches Unemployed Mom

An unemployed single mother struggling to make ends meet was shopping at an Arkansas Walmart last week when she was touched by the kindness of a stranger. When she went to pay her $139 bill, the cashier informed her that the man who had been in front of her in line had paid her bill in full! The mother did not know the man, but he had smiled at her before he left the store. She had been praying for help and some relief from her financial stress and worries; that kind stranger's actions were an answer to her prayers. Hard times truly can bring out the best in people!

Teacher Wins Golden Apple Award

Marti Sievek---a Spanish teacher at Mankato East High School---won a local news station's Golden Apple Award for excellence in teaching. Marti teaches his students in an energetic way that makes learning fun. Marti and dedicated teachers throughout the world make a difference in student's lives; when you have the opportunity, thank a teacher!

Woman Thanks Firefighter for Saving Her Life Forty Years Ago

In 1968, a Boston firefighter entered a burning apartment building and rescued a baby laying in her crib; the baby had no pulse and was not breathing. William Carroll, the firefighter, performed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on the baby as he ran out of the building with her in his arms. A newspaper photographer at the time took a photo of Carroll---a white firefighter---breathing life into the black baby, Evangeline Harper. Although today their ethnicities would not be part of the story, race relations between whites and blacks in 1968 were strained. The firefighter saved a life; the baby's race made no difference to him. The baby (who now is forty years old and has six children of her own) asked a newspaper reporter to help track down the man who saved her life. Their meeting was joyful and emotional. What a difference each of them made on the other's life! And perhaps that image of a white man with a black baby helped advance racial harmony.

Anne Frank's "Helper" Turns 100 Years Old

Miep Gies, one of the "Helpers" who hid Anne Frank and her family in an attic for two years, is celebrating her 100th birthday. She is the last surviving Helper. After Anne Frank and her family were arrested by Nazis, Gies gathered Anne's diaries and locked them away (unread) to give to Anne when she returned; Anne never returned but died in a concentration camp. Gies is humble about the role she played in Anne Frank's life, but perhaps she does not realize how wise it was that she saved Anne's diaries. Anne Frank's writings have inspired millions of people. We should feel optimistic about humankind because of people like Miep Gies and Anne Frank. The following are lovely words written by Anne Frank: "And in the evening, when I lie in bed and end my prayers with the words 'I thank you God, for all that is good and dear and beautiful,' I am filled with joy. My advice is: 'Go outside, to the fields, enjoy nature and the sunshine, go out and try to recapture happiness in yourself and in God. Think of all the beauty that's still left in and around you and be happy' And whoever is happy will make others happy too. He who has courage and faith will never perish in misery!"

$50 Million Donated for a New U of M Children's Hospital

Caroline Amplatz pledged $50 million to the U of M's new children's hospital. Opening in 2011, the hospital will be named after her father, Dr. Kurt Amplatz; Dr. Amplatz was a professor at the U for forty years, he holds more than 30 patents, and invented a device to repair congenital heart defects in children and adults. The donation will fund children's research and treatment. What an amazing gift to honor one's father while improving and saving the lives of children!

Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger III Receives Key to New York City

Mayor Michael Bloomberg presented the hero pilot of Flight 1549 and his crew with keys to New York City. Sullenberger saved the lives of 155 people when he safely landed a commercial flight in the Hudson River. This story could have had such a tragic ending, but is instead the epitome of an optimistic news story!

Game Nights Making a Comeback

Board games are making a comeback in these tight economic times. Playing games with friends and family is inexpensive entertainment, fosters community spirit, and improves communication. Our family has also been enjoying board games lately and we find it a fun way to spend time together.

Bethel University Awarded for Advancing Racial Harmony

Let's give a shout out to Bethel for receiving the 2008 Robert and Susan Andringa Award for Advancing Racial Harmony!

Ultrasound Poster Saves a Life

A local woman named Bobbie Hallman recently went to a print shop to have a poster made for a Pro-Life rally. Hallman had several ultrasound pictures that she wanted enlarged into posters. It so happened that the woman at the print shop who waited on Hallman was pregnant and considering an abortion; after seeing the ultrasound photos, she tearfully declared that she couldn't have an abortion. A baby's life was saved that day!

St. Joan of Arc Medal for our Troops

Pat Benincasa, a local artist, designed a medal of St. Joan of Arc for our troops; U.S. soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan wear the medal on their dog tags as a reminder that they are not alone---God and the Saints are with them. The medal features St. Joan on her horse leading the French army into victory; the inscription reads: St. Joan of Arc, Be At My Side. Since April 2006, Benincasa has sent over 4,000 medals to soldiers, medics, chaplains, airmen, navy personnel, nurses, military families, Marine and Army Moms, chaplain assistants, brass, veterans, and to veteran's hospitals. Read this inspiring story!

$2 Million in Full-Ride Scholarships for Dads

Several organizations have joined together to award 60 full-ride scholarships to dads who want to earn college degrees. The article makes me feel optimistic about the emphasis that our country places on education. Think about how the scholarship recipient's lives (and their family's lives) will change for the better!