Regardless

Today is a sad day in history of The United States of America.

Regardless of who pulled the trigger or why.

Regardless of the number of victims or the severity of their wounds.

Regardless of where you stand, what you stand for, or who you stand with.


Regardless of your identity or anonymity when you exercise your right to free speech.

After reading some of today's news coverage and the comments that followed I kept thinking about the line from Spiderman when Peter's uncle tells him "With great power comes great responsibility." If anything good comes from today's horrific act of cowardice and egotism I hope it's that the people of this nation realize what great power the right of free speech is. It is so powerful one word can incite a riot or clear a crowded building. And it comes with great responsibility.

Regardless of whether you are speaking to millions of followers on Twitter or your next door neighbor on the front porch.

Do You Believe in Miracles?

Today's paper tells of an accident

that happened in Bear Creek,

which winds it's way through Merced.

A week ago it was nearly dry in spots but several

days of rain have it running fast, muddy and cold.

A small car missed a turn

during a downpour and flipped

down the embankment into 10 feet of water.

A good samaritan handed his cell phone

to his wife to call 911 then jumped in.

He helped those in the water to the bank

then went back and rescued

the last person still in the car,

all before the first responders even arrived.

Miracle enough?

Here's the Something Special

that sets this story apart.

The good samaritan

was able to act so quickly

because he and his wife

were taking refuge

under the nearby bridge.

Homeless.

Or "Houseless" as the man prefers to say.

Now he is a hero.

A hero who walked away

in wet clothes with a blanket and $5 for coffee

as the accident victims were taken to the hospital for hypothermia.

Some will say they were all lucky.

Some will say he was stupid to risk his own life.

Some will even reach into the 

darkest corners of their jaded hearts

and find a way to put a negative spin

on it, to make it political,  to de-humanize it.

I prefer to Believe

in compassion,

in the human spirit,

in miracles.

I was preparing the following photos for a post and almost didn't include them after deciding to post this story. I changed my mind because the simple 99 cent window clings I was featuring really speak to my heart.

 

When you Believe,

you will find hope,  

 

and hope fills your heart with joy,

and peace.

I hope your heart is filled with

the spirit of the season.

Merry Christmas friends!

The Magic Quilt

I want to share this love filled quilt before Valentine's Day slips away. I kept meaning to post it on Rednesday but didn't get around to photographing in time. My daughter won it in a raffle last year at a Valentine's dance. It's a lap quilt made and donated by the Gateway Quilter's club of Merced.

There is a Nick Jr. preschool show called "Little Bill" based on Bill Cosby's childhood. Little Bill received a magic quilt from his grandmother. Each block had things to make him happy. It had been passed through the family to help chase away monsters and bad dreams at bedtime. As soon as my daughter got this she dubbed it her magic quilt. Whenever she is afraid or upset at night she sleeps with it. It works like a charm, just like the little poem says it will!

Words and Deeds

I've noticed over the last few days a number of other bloggers dealing with critical comments, spam, stalkers and thoughtless words from well meaning "friends". I even had to block a follower whose blog was something I didn't want to be associatied with. I didn't want you to be subjected to it if you happned to click on it. It almost scared me off all together.



I strongly believe in the goodness of most people. Besides I'm a blog addict now, I couldn't stop even if I wanted to! I feel sorry for the few who lift themselves by bringing others down. No amount of lecturing will turn a person like that around. It only fuels their ego. But one kind word, one kind deed can momentarily change a person's attitude. And attitude is everything.

So take heart, don't let them get to you. Go out there and continue to do what you all do best ~ brighten peoples lives!

Dawn