by Ann Hyde

About 6 years ago, my husband George befriended a man I was reluctant to have in my house. This man was incredibly scruffy. He was out of work and he reeked of alcohol and cigarettes.

The man was trying to quit drinking, and George had met him at an AA meeting, so he brought the man home. The pipes had frozen at his trailer, and everyone who lived there had used all of their money on drugs; there was no way to fix the problem. And so we decided to let him take a shower and shave, and then feed him dinner.

The man went back and forth with alcohol, and finally had his last drink about 4years ago. He became a regular guest in our home, and he loves our kids. He married a very dear lady 3 years ago, and he works in the VA Domiciliary with Vets who want to recover from drugs and alcohol. He had teeth replaced and looks great.

The reason I mentioned all this first is to give you a perspective. I asked him recently how he was doing, and he said, "I'm great! The people who rented the condo left a terrible mess and the place needs to be cleaned and repainted. Our TV went on the blink and the car won't start."

I said, "Jeez, that sounds like it would be frustrating"

And his reply? "I'll always have problems but now the nature of my problems has changed. I'd far rather have this set!"

Ann Hyde

Something about Ann:

Ann is a transplanted Pennsylvanian now freezing her fingers and toes off in Anchorage, Alaska. Never one to ignore a challenge, she decided to attend grad school for a Special Education endorsement while being an at-home mother of an infant and a three-year-old. Her children are now almost 5 and almost 7, and Ann is facing challenges in the classroom with teenagers (shriek!) who have learning disabilities and behavior disorders. Despite living in Alaska in the winter, teaching high school kids, and living with 4 small children (2 belong to a roommate), 4 cats (also the roommate's) Mollie, the Wonder Dog, and her husband George, Ann retains her sanity by quilting, reading, and remembering that the challenges she faces are also blessings.

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by Janet

My job is to provide at-home services to the elderly and for those who are disabled. My client was an 86 year old woman (one of those women we used to call "a Lady") who had been battling cancer for the past four years. The last few months of her life took all her energy but none of her intelligence or joy in life.

Each day I appeared at her door she would ask, "Have you heard any good jokes lately?"

Well, I'm terrible at remembering jokes and rarely had a funny story to tell her, besides it always seemed that the only joke that would come to mind would be terribly risqué for such as her ears.

THEN, I got the bright idea to copy Grace's "kid stories" that I find at the bottom of each day's Heartwarmer. Every day I would have one more cute, funny thing to tell my wonderful friend. She would chuckle quietly to herself, and wander back into her own little world, and my heart was warmed.

When I arrived at her house today, her daughter told me she had passed away on Sunday. One of the things the daughter told me was that one of her mother's last requests was "Have you heard any good jokes lately?"

The daughter is as joke-impaired as I and told her mother that she couldn't think of anything funny. Her mother replied that I always arrived with a joke for her and that she had enjoyed waiting for me to arrive with each new "installment."

We cried for a few minutes together, then I got on with my business, but I couldn't seem to "settle down" to work. Finally, I looked up at the daughter and asked, "Would you like to hear today's joke?"

I am grateful to Heartwarmers for helping me make an old woman's last days a little more pleasant. Goodbye, Florence, I hope you continue to get a joke every day in heaven!

Janet Smith, Washington

Janet tells us she was getting her jokes from Grace Witwer. Grace offers free subscriptions to her Funny Kids ezine. If you are interested in getting this sent to you, send an email to: funnykids-subscribe@onelist.com. Also If you are interested in Heartwarmers, just send an email to: join@heartwarmers.com or visit the Heartwarmers Website.

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by Diane Hehr

Last year, when I was given the opportunity to help a retired gentleman and his wife when their vehicle had stalled in a busy intersection at night in a rainstorm. I was with my 11 year old daughter and was able to give them a ride to their "dry" and welcoming home so that they could call their Automobile Road Assistance Club to help them. As my daughter and I drove away from their home we were filled with the warmth that comes from helping others. The memory and warm feeling were both tucked neatly away in a mind that is too often filled with just getting the day's regular chores completed until I read about another story of goodness and then the feeling returns again. Each time that happens I look forward to my next opportunity to help those I can.

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by Holly

When my niece was about 11 or 12 my family spent a great deal of time playing board games. We were playing this game where there is a background-type picture, you spin for a letter and have to draw pictures that start with that letter and belong in that scene.

For example let's say a C is spun and the background is a city. You might draw a car or a cat, but not cattle because they don't belong in the city. Our background was a farm scene and the letter was N. The time ran out and we compared answers. If your answer was the same as anyone else you got no points for that word.

It was my niece's turn and she proudly announced she had one no one else got. We all looked at some sort of animal she had drawn and asked what it was. "It's a nardvark" she said.

We all said, "a what?"

"You know, nardvark, ant eater!"

I laughed and then explained it was an aardvark not a nardvark. She is now 19 and still brings it up and laughs. Oh yeah, she is a sophomore in college ...studying to be a teacher.

Holly

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As spring arrives in many areas we look at new beginnings and it seemed appropriate to me to hear the thoughts about beginnings from this next writer.

by Bevanne

My New Year's Eve enlightened me and gave me great hope for the future. No I didn't go to a fancy party with hats and noisemakers. Instead, I traveled across the entire world and back in one night. How could this be? No, it wasn't with the ghost of New Year's to come. I simply watched the CBS television millennium coverage with Peter Jennings.

It was marvelous. They showed each country as midnight hit. Once it hit the USA, New York, they went from city to city as the various time zones across the country rolled into the new year.

It was just wonderful to see all the different cultures and types of celebrations. It was truly an amazing event. The fantastic and extravagant displays of music and light in Paris, London and Rome. From the Brown Palace Hotel in Denver, Colorado where people paid $1,999.00 for the one night to a refugee camp where only tents stood and it was totally dark and silent, to Australia, New Zealand, Rio. Newfound land, the Virgin Islands, Greece. A New Years wedding in Japan, Ireland where the people of Dublin and of Derry in Northern Ireland put their weapons down and joined together to welcome the new year in song and dance. The pageantry and centuries of tradition of China, A majestic Native American celebration, full of color and heritage. The wonderful architecture and spirit of Russia, even though times are not easy for them right now. Germany, where the Berlin wall no longer stands and the people of East and West met and shared the journey into the new century. NORAD in Colorado Springs, Colorado where American and Russian soldiers sat side by side and worked together to prevent any nuclear catastrophe. An ailing Pope determined to speak to the world. His courage and determination were admirable. The performers and news anchors, who seemed as awed as I was. The smiling crowds of observers across the world, spanning all races, ages and styles. All the wonderful and different types of music and dance. The most wonderful and amazing fact to me was that amongst all this splendor and happiness not one major act of hate or terrorism has been reported. Bravo world!

It really proves that while we have some very different customs and ways of doing things, we human beings are still all so very much alike. We all have similar feelings and concerns, hopes and dreams and we all enjoy celebrations, family, friends and joy. There is so very much we could learn from each other, if only prejudice didn't exist.

My hope for this New Year and Century is that we ALL learn to look at the good in people and give each other a chance. It doesn't matter what color your skin is, if you are fat or thin, tall or short, disabled, wear glasses or hearing aids, are old or young, what country you come from, what kind of clothes you wear or what language you speak. The most beautifully wrapped package in the world could hold a lump of coal while a tattered, wrinkled paper bag, could hold the greatest treasure imaginable. All that should matter is what is in your heart. Don't turn away from someone only because they are different than you, but embrace the differences and learn from them.

Good people are good people, no matter what size, color, age, hairstyle, manner of dress etc. and bad people are bad, not BECAUSE of their color, race, clothing, etc., but only because that is the path they choose to walk. Looking at things from just your own narrow perspective gives you a very narrow minded view, while sharing ideas and having many points of view to consider can give you unlimited vision.

Watching this wonderful night unfold right before my eyes, really touched me and I sincerely hope others who watched it will see what I saw and work to make our world a kinder more accepting place. If it can work for one weekend why can't it work always? Remember, " Walk a mile in my shoes before you accuse, criticize or abuse."

Just Thoughts by Bevanne Sinclair, January 1, 2000!

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by Mary Waggoner

My husband, seven-year-old, and soon to be two-year-old went grocery shopping. We checked out and our total grocery bill was $196.99. OUCH! To make it worse we only had three coupons. It got even WORSE! Our debit card didn't work! We had the money, but the card wasn't registering!

It was 6:45 pm and I was feeding Lizzie cheese puffs to keep her from melting down as we'd been there already over an hour. Our card wasn't working and the cheque book was at home. I asked the cashier if we could just put the groceries to the side (two carts full) and leave my husband/step-son. The plan was for me to drive back home and get the cheque book.

Then the gentleman behind us said: "Don't worry about it. I'll pay for your groceries. Just send me a check for your balance."

My husband, flabbergasted, said: "It's $200!"

The man responds with, "So what? Here's my card. It has my address on it. Just send it there."

A TOTAL stranger! This man was a total stranger. As we were walking out, the stranger exclaimed: "God Bless!"

This event puts my belief back in mankind and the Lord!

by Mary Waggoner

About the writer:

I grew up in Fairfield County, Connecticut about 45 minutes out of New York City. After traveling around the world and trying on many different hats, I settled in Florida in the fall of 1996. I met my husband shortly after and became an instant step-mom to Zachary, then 4. Since then, I have held the position of Director of Research and Development (a.k.a. Mom) to Zach and Elizabeth, born May 11, 1998. I work at home as a party consultant for those in need of throwing a party within a budget. I love it! Visit my site at http://www.frugalparties.homestead.com I also do freelance writing for ElderCare Online, which specializes in Alzheimer's Disease Family Dynamics. It is a rewarding and exciting field to be in.

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by Colleen Duval

I work for a small private college in the student accounts office and I deal with students and parents every day.

Yesterday I received a phone call from a parent of one of our students. She wanted to pay anonymously over the phone for a meal plan for another student who did not have a meal plan because she could not afford it. This wonderful kind lady wanted to make sure that this young student would be able to eat dinner that night.

My heart was very touched by this act of compassion. I immediately took care of the credit card transaction and notified the campus dining office of the situation and faxed them the information they needed. I then proceeded to notify the Dean of Students that the payment had been processed so the student could indeed eat that night.

I left work that evening wondering how long this poor student has been struggling. I couldn't help but feel grateful to this lady, who reached out, from the kindness of her heart, to help someone else with a great need. Not only did this lady provide meals for this student, she also showed me there are wonderful people out there that really do care and that compassion can make a difference in someone's life.

I just hope someday that I can make a difference in someone's life as much as this lady did! I am awestruck by this act of compassion and I am sure the student who received this anonymous gift is absolutely grateful.

Colleen Duval

About the writer:

Colleen is a thirty-seven year old Accounting Clerk from Southern California. She was born and raised in Southern California and graduated with honors from Northview High School in Covina, CA.

She is a happily married Mom of two boys. Her step-son Ryan is fourteen years old and their adopted son Eric is two years old. Colleen says, "I love to write poems and I started writing poems in high school. I have several poems published in various books with the International Library of Poetry. I just recently started writing stories about events in my life. My hobbies include going to church, spending time with my family, and working on the computer. You can read some of my poems and a couple of stories on my webpages: http://www.heartwarmers.com/members/?colleend and http://www.thrill.to/colleenspoems

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Many of us have childhood memories of trips with mom and dad. I thought hearing K. Kenyon's story might bring to mind some of your own.

by K. Kenyon

When we were very small, my mom would take a small enamel pottie with us in the car. Cars were roomier in those days and there was actually room for a small child to squat right over a pottie on the back floor of the car. Mom's pottie had a handle so when we were done we would very carefully hand it to mom to dump out the window on her side. My dad wouldn't stop for the emptying so it was a tricky procedure. Mom never could remember to tip the pottie back to empty it. No, she would tip if forward and of course get it all over her arm as the wind would catch it. She would get so angry and yell at my Dad. He generally tried to tell her to turn the pot back but she wouldn't listen to him. I guess she was happy when we didn't need to take it with us anymore.

One time we were in the mountains and mom had to go to the bathroom desperately so Dad pulled over to the side of the road. The only thing she had to wipe with were pink napkins. She found a private spot behind some bushes but a wind came up and those pink napkins started flying all over the hill side. Poor mom, was mortified. She didn't want anyone to see the napkins. She tried to catch some of them but it was no use. She gave up and ran for the car yelling. A truck was coming and Mom was so concerned that the trucker would know what the napkins were for.

We were all very silent throughout all this although it was so funny, with her racing for the car and pink napkins swirling around in the air. If we had laughed we would have been in big trouble with her. Still, today I get a chuckle as I picture mom and those pink napkins!

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