Here is a link to the story, and full story below.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/harford/bal-md.ha.playground23aug23,0,4828171.story

Alex Griffith doesn’t remember it, but he lived the first year of his life at a Siberian hospital for abandoned children where the playground consisted of a single metal swing and an unkempt sandbox.

Today, because of the efforts of the North Harford High School sophomore, the play area has slides, a climbing wall and dozens of other pieces, and has become a symbol of friendship and cooperation between two nations separated by an ocean and vastly different ideologies.

Alex lived the first year of his life at a hospital for abandoned children in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk.

He was adopted in 1994 by Dwight and Jenny Griffith of Jarrettsville. As he grew, the Griffiths shared their journal of their trip to Russia with their son, one of their five adopted children.

The photo of the stark playthings gave him the motivation to launch the playground project.

For the past two years, Alex, his family, his Scout Troop 809 and the Bel Air Rotary Club have worked to raise money for the effort.

After collecting $62,000 from pit beef and candy sales and donations, there was enough to purchase 20 playground pieces and ship them, along with two 8-foot-tall wooden carvings of an eagle and a bear that grace the entrance to playground.

Alex celebrated his 16th birthday this month in the town of his birth, as he and several other volunteers from Harford County completed their work.

“Kids were playing on the pieces the whole time we were building it,” said Alex. “At the grand opening, there was a long line for the sliding board.”

The project will almost certainly earn Alex his Eagle Scout badge, the highest Boy Scout honor. It has also generated good will, spawned friendships and led to the start of Siberia’s first Scout troop.

“People kept telling us over and over that we didn’t bring a playground to Krasnoyarsk, we brought a miracle,” said Dwight Griffith, who traveled with his son, three other Scouts and their Scoutmaster on the 15-day trip. “Every day, we had people to help us, many with tears in their eyes thanking us.”

One young man saw the story on Russian TV and rode his bike to the site. He stayed three days to help. An 18-year-old patient awaiting surgery spotted the activity from his hospital room and joined them. Doctors delayed the surgery, until the day the Americans left. One morning, when the Americans arrived on the construction site, they saw a Russian worker writing “U.S. + Russia = Friends” in the playground’s sandy base.

The Russians would watch the work and pose for pictures by a sign the Americans had posted to describe the project.

“The Russians kept posing by the sign like it was a monument,” said Christian Posko, 16, who used money he was saving for a car to help pay for the trip. “I guess they really thought we were building a miracle.”

Shane Rymer, 18, a member of the same Scout troop who has joined the U.S. Marines and leaves for boot camp this weekend, said the trip “made me realize how privileged we are here and how much we take for granted.”

Rotary International arranged for the Americans to stay with Krasnoyarsk families. The group toured the orphanage, where Alex would have lived, and visited Hospital 20, where he was born.

“It was really cool,” Alex said. “Everyone knew why we had come and some even said, ‘I know that kid.’ ”

Volunteer Dave Kraft gave one child a Boy Scout bolo tie at the grand opening ceremony. He spotted the child the next day, wearing the tie and a sash made from the red, white and blue streamers at the ribbon cutting. Several dozen children were playing on the equipment, while their parents watched from benches.

“It was just like any other playground, anywhere else in the world,” he said.

Copyright © 2009, The Baltimore Sun

Walk On Video

Everything was in order and the pastor was preparing to leave when the woman suddenly remembered something very important to her. “There’s one more thing,” she said excitedly.

“What’s that?” came the pastor’s reply.

“This is very important,” the woman continued. “I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand.” The pastor stood looking at the woman, not knowing quite what to say. “That surprises you, doesn’t it?” the woman asked.

“Well to be honest, I’m puzzled by the request,” said the pastor.

The woman explained. “In all my years of attending church socials and potluck dinners, I always remember that when the dishes of the main course were being cleared, someone would inevitably lean over and say, “Keep your fork”. It was my favorite part because I knew that something better was coming, like velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie. Something wonderful, and with substance! So, I just want people to see me there in that casket with a fork in my hand and want them to wonder “What’s with the fork?” Then I want you to tell them: “Keep your fork, the best is yet to come.”

The pastor’s eyes welled up with tears of joy as he jugged the woman goodbye. He knew this would be one of the last times he would see her before her death. But, he also knew that the woman had a better grasp of heaven than he did. She KNEW that something better was coming.

At the funeral, people were walking by the woman’s casket and they saw the pretty dress she was wearing and her favorite Bible and the fork placed in her right hand.

Over and over, the pastor heard the question, “What’s with the fork?” And, over and over he smiled. During his message, the pastor told the people of the conversation he had with the woman shortly before she died. He also told them about the fork and about what it symbolized to her. the pastor told the people how he could not stop thinking about the fork and told them that they probably would not be able to stop thinking about it either. He was right. So the next time you reach down for your fork, let it remind you oh so gently, that

THE BEST IS YET TO COME ? having a spirit of optimism. These are some random thoughts about optimism. Some notes about Sister Hinckley’s life and optimism as well.

Alma changed in 72 hours ? saul of torsus on way to Damascus.

When is the best of life ? when we are young or when we are older.

?I don?t want to grow up I?m a Toys R Us kid.?

As a man thinketh so is he in Proverbs ? think the best is yet to be and create it.

Robert Browning ? the first half is preparation for the second half.

So many don?t believe it. Mosiah 2:41

This thought will change your behavior ? do you believe this.

Life is more than I ever imagined it would be. Marjorie Hinckley

My mother said, ?I have a new project to read one chapter a day from each of the standard works. I?ve been on it four days and I?m only three days behind.?

Thank you, mother for helping us laugh at ourselves and for keeping discouragement at bay.

?Happy Birthday Please get something for you with this money. I realize that it will not buy much more than a double-decker cone on today?s market. But know that my love for you is also keeping up with inflation. It triples each passing year. Love, Grandma?

?Tomorrow you will be starting out to conquer a new world. Tuck this five dollars in your pocket. You may need a bottle of glue to keep yourself together, or to keep your smile glued on. Good luck. We are so proud of you. Love, Grandma?

?Thank you, mother for loving our children.”

Excerpts from Sheri Dew?s talk:

?When I learned that Sister Hinckley had slipped through the veil, I had a flood of emotions, but through my tears I also felt a sweet jubilation. I couldn?t help but think, she did it! She did what she came here to do, and she did it magnificently, for she left everywhere she went and everyone she met better than she found them.

?Ten years ago I sat out to study the life of President Hinckley, but it quickly became apparent that it wasn?t possible to study his life without studying hers. They were hand-in-glove. Sister Hinckley was quick and bright and real. There were never any pretenses with her, She had an unbelievable sense of humor, and curiously I always left her presence feeling better about myself.

?I quickly saw that she was like a perpetual transfusion for her husband, and everyone who knew her well said she had the same effect on them. They insisted that if they could package her unique brand of optimism, they could make a fortune and change the world in the process.

?For years I tried to put my finger on just exactly what it was that made Sister Hinckley so irresistible. Marjorie was faith, hope and charity personified. It is the pure love of Christ everyone felt in her presence. It was the pure love of Christ that allowed her to stop worrying about how the world saw and treated her and let her focus on how she treated others. She simply chose to see the best in any situation.

?When Kathy lived in Hawaii and grieved over the fruit in her backyard at home, her mother told her, ?Don?t grieve over the cherries; enjoy the pineapple.

Sister Hinckley said:

?Make life an adventure.?

?Are there not days when you are simply overwhelmed by the blessings of the Lord??

?When you see what is happening in this church, it is just thrilling to get up in the morning.?

?Life is more than I ever imagined it would be.?

?She loved people. She believed in people and no one more than her husband. A year after his ordination as president of the Church she said in a regional conference. ?He is always been a very wonderful man, but there is something special about him now. The mantle is upon him and I try to remember that when he drapes his ties over the sofa. I try to remember that he isn?t perfect, just almost perfect. I?m so grateful to share his wife with them.?

?She was good humored about her advancing age. More than once she was heard to say, ?Oh to be 70 again.?

She even learned to adjust to her husband?s tendency to make last-minute travel arrangements. One incident is a family legend. One night before a trip to South American when she asked if she should plan to go with him, he said, ?Can?t we decide that in the morning??

?She told a congregation when her husband had asked her to speak, ?I can tell you why my husband has called on me. It is because he is still trying to figure out what to say and I?m supposed to stall.?

?Through it all she found joy in the journey, side-by-side with her husband, so much so that on their 59^th anniversary, she said simply, it has been 59 years of heaven on earth– which now makes this temporary parting a difficult one.

?President Hinckley, I am sure it wasn?t easy to tell us about Sister Hinckley?s failing health last Sunday in your concluding remarks, but thank you for trusting us with something so tender and for allowing us to add our prayers to yours–and we won?t stop, because now comes the challenge of carrying on.

?I?ve heard many members of the Church this week say that they are going to work a little harder to somehow lighten your load. Truly we will try to stand a little taller in your words and do our part a little better. And while 12 million members all together cannot take the place of one spunky, committed, deeply faithful, incredibly optimistic woman who was devoted to the Lord, in every time zone and on every continent, we will be praying that you will have the strength to carry on.

In President Hinckley?s first conference address 46 Aprils ago, he said that all of us are largely the product of the lives that touch ours. Today, I am deeply grateful to pay tribute to a woman whose life has touched all of ours and from whom we have learned so much. We have learned that living the gospel is the only way to be happy and that being happy is a choice.

We have learned that it is possible for a woman to be intensely supportive of her husband while continuing to grow and flourish herself. That when a righteous man and woman commit to each other completely the bond is impenetrable and eternal, that an unpretentious woman filled with the pure love of God and devoted to him can move about the entire earth and leave everybody she meets better than she found them, that a testimony of Jesus Christ is what undergirds it all, and that it is really possible in the latter part of the latter-days to do what we came here to do and to do it with joy. Marjorie Pay Hinckley is proof positive that it can be done. I will be grateful for the rest of my life for the privilege of knowing and loving and learning from this magnificent woman.

15 Reasons Mr. Rogers was the best neighbor ever!

Every once in a while back in the day I would watch Mr. Rogers, it was a great show, he would show how things are built and was an all around nice guy, I always thought the little trolley train was kind of cool too. A few years ago I barrowed a Mr. Rogers quote book from my Mom, I haven’t returned it yet because it is so dang good, and I don’t think she realizes it’s missing (if you read this mom and you want the Mr. Rogers quote book back, just let me know). Turns out Mr. Rogers isn’t just some crazy guy who wore DI sweaters and talked to trains and little muppets; this quote book is full of great tips and wisdom from a well educated Ph. D. Be sure to check out Mr. Rogers quote book.

One interesting tid bit I liked from the above article about Mr. Rogers is that he didn’t like what was on TV, so he decided to attack it head on. He made his own show that had content that he liked and thought TV should have. I would like to be more like this, when there is something we don’t like, we can’t just ignore it and be passive, we can learn from Mr. Rogers and be actively engaged in doing good, going out there and fighting for what we believe in, not just ignoring things that we don’t like. Like Edmund Burke said, “All that is required for evil to win is for good men to do nothing.” So whatever cause it is that you believe in, or are willing to fight for, be a Mr. Rogers, be an active participant in fighting for what you believe in. Be the change you hope to see in the world.

If it doesn’t play you need the plugin just go to the link.

I found a similar story today from the Hero of the Week on CNN. Carolyn LeCroy went to jail and then got out, she realized that there is really no way for jailed parents to communicate with their children. We’ve all seen the statistics that show that children of criminal parents are more likely to go down similar paths. I’ve always felt that this was partially due to the fact that the children felt disenfranchised by the fact that their parents abandoned them, or they lost contact and were never able to understand why things happened the way they did. Carolyn helps resolve this problem by providing a means of communication between parents who are imprisoned and their children. I think the worst thing we can do to people who have been knocked down by life or made mistakes is hold them to the ground and chock hold any opportunities they have of improving and changing their life for the better.

Carolyn’s project helps inmates be motivated to change because they will have communication with their loved ones who are cheering for them. It also helps the children of inmates not become bitter with what has happened as they will be able to communicate with their parents and realize the desire to improve that their parents have.

Way to go Carolyn!! Here is the link to the story – http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/06/12/heroes.lecroy/

I just watched his “Last Lecture,” and I thought it was awesome. He shares some great thought provoking life lessons and I recommend everyone watch it.This talk was modeled after an existing series of lectures where top academics were asked to think deeply about what matters to them, and then give a hypothetical “final talk”, i.e., “what wisdom would you try to impart to the world if you knew it was your last chance?” And in Randy’s case, this was more than an academic exercise.

Here is some more information about this inspiring story: Randy Pausch

The short version of the lecture is below and here is a link to the full video. The Last Lecture – Full Video

Consider the following:

There were four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody. there was an important job to be done and Everybody was asked to do it. Everbody was sure Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that, because it was Everbody’s job. Everybody thought Anybody could have done it, but nobody realized that Everybody wouldn’t do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done.

ANDRE-FRANCOIS RAFFRAY, A LAWYER FROM ARLES, FRANCE, THOUGHT HE HAD THE DEAL OF A LIFE TIME. IN 1965, HE SIGNED A CONTRACT WITH JEANNE CALMENT, THEN 90 YEARS OF AGE, TO PAY $500 A MONTH FOR HER LIFE ON THE CONDITION THAT SHE LEAVE HIM HER HOUSE WHEN SHE DIED.
RAFFRAY DIED LAST CHRISTMAS AT AGE 77. MADMA CALMENT BECAME THE WORLD’S OLDEST LIVING PERSON. SHE TURNED 121 IN FEBRUARY. WE ALL MAKE BAD DEALS IN LIFE, SAID RAFFRAY ON CALMENT’S 120 BIRTHDAY. HE PAID HER OVER $180,000. THE HOUSE IS CURRENTLY WORTH $60,000.

Of course, the upside to real estate is that you can leverage your return. Meaning instead of just getting a return on your money like in the stock market, you also get a return on the money you borrow from the bank for the mortgage. There is margin trading which allows you to borrow money to invest in the stock market. This can be risky though because if stocks plummet, you can quickly end up with a negative cash position, but with the bigger risk comes the bigger reward.

There is one responsibility which no man can evade; that responsibility is his personal influence. Man’s unconscious influence is the silent, subtle radiation of personality the effect of his words and his actions on others. This radiation is tremendous.

Every moment of life man is changing, to a degree, the life of the whole world. Every man has an atmosphere which is affecting every other man. He cannot escape for one moment from this radiation of his character, this constant weakening or strengthening of others. Man cannot evade the responsibility by merely saying it is an unconscious influence.

Man can select the qualities he would permit to be radiated. He can cultivate sweetness, calmness, trust, generosity, truth, justice, loyalty, nobility, and make them vitally active in his character. And by these qualities he will constantly affect the world. This radiation, to which I refer, comes from what a person really is, not from what he pretends to be. Every man by his mere living is radiating either sympathy, sorrow, morbidness, cynicism, or happiness and hope or any one of a hundred other qualities.

Life is a state of radiation and absorption. To exist is to radiate, to exist is to be the recipient of radiation. David O. McKay BYU April 27, 1948