Good night dear friends!
Showing posts with label hero. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hero. Show all posts
Monday, September 23, 2013
Being a Hero and a Helper!
This just made me smile. I appreciate anyone who tries and help a child...especially a little child who is sick! Another lesson to learn is... it is the little things in life that make such a huge difference!
Good night dear friends!
Good night dear friends!
Saturday, September 14, 2013
Making a Difference, no matter what!
What an incredible example of Making a Difference No Matter What!
One woman stood in the face of extreme danger to fight for what she believed in — a world of equality.
Woman behind 'An Ordinary Hero' inspires students across the state!
Just a few months ago, proud Southerner Joan Trumpauer Mulholland returned to her alma mater, Tougaloo College in Jackson, Miss., a historically all-black school.
Mulholland and her son, Lehi resident and filmmaker Loki Mulholland, were on location filming a documentary titled "An Ordinary Hero," which features the life and heroism of one ordinary woman who risked everything to stand up for what she believed in: equality.
Now, Joan and Loki are traveling throughout Utah, sharing the story of one woman's journey of courage.
Recently, the Mulhollands attended a Sept. 10 screening and reception of their February-release documentary at Brigham Young University. There was a 30-minute screening of the film, followed by a question-and-answer panel with Joan and Loki.
Diena Simmons, station manager for KBYU-TV, said there were several reasons this film came to BYU.
"It's a very moving film. It told a piece of the civil rights story that a lot of us hadn't heard. And it was made by a local filmmaker."
Simmons said the station, which will air "An Ordinary Hero" on Sept. 15 at 9 p.m. and again on Sept. 23 at 8 p.m., likes to encourage the art and storytelling of all local filmmakers.
"(Loki) made a beautiful film about something that is universally important. Something that's just as important as it was 50 years ago."
And it was with an air of reverence that a nearly full house viewed the inspiring events that defined Joan's early life.
The year was 1960, and the civil rights movement was generating steam. But for 19-year-old Joan, the decision to join the fight for equal rights was made years before.
As a 10-year-old girl in Sunday School, Joan memorized Bible verses that taught her a golden rule: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
Another factor was an internalization of the Declaration of Independence, which Joan was required to memorize in school.
"'We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal and endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights,'" she quoted. "You take that literally. As a Christian or as an American, you are an absolute hypocrite if you are empowering segregation."
Joan said this realization came to her in grade school. That, combined with a desire as a Southerner to make her beloved South the best it could be, Joan decided to give her all to make a change.
"I'll join the group, because it really takes a group to make a change," she said.
While attending Duke University in Durham, N.C., Joan became involved in early sit-in protests. She later dropped out of Duke to dedicate her time more fully to the movement.
After participating in the first Freedom Ride in 1961, Joan joined her friends in Mississippi and continued the Freedom Rides. The group was later arrested, landing Joan two months in prison.
Joan later enrolled at Tougaloo College and became the first white woman accepted at an all-black college.
During the infamous sit-in at the Woolworth lunch counter in Greensboro, N.C., in 1963, she and other activists endured the taunting of the crowd, which swelled in intensity and began dumping ice cream and other condiments onto the protesters.
Joan recalls in the documentary that she didn't think she and her friends would make it out of that demonstration alive. Yet, she remained strong.
Mulholland and her son, Lehi resident and filmmaker Loki Mulholland, were on location filming a documentary titled "An Ordinary Hero," which features the life and heroism of one ordinary woman who risked everything to stand up for what she believed in: equality.
Now, Joan and Loki are traveling throughout Utah, sharing the story of one woman's journey of courage.
Recently, the Mulhollands attended a Sept. 10 screening and reception of their February-release documentary at Brigham Young University. There was a 30-minute screening of the film, followed by a question-and-answer panel with Joan and Loki.
Diena Simmons, station manager for KBYU-TV, said there were several reasons this film came to BYU.
"It's a very moving film. It told a piece of the civil rights story that a lot of us hadn't heard. And it was made by a local filmmaker."
Simmons said the station, which will air "An Ordinary Hero" on Sept. 15 at 9 p.m. and again on Sept. 23 at 8 p.m., likes to encourage the art and storytelling of all local filmmakers.
"(Loki) made a beautiful film about something that is universally important. Something that's just as important as it was 50 years ago."
And it was with an air of reverence that a nearly full house viewed the inspiring events that defined Joan's early life.
The year was 1960, and the civil rights movement was generating steam. But for 19-year-old Joan, the decision to join the fight for equal rights was made years before.
As a 10-year-old girl in Sunday School, Joan memorized Bible verses that taught her a golden rule: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
Another factor was an internalization of the Declaration of Independence, which Joan was required to memorize in school.
"'We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal and endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights,'" she quoted. "You take that literally. As a Christian or as an American, you are an absolute hypocrite if you are empowering segregation."
Joan said this realization came to her in grade school. That, combined with a desire as a Southerner to make her beloved South the best it could be, Joan decided to give her all to make a change.
"I'll join the group, because it really takes a group to make a change," she said.
While attending Duke University in Durham, N.C., Joan became involved in early sit-in protests. She later dropped out of Duke to dedicate her time more fully to the movement.
After participating in the first Freedom Ride in 1961, Joan joined her friends in Mississippi and continued the Freedom Rides. The group was later arrested, landing Joan two months in prison.
Joan later enrolled at Tougaloo College and became the first white woman accepted at an all-black college.
During the infamous sit-in at the Woolworth lunch counter in Greensboro, N.C., in 1963, she and other activists endured the taunting of the crowd, which swelled in intensity and began dumping ice cream and other condiments onto the protesters.
Joan recalls in the documentary that she didn't think she and her friends would make it out of that demonstration alive. Yet, she remained strong.
"I was not terrified," Joan said. "I might have been cautious; I might have been super-aware of my surroundings. But if you give way to fear, if you let fear move you, you destroy your ability to do what you need to do in the situation. The worst thing they could do was kill you, and we believed there was something better to come."
Joan remained an active supporter of the civil rights movement until the Civil Rights Act was passed in 1964.
When she is in her hometown of Washington, D.C., Joan visits Arlington National Cemetery and the grave of fellow civil rights activist Medgar Evers, who was the first field officer of the NAACP. She also makes other occasional visits — like when Barack Obama was elected president in 2008.
Joan explained in the film that the Ku Klux Klan had a list of the people most dangerous to the civil rights cause. Once a dangerous person was killed, their face was crossed out, she said.
"Medgar's face was X-ed out, but mine never was," Joan said in the documentary.
While this film has inspired countless viewers, perhaps no one has been more affected by its story than Joan's son, who wrote and directed the film.
"It's pretty cool when your mom has a mug shot," Loki said. "She was on the Klan's most wanted list. She was dangerous. That's cool."
But it's the example that Joan set that has left the greatest impression on Loki.
"I have two daughters. The example of this woman — a young lady who chose to follow her heart and not take the route of Miley Cyrus — we need those examples."
In the end, both mother and son agree, it's all about making a stand — no matter who you are.
"Most importantly, (this film) shows that ordinary people can do something. That you don't need a civil rights movement to make things happen, you just need the courage of your conviction," Loki told the Deseret News after the screening. "You just need to say, 'It's going to be me. I'm going to do something. That's where it starts.'"
Joan said it's important to understand that real people can make a difference — not just icons like Dr. Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks.
"Now us old folks are getting a little weak in the knees and maybe in the brain, so it's time for you young folks to step forward and carry it on," Joan told the students in attendance at the panel.
The final comment of the panel was from a mother and her young daughter. The mother thanked Joan for her courage and her example.
In response, Joan looked at the girl.
"Now you've got to go out and make a difference in the world. OK? Promise?"
She promised.
I found the story HERE:
Joan remained an active supporter of the civil rights movement until the Civil Rights Act was passed in 1964.
When she is in her hometown of Washington, D.C., Joan visits Arlington National Cemetery and the grave of fellow civil rights activist Medgar Evers, who was the first field officer of the NAACP. She also makes other occasional visits — like when Barack Obama was elected president in 2008.
Joan explained in the film that the Ku Klux Klan had a list of the people most dangerous to the civil rights cause. Once a dangerous person was killed, their face was crossed out, she said.
"Medgar's face was X-ed out, but mine never was," Joan said in the documentary.
While this film has inspired countless viewers, perhaps no one has been more affected by its story than Joan's son, who wrote and directed the film.
"It's pretty cool when your mom has a mug shot," Loki said. "She was on the Klan's most wanted list. She was dangerous. That's cool."
But it's the example that Joan set that has left the greatest impression on Loki.
"I have two daughters. The example of this woman — a young lady who chose to follow her heart and not take the route of Miley Cyrus — we need those examples."
In the end, both mother and son agree, it's all about making a stand — no matter who you are.
"Most importantly, (this film) shows that ordinary people can do something. That you don't need a civil rights movement to make things happen, you just need the courage of your conviction," Loki told the Deseret News after the screening. "You just need to say, 'It's going to be me. I'm going to do something. That's where it starts.'"
Joan said it's important to understand that real people can make a difference — not just icons like Dr. Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks.
"Now us old folks are getting a little weak in the knees and maybe in the brain, so it's time for you young folks to step forward and carry it on," Joan told the students in attendance at the panel.
The final comment of the panel was from a mother and her young daughter. The mother thanked Joan for her courage and her example.
In response, Joan looked at the girl.
"Now you've got to go out and make a difference in the world. OK? Promise?"
She promised.
I found the story HERE:
Monday, August 26, 2013
Learning to be your own Heroine in your life!
We just flew home from Austin tonight. It was hard to leave the kids, but felt good that most of their house was unpacked and cleaned; and best of all...it looked like HOME! Little Kai is such a cutie, so glad we had that time with him. Our son and his family are on a great adventure starting off on his own business, together I am sure they will do a great job. Their talents truly compliment each other. They already have some friends there so...that makes us feel good too!
Tonight it is late and I need to head to bed, but wanted to mention one thing. I receive emails too often from people who have suffered from sexual abuse. Most of the problem is, even when they get brave enough to tell... they aren't believed or they are even BLAMED ( if you can believe that !) Not being believed or blamed, can send you down many self destructive roads IF you aren't careful. I guess the truth is...you have to believe in yourself...before you can start down that road of healing. When you finally realized that every day that you continue to keep quiet, stay a victim, hurt yourself...that you are just continuing to give your abuser...power over you. The moment you stand up and say "NO MORE" is when you life will begin to turn around. You will be able to see things much clearer and you will start taking care of yourself and start protecting yourself. You will begin to get the power that you need to become a SURVIVOR! Then and only then, will your life really start to begin. So please if you yourself have been abused or someone you know is being abused....help them, pray for them and most of all believe them! Help them to read this quote below and realize that they truly can become their own Heroine or Hero in their life.
Good night dear friends!
Tonight it is late and I need to head to bed, but wanted to mention one thing. I receive emails too often from people who have suffered from sexual abuse. Most of the problem is, even when they get brave enough to tell... they aren't believed or they are even BLAMED ( if you can believe that !) Not being believed or blamed, can send you down many self destructive roads IF you aren't careful. I guess the truth is...you have to believe in yourself...before you can start down that road of healing. When you finally realized that every day that you continue to keep quiet, stay a victim, hurt yourself...that you are just continuing to give your abuser...power over you. The moment you stand up and say "NO MORE" is when you life will begin to turn around. You will be able to see things much clearer and you will start taking care of yourself and start protecting yourself. You will begin to get the power that you need to become a SURVIVOR! Then and only then, will your life really start to begin. So please if you yourself have been abused or someone you know is being abused....help them, pray for them and most of all believe them! Help them to read this quote below and realize that they truly can become their own Heroine or Hero in their life.
Good night dear friends!
Monday, July 29, 2013
Teenage Hero... and inspiring true story!
Teenager loses a friend, saves a life and learns a lot about himself.
Angel's best friend was killed in October while walking to school.
Edwin Cardoso, 14, was crossing 600 North on his way to West High when he was struck by a utility truck. Angel, 15, said he saw Edwin that morning and had walked with him briefly before being picked up. He offered Edwin a ride, too, but his friend preferred to walk.
"He walked everywhere," Angel said. "It wasn't just school. If you asked him for a ride he would say 'No' and would just walk. … He loved doing it."
Angel was in class when he was called to the school counselor's office three or four hours later and was asked if he had heard what happened. He had no idea what they were talking about.
Then they told him.
"The first thing that went through my head was, 'What type of person would not see a kid walking across the street?' So when I went through in my mind I kept asking, 'What hit him? Was it someone who was texting and driving? Was it a drunk driver?' No. It was just a 19-year-old kid."
He first went to see Edwin's mother, then to the place where his friend was hit.
"It was extremely hard for me," he said. "It was hard because I felt like I could have done something to stop it. I thought through it plenty of times. I still think through it. I think, 'What if he had said yes (to the ride)?' He would still be here."
Edwin was pretty quiet, but was also energetic and always knew what to say and do in a situation. Angel still misses his "randomness" and the way he could always make him laugh with a sporadic text.
He said he came to grips with Edwin's death. But not long after, he started wondering when something good would happen to him after such a devastating loss.
A day to swim
On June 19, Angel went to swim at the Willow Cove Apartments, 9300 S. Redwood Road, at the invitation of his aunt, who lives at the complex. A woman with a young son let him into the pool area. Later, Angel and the son were both in the pool, both swatting at the same pesky bee.
Angel was swimming in the deep end of the pool when he saw an empty flotation device. It looked familiar and he was trying to remember which child he had seen using it when a girl pointed out something on the bottom of the pool.
He immediately dove down, picked the boy up and brought him to the surface. He said several years as a Boy Scout helped him know what to do.
"I've been trained for this," Angel said, adding that he also tried to help the mother perform CPR. "(The boy) was small. He wasn't breathing, he was stiff and he was actually extremely heavy.
"At first I was like, 'I just pulled a kid out of the water. I hope he's breathing.' And then once I laid him down, I stared at him for a little bit and noticed he wasn't breathing and then it finally came to me that he was really cold and heavy, so I was really scared."
He said that by the time firefighters and paramedics arrived, the boy was breathing again. Angel said he had repeatedly told the boy's mother that it would be OK. The woman thanked and hugged him and left with her child, who was transported to the hospital.
"I was in so much shock," Angel said. "I was so amazed I knew what to do. … I was kind of worried. I didn't know what to do or what to think because I didn't know if he was OK or not."
Edwin Cardoso, 14, was crossing 600 North on his way to West High when he was struck by a utility truck. Angel, 15, said he saw Edwin that morning and had walked with him briefly before being picked up. He offered Edwin a ride, too, but his friend preferred to walk.
"He walked everywhere," Angel said. "It wasn't just school. If you asked him for a ride he would say 'No' and would just walk. … He loved doing it."
Angel was in class when he was called to the school counselor's office three or four hours later and was asked if he had heard what happened. He had no idea what they were talking about.
Then they told him.
"The first thing that went through my head was, 'What type of person would not see a kid walking across the street?' So when I went through in my mind I kept asking, 'What hit him? Was it someone who was texting and driving? Was it a drunk driver?' No. It was just a 19-year-old kid."
He first went to see Edwin's mother, then to the place where his friend was hit.
"It was extremely hard for me," he said. "It was hard because I felt like I could have done something to stop it. I thought through it plenty of times. I still think through it. I think, 'What if he had said yes (to the ride)?' He would still be here."
Edwin was pretty quiet, but was also energetic and always knew what to say and do in a situation. Angel still misses his "randomness" and the way he could always make him laugh with a sporadic text.
He said he came to grips with Edwin's death. But not long after, he started wondering when something good would happen to him after such a devastating loss.
A day to swim
On June 19, Angel went to swim at the Willow Cove Apartments, 9300 S. Redwood Road, at the invitation of his aunt, who lives at the complex. A woman with a young son let him into the pool area. Later, Angel and the son were both in the pool, both swatting at the same pesky bee.
Angel was swimming in the deep end of the pool when he saw an empty flotation device. It looked familiar and he was trying to remember which child he had seen using it when a girl pointed out something on the bottom of the pool.
He immediately dove down, picked the boy up and brought him to the surface. He said several years as a Boy Scout helped him know what to do.
"I've been trained for this," Angel said, adding that he also tried to help the mother perform CPR. "(The boy) was small. He wasn't breathing, he was stiff and he was actually extremely heavy.
"At first I was like, 'I just pulled a kid out of the water. I hope he's breathing.' And then once I laid him down, I stared at him for a little bit and noticed he wasn't breathing and then it finally came to me that he was really cold and heavy, so I was really scared."
He said that by the time firefighters and paramedics arrived, the boy was breathing again. Angel said he had repeatedly told the boy's mother that it would be OK. The woman thanked and hugged him and left with her child, who was transported to the hospital.
"I was in so much shock," Angel said. "I was so amazed I knew what to do. … I was kind of worried. I didn't know what to do or what to think because I didn't know if he was OK or not."
Eventually, his sister got in touch with the boy's mother who reported that the child was doing well.
"It was a giant relief," Angel said. "I was extremely happy."
Not long after, Angel's family learned that the teenager would be receiving a lifesaver award from the city of West Jordan. West Jordan Fire Chief Marc McElreath said the awards are given to civilians who intervene in situations and save someone.
Once the 4-year-old boy had been pulled from the pool, revived and was en route to the hospital, McElreath said the child's mother explained what Angel had done.
"I think Angel, being (15) years old, showed great composure and saw a situation that didn't look right and acted above his age level to actually go investigate and take action to pull the 4-year-old out of the pool, which is remarkable," the fire chief said, also praising the child's mother for her CPR efforts.
"It was a very nice experience for me," Angel said of receiving the award, "because I was very excited that I could finally meet the little kid. He was very interactive."
Lessons learned
He said the boy's mother spoke at the meeting when the award was given and said that she would always watch news reports about things like the near-drowning and wonder where the child's parent was.
Angel says sometimes things just happen.
"And sometimes it will have a good outcome like this or sometimes it will have a bad outcome, but it just all happens."
He said he's learned from Edwin's death, and from the life-saving day for the 4-year-old.
"It's just something that happened and I had to get used to it and I was hoping for something good to happen and it just came to me," Angel said.
And while being called a hero was weird at first, it still makes him smile. And it has him looking forward.
Losing Edwin didn't keep him from walking places.; it actually prompted him to walk more. He said he pays attention while driving and said he won't even listen to music when on the road.
This has all confirmed his plan to become a trauma doctor, because he sees the good doctors can do.
"I want to have that feeling of saving someone's life," he said. "I really like that feeling."
~ By Emiley Morgan, Deseret News
"It was a giant relief," Angel said. "I was extremely happy."
Not long after, Angel's family learned that the teenager would be receiving a lifesaver award from the city of West Jordan. West Jordan Fire Chief Marc McElreath said the awards are given to civilians who intervene in situations and save someone.
Once the 4-year-old boy had been pulled from the pool, revived and was en route to the hospital, McElreath said the child's mother explained what Angel had done.
"I think Angel, being (15) years old, showed great composure and saw a situation that didn't look right and acted above his age level to actually go investigate and take action to pull the 4-year-old out of the pool, which is remarkable," the fire chief said, also praising the child's mother for her CPR efforts.
"It was a very nice experience for me," Angel said of receiving the award, "because I was very excited that I could finally meet the little kid. He was very interactive."
Lessons learned
He said the boy's mother spoke at the meeting when the award was given and said that she would always watch news reports about things like the near-drowning and wonder where the child's parent was.
Angel says sometimes things just happen.
"And sometimes it will have a good outcome like this or sometimes it will have a bad outcome, but it just all happens."
He said he's learned from Edwin's death, and from the life-saving day for the 4-year-old.
"It's just something that happened and I had to get used to it and I was hoping for something good to happen and it just came to me," Angel said.
And while being called a hero was weird at first, it still makes him smile. And it has him looking forward.
Losing Edwin didn't keep him from walking places.; it actually prompted him to walk more. He said he pays attention while driving and said he won't even listen to music when on the road.
This has all confirmed his plan to become a trauma doctor, because he sees the good doctors can do.
"I want to have that feeling of saving someone's life," he said. "I really like that feeling."
~ By Emiley Morgan, Deseret News
Friday, August 31, 2012
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Be you own hero!
I personally learned this concept right after Amy was born and I realized in order to protect her that I was going to have to brake the generations of abuse that was in my family. As soon as she was placed in my arms, I knew beyond a shadow of doubt that I needed to protect her at all costs. However that was going to take great faith and courage on my part, I knew that it wouldn’t be an easy thing to do, I feared how my family would take it. But the truth was, this abuse had been going on for generations and it had to be stopped. I realized that I had to fight this battle no matter what, no one else was going to do that.
The night that I told my parents, it was awful, all I could remember was the feeling of somehow is still must have been my fault. After my parents had left, I begin to doubt my ability to continue to go through with this tough decision…I seemed to sense the gravity of what I was starting to do, and truly felt like I wasn’t strong enough to do so. Incest is like a weed, if you decide to stop it ( or pull it up ) you have NO IDEA how many roots it has, or have far they have reached. So that is what makes it so hard, you have no idea how big the battle will be or how many years you will have to keep fighting.
For the first time in my life, I begged my Heavenly Father to let me die ( I was not thinking of suicide, I just wanted Him to take me right then and there) I told Him this was much bigger than me, I didn’t feel I could go through it. My parents reaction was one of blame on me, and how could I go on and tell the rest of the family. That night after my prayers I felt a sense of peace and in my heart I felt like I could hear my Heavenly Father tell me that it was not time for me to come home, and that I could and needed be strong enough to break this silence of incest. He told me that there we generations counting on me, that there were other women who needed to see my example, and that my future children as well as Amy, needed a Mom who had great faith and courage. He then promised me I could come home when my mission was over and that HE would hold me and protect me forever.
I can’t even explain the feeling I had after that connection, I knew this was my battle and no one else was going to fight it. I knew what the God expected of me, and I knew that no matter how hard it might be, that I was not alone in this fight.
That was one of the toughest things I ever did in all my life, battling cancer took a close second. But even though it was a long hard battle, there was a big separation in our family because of it, and to some…I was still the bad guy. I can honestly say… I know that I did what God needed me to do, and my kids ( the next generation ) were protected and that was… worth any of it! I encourage anyone who is being abused or knows of abuse…to stand up and fight it with everything you have. Ask for help, don’t be afraid. Abuse is wrong, it was 40 some years ago when I was a little girl, and it is still wrong today!
Good night dear friends!
Child abuse casts a shadow the length of a lifetime. ~ Herbert Ward
The consequences of your denial will be with you for a lifetime and will be passed down to the next generations. Break your Silence on Abuse! ~ Patty Rase Hopson
The only reason why child abuse is alive today, is because we as adults fail our children when we fail to listen to them. Listen to a child today! ~ Heather McClane
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