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Hello All,

Well, are we really sure a new year has started? It sort of feels like 2021 decided to hang around a little longer! Because of this crazy feeling, I thought some feel good stories were in order!

Six year old Kendall Rae Johnson from Georgia is quite the phenom – she is the state’s youngest certified gardener! She started gardening at the tender age of three. She learned from her grandmother, and has been “digging in the dirt ever since.” Kendall has learned how to grow from seeds, tested products to see what helps the veggies grow the best, and created her own compost heap. Her favorite vegetables – carrots! Members of her community come to her backyard garden to help her grow and harvest. Students and Girl Scouts come by too, and for many, this is the first they are seeing food at it’s source. Kendall’s goal is to start a program for school to help kids learn how to grow their own fruits and vegetables. She is already a role model for healthy eating and helping to put a dent in food insecurity!

Major kudos to Dusti Talavera from Colorado! Dusti was looking out of her window when she saw three children fall into a frigid pond outside of her house. She raced out because “I just knew it was me who had to do it” She jumped onto the ice and pulled two of the three out. And just as she was helping the third girl, she fell through the ice too. She held the girl up and was working to get her out when the girl’s cousin threw her a rope and helped pull them to safety. The six year old was not breathing; she was resuscitated at the scene and carried to the hospital. She was kept overnight and the was discharged home to her family. One of the local firefighters said, “What she (Dusti) did was amazing. We were back at the fire station talking about how brave she was, and, gosh, if this happened to one of mine, I hope someone like her is close by.” I do too! Dusti is a superhero!

Davyon Johnson, a eleven year old from Muskogee is also a hero – twice in one day! He was at school when a classmate started to choke. Davyon did the Heinrich maneuver…..that he learned from watching YouTube! That same afternoon, he rescued an elderly woman from her burning home, escorting her out while keeping her calm. The local police department gave him a certificate for heroism – and the sheriff’s department made him an honorary deputy. Mayor Marlon Coleman said he will also be receiving the keys to his hometown. He noted that Davyon was “very heroic. He was very selfless. He did it as part of his natural personality. It wasn’t’ taught. It’s just who is as a person.” Davyon told the local newspaper, “You never know when life saving measures will come in handy. Just in case you can know what to do.” I predict Davyon is going to continue to be impressive!

Warms my heart on this cold winter day. Heroes surround us. We need to recognize them and celebrate them whenever we can! And remember you are a superhero too!

Phyl

P.S. Don’t forget to celebrate Betty White by sending a gift to your local animal shelter!