Wonderful Story - $19K on toy shopping spree for charity

Texans WR Andre Johnson drops $19K on toy shopping spree for charity

Here's an NFL story designed to warm your heart and terrify your wallet. Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson, one of the league's unquestioned good guys, on Tuesday performed what's becoming an annual ritual for him: a Toys "R" Us shopping spree for at-risk youth in Houston.

Johnson's Foundation, the Andre Johnson Charitable Foundation, funded the spree, in which 12 children selected by Child Protective Services had 80 seconds to fill up their carts with as many toys as they could. And oh, could they fill those carts.

"You hear a minute and twenty seconds, and you don't think that's a long time, but you'd be surprised by what these kids can put into their buckets," Johnson said afterward. You can see his gargantuan receipt in the photo at right.

The children, ranging in ages from 8 to 16, have all suffered parental abuse in some form and now live with extended family members. But each child made sure to purchase toys for siblings and other relatives as well.

Johnson's foundation performs several works throughout the year for children in both Houston and Johnson's Miami hometown. But he told the team's website that it's the Toys "R" Us event that he enjoys the most.

"I think it's probably the best one because you get to see the kids really enjoy it," he said. "That's what this season is about. It's something I look forward to. The kids are happy, they get what they want for Christmas, and that's all that matters."



After the spree, Johnson also joined the Houston Police Department's Blue Santa program to surprise 800 students at Houston's Bastian Elementary School with Christmas presents.

Johnson stressed that he had traveled the path many of these kids were on, and he hoped they could learn from his example: "I grew up in a single-parent home and I was fortunate to achieve my goals," he said. "So, whatever goals you have, just keep them out in front of you, don't let anybody distract you away from them, because there will be distractions that try to detour you away from your goals. That's the biggest thing."


Andre Johnson. (Via @DTGoteraKHOU)
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/texans-wr-andre-johnson-drops-19k-toy-shopping-205258442--nfl.html

Summer Fruit

Green Tip


Summer Fruit: Organic or Conventional?

We all know that organic food is generally safer to consume, but many can't afford it. You can save money if you know what's important to buy organic and what may not be worth the extra expense. Fruits with edible skins have more of a tendency to attract insects, fungi and rot and are often treated with more pesticides, which can penetrate their permeable skin. For those, it's important to buy organic. But fruits with peels or rinds tend to be naturally hearty and clean. Here are some suggestions:

Buy Organic

Peaches and Nectarines

Strawberries and Blueberries

Cherries

Imported Grapes

Apples 

Buy Conventional

Melons

Avocados

Pineapples

Mangoes

Kiwi

Worrying

"Worrying does not empty tomorrow of its troubles...it empties today of its strength."

So hard to not worry about things, but have been thinking about it after my sister-in-law posted that she has been worrying about everything, and now she is worrying about her worrying.  Will continue working on living in the present.

Quotation of the Day


No kind action ever stops with itself. One kind action leads to another. Good example is followed. A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees. The greatest work that kindness does to others is that it makes them kind themselves. ~ Amelia Earhart

Girl Scouts of Northern California Gear Up to Host Centennial Event

Girl Scouts of Northern California Gear Up to Host Centennial Event