Good Living Guide

Seniors

Woman Finds Long-Lost Engagement Ring On A Carrot 13 Years Later

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You might not find buried treasure when you dig in your garden, but one woman found something she valued more than any pirate’s booty. She found the engagement ring she’d lost more than a decade earlier.

Woman Finds Long-Lost Engagement Ring On A Carrot 13 Years Later

Digging for Trouble

The story goes back 13 years. Mary Grams, who is now 84, was working on her family’s vegetable farm when her engagement ring slipped off her finger and into the dirt. Although she searched frantically for days, Grams never found the ring.

Grams swore her children to secrecy. She even bought an inexpensive, look-alike ring from a local jeweler to avoid telling her husband about her lost ring. Her husband died about five years later.

Lost and Found

One day, her granddaughter said she’d found a carrot growing around a ring in the same family garden plot. Sure enough, it was the long-lost ring. Grams recognized it immediately.

Carrots and Carats

Grams is not the first woman to find a lost ring in her carrot patch. In 1995, a Swedish woman named Lena Paahlsson found her ring wrapped around a carrot 16 years after she lost it.

So, what’s the moral of the story? It’s a good idea to eat your carrots. You never know what you might find wrapped around them.

Man Writes Poem Called ‘Pennies From Heaven’ To Honor His Grandfather

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Writer Charles Mashburn has penned an unforgettable tribute to his grandfather in a touching poem titled “Pennies From Heaven”.

Mashburn is the author of several suspense novels and a devotional titled Be Still…And Know I am God. His poem about his grandfather has appeared on hundreds of websites and inspired millions of people.

Pennies From Heaven

The Origin of the ‘Pennies From Heaven’ Story

The poem is based on a short story he wrote about his grandfather. In the story, four-year-old Mashburn takes a walk with his grandfather shortly after his grandmother’s death.

As Mashburn tells it, his grandfather kept picking up pennies he spotted on the road. When the little boy asked why, his grandfather answered,

“I believe that all found pennies come from heaven. God gives them to his angels, you see, and when an angel, in this case your grandma, looks down here and sees you’re missing her, she tosses one of her pennies down so you’ll know she’s thinking about you.”

Ongoing Inspiration

Mashburn says he is still amazed at his poem’s impact.

“Several times a year, it will pop up on Facebook, or someone will send me an email asking if they can use it on a product or in a book,” Mashburn notes. “I never say no because I figure, if it blesses folks, who am I to stop it from doing so?”

Pennies from Heaven

 I found a penny today,

Just laying on the ground.

But it’s not just a penny,

This little coin I’ve found.

Found pennies come from heaven.

That’s what my Grandpa told me.

He said “Angels toss them down.”

Oh, how I loved that story.

He said when an angel misses you,

They toss a penny down,

Sometimes just to cheer you up,

To make a smile out of a frown.

So don’t pass by that penny

When you’re feeling blue;

It may be a Penny from Heaven

That an Angel’s tossed to you.

Copyright © 1998 C Mashburn

Grandfather With Vitiligo Crochets Dolls To Boost Children’s Self-Esteem

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When one grandfather took up crocheting as a retirement hobby, he had no idea it would lead to a whole new career creating inspiring, life-changing dolls for children and adults.

 

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Making a Memory

Joao Stanganelli, Jr., a 64-year-old Brazilian man, wanted to give his granddaughter a memory of himself that would be more meaningful than a photograph. He decided to make her a crochet doll.

Stanganelli has vitiligo, a skin condition that causes the skin to lose pigmentation unevenly. When he made the doll, he named her Vitiliga and gave her the same white patches he had.

Inclusion and Self-Esteem

His granddaughter and her friends loved the doll. Soon, children and adults with vitiligo were asking for their own dolls.

Stanganelli and his wife estimate they have made more than 200 dolls for people with skin conditions, physical disabilities, visual impairment and other things that made them feel left out, embarrassed or ashamed.

 

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“I want to give them representation and self-esteem,” he said.

He’s Still Crocheting Away

Stanganelli uses the amigurumi method of crocheting. Amigurumi items tend to be soft and fluffy, which makes them especially comforting.

His Instagram page features dozens of children posing with their doll replicas. The busy grandfather says he’s still working hard, but now he gets to work at something that brings joy to himself and others.

 

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Centenarians Married For 82 Years Share Secret To A Happy Marriage

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Everyone hopes for a long, happy marriage when they say their vows, but some couples give a whole new meaning to the concept. That’s the case for two centenarians in Charlotte, North Carolina, who just celebrated 82 years of wedded bliss.

That’s a Lot of Anniversaries

D.W. Williams and his sweetheart Willie first got married in 1937. Since then, they’ve lived out every word of the “for better or for worse” promises that most couples make on their wedding day. They have been through tough times, good times and everything in between. They had three children and dozens of grandchildren.

In May, the couple appeared on the Steve Harvey Show to talk about the secrets to a long, happy relationship. Despite prodding from Steve and his audience, the couple said they couldn’t offer any secrets because they didn’t really have any.

“We just find funny things to talk about,” said Willie.

They Love God and Each Other

Their granddaughter believes it’s their faith that binds them. “They still go to church every Sunday,” she said. “They love God and each other.”

D.W. put it simply during an interview with a local news program. “Don’t fuss,” he said, meaning he never argues with any decision Willie makes. Who knew it could be that easy?

Grandma Rescues Base Jumper Dangling Off High-Rise Building

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A video of a base jumper being rescued by an elderly woman has emerged on social media and gone viral. The incident occurred at an Acapulco resort in Mexico after the base jumper, Kody Kosloski, misjudged his trajectory and crashed into the woman’s high-rise apartment.

Grandma Rescues Base Jumper

Inside Edition / Kody Kosloski

Footage of the Scary Incident

Kosloski, a Michigan resident, was recording his stunt from the top of the tall building. The on-body camera captured his descent and unexpected veer to the left. Then, he crashed into the side of the apartment block.

For a few seconds, Kosloski dangled on the side of the building before an elderly woman appeared on the balcony below him. As she asked him what he needed, he told her that he was OK. When he failed to climb up to the balcony above, he pulled out a knife to cut himself free.

Kosloski was able to steady himself between the railing and roof of her balcony. As he cut himself loose, the elderly woman reached out her hands to safely guide him onto her balcony. He survived with only a scratch on his knee.

After the Rescue

When Kosloski landed safely, he yelled, “I’m OK,” to a cheering crowd. Then, the camera panned over to his base-jumping equipment, which was still attached to the building.

The elderly woman offered him a glass of water, but he declined. In an interview with Inside Edition, Kosloski said, “That lady was a sweetheart, very helpful, kind and nice. I’m sorry for scaring her.”

GPS Shoes Now Available For Seniors With Alzheimer’s And Dementia

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If you have a loved one with dementia or Alzheimer’s, the possibility that they might wander is a serious concern. Now, you can use soles with built-in GPS to track them everywhere they go.

SmartSoles Are a Smart Idea

The insoles are made by a company called GPS SmartSole. The insoles use GPS and cellular technology to track the person wearing them. You can use your phone or your computer to get the person’s location.

They look just like the insoles that you’d buy at the drugstore. They’re small, lightweight and discreet.

Peace of Mind for Caregivers

Patti Ciancaglini is the wife and caregiver of former professional boxer Ray Ciancaglini, who is now a concussion awareness activist. In a video, Patti explains that Ray enjoys walking around their outdoor property, but she worries that he’ll get lost.

SmartSole allows Ray to enjoy his walks without wandering into dangerous areas or getting lost. It also gives Patti peace of mind and allows her to keep Ray at home instead of taking him to a nursing home.

Safety First

The SmartSole is designed for:

  • Adults with Alzheimer’s or dementia.
  • Children with special needs.
  • People with traumatic brain injury.
  • Anyone who’s at risk of wandering.

Therapist Lynette Louise, who specializes in working with developmentally disabled clients, uses the soles to help her clients get a taste of freedom while staying safe.

An Uncommon Solution to a Common Problem

Alzheimer’s and dementia cases are on the rise. SmartSoles are a smart solution that will make life a little easier for everyone.