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Watch 94-Year-old Get Out of Wheelchair to Make One Last Snow Angel

Saturday was the first good snow of the season in Bigfork, Montana.

Ilene Gembala, who is a 94-year-old resident of the Rising Mountains assisted living center, told her caregiver she loved the snow and wanted to make a snow angel.

“At first we weren’t sure we should accommodate this request because it was pretty cold (30 degrees),” said Amanda Douglas in a message to Good News Network.

She’s in a wheelchair and it might prove difficult for them to get her down to the ground and then back up again.

“Well, we decided she’s a Montana girl that can handle the cold and that we would make it work. So after figuring out the logistics, getting approval from her daughter, and bundling her up, we took Ilene outside.”

WATCHMom With Dementia has Cutest Reaction to Being Given a Robotic Cat

She loved it! And the caretakers, who also recorded a video for Facebook, felt very accomplished.

“She had a visitor later that day and was bragging about going outside and doing a snow angel—it was pretty cute!”

Douglas added, “We were so glad that we could make this wish come true for her, because when you’re 94 years old you should be able to do what you want.”

WATCH the video below…

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This Adorable Tiny Furniture Collection Was Designed Just For Cats

If your cat is too stylish for IKEA, have no fear – there will soon be a new furniture collection designed just for your feline friends.

The kitty decor, which is being made and designed by furniture consortium Okawa Kagu, is actually just smaller versions of the pieces they already manufacture for humans.

LOOKMan Quits His Job to Explore Australia With a Cat and a Campervan

While some cat furniture lines may already exist, Okawa Kagu’s line has a startlingly chic design for even the most sophisticated feline.

Currently, the collection consists of a pine sofa by Hiromatsu Furniture, and a darker wooden cat bed by Tateno Mokuzai.

The sofa and bed are both commercially available through the manufacturer’s respective websites, but they can also be seen on display at the Okawa Terrazza – a showroom in Okawa, Japan which highlights the works of local craftsmen.

The furniture is also a part of Okawa Kagu’s “Craftsman MADE” campaign that features quality work of decor artisans.

(WATCH the video below)

Click To Share The Pawesome Story With Your Friends (Photo by Okawa City)

Watch Guy Save Falling Cat Using Only His Backpack

A Russian man is being hailed as a hero after he managed to catch a falling cat who had been dangling from a cable strung across a two-story building.

Earlier this month, a woman named Natalia Kompan captured footage of the distressed feline struggling to cling to the wire above their heads. Another man can be seen standing directly under the cat with an open backpack held.

RELATEDGymnast Falling on Her Head Saved By Coach With Ninja Moves (VIDEO)

The two can be heard saying coaxing phrases to the cat until finally, the cat loses its grip and plunges to the ground.

But have not fear – the man uses his backpack to make a spectacular catch and safely cushions the feline’s fall.

The cat, who was suspected to have climbed out of a window of the Sochi building, is unharmed after the fall, even though it had reportedly been dangling from the cable for 30 minutes.

(WATCH the great catch in the video below)

Click To Share The Pawesome Rescue With Your Friends

Doctor Stuns With Extraordinary Singing Voice Between Surgeries: ‘Music is Medicine’

This doctor does not just have the talent to save lives – he also has the ability to lift spirits.

Dr. Elvis Francois, an orthopedic surgeon at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, New York, had just finished with a spine trauma surgery when he took a break in the operating room to sing a little song.

The doctor filmed himself crooning a breathtaking rendition of Nina Simone’s “Feelin’ Good”, which he later posted to his Instagram account.

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Francois says that he enjoys singing at work – whether it is to the patients or to his fellow staff members – because “music is medicine”.

We understand what he means, too – how can you not feel a little better after listening to Francois’s soothing set of pipes?

“I grew up singing and I have always been interested in music,” Francois told Inside Edition. “Recently I’ve been posting it to social media more. Singing helps keep [people’s] spirits lifted in between cases. I usually sing around the operating staff.”

(WATCH the video below)

Help Your Friends Feel Good: Click To Share The Breathtaking Video

Buy Your Coffee to Help 40 Firefighters Who Lost Their Homes in Wildfires

Thousands of firefighters who in late October were still battling 10 wildfires in California have finally achieved near full containment, but as these brave men and women returned to their families, many of them had no homes. The blazes destroyed thousands of structures, including 40 homes that belonged to firefighters on the front lines of the deadliest fires in the state’s history.

We reached out to Luke Schneider, the CEO & Founder of Fire Department Coffee to see how we could help. Besides being a firefighter himself, Luke’s company gives back a portion of all sales to fire department charities.

*Buy a Bag of Coffee in This Exclusive 10% Off Sale— with 10% Going to Cal Firefighters!

“As a firefighter, I used to drink coffee just to stay awake and alert, until my wife got me hooked on drinking good coffee,” Luke told us. “We started roasting beans together, and decided to give a portion of our sales to firehouse charities—and we love that aspect.”

Their experimental blends are a big hit, and the Navy veteran agreed to offer GNN readers an extra 10% off their order and, in an exclusive partnership, will also give 10% of the proceeds to the California firefighters who lost their homes. (Note: Discount is applied on the Check-out page)

100% of the charity funds raised through this delicious coffee sale will go toward Go Fund A Hero, a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit managed by International Association of Fire Fighters locals from Marin County and Santa Rosa—two of the hardest hit regions.

Buy Your Beans for Less, and Help Firefighters Rebuild Their Lives

10 percent of each coffee purchased on sale will be distributed equally among the 40 firefighter families who were victims of the North Bay area fires—with 100% of funds raised for charity going directly to the firefighters, because Fire Department Coffee will deliver a check to GoFundaHero, eliminating the credit card fees associated with giving donations online.

By clicking THIS link, your discount is automatically applied to your order at the Check Out page.

Lend a hand and raise a cup for the awesome firefighters that saved the historic town of Sonoma and surrounding areas of Napa Valley: Order a bag right now.

YOU CAN HELP by SHARING This Link

Check Out the Crappy First Jobs for Elon Musk, Taylor Swift and Madonna

Did you know that before Elon Musk was worth $21 billion, he was a jumpsuit-wearing janitor? Or that Taylor Swift’s former job was keeping Christmas trees free of insects?

It’s hard to think about the world’s most elite celebrities and geniuses flipping burgers at McDonald’s – but everyone has to start somewhere.

CHECK OUTRobert Downey Jr. Comes to the Rescue of Bullied 7-Year-old

While some of the stars, like Richard Branson, have said that being a low-paid employee taught them the value of hard work, others said exactly what countless others before them have said: it sucked.

So, from rags to riches, here are 10 celebrities who worked in very unglamorous jobs before they found their calling and caught wind in their sails:

weird first jobs of successful people

Click To Share These Surprising Fun Facts With Your Friends – (Featured credits: Branson by Burdett Taylor, CC; and Swift by Dimitrios Kambouris for TAS and Getty)

Model Gives Surprise Birthday Photo Shoot to Sister with Down Syndrome: ‘Her Happiness is My Happiness’

Supermodel Chris Garafola credits the success of his career to the inspiration he draws from his sister, who has Down syndrome.

Brittany turned 32 years old in July—and because her family always orchestrates something special for her birthday, she excitedly waited to see what they had cooked up next.

It was her 29-year-old brother, this year, who took the lead and spent weeks organizing a lavish photo shoot for his big sister.

CHECK OUT: Strangers Step Up For Man With Down Syndrome Who Lost Beloved Film Collection in Fire

Ever since they were kids, Brittany always wanted to do the same things her brother did – including modeling in front of a camera.

So when she was led to a field filled with photo equipment, she was overwhelmed with emotion.

“She started jumping up and down and giving me a hug and crying,” Garafola told PEOPLE. “It was really emotional.”

“She’s been my best friend from the beginning,” Garafola added. “For me, my purpose here is to make sure my sister has a good life, is protected and is healthy. Her happiness is my happiness, and that has held true from when we were kids to today.”

(WATCH the video below)

Click To Share The Sweet Story With Your Friends

India Bans Circuses From Using Wild Animals For Exhibition

Wild animals will never again be forced to dance or perform in circus shows in India thanks to a new piece of legislation passed earlier this week.

The nation’s Central Zoo Authority (CZA) passed an order stating that circuses would no longer be allowed to use wild animals for exhibition or performance. Additionally, it announced that they would be deregistering several circuses following a year-long investigation into animal rights violations under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act from 1960.

While monkeys, lions, bears, and tigers were all banned from being used for entertainment in 1998, elephants could still technically be utilized in the shows. A recent evaluation that was conducted by the CZA and supported by animal rights organizations found that none of the elephants used in India’s circuses were free from humane violations.

CHECK OUT: Mexico City Passes Landmark Dolphin Captivity Ban

In light of these violations, there are now no circuses that are registered by the body of India.

The court-ordered cancellation notice states that the entertainment groups had been warned of their violations in previous years, and still made no effort to correct them.

All the elephants that were previously used in shows will now be going to wildlife rehabilitation centers, according to India Today.

In 2016, Iran became the ninth country to ban animal circus shows and, that same year,  Ringling Bros. paraded elephants for final time.

SHARE to Applaud this Show Closing (Photo by hbp_pix, CC)

Watch Hilarious Mannequin Guys Surprise Unsuspecting Passersby

If laughter is good for you, then this video is definitely a good daily dose of medicine.

YouTube pranksters Alex Stifler and Jad Khawandi of the How About Beirut channel just released a fourth video installment of themselves dressing up as mannequins outside of the Il Sarto clothing store and surprising random pedestrians.

RELATED VIDEO: Need a Laugh? Watch Award-winning Short Film About Forcing a Cat to Go to the Vet

Their first mannequin video installment was so popular on the internet, it wracked up over 2 million views.

The three sequels to the Beirut-based duo’s stunt are all equally as funny. The latest footage was appropriately released on Halloween earlier this week.

(WATCH the video below)

Click To Share The Side-Splitting Video With Your Friends

Houston Astros Player Proposes To Girlfriend On Live TV After Team Wins Their 1st World Series

Winning your very first World Series title is a huge moment in any baseball player’s life. But Carlos Correa made the night even more memorable with what he did during his first interview immediately following the game.

The Houston Astros defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on November 1, 2017. A World Series win is a major event for any team in Major League Baseball, but for the Astros, it was particularly significant.

The team hadn’t won a single championship since joining the major leagues back in 1962, according to the New York Times. It was even more impressive given that they won the high-stakes seventh game in the series on the Dodgers’ home turf! The Astros beat the Dodgers with a final score of 5-1 in Game 7, clinching the series by taking their fourth-game win over the Dodgers’ three-game win.

Carlos, the star shortstop for the Astros, was in the middle of a live interview after his team’s historic victory.

“Right now, I’m about to take another big step in my life,” the 23-year-old player told Fox Sports: MLB on Wednesday night. At that point, he turned to his girlfriend, 21-year-old Daniella Rodriguez. Daniella is a beauty queen who has held the titles of Miss Texas USA 2016 and Miss Texas Teen 2013, according to People.

Daniella was visibly floored and completely shocked when her boyfriend turned to her and dropped down on one knee, presenting her with a beautiful diamond ring.

Astros third baseman Alex Bregman told Yahoo Sports that the team knew about Carlos’ proposal plan for a few days ahead of the big moment. Carlos had originally been planning to pop the question after Game 6, but pushed the plans back a day after the Astros lost that game, according to Alex. Daniella told Yahoo Sports that her husband-to-be had asked one of the clubhouse attendants to hang onto the ring and bring it to him if the Astros won the series.

Talk about an incredible live television moment!

Congrats to the Houston Astros on their win — and congrats to Carlos and Daniella on their big step! Click the link below to see the heartwarming proposal on live TV.

Score Big With Your Friends: Click To SharePhoto by WFTS Tampa Bay

The ‘Pangolin Men’ Are Protecting The World’s Most Trafficked Mammal

A post shared by Adrian Steirn (@adriansteirn) on

 

Pangolins may not be very good at protecting themselves, but that is why they have a team of men who are dedicated to watching over them.

These members of the Tikki Hywood Trust, also known as the “Pangolin Men” of Zimbabwe, are a group of volunteers who spend their lives rehabilitating pangolins who have been rescued from poachers.

The caretakers ensure that the ant-eating mammals are able to hunt and forage for themselves before they are released back into the wild.

LOOKOrphan Baby Rhinos Heal With Help of Hand-knit Blankets

“We walk them, we feed them, we protect them – all like our children,” says one of the volunteers in the video below.

In November 2016, wildlife photographer Adrian Steirn traveled to the organization’s facilities and photographed the Pangolin Men with their scaly friends – and the results were breathtaking.

MOREDame Saves Orphaned Elephants for 50 Years With Own Milk Recipe

Steirn says that he wanted to capture the incredible bond of trust exhibited by the critters and their caretakers in hopes that it would raise awareness of pangolin poaching.

Pangolins are considered to be the world’s most trafficked animal due to the high demand for their meat and scales. Hope is on the horizon, however – delegates at a U.N. wildlife convention last year voted to ban the trade of all eight species of Asian and African pangolins.

(WATCH the incredible footage below)

Click To Share The News With Your FriendsPhoto by Adrian Steirn

When Girl Writes Poem About the Eiffel Tower, the French President Responds With One of His Own

 

Seeing a school project pinned up on your household’s refrigerator is one thing – it’s another thing entirely when it is complimented by the president of France.

This is what happened to a 13-year-old English schoolgirl named Sophie when she wrote a poem about the Eiffel Tower inspired by her family vacation to Paris in April. The UK teen sent the sonnet, which she called “Center of Attention” to the presidential palace as a tribute to the iconic structure. The poem starts with the following lines:

“She has four beautiful legs, which help her stand proud.
She looks over everyone, with her head in the clouds.
She is elegant and tall, wears a pretty lace skirt,
While staring at her in awe, your eyes will not avert.”

Then, months later, she saw her poem on the Twitter account of the UK French Embassy.

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Except it wasn’t just a picture of her poem – it was also coupled with 21 verses that were written by French President Emmanuel Macron for Sophie’s 13th birthday.

“How you flatter me! So few poets these days
Ever sing the praises of my Parisian soul,
as did Cocteau, Aragon, Cendrars,
Trenet and Apollinaire…”

The president’s poem ends with the Eiffel Tower sweetly encouraging Sophie to continue writing poetry by calling himself a fan.

RELATED‘I Am Odd, I Am New’: Autistic Boy Writes Breathtaking Poem About Differences

“Take up your pen and write down
Why you like me – it would be so nice and fun!
‘You can count on me! There’s so much to say!
I’ll write twenty lines… but who will read them?’
Well, I know a man who’ll read your verse.
‘Really? Who?’
The President of France.”

You can also click here to read a copy of Macron’s poem in French.

(WATCH a video of the poems below)

Oh La La! Click To Share The Sweet News With Your Friends (Feature Photo by the Presidencia de la República Mexicana, CC)

There Was So Much Wind in Germany Last Week, Consumers Were Given Free Energy

The storms in Europe last weekend did not just bring chilly weather – they also brought free energy to Germany.

When energy output goes into the negative – as it did on Saturday – power companies must either shut down their plants or pay consumers to take the energy off their grids.

Because of the sheer amount of wind power generated by German turbines (about 39,409 megawatts, which is the equivalent of 40 nuclear reactors), power companies were forced to pay their customers the most amount of money for the energy since Christmas 2012, according to Bloomberg.

CHECK OUTCompany is Offering to Retrain Coal Miners as Wind Farmers For Free

In a press release published by Wind Europe, the company says that European wind energy broke a new record on October 28th after almost a quarter (24.6%) of the EU’s electricity demand was powered by wind. This is a significant improvement from the previous record of 19.9% that was set earlier in the month.

This is not the first time this year that European wind power has blown away the rest of the world. In July, Scotland broke a renewable energy record by generating the equivalent of 118% of the nation’s electricity for six days – solely through wind power captured between January and June.

Click To Share The News With Your Friends (Photo by Wind Europe)

Chicago Gun Violence is Down for 8th Month in a Row

Chicago Gun Violence is Down for 8th Month in a Row, according to city crime report. (ABC News)

Taylor Swift Finds Bullied Teen Online Covering Her Songs So She Invites Him Over To Her House

It’s not every day you get to meet your idol – someone who has truly changed your outlook and given you a new lease on life.

For a freshman in college named Juwan Givens, Taylor Swift was that life-changing individual and role model. After he heard her hit song, “Shake It Off,” he began breaking out of his shell and not caring what other people thought of him. After years of relentless bullying, it was just what he needed.

So, Juwan started making his own music to push through his bullied past.

He even created music video covers of Taylor’s songs and posted them online. Soon, they caught the star’s attention and led to one amazing journey for Juwan.

In a video posted earlier this week, Juwan explains, “One day, I just woke up, and I had seen ‘Taylor Swift just liked your post.’”

The likes turned into an invitation to a private event with other superfans. Juwan brought his mom and met the young woman who changed his life through music. All of the invited guests met up at Taylor’s Rhode Island home and sat with her.

Juwan will surely never forget this moment.

Click to WATCH the video about Juwan’s trip to Taylor’s mansion, below…

Shake Off Negativity: Click To Share The Sweet Story With Your Friends

Guys Have Rescued Over 2,000 Cats From Trees Because They ‘Just Love Cats’

It’s not just a stereotype – cats will often risk one of their nine lives getting stuck up in a tree. Luckily, there are two guys who are more than happy to rescue them free of charge.

Shaun Sears and Tom Otto are two brothers in Seattle who specialize in rescuing cats that are stuck up in trees.

The brothers, who also work as arborists during the day, say that they still accept donations for their services – but they are mostly just happy to hang out with cats.

CHECK OUT: Man Becomes Hero to Cats in War-Torn Syria

“As cat people ourselves, we know how horrible it feels when a cat is missing and then cries for help are heard high up in a tree,” say the brothers. “That is why [we] rescue cats—anytime, day or night, in all kinds of weather.”

Additionally, if you have never been to Washington state, the trees can get pretty tall. On average, Sears and Otto have to recover felines from as high as 100 feet in the air – sometimes even 150 feet.

WATCHTouring Group of Acro-Cats Has Helped to Save 200 Other Felines

“Some cats can climb down by themselves, but others definitely need help. Cats can climb up trees easily, but due to the shape of their claws, climbing down a tree is very difficult.”

Though they are based out of Seattle, the brothers have traveled all over the state for cat rescues. Since they first started their Canopy Cat Rescue nonprofit in 2009, they estimate that they have rescued over 2,000 cats.

(WATCH the video below)

Click To Share The Pawesome News With Your Friends

Planting Positive Change With 73 Million More Trees in Amazon Rainforest

CC Ecuador Megadiverso

The Amazon rainforest is about to get a big breath of fresh air.

In the world’s largest tropical reforestation project, conservations are going to reforest over 74,000 acres (30,000 hectares) of the Brazilian Amazon with 73 million trees. The 6-year initiative is a huge push towards the nation’s reforestation goal of planting 12 million hectares of trees under the Paris Agreement.

The Amazon forest is home to the richest biodiversity of any ecosystem on the planet; a recent report described some 400 new species discovered in the Amazon between 2014 and 2015 alone.

RELATEDIndia Plants Record-breaking 66 Million Trees in 12 Hours

While the Amazon’s preservation is still a cause for concern, however, the country saw a 90% drop in illegal logging after passing more aggressive legislation to protect the rainforest in 2004.

“This is a breathtakingly audacious project,” said M. Sanjayan, CEO of Conservation International, one of the partners behind the effort. “The fate of the Amazon depends on getting this right — as do the region’s 25 million residents, its countless species and the climate of our planet.”

MOREVillage in India Plants 111 Trees Whenever a Girl is Born

The organization announced the multi-million dollar project last month during the Rock in Rio 2017 music festival in Rio de Janiero, Brazil. In addition to Conservation International, the Brazilian Ministry of Environment, the Global Environment Facility, the World Bank, the Brazilian Biodiversity Fund, and Amazonia Live will also have a hand in the initiative.

“A new chapter is being written for the Brazilian Amazon with this initiative,” said Rodrigo Medeiros, vice president of CI’s Brazil office. “Protecting the Amazon is not something we should think in the future — we have to do it now.”

Plant Some Positivity: Click To Share –OR, (Photo by Andreas Kay / Ecuador Megadiverso)

Senior Learns How to Do Wife’s Makeup Before She Goes Blind

 

If you haven’t cried yet today, we have just the thing for you.

A photo that was posted on Twitter last week shows a senior couple standing together in the makeup section of a department store.

The description for the photo reads: “Why I love my job so much! Meet Jean and Brian, two of our very loyal customers. Brian was in for another makeup lesson today as he does his wife’s makeup every day, as she is going blind. Such a wonderful couple who live their life to the full!”

CHECK OUT: Husband Plants Field of Flowers for Blind Wife to Smell, So Spectacular it Gets Visitors

While the picture was posted by a man from Glasgow named Scott Summers, the original person responsible for the post has not been identified.

If the photo of Jean and Brian isn’t priceless enough, then the reactions of other users might do the trick. One Twitter user said: “I can’t even get a text back.”

Another person said: “Where can I find a man this dedicated? Not blind, just lazy.”

A dozen others have simply remarked on how Brian looks like Robin Williams.

Regardless, the viral photo is a perfect example of what our relationship goals are for the future.

Show This To The Brian And Jean In Your Life: Click To Share

You Will Laugh and Cry Over Dad Bringing Newborn to Doctor’s Appointment

While some parents might be more experienced with taking their kids to the doctor, the video of this first-time father reacting to his newborn son getting his shots is especially emotional.

On the same day that Antwon Lee took his 2-month-old son Debias to the pediatrician last week, his own father, 57-year-old Anthony King, had passed away from alcoholic-related issues.

“It was very hard,” the father from Warrenton, Georgia told ABC News. “That night I [spoke] to my son … and I let him know: ‘Son, I want to see you succeed before I die. I’ve got to see you succeed.”

CHECK OUT: 4-Year-old Can’t Contain Emotions When He Hears Stepmom Give Special Message During Wedding Vows

Before little Debias received the vaccinations, Lee can be heard soothing his son, saying: “I know you’re going to cry, but it’s okay to cry. Stay strong, now.”

Once Debias received the first of three shots, he did indeed start to cry – but his dad was right there with him. And while it was a vulnerable day for Lee, it’s hard not to laugh over his endearing reaction.

Since the video of Antwon has gone viral, he says he has received an “amazing” outpouring and love and support for his father’s passing.

(WATCH the video below)

Click To Share The Sweet Story With Your Friends 

When Girl Asks For a Day Off For Dad, Google Gives Her Something Better #TBT

No one should have to work on their birthday – which is why Google took gave extra attention to a little girl who asked if her father could have the day off.

The youngster hand-wrote a letter to the tech company in blue crayon, that read:

Dear Google Worker,

Can you please make sure when daddy goes to work, he gets one day off. Like he can get a day off on Wednesday. Because daddy only gets a day off on Saturday.

From, Katie

P.S. It is Daddy’s BIRTHDAY

P.P.S. It is summer, you know

Who could resist something so cute? Certainly not Senior Design Manager Daniel Shiplacoff, who immediately wrote a letter back to Katie, saying:

CHECK OUT: Elon Musk Takes Surprisingly Good Ad Advice From 10-Year-old

“Dear Katie, Thank you for your thoughtful note and request. Your father has been hard at work designing many beautiful and delightful things for Google and millions of people across the globe.”

“On the occasion of his Birthday, and recognizing the importance of taking some Wednesdays off during the summer, we are giving him the whole first week of July as vacation time. Enjoy!”

MORE7-yo Star Wars Fan Asks George Lucas If Jedis Can Marry, Gets Great Answer

While the letters were originally posted to Imgur back in 2014, the sweet exchange has resurfaced on social media and earned praise for Google.

Some users have called the letters a publicity stunt, but Google has confirmed for The Blaze the validity of the notes

Don’t Work So Hard: Click To Share The Sweet Story With Your Friends