Buttons & Such

Buttons & Such

While a belly-button is awfully cute
As a fastener for your birthday suit,
It still doesn't hold a candle to
The button of which I'm about to tell you.

There's a button for making a mushroom cloud--
But that's pretty messy and terribly loud,
And it leaves, in its aftermath, tragic destruction,
While pushing my button will result in construction.

Pushing one kind of button might ring a doorbell--
If you hear it and answer, it might be Michelle
(my goddaughter) who also is doing quite fine
By conducting the very same business online.

It will be noted here that she likes to donate
A percentage to IYN--which is just great!
Marcia does likewise with her business, Soul Ink--
And that money will help us to swim and not sink!

This next button also does IYN proud.
I spoke of it earlier--no mushroom cloud
Results from its pushing, so I'm calling it
The (Peaceful) Button. It should be a hit!

To find out more about it, take your mouse, and click here--
Soon after, more details are going to appear.
Hope you'll push that button--and, then, start a trend,
By sharing this poem with at least one more friend!
Copyright 2007 by Ainsley Jo Phillips

Christmas 1962

You're Cordially Invited To A Snowflake-Signing Party!!!

My special friend, Russell, has been helping homeless kids in the San Diego area for several years and is now the Chairman & CEO of an organization called Invisible Youth Network (or IYN, for short).

I've been there with him (from almost 3000 miles away in Anderson, Indiana) from the planning stages, and we've watched the growth and development of IYN together. We have a growing number of volunteers working with us and always welcome more.

Russell has been in the habit of taking to the streets, finding teens and children who need a trustworthy and caring friend, and bringing them things to eat and other supplies, along with working with an area shelter called The Storefront that does that and then some.

I told him that I would like to help him when I could -- and this has led to my becoming a spare mom to ten very special kids:

Three daughters (Betty Anne, Robin, & Tabitha)
Seven sons (Bobbie, Gerald, JoJo, Little Warrior, Ronnie, Sonny, & Survivor)

Here's the story of how that all came about!

Since that time, all ten of these kids have been placed with loving families, but I still like to do Mom things with them -- such as making special snowflakes for them.

Below, find their names (which are clickable links), and you will be able to view the snowflakes I made for each of them -- plus I've also made Russell and me our own.

The number that you see beneath a name is the number of that particular snowflake. When you get to the site, there's a Find-A-Flake feature in the bottom left-hand corner. Enter that number in the search (in the window meant for flake numbers), and you'll be able to watch the "action" of the construction of the flake.

I've intentionally packed a lot of action into each one to make them extra fun.

I hope that you'll want to write a friendly message to each of the kids -- and, hopefully, to Russell and me as well.

At the time Russell began working with them, they ranged in age from nine to fifteen. The youngest of the group is JoJo, and, according to Russell, he's a real character (told me that he reminded him a little of himself at that age).

Thanks so much for taking the time to read this -- and, hopefully, to join in the fun!

And please remember to keep current re: IYN activities by going to this information sheet I've put together.

Betty Anne
5703840

Bobbie
5704105

Gerald
5704293

JoJo
5704522

Little Warrior
5705037

Robin
5705252

Ronnie
5705464

Sonny
5705715

Survivor
5705963

Tabitha
5706187

Russell
5686637

Me
5715642

Take The Challenge!!!

Are you up to taking the challenge?

If so, make a three copies of a note that says:

Congratulations!

You have been chosen to be part of a grand experiment involving random acts of kindness and have just received a random act of kindness from somebody who is part of that same experiment.

This person has committed two other random acts of kindness and has given the ones receiving them copies of this same note.

Please keep this going by making three copies of this note, finding three people to receive random acts of kindness, and giving each one of them a copy of this note after doing something nice for him/her.