Boy gets birthday party invitation – note inside brings his mom to tears
As a parent, finding out that your child has been diagnosed with a serious condition is incredibly difficult. Not only do you have to see your little one suffer, it also means learning to adapt your whole life to your child’s schedule so you can take care of your precious child as best you can.
While those close to you understand the daily struggle your family goes through, most outsiders have no idea. So when kind, caring souls sense how difficult your life can be and offer to help in some way, it’s incredibly heartwarming.
Tricia Klein shared a situation like this on her blog, The Book of Timothy, some years ago. Tricia’s seven-year-old son, Timothy, has non-verbal autism and some trouble making friends — so when he came home one day with a special birthday invitation, his mother couldn’t hold back the tears.
Tricia Klein is a young mother from Canada with three children, including seven-year-old, Timothy. When the boy was two years old, he was diagnosed with non-verbal autism, which makes navigating social settings difficult.
Because of Timothy’s difficulty interacting with others, Tricia often had to turn down invitations when her son is invited to his classmates’ birthday parties.
But one day in 2016, Timothy came home with a special invitation. It was from his classmate Carter, who hoped that Timothy would come to his party — and the invitation came with a little note from Carter’s mom. It read:
“Carter sat beside Timothy at school and he always talks about him. I really hope he can come. We are renting a bounce castle that we can attach a small bounce slide at the bottom. We will also have water balloons and water guns. Maybe Timothy can come earlier in the day if it would be too much with the whole class. Let me know so we can make it work.”
Tricia was blown away by the thoughtful gesture.
“I was shocked that someone would take not only the time to write the note, but to be considerate enough to include him with all of his difficulties. It was a wonderful moment, Tricia told ABC News.
Carter’s mother, Ainsley Peikos, said that it was important to invite Timothy to the party and ensure it would suit him well.
“Carter had always talked about him, so I didn’t think twice when he wanted him at the party. The only question was, ‘How could we make it work so that Timothy could come and have a great time just like anyone else?’” Ainsley told ABC News.
The party was a success. Timothy got there a little early and went straight into the bounce castle to play with Carter. Together they had a wonderful day, and their mothers have become good friends since the event.
“I want only one thing for our kids—for all kids really, and that is inclusion. All they want is to feel included and accepted for who and what they are—that different is okay… It’s just different,” Tricia Klein told ABC News.
We must never forget how much a small gesture can mean to another person. Just showing a little concern for someone else can mean everything to them.
Please share this article with your friends so they’re inspired to do something nice for others, too!
Hidden detail in Starbucks’ green siren makes her more ‘human’
And though she quickly triggers a coffee craving with her promise of the perfect blend, there’s a few small details that make the two-tailed mermaid delicously imperfect.
In 1971, when Starbucks was just a humble coffee bean retailer in Seattle’s Pike Place Market, the founders were looking for a name and logo that embodied adventure and the seafaring tradition of early coffee traders.
After considering names like Pequod, the whaling ship from “Moby-Dick,” the company settled on Starbucks, inspired by the first mate in Herman Melville’s novel.
This maritime theme led to the selection of a twin-tailed mermaid, or siren, as the logo, symbolizing the allure and mystery of the sea.
“It’s the siren. She is not a real person, but we kind of think of her as one. She’s the biggest symbol of our brand…She’s the face of it,” says Steve Murray, a creative director in the Starbucks Global Creative Studio. “The siren is like a super mermaid. A mermaid with one tail is just a plain ol’ mermaid. (Sorry Ariel).”
Her first facelift
The original logo featured a brown, monochrome image of the bare-breasted siren, reflecting the earthy tones of coffee. However, in 1987, as Starbucks expanded, the logo had a makeover, and the creepy creature became less creepy.
The color shifted to a vibrant green, symbolizing growth, freshness, and the brand’s commitment to quality. Additionally, the siren’s hair was adjusted to cover her breasts, making the image more modest and aligning with evolving societal norms.
Another makeover
By 1992, Starbucks had become a household name, prompting another logo update. This time, the focus was on the siren’s face, cropping out her body to create a more intimate and recognizable image. Only the tips of her tails, still held in her two hands, were visible.
She speaks for herself
In 2011, to celebrate its 40th anniversary, Starbucks unveiled a bold new logo. The company name was removed, leaving only the siren to represent the brand.
“I hope when people see the siren on their cup, of course it’s going to stand for what they’re going to get from Starbucks,” Murray said of the globally recognized logo “If the siren is on that cup of coffee, it’s going to be awesome.”
Making her more ‘human’
This minimalist approach signified Starbucks’ evolution beyond just coffee, embracing a broader range of products and experiences. The siren’s face was further refined, making her appear more human and relatable.
Speaking of the siren’s face, there’s a fascinating detail that many might miss. While the logo’s design aims for symmetry, a slight asymmetry was intentionally introduced to make the siren appear more human and less like a “perfectly cut mask.”
She couldn’t be “perfect, like Barbie,” and needed a subtle imperfection to add character and warmth to the logo, making her more inviting to customers.
Global creative director Connie Birdsall tells Fast Company that the design team had “to step back and put some” “humanity back” in the siren’s face. “The imperfection was important to making her really successful as a mark,” she said.
“In the end, just for the face part of the drawing, there’s a slight asymmetry to it. It has a bit more shadow on the right side of the face,” says design partner Bogdan Geana. “It felt a bit more human and felt less like a perfectly cut mask.”
The siren today
The siren you see today is asymmetrical but you have to look very closely to spot the imperfections. There’s extra shadowing on the right side – her right eyebrow looks longer – and her nose dips lower, also on the right.
Can you see it now that you know?
The Starbucks’ logo is more than just a green circle with a siren; it’s a symbol of the brand’s journey, values, and connection with its customers. Next time you sip your favorite brew, take a moment to appreciate the rich history and hidden stories behind that iconic two-tailed mermaid.
Please let us know what you think of this story and then share it with your friends so we can hear from them!
For a decade, Bindi Irwin kept her battle with endometriosis hidden from the public eye.
Now, she’s opening up about the pain and uncertainty that shaped her journey — not just for herself, but for her daughter Grace’s future health.
Over a decade of hiding her symptoms
Bindi Irwin has truly carved out a name for herself over the years. As the daughter of the legendary Steve Irwin, she had enormous shoes to fill after her father’s untimely passing, but she’s done so with grace and determination.
With her sun-kissed hair, brown eyes, and her dad’s infectious smile, Bindi has become a beloved figure in the world of wildlife conservation.
But her journey to an independent and peaceful life has been marked by shame, pain, and fear. For 10 years, Bindi was in so much pain, fighting an invisible battle every day – but she wore a brave face and pushed herself to be the smiling image everyone expected.
When the lights went off, Bindi spent countless hours trying to maintain a happy front while secretly struggling to stay afloat.
”I lived for more than 10 years trying desperately to hide my symptoms,” she tells 9honey.
Bindi Irwin symptoms
Everything began when Bindi Irwin got her first period. With it came pain, nausea, and fatigue, which only worsened as she got older. Despite this, Bindi tried to carry on with life as usual. She got married in 2020, and from the outside, no one suspected she was suffering in secret.
But Bindi knew something wasn’t right, so she took action several times. She visited doctors, had blood tests, and underwent various tests, but none of this provided clear answers.
“I was tested for cancer. I had MRIs, I had ultrasounds, I had CT scans, just you name it. I was checked for everything,” Bindi once shared.
It even got to the point where her doctor suggested that the pain was all in her head. Without any medical answers, Bindi started to believe the doctor. Maybe it really was all in her mind?
All the stress and pressure took its toll eventually. She struggled mentally and began to withdraw. Her public appearances became less frequent.
Anyone who has been sick without getting any answers can probably relate — you end up feeling very isolated with your symptoms and withdraw from others. You don’t want to talk about it all the time.
That’s why it was such a huge relief when Bindi Irwin was finally diagnosed with endometriosis, an incurable disease in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus.
To put this into perspective, getting a diagnosis takes an average of 6.5 years in Australia. Bindi had waited nearly a decade.
Discovered 37 lesions and a chocolate cyst
In 2023, Bindi took to Instagram to reveal that she had undergone surgery for endometriosis. Looking back, Bindi admitted that she was terrified before pressing ”post” to share her story on Instagram.
”At the end of the day, sharing my story with endometriosis felt so important to me that it outweighed my worry,” she told Honey9.
When the surgeons opened her up, the true cost of going undiagnosed for so long became clear: they discovered 37 lesions and a chocolate cyst, which is a cyst filled with menstrual blood.
Had Bindi gone on for a few more years with her condition, it could have had fatal consequences. It’s not impossible that she might not have made it.
Luckily, Bindi has always had a strong support system at home. Chandler Powell, her husband, an American professional wakeboarder from Florida, held her hand when she was at her lowest.
After her surgery in 2023, Chandler expressed his admiration, saying she is the strongest and toughest person he knows and that he’s excited for the new chapter in their lives.
Terri Irwin, her mother, also provided her with unconditional love.
Will Bindi Irwin have more kids?
Endometriosis can make it harder for women to have children, and according to Honey9, up to 50 percent of people with the disease may experience infertility. Given this, it’s pretty incredible that Bindi Irwin gave birth to a daughter, Grace Warrior Irwin Powell, on March 25, 2021.
“Along my pregnancy journey. I would often have times when I thought I was miscarrying because I would have severe unexplained pain. I would think that I was loosing our beautiful daughter,” Bindi said and broke down in tears during an emotional interview with Good Morning America.
Over the years, Bindi has been cautious about sharing her journey to motherhood, but she has talked about the unhealthy pressure and expectations placed on women to have children.
”I get asked if I’m having more kids every. Single. Day,” she says. While she knows most people mean no harm, ”but it can actually be a really hurtful question.”
After all, she’ll be living with this disease for the rest of her life. Bindi Irwin acknowledges that there is still a long road ahead. She feels as though she is still working to rebuild herself into the person she was before endometriosis took so much from her.
Endometriosis can run in families
As Bindi continues to recover, there’s a lingering concern that gnaws at her. It’s known that endometriosis can run in families.
“We know that there are both genetic and environmental influences that drive endometriosis, with 50% genetically related (DNA and genes) and 50% environmental factors, including lifestyle, what we eat, exposure to chemicals and the atmosphere,” Dr. Holdsworth-Carson, a researcher, told The Royal Women’s Hospital.
“There is a very, very big possibility that Grace will have endometriosis, which really does weigh on me,” Bindi says.
It’s truly heartbreaking that Bindi had to endure so much before finally receiving a proper diagnosis. She suffered so long needlessly. I truly hope her daughter, Grace, doesn’t have to face the same struggles. But at least now that the family is aware of the issue, if Grace were to experience similar symptoms, she won’t have to endure the same long and painful journey to get help.
I’m so glad Bindi is sharing her story! Breaking the stigma surrounding endometriosis is half the battle, according to her, and Bindi is doing an amazing job by being so open about it.
Hopefully, her public persona and strong advocacy will help raise awareness, lead to faster diagnoses, and improve treatments. Such a big part of the problem is how much people don’t know what it is or what the signs are.
No woman should have to suffer because some doctors lack knowledge. Share this article if you agree!
Teenage heartthrob left Hollywood to focus on family
The story we have for you today also has a similar theme. A young Hollywood actor who was beloved by millions or women around the world, decided there is more to life than the silver screen.
This is not a new theme in the world of entertainment. Keep reading to know more about what happened.
He famously appeared as a child actor on “Growing Pains,” and from there on out, he became one of the most popular actors of the 1980s. He was a regular feature on the covers of teen magazines. While it seemed he had it all, he was grappling with the reality of being a young star in Hollywood, and to him, it was not all that enticing.
Young Kirk Cameron did not intend to become an actor, in fact he wanted to be a doctor. His dream was to be a surgeon but his career took a completely different path when his mother who after being encouraged by a friend, introduced her young son to acting. His sister, Candace Cameron Bure is also an actress who has been acting since she was a child! She is best know for her role in Full House.
The friend was actually fellow child star Adam Rich’s mother. Rich was widely known for his role in ‘Eight is Enough.’ She suggest her friend take her son to agents and try their luck for commercials. His mother reluctantly followed the advice but it ended up going well for them since Cameron started looking small roles. Among some of his first acting gigs was a commercial for McDonald’s. While Cameron did not enjoy acting, he was consistently getting offers.
“I was always annoyed having to brush my hair and tuck my shirt in to go drive an hour in traffic to audition,” he revealed later about his early days of stardom. Despite the fact that he himself was not enthusiastic about acting, he soon got his role as Mike Seaver in “Growing Pains,” and the rest was history.
But he was struggling internally whether Hollywood was where he needed to be. And then he had something call to him; his faith.
When he was growing up, his family was not religious. The actor said, “When I was growing up, we didn’t go to church.”
“If you had asked me, I would have said I would be in the category of an atheist at 16 years old, 17 years old,” he surprisingly revealed later.
“I think I caught my atheism—it was by contagion,” he shared, he was referring to his teachers who taught him science and other subjects and regarded religion as “just a fairy tale.”
A chance encounter made the young boy reconsider his relationship with faith.
He met a girl he liked, and she asked him to attend church with her and her family. “I’ll be honest. It wasn’t because I was interested in God. I was interested in the girl,” he later admitted in a conversation.
However the visit to the church changed his life and the impact of it was even visible to his friends in Hollywood.The 17-year-old’s real-life experience with his faith began to influence how he approached his role in “Growing Pains.” The show runners and his co-stars did not let this change go unnoticed.
The producers worried that the young boy’s new found devotion to his faith would affect how he would approach the show and in turn affect the show and its longevity itself.
“Is he getting into something that’s really gonna take him into Looney Town? And if it is, we need to stop that,” he recalled what the concerns surrounding him at the time had been..
“I was trying to take the moral high road. I wanted to please God genuinely, and I think sometimes that got misunderstood,” he says now. His priorities however had taken a major shift and people around him were concerned.
His heart slowly began to dislike his life in Hollywood. The actor later recalled, “The evil, the darkness, the twisted sickness of Hollywood has been going on for a long time.”
His personal dialogue coach from the show, Brian Peck, has since then been highlighted for his role in the abuse doled out to young child stars in the industry. He was heavily featured as a perpetrator in a recent documentary uncovering crimes.
All of this reinforced Cameron’s initial thoughts that Hollywood was driven by power, pride, and ego. When he was younger, these realizations are what made him give up his promising acting career.
He became more steadfast in his faith, believing this is what would protect him. “When that becomes your God, rather than the God who laid down His life on a cross 2,000 years ago, you’re in for a world of hurt,” he shared.
He was only 20 when he married his “Growing Pains” co-star Chelsea Noble. Cameron had officially left Hollywood in his past and the two started building their life together. The couple have six children together, four of whom are adopted.
Adoption is something him and his wife both care deeply about as she herself had been adopted. They always made sure their adopted kids knew about their origins and helped them reconnect with their biological families when they were old enough to understand everything.
In 2021, Cameron revealed his intention to leave not just Hollywood but California itself behind. He took to social media to share his decision. He said, “I asked on social media what states people recommend for a Californian looking to relocate, and the top responses were Tennessee, Florida, and Texas,” he posted on Facebook.
Cameron shared how he thought California had increasingly grown unsafe and he wanted a place with more “wholesome values.”
He moved to Tennessee because three of his children also lived there. This gave the family an opportunity to be together as well. The family also enjoys the slower pace of life that Tennesse offers them. He also enjoyed the “healthy freedom mindset” that Tennessee provided them with, which was something he felt did not exist in California.
He also think that Tennessee is a “hub for Christian projects.” Cameron was able to be close to family which really paid off when he became a grandfather in summer 2024. He shared the news of his granddaughter Maya Jeanne Noble Bower to social media.
“Our hearts are filled to overflowing,” he wrote in his post. “Our beautiful baby girl just had a beautiful baby girl, and we can hardly wait to spend every minute with her and shower her with love.”
Apart from his new real life role as a grandfather, Cameron also continued his work as an actor. In 2022 he released his film ‘Lifemark’ which highlighted the beauty of life and adoption. The project was a personal passion for him as four of his own children are adopted as well as his wife’s own personal history with being an adopted child.
It is heartwarming to see Kirk Cameron fulfill his passions both professionally and personally. Share this with other fans of the actor so they can know what he has been up to!