Those in need in the Gulf

While I have had the idea for HEROES & INK for a while, it just seemed like the right time to start it after I saw a piece on the news about the emotional stress the oil spill is having on people in the Gulf! The one story that pierced my heart was the story about Charter Boat Captain Allen Kruse. He was so devastated by the spill that he could not take it anymore! I could not help but shake the feeling that it was time to start and reach out to those in the Gulf to let them know that I care! There are others that are struggling including Mayor Stan Wright of Bayou la Batre, Alabama and Fred Marshall who manages the Gulf Stream Marina in Grand Isle, Louisiana and so many more that I can't even begin to name everyone!

They all need our support to know that we care and they are not alone! I would ask all of you to please join with me and be a HERO and let them know that you care! It means so much! Friday, I spoke with Office Assistant Shannon Himes at the Mayor's Office in Bayou la Batre and she said that it means so much to get all of the cards and letters of support!

We need to stand up and let them know we care and fight for them and with them!

If you would like to send a sympathy card to the family of Captain Allen Kruse you can send it to:
Family of Captain Allen Kruse
c/o Mayor Tony Kennon
P.O. Box 458
Orange Beach, Alabama
36561

Thank You!
God Bless You!
Monica

The Birth of H.E.R.O.E.S. & INK

The idea actually came to mind quite a few years ago after a rather bad incident at Walmart! I was there late one evening to grab a few things while my husband waited in the car. I was rather pregnant at the time and just having one of those days! My feet hurt terribly and I was worn out and just wanted to get in and out quickly. I grabbed and cart and started off and wouldn't you know it, I got one of those carts with a wheel with a mind of it's own. At any other time it would have been no big deal, but at that moment I was so not in the mood for it! So I left it right where it was at and went to get another cart. The next one I got had the part of the strap to buckle a child in caught on the cart behind it and would not budge as I pulled it! At that point I was nearly in tears! The store "greeter" walked over and very curtly " said to me " All you have to do is unhook it. It's not that hard". At that point I really almost cried! I took the cart and quickly walked away!

Later I thought about how easily he could have been my hero! Seeing that I was struggling and rather pregnant he could have instead walked over and said" Ma'am, let me help you with that"! I would have cried out of gratefulness and it would have taken no more effort at all!

I realized that if we take the time to care, we can all be a hero to someone and it most often doesn't cost us a thing, just a bit of our time! We can encourage someone who is down, we can lift someones spirits with simple gestures sometimes as simple as saying "Thank You" or taking the time to send a note. Sometimes it's as easy as a genuine smile to the tired cashier or the waitress that is working a double and forgot the ketchup!

HEROES stands for Hope & Encouragement Reaching Out Everywhere Simply! INK because in the e-mail age we can't begin to imagine how much it would mean to someone to get a handwritten note in the mail!

My prayer is that you will join me in being a HERO to those around you!