Well, for those of you who were wondering…  Yes, Black Santa was at it again this year spreading Christmas cheer.

The Crawford’s mounted up this morning for our 7^th Annual Candy-Cane Treck through the neighborhoods of North West Bakersfield, CA.

Horns honking, camera’s flashing, kids screaming and vehicles passing as we dash-away, Dash Away, DASH AWAY ALL!!!  We didn’t set any new records this year giving out candy canes but we did manage to create a hundred or so smiles.

My Dad was up visiting from Dallas, Texas and attempted to join-in but chickened out at the last minute after he heard how far we were planning to go.  No worries though, maybe next year.  🙂

I must admit this is one of our many highlights of the day, making people smile.  A family tradition it is and I can only hope that my kiddos will carry it on when they’re grown and gone.

We understand that Christmas Cheer is of absolutely no use unless you spread it around, so spreading we did.  Two hours later and three pounds lighter I returned with my trusty elves ready for a hearty meal with all the fixings, good family conversation with relatives and a memory that’s sure to last for a month of Tuesday’s.

Don’t miss your opportunity to make some memories and make some smiles as you attempt to make it GREAT during this Holiday Christmas Season.

2013 will be a BLAST and I’d love for you to start off with my devotional style, personal development book, “Bread Crumbs to Making it GREAT.”  You can order it today at  www.MakeItGreatNOW.com.  For the rest of this year you can use the secret code-word “Good4Nothing” when you order the book online to save an instant $5 off the retail price.

Also you Do-Gooders and Good-4-Nothings doing “good” in your communities for “nothing”, we invite you to drop by Russo’s Books in the Market Place @ 9000 Ming Ave. this Sunday (30^th) between the hours of 1pm – 3pm for a HUGE book-signing event.

We’re trying to set a new record for attendees at the book store and we want you to be a part of it.  So, COME JOIN US!!!  The first 50 people will also get some FREE stuff  that is guaranteed to help you stay focused in the new year.  Can we count on you?  Hope to see you there…

From my family to yours we say Make it a GREAT and spread some Christmas Cheer all Year!!!

I was unexpectedly invited to my buddy’s new house a couple of days ago.  He didn’t have any Christmas lights up and his lawn wasn’t exactly perfectly manicured, and no he didn’t live in one of the new developments in town but his home was in somewhat of a gated community.  A gated community of one, that is.

His name is James, aka “Red”.  You see, Red is one of my homeless friends that lives in the sump area of a local park.  I’ve known Red for about a year now and I make a point to see him about once or twice a week to offer him a little bit more than just a word of encouragement.  He is definitely a man that’s still holding on to a bit of his pride and dignity.  He’s not the stand-on-the-corner-and-beg type, however he has had to call me a time-or-two looking for a nudge in the right direction.

This day was special because after dropping off some select items from my pantry and storage closet for the winter, Red invited me to his home for the first time.  He was a bit excited about showing me his new tent that was donated to him.  This was especially exciting for him because his previous tent failed to prevent water from paying him an unwelcomed visit during last week’s rain.  I was equally as excited as I grabbed my trusty little camera and snapped a few shots and headed toward the railroad tracks for the short journey to his gated community.  Upon arrival we didn’t have to punch-in any code to gain entry, but I did have to literally get down on my hands and knees to climb through a 2 x 2 feet opening in a chain-link fence.

Once inside the area I noticed that it’s a huge sump, which is an area with a HUGE whole in the ground that’s designed specifically to collect extra run-off water from the surrounding neighborhood area to prevent flooding.  I dusted myself off and headed on over to his palace.  His Datsun-Chihuahua mix dog “Chubbs” excitedly led the way.  After unloading the goods at his house, we shared a little more small-talk then we both parted ways feeling a little bit better after our encounter.

I must admit that I believe there are few feelings better than the one that comes after being kind to who my favorite book refers to as, “The Least of These.”  I don’t pretend to know what tomorrow holds for my friend Red, but I do know that today once again he saw the face of one who is trying to follow in the footsteps of the guy who shook up the world two thousand years ago.  In fact I’m told that his birthday is just days away.   😉

Creative Kindness is what I call it, and there are sooooo many ways we can all be the hands and feet and the mouth that speaks words of encouragement and hope for a better tomorrow.  I invite you to take action in some way either big or small on a regular basis to shine a light that brightens someone’s day in a special, creative way.  When local organizations fall a bit short, can we count on you to be there to pick-up just a little bit of the slack in your community?  Hmmm…

Don’t miss your opportunity to make this “good” life, “GREAT!”
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Need a quiet motivative, inspirative companion to ride shotgun with you on your life’s journey to keep you leaning forward with the right attitude and behavior, then you definitely need to order my book, “Bread Crumbs to Making it GREAT.”

Order it Today at:  www.MakeItGreatNOW.com

Book Signing Event at Russo’s Bookstore in The Market Place @ 9000 Ming Ave.  1pm – 3pm on December 30th, 2012

Come join me at Russo’s Bookstore between 1pm – 3pm for my book-signing event. Right here in Bakersfield, CA 9000 Ming Ave. in the Market Place on Sunday, December 30, 2012.

Free audio CD and much, much more for the first 50 people. I would looooove for you to come on out and show your support. I can’t wait to meet you. Let’s make it GREAT together.

My oldest brother, Bennie, flew in from Texas to hang out with me for a couple of days not long ago. We stayed up almost all night talking about our childhood memories. Everything from him threatening to kick me out of his car for chewing too loud, to the time I got a good-ole-fashioned but whooping by my Dad with a plastic baseball bat for being outside playing without my crutches after I had broke my leg from being hit by a car.

I reminded him of an event that I will never forget, but he swears he doesn’t remember it. It was my freshman year in high school and he was a Senior. I was super-excited because I had just been invited to our high school’s famous Carnation Ball. To be invited was not a really big deal, but to be a freshman invited by one of the prettiest girls in the school was a HUGE deal.

Her name was Michelle and she was an upper-class, Junior at my high school. (I’m actually getting goose-bumps just remembering the excitement I felt knowing that this was a BIG ordeal.) Once I got home that day, I immediately asked my Dad if it was Ok that I attended the Ball and he said, “Of course, but you’ll have to ask your big brother if he will let you ride in the car with him and his date.” Uughhh!!! Needless to say, I did not like this response, but I had to accept it.

I ran to my big Brother, Bennie, and said, “Please, Please, Please let us ride with you to the Ball, I’ll do anything for you.” And he abruptly, without hesitation said, “NO!” He wasted no time popping my little bubble of excitement and showed no remorse whatsoever as he walked away. I pleaded and pleaded with him but he would not relent. It was as if he didn’t care one single bit about my excitement, because it was “His time to shine.” I look back on that event today and it still makes me upset, but the lesson I take away is that “It just wasn’t my time, yet.” The optimum word is “Yet”.

So, I say to you today that some things just have to happen in their own due time. So don’t pout or get mad or sad, just realize that patience is an under-used virtue and let time do it’s job.

I asked my brother that if he had that choice to make again, what would be his response, and he said, “Still NOPE!” It just wasn’t my time.

It’s funny how some moments in our past can be massively significant to us, but mean absolutely nothing to others that were involved.

Stay focused today and don’t be too anxious and realize that there’s nothing more powerful than a dream whose time has come to be fulfilled. Let’s make it GREAT! In due time……

Oh, I eventually went to several Carnation Balls and had a BALL !!! It was my TIME !!!
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There’s dozens-and-dozens of stories like this in my book, “Bread Crumbs to Making it GREAT” that are designed to Inspire, Motivate, Encourage and Educate you on your journey through this thing called “life.”  Order your copy today and join the many, many others who are raving about it’s value and authenticity.  www.MakeItGreatNOW.com   ( e-Book version avail. at www.Kindle.com )

You can also Follow me on my blog @: www.MrBreadCrumb.com

Okay, for all of you e-Book users, the “e-Book” version of Bread Crumbs to Making it GREAT is now available at www.Kindle.com .  Just another way to Make it GREAT for you success seekers out there trying to be better today than you were yesterday.

Just in time for Christmas, this e-book makes an excellent gift to go with that Kindle you’re getting for that special someone.  Just a few minutes to download then you’re ready to take those breadcrumbs and make them GREAT.

Download your copy today @:    www.Kindle.com 

Or, get your paperback book copy @:   www.MakeItGreatNOW.com 

Make it GREAT!!!