Derrick Lambert Jr

05/11/2025

05/11/2025

Since the day I adopted him, he’s always been there—loyal, attentive, like he somehow knew his mission was to look after me. Wherever I go, whatever I do, he’s right behind me, watching with that calm, protective stare.

Today, while I was trying to fix a bookshelf, I felt his eyes on me. Then he gently placed his paws on my leg, like he was trying to steady me, making sure I didn’t fall. He didn’t need to say a word—his message was clear: Be careful, I’ve got you.

I couldn’t help but smile. This dog isn’t just a pet. He’s my shadow, my quiet guardian. Maybe he understands that without him, I’d be a little more clumsy, a little more careless.

So he takes his job seriously. And I’m just grateful to have someone who shows me, every single day, that I’m never really alone.

05/08/2025

When I give my presentation.

05/08/2025

When you choose an academically challenging Degree and get academically challenged

05/08/2025

A Big check/deposit is about to land🤑
Sagittarius
Scorpio
Gemini
Libra
Aries

05/07/2025

He said no way. No stuffing his buddy in a scary cargo hold. No being pulled apart. No letting fear win. "If I'm flying, my dog is flying with me — right here beside me!" So he grabbed a special backpack. Big enough. Strong enough. Crazy enough to carry his most important buddy ever. He begged. He argued. He wouldn't give up. Because that dog wasn't "just some pet." He was family. And family sticks together no matter what. That day, he walked through the airport with his best friend on his back — and love in his heart. And between checking in and taking off, he showed that nothing can stop true friendship.

05/07/2025

When I was a fresh mom with two under three my card got declined in the checkout line. The baby was in the carseat, the two year old was asking for bubble gum and chocolate bars. I felt like I could just melt into the floor.
Without missing a beat the man behind me in line handed the cashier his card. "I've got it." He said.
That was ten years ago, and I will never forget it.
When I worked at a coffee shop we had someone buy their own coffee and then anonymously buy the next person in lines coffee just saying "pay it forward". The next person was shocked to hear their coffee was covered and said, "well I want to buy the one for the next costumer". The pay-it-forward lasted most of the afternoon with people buying other peoples drinks. My friend at the cash register was near tears by the end of her shift.
I won't ever forget that day and I doubt she has either.
One time in the Target line a mom with a brand new infant and two littles who were crying and clinging to her legs asked if I might hold her baby for a minute. I took that baby and rocked her in my arms until she stopped fussing.
I bet that mom remembers that day, I know I do.
When my toddler was somewhere between threenager and fournado she threw I giant tantrum in a shopping center. I held her on a park bench while she screamed like I was her kidnapper. A couple older ladies stopped and said, "You're doing an AMAZING job mama, hang in there!!"
I will never ever forget them or their words that day.
In a train depot in France we were lost and confused trying to figure out where to go. An older man sitting near us accidentally dropped some cash on the ground. My daughter who was six found it and returned it to him. He and his friend loaded us up with snacks from their bags and then in broken english asked if we needed help. They ended up walking us all the way to our next train and riding it with us for a while just to make sure we didn't get lost.
We won't ever forget those two men.
One time on a family road trip we stopped at a roadside cafe to get lunch. When we went to pay we found out that another couple had already bought it saying that we had a "sweet family".
You better believe we will remember that forever.
Kindness is so powerful. It can be such a little thing like buying someone's coffee or giving an encouraging word to someone who could use it. You just never know the impact it might have. My guess is that most of us remember the times that someone stepped out of their own life just to bless ours.
What little things can we do this week that just might last with someone for a lifetime?
Love,
Jess
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05/07/2025

The cutest little girl and her mom were at my yard sale today. I happened to be selling a Pink Disney Princess TV, (because who doesn't need a Pink Disney Princess TV, right?), and I overheard the little girl very politely ask her mom if there was anything she could do to earn the money to buy the TV. She did not just ask if she could have it. She asked if she could earn the money herself. She was 6 years old. Her mom told her she could not afford it right now, then kissed her forehead. The little girl replied, 'It's okay mommy' and grabbed her mom's hand.

I watched them carefully pick out items they needed and count their money to the penny as they did. At one point they were picking out some dishes and the little girl said how pretty she thought the dishes were, how nice it will be not only having one cup and one bowl at their new place anymore, and...how lucky they were.

I could tell this mom and daughter had gone through something and the interactions between them were so genuine, so precious.

I saw the little girl look over at the TV every so often...My heart was mush.

As the mom brought her items up to pay, I said, 'I would like you to have these things, no charge.' Tears filled her eyes as she thanked me, told me how much it meant to her, and that I had no idea how much I was helping her right now. Then she asked, 'but why?' I said, 'I sense that you are going through something right now, and I don't need to know what that 'something' is. But you obviously have not let it deter you from being an amazing mom, and you are raising a wonderful, beautiful, joyful, polite, little girl.' She confided that they had fled an abusive situation with only what she could fit into a duffle bag for them both. She had saved just enough money to get them into a small one room apartment. She felt blessed, lucky. They were safe.

I handed her a couple of large kitchen garbage bags and told her to fill them with anything her and her daughter could use, gave her some pillows, blankets, a blow up camping bed, and a box of food. She hesitated at first and seemed almost ashamed. I told her, 'We all go through hard times. This is a season, and seasons pass. When this season passes for you, you can 'pay it forward' to someone else.' And then, yes... I quietly asked her if I could give her little girl the Disney Princess TV. I know, I know....y'all saw that one coming, ya? Lol.

I wish everyone could have seen the look on that beautiful little girls face when my husband carried that TV to her car. I will never forget it. 😊

My heart is full knowing that precious little girl and her mom have full tummys, clean pajamas to put on, a "bed" to sleep in, pillows under their heads, blankets to snuggle into, and maybe even watched some TV.

What they probably don't realize, is that they blessed me far more than I blessed them. ❤

05/07/2025

I came home the other day after a long afternoon of running errands and this is what my front porch looked like.

These shoes mean that I have a house full of kids . . . mostly teenagers. These shoes are a sure sign that it is summer and school is out.

These shoes mean there is probably no food left in my house.

These shoes mean noise and chaos and laughter and music.

It means there are probably kids lounging on my sofa, floating in my pool, playing air hockey or watching a movie somewhere.

These shoes mean that we are the designated hang-out house today.

I paused outside of my door and felt a wave of sadness wash over me as I looked at these shoes . . . shoes from a group of kids that have been hanging out at my house for four years now.

Some kids have competed on the same teams, some have been in the same classes as far back as elementary school, some have dated and some have broken up.

But all have remained good friends over the years. Most of these kids just graduated from high school which means these shoes will be going in different directions this fall when they head off to college.

They say you only have 18 summers with your kids.

I am on number 18 with mine.

This realization tugs at my heart and makes me wonder how 18 summers went by so quickly.

Big changes are happening around here – for me and all these kids in my house. My heart knows it and feels it and that’s why the sight of these shoes has me feeling a little sentimental.

I know that after this summer, things will never be the same again.

This is a bittersweet part of parenthood…this transition from having them home to watching them leave. My head knows this is a good thing, but my heart…it just hurts.

I love having these shoes all over my porch because it means that my children are home.

It means that I know where they are and who they are with and that they are all safe. I am very aware that these shoes won’t be here much longer.

All too soon these shoes will be scattered across different college campuses and they will be taking their first steps of independence. And I know that all of these shoes might not find their way back home next summer as life takes them on new adventures.

These thoughts hang over my head like a dark cloud . . . trying to steal the joy from the present moments. I shake my head, trying to force those wistful feelings away.

I don’t want the sadness of what is to come to take away the happiness of today. But I am finding that I have to remind myself of that often during this 18th summer because every moment seems bittersweet.

But for now, I will embrace these shoes and I will be so thankful for them.

I will buy all the snacks. I will welcome these kids into my home and let them crash on my couches.

I will soak up the sounds of their laughter and I will make them clean up all of their messes.

I will pray that everyone drives home safely and I will love having a full house.

But most of all, I will do my best to choose happiness and joy for this moment right now and not let that dark cloud of sadness swallow me up. Because this moment right now…it is really good.

So I am going to treasure this summer of the shoes…Because I know that all too soon those shoes will be running off exploring the world…and my porch will be empty.
Credit to respective owner.

05/07/2025

Nature gave me a birthday present and chased away the clouds so I could capture the nighttime occultation of Saturn by the Moon! 🙂 I even managed to record Saturn's rings and at least one of its moons. The photos show the gradual occultation.

January 4, 2025, around 6:40 PM.
Nikon D850 + Sigma TC1.4 + Sigma 150-600 (which gave me a focal length of around 850mm) - time 1/5 second, ISO 1000, F9
Single frames, crops from the frame.

05/07/2025

Veteran has rescued over 1,500 dogs; turned his passion for aeronautics into a form of help.
After acquiring a small airplane, Steklenski began transporting shelter dogs with high euthanasia rates in the southern United States to shelters where they get a second chance at life. Motivated by her own experience of adopting a dog named Tessa, she founded Flying Fur Animal Rescue, a non-profit organization dedicated to saving animal lives.
Steklenski’s story not only inspires others to consider how they can make a difference, but also shows the positive impact that can be achieved with dedication and love for animals.