Look what @missy2sipes and Brandon Sipes gave me for my birthday.

“Children need lots of free, quiet time to get used to all that’s developing within them. Have you noticed that unhurried time by yourself or with someone you really trust can be the best setting for personal growth? It’s no different for children.”

“I hope you're proud of yourself for the times you've said "yes," when all it meant was extra work for you and was seemingly helpful only to someone else.”

“It’s time to feed the fish.”

“Contrary to what’s implied in commercials, nothing we can buy can ever take away our loneliness or fill our emptiness or heal our brokenness.”

Wearing my birthday gift from some good friends.

“Do you know what peace means? ...You and I often have that kind of peace together don’t we. That’s why I like to think about you; think about being with you...I wish you a peaceful night.”

“The best teacher in the world is someone who loves what he or she does, and just loves it in front of you.”

“Art begins within the self. The wellsprings of creativity come from inside.”

“It’s so important to find out what we feel good about doing.“

“I’m proud of you.”

“Neighbors are people who are close to us and friends are people who are close to our hearts. I like to think of you as my neighbor and my friend.”

“You are my friend You are special You are my friend You're special to me. You are the only one like you. Like you, my friend, I like you. In the daytime In the nighttime Any time that you feel's the right time For a friendship with me, you see F-R-I-E-N-D special

Today is the anniversary of the last aired episode of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. Although Mister Rogers' Neighborhood may have ended its run, its lessons of love and empathy live on in our hearts.

Fred Rogers would often paraphrase his good friend, the Roman Catholic priest and celebrated author Henri Nouwen, by saying, “That which is most personal is most universal.”

“I wish you the kind of life's work in which you can use the greatest part of who you are, and I wish you the kind of life's love that will enhance all that you do, as well as all that you are.”

“At the end, we all leave the same way—by death. Yet no two threads—no two lives—in that vast tapestry of existence have ever been, or ever will be, the same.” —Fred Rogers

“I like to think of all kinds of helpers in our world.”

“And if there’s anything that bothers me, it’s one person demeaning another. That really makes me mad!”

"You can choose to let this thing bother you or let this be an adventure and welcome the challenge."