40-year-old Michael Ketterer is a pediatric mental health nurse and father of 6. Michael and his wife have 1 biological daughter and 5 adopted sons. This amazing dad wanted to show his children that it’s never to late to follow their dreams, so he decided to audition for America’s Got Talent.
His very first performance of the Bee Gees' "To Love Somebody" blew everyone away. Michael truly put his heart and soul into this performance and it didn’t go unnoticed. In fact, this caring father earned the coveted golden buzzer from judge Simon Cowell.
Now, this talented performer is back for another song and this audition is one you won’t forget. Just listen as he belts out ‘Us’ from James Bay. There’s no doubt that Michael has an incredible voice and if he was nervous, you can’t tell one bit. But it’s what happened after this song that truly struck a chord in everyone’s hearts.
He easily earned a standing ovation from the audience and all of the judges. That’s when host Tyra Banks walked on stage to get the comments from the judges. She turned to Simon first, but he was overcome with emotion. “You’re a really really special guy. And I don’t know, there’s something about you.”
Simon was so moved that he even shed a rare tear over this fellow dad’s performance. And Simon wasn’t the only judge stunned by this song. It’s obvious that Michael has touched special place in everyone’s heart and his story is absolutely incredible. Who else is cheering for Michael to win the whole thing?
‘As I walk now through the valley
Let Your love rise above every fear
Like the sun shaping the shadow
In my weakness Your glory appears
I'm not enough unless You come
Will You meet me here again
'Cause all I want is all You are
Will You meet me here again’
When we start to let fear take over our lives, it can truly turn everything upside down. Fear will make us believe things that aren’t true and try to force us apart from the Lord. But it’s in those times that it is so important to remember that God is always with us and He will never abandon us. His strength lives through us and He walks with us each step of the way. Be reminded of this as you listen to the powerful lyrics of ‘Here Again’ from Elevation Worship.
This incredible group truly knows how to worship the Lord and the words of this song will touch your heart. Every now and then, times will get dark but these lyrics will remind you that God the light that will always guide us home. There is so much passion and power behind this performance that you can truly feel God’s strength wash over you.
We serve a mighty and powerful God. Fear may try to break us down, but with the Lord beside us, fear doesn't stand a chance. God is always with us and that is reason enough to sing of His praises. Who else is saying amen with me right now?
25-year-old Daniel Emmet made quite a splash during his first audition on America’s Got Talent. This aspiring singer from Rochester, NY has been performing in Las Vegas and he hoped his performance would impress the judges.
Originally, Daniel came out on stage with an original song of his own, but just a few verses into his song, Simon stopped the entire performance. Simon asked the young man to learn and perform a completely new song, Il Divo’s “Passera,” and it required Daniel to sing in Italian. Simon was right and this opera singer blew everyone away. He moved on to the next stage of competition.
Now, Daniel is back with another incredible performance and this one is even better than the first. Just listen as this talented man belts out a unique rendition of ‘I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing’ from Aerosmith. But the thing that makes this number really special is that Daniel is performing it in Italian.
There’s no doubt that he nailed this performance and every single note seems to get better than the last. You can tell that Daniel is putting his heart and soul into this song and everyone in the audience can feel his passion. Daniel was brought back for this round as a wildcard pick, but he just may have impressed the judges enough to stick around for the semi-finals.
I really hope that we get to hear more from this amazing opera singer. He truly has an incredible voice and it’s a sound that we don’t hear often. Who else agrees?
It is never easy when a relationship ends, especially when you have been together a long time. You can go through a range of emotions as you heal from the heartache, but one man decided to make the best out of a bad situation by paying it forward.
Steven Crocker had purchased a $1,700 diamond engagement ring to propose to his girlfriend of over 2 years when she broke up with him. Left with a ring he couldn’t use, Steven decided to give it away to someone who would actually use it. That’s when this Virginia man made a Facebook post asking people to tell him why they deserved the engagement ring. He received over 1,500 responses and one of them came from Sean Sullivan of Illinois.
Sean had been saving up to propose to his girlfriend, Natalie, but when he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, he was unable to work and the medical bills started to pile up. Sean had to use his savings to cover these unexpected costs. So, when he heard about Steven’s post, he knew that he needed to write in.
Finally, Sean discovered that he was chosen out of all the other responses. He waited about a month before getting down on one knee and proposing to Natalie, who gave him an enthusiastic ‘yes.’ Now, Sean is thanking the selfless man from Virginia for giving him the chance to start the rest of his life with Natalie. This one small act of kindness has truly changed their life.
When most people think about their first kiss with their significant other, it’s a sweet moment. But sometimes, that moment doesn’t go exactly as planned. Max Montgomery and Andi Traynor know about this from first hand experience. Max is a paddleboard instructor and Andi had recently started taking lessons from him. It was only on their fourth paddleboard outing that Max went into cardiac arrest. Thankfully, Andi is a doctor and knew how to administer CPR.
"I ran 10.4 miles the night before. I had no idea I was gonna have a heart attack." In fact, Max didn’t have a heartbeat for 17 minutes and CPR was what kept his brain function intact. EMTs soon arrived and defibrillated his heart, but he owes his life to Andi.
The whole terrifying incident was caught on a camera by a photographer who was at the water recording bird migratory behavior. Even though many people might not think that mouth-to-mouth resuscitation would make a great first kiss, both Max and Andi agree that it was a magical moment.
Now, these two are a couple and it’s a story that they are continuing to share. They hope that others will see the importance of CPR and life-saving techniques and take the initiative to learn them themselves. This definitely isn’t your typical love story, but it’s one that you won’t soon forget.
I think it’s so amazing how Max and Andi were able to take this scary moment in their lives and turn it into something impactful.
Sometimes, hospitals can seem like a cold and gloomy place. There is sickness and sadness throughout the halls, but there are also moments of hope and faith that shine right through. 21-year-old Dustin Chapman is one of those shining lights.
Dustin suffers from a rare disease called Achalasia, where the esophagus muscles do not function properly. Because of this condition, Dustin has not been able to eat or drink properly for months. He is currently a patient at the Duke Cancer Institute where they are looking at trying a new technique to help this young man on his path to recovery.
While he waits for his treatment, Dustin saw an incredible opportunity when he spotted a piano. This positive young man is also a talented singer and songwriter. He loves to play for others and offer them hope through his music. So today, Dustin decided to sit down at one of the hospital pianos and play a beautiful tune he wrote called ‘Lead The Way.’
This incredible original song talks about handing it over to God in your time of need. I know that these words encouraged a lot of the patients that heard Dustin play and this song definitely means a lot to this young man. It’s so amazing to see him share his gift with others in hopes of bringing a smile to their face. Music can truly be one of the best doses of medicine, especially when it is used to praise His name. What an incredible young man!
Whales are one of the most majestic creatures that God placed in the sea. He truly put so much time and detail in these beautiful animals that they are amazing just to watch. That is one reason the activity of whale watching has become so popular recently. People will board boats or take cruises just to watch these incredible creatures in their natural habitat.
30-year-old Mia Constanse Gylseth had her own close encounter and every amazing second was captured on camera. Mia was out on a late night kayak through the waters of the Lofoten islands in Norway when she experienced the incredible. An entire pod of orcas surrounded her kayak and Mia said, "The sight of these enormous mammals is the most incredible experience - and such a joy to capture! They're giant and gentle at the same time, and perfectly fits the dramatic scenery in the Lofoten islands.”
I am so glad that Mia was able to have this amazing experience and capture it all on footage. Seeing something like is a reminder that God’s creatures never cease to amaze me. He truly knew what he was doing when He decided to place whales in the ocean and it is incredible to witness.
I bet this kayaker had no clue she were going to have a whale-watching experience like this. Now, she’s got an awesome story to share with everyone and the film to back it up. Who else wishes that they could have been there in person?
It’s always so special to welcome a new baby into the world. It’s a moment of joy and happiness that cannot be explained. And not matter how many children you have brought into the world, each one is it’s own unique experience that we share with our loved ones. Jennifer Jones-Prothro and her husband James Prothro are about to welcome their 9th child into the world.
Sadly, last year, Jennifer’s father passed away after a long battle with cancer. For her other pregnancies, Jennifer’s dad always wanted the gender to be a surprise for him. So, since he wouldn’t be there in person for the 9th baby, Jennifer decided to let the gender be a surprise for her this time. But after being pregnant for 6 months, Jennifer’s friends wanted to throw a baby shower and she decided that she did want to know the gender after all. So she challenged her husband to reveal whether it was a boy or girl in a unique way, one that she had never seen before.
James produces music and has his own home studio, so he came up with the most beautiful idea for his sweet wife. They had saved voicemail messages for her late father and he mixed the words so that Jennifer’s dad could reveal the gender. Just watch as she sits down on the sofa and holds a speaker in her hand. When she realizes what is actually happening, there was no stopping the tears from flowing. Who else wiping away tears?
If you have been on the Internet or social media lately, you’ve probably seen the latest challenge that is circulating. In the challenge, pet owners are seen with a blanket and they hide behind it while their animals watch. Then, when they drop the blanket, the owner has disappeared and the pet’s reaction is recorded. There have been so many good reactions and it’s definitely brought a lot of laughs all around. But this particular rendition of the challenge is definitely my favorite.
Private 1st Class Kevin has been away from his family for 9 months while he was training in Fort Bragg. That also meant that he was separated from his beloved four-year-old Golden Retriever, Zephyr. When Private Kevin was granted leave, his mom and brother picked him up at the airport and had a great idea. They decided to try the ‘What The Fluff Challenge’ with Private Kevin and Zephyr. Just watch as they pull out the blanket and get this adorable dog to sit in front. Then, the blanket rises and drops to reveal that this soldier has returned home.
Zephyr is overjoyed to see that Private Kevin has returned home and you can see this excitement and love all this sweet pup’s face. God truly knew what He was doing when He placed animals on this Earth. And when we invite them into our homes, they really become a part of our families. This amazing reunion between owner and dog is the perfect example of just how powerful the bond can be.
When it comes to birthdays, we probably all remember one or two special parties throughout the years. It was either at a unique place or you received a thoughtful gift, but you can still remember the details of that day. I have a feeling that Dakota "Bubba" Cadd’s 16th birthday is going to be one of those special days.
Bubba has cerebral palsy and Dandy-Walker syndrome. One of his favorite pastimes is sitting outside his house along Wisconsin Highway 26 and watching the truckers go by. Each time, he hopes that they will honk their horn. So when his birthday came around, his mother hoped to do something extra special for this boy.
The idea was sparked by a small act of kindness from one of the truck drivers. His mom noticed a bag on the ground near where Bubba would sit. “I realized that somebody had taken the time to stop on the highway and throw this package for my son over the five-foot fence." She posted on Facebook to try and find the kind truck driver and the post went viral. Soon, she was in contact with Mark King.
He said, "I've always had a soft spot for children in wheelchairs, probably because I grew up with a sister. She was handicapped." Mark helped Bubba’s mom organize thousands of people and hundreds of truck to come out for this special boy’s birthday and I think this is going to go down as one of the best parties ever. How incredible that all of these strangers would step up for this sweet boy in the best way.
‘Love will hold us together
Make us a shelter weather the storm
And I'll be my brothers keeper
So the whole world will know that we're not alone
He's waiting for you
Knockin' at your door!
Every moment of truth
When your heart hits the floor’
Even when we may feel at our darkest, remember that the Lord is the light that will always be there to guide us home. When the world around you becomes too much, He will always be there to keep you grounded and remind you of your true home in Heaven. Each and every day, God walks with us through life and gives us so many blessings that we do not deserve.
The beautiful lyrics of ‘Hold Us Together’ from Matt Maher will truly remind you of this. The Lord made the ultimate sacrifice for us when He sent His only Son to die for our sins. Because of that sacrifice, we are now all forgiven. We are free of our chains and all our sins have been washed away.
Now, we can live out our days in Heaven and that is truly an amazing feeling. It will truly remind us that when we put our trust in the Lord, He will take control. And when God holds the key, He will put us right where we need to be. These words are so powerful and I think it’s the perfect way to give praise to His name. Who else is singing out loud with me right now?
It is never easy to watch our children grow up. We have raised them from infants and in the blink of an eye they seem like they are grown ups. One of the most difficult transitions for parents can be when their kids become teenagers. It is a time of more independence and can also be a time of heightened emotions. But nothing is harder than a father watching his daughter start to turn into a woman.
Their baby girl is growing up and it’s definitely not easy. Penn Holderness, from the hilarious Holderness Family, is going through this growing pain right now. The Holderness family never fails to crack me up. This incredibly talented family always finds the funniest way to put their fun and quirky spin on the day-to-day issues we all deal with and their newest song is no different.
Today, this funny dad is singing an original song all about his baby girl becoming a teenager. As she gets older, it seems like his daughter wants to spend more time in her room on her iPad than she does with her dad, like she used to. And even just simply giving her dad a hug has turned into something awkward.
This hilarious song is sure to resonate with a lot of dads out there right now. It’s not easy when our kids get older, but it’s something we all have to face. Thankfully, this funny song will have you laughing along the way. Who else can relate to this hilarious song?
The Kyle and Jackie O show is a morning radio program in Australia. It is popular for it’s Hollywood scoop and crazy games, but the show is also known for one of its surprise giveback segment. During this time, listeners can call in on behalf of a friend or family member that may be struggling. The DJs have helped people in debt, those overcoming depression, and other members of the community. It’s always a surprise for the recipient and every moment is played out on air.
Today, Kyle and Jackie O are speaking with a woman named Kate. Her friend, Julie, is a stay-at-home mother of 6. Three of her children suffer from Wolfram Syndrome, which is a rare genetic condition with a life expectancy of 30 years. The oldest son has started to experience some of the sad effects of this disease such as blindness, so he decided to make a bucket list.
On the list are items such as swimming with dolphins and seeing snow for the first time. As soon as the DJs heard about this, they got on the phone with their contacts at Seaworld to see if they could help out this family. The amusement park agreed to pull out all the stops, so now it was time to tell the family the big news.
When mom Julie got on the phone, she was a little taken aback about this sudden surprise. But she was so thankful to the Kyle and Jackie O show and her amazing friend for making some of her son’s dreams come through.
It is truly an inspiration when we hear celebrities and famous figures stand up and speak out for the Lord. In this day and age, it is rare to take a stance like that, so I always have to cheer when I hear our Lord’s name in the pop news. Recently, actor Chris Pratt spread a message to teens all over the world that he loves God and they should too. His speech from the Teen Choice Awards was broadcast on television and millions of people got to hear his proclamation of faith.
Today, another celebrity is praising the name of the Lord for everyone to hear. Denzel Washington is an Academy Award-winning actor and he recently gave the commencement speech at Dillard University. He was speaking to the college graduates and wanted to give them some advice now that they would be entering the real world. Denzel’s number one piece of advice was to put God first. He said, ‘Put God first in everything that you do.
Everything that you think you see in me, everything that I’ve accomplished, everything that you think I have and I have a few things, everything that I have is by the grace of God’ These are such powerful words and you can even hear cheers in the crowd as he speaks to the graduates. I love hearing how God worked in Denzel’s life and now he is spreading the message for everyone to else to hear. Who else is saying amen right now?
I think whales are one of the most majestic creatures that God has placed on this earth. In fact, humpback whales are one of the largest species of whales in the ocean. It’s truly an amazing sight to see these incredible animals in their natural habitat and that’s why whale watching has become so much more popular over the years.
Sightseers will take cruises or boats to see all different species of ocean creatures, including whales, and they get to capture once-in-a-lifetime memories. That’s exactly what happened to a recent boat while they were headed out from Bondi Beach in New South Wales, Australia. 54-year-old wildlife photographer John Goodridge caught the entire moment on camera as he watched from a nearby cruise boat. The boat full of tourists got up close and personal with this humpback whale when he breaches right in front of them.
This gigantic creature leaps from the water right beside the boat and I know everyone must’ve been so stunned. It was truly a special moment and this photographer was able to capture every second of it on film. This is just another reminder how God’s creatures never cease to amaze me. He truly put so much time and thought into every tiny detail about the animals on this earth and they are so incredible to witness. I bet these sightseers had no clue they were going to have a whale-watching experience like this. Who else wishes that they could’ve been there in person? I know that I sure do.
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