Wednesday, August 12, 2015

It takes A special kind of person...

In going through old memory boxes yesterday, I was flooded with so many emotions. Some of which included sadness, anger, hatred, love, happiness, fulfillment, emptiness... it was quite a ride.
I got to touch some of the clothing that Jimmy used to wear as a baby and some as he grew through toddler. I also have some of the shirts that he was so proud to wear and to brag "Yes, MY MOM bought me this one too"!! I miss him tremendously. His wisdom, his sarcasm, his problem solving, his humor, his smile, his laugh, his face... oh that face!!!! He won everyone's heart as they got to know him. I am truly lucky to have had him call me Mom.. or Maw, as he later called me when the grandkids were born. I got to touch all of his many medals from his basketball days at Garden Spot High School. Which I am happy to say that his nephew, Damion, will be hanging in his bedroom from this time forward. Damion was so happy when I went through them with him this morning and said 'This is all yours, buddy'. He had lots of questions, and was very quick to pick Uncle Jimmy out of the sports team pictures.
I am still so proud of who he was and what he became in his short life. He has such awesome friends. Jeff, whom he hiked the Appalachian Trail with, continues to carry Jimmy's ashes with him on EVERY adventure he embarks upon.  He has a nice ceremony and spreads Jimmy lovingly at each awesome point of the adventure that he knew Jimmy would have LOVED to be. Jeff makes sure to video each ceremony and send to me- I am so thankful for that as well. And now another trail friend, Gravy, has asked if he could be honored with doing the same thing on trails that Jimmy had spoken of. Well, YES- of course... Jimmy's last wishes were to be spread as far and as many places as possible. I LOVE that his friends are honoring those wishes. Such a good soul to have touched so many others, even in his absence he is not forgotten and is being remembered and honored by so many!
My son... James Duane Faus.... My Son

Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Thoughts of you

When I read things that people have written about Jimmy, it makes me appreciate his Being even more. No matter how many times I read and reread and reread the same comments and stories, it always makes me so proud to have been a part of that life- the legacy of James Duane Faus!!

Sunday, April 19, 2015

YARD/BAKE SALE

Cancer benefit sale....

Saturday, April 25th
8AM-1PM
Garden Spot High School
669 East Main Street
New Holland, Pa

ALL PROCEEDS to be donated to 2 families this year

I have been wanting to give information on the recipients of the fundraiser this year-Craig Miller 40 years old was diagnosed with brain cancer on April 10, 2014. He had a glioma removed in March 2014. He has Two children Michaela 15, Gavin 10, and two stepchildren Kyle 14, Colin 16, wife's name is Kristin. Craig has been through radiation and chemo treatments. He is now on alternative treatments to keep the cancer away. He tries to remain positive and also tries to remain employed. Craig has been quoted saying 'I want to beat this for my kids, to show them to never give up'. I am told Craig has a passion for life, and reminds Jarid Parmer of Jimmy in many ways. I look forward to helping Craig and his family.

The second family that the fundraiser is going to sponsor: The gentleman's name is Bob Hinkle. He and his wife had very bad news last June when they discovered cancer in a kidney. In July he had the kidney removed, hoping to be rid of the cancer. In October during a follow up, they found cancer in his brain and bones. How sad to think you will be good after they remove the affected area only to learn that it has attacked other areas of your body. Bob and... his wife struggle to pay bills and keep their heads above water. Bob works as much as he can, disease permitting. I am very happy to be able to help them as well... And it is only because of the wonderful people that support our efforts in keeping Jimmy's caring and giving nature alive that we can do this!! So, from the depths of my heart- - - Thank you!! Thank you!! Thank you!!

Three Years...

Yes, it's been 3 years today.... Sometimes seems like yesterday- other times like forever; but, I know he's always near. I feel him, I talk to him, I relish in the memories of him. I will not be locking myself in my room and crying the day away- I will be having his brother and sisters (hopefully his dad) here for family dinner and we will talk about the memories (he had special ones with each person) and we will reflect on the love of people Jimmy had. I will continue each day to make Jimmy proud, to give love and memories to each person that is in my life. And we, as a family, will remain strong and secure in one another and vow to continue helping others as a reflection on Jimmy

Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Great people of this world

I am sooo very thankful for the friends that surround me. Many Many people have donated for our fundraiser in Jimmy's memory. We have LOTS of items: kitchen gadgets, adult and children's clothes,  gun cabinet, baby items, antique chairs, lamps, bounce houses (to chance off), HVAC service (to chance off),  furniture, antique sewing machine, NOT TO MENTION THE YUMMY BAKED ITEMS!!!!
Be sure to come see us if you are in New Holland on April 25th!!  

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Annual JFF Benefit Bake/Yard Sale

It is almost that time again. It's hard to believe that it has been almost 3 years (but sometimes feels like a lifetime ago) that I lost a piece of my heart and soul. I am going to keep pushing forward, though sometimes it is more difficult than I feel I can handle, and make him as proud today as I possibly can. I am accepting donations for the yard sale side of the benefit at this time and will hopefully get your support with some baked goods when it comes closer to the date. We will be holding the benefit at GSHS, same as usual, the last Saturday in April (the 25th). The sale will be 8am-1pm. This year we will have a new addition to our benefit; Ryan Bunting, owner of Joes Famous Wings and Wieners, will be attending with his wonderful foods!!

 I will be taking information on people that are in need and make a decision along with the rest of the crew of JFF as to who shall receive the money from the benefit. If you have someone in mind please give me all of the information that you have about the family and the situation they are in, so that I can address the JFF board with the nominations. You can let a post here on Jbirds on how to contact you and we can get info that way (whatever makes you feel comfortable)

Thank you for your support in the past years and looking forward to seeing everyone at the sale.

God Bless!

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

From dad number 2; Gary Interdonato

I have had so many wonderful memories of Jimmy that it would be impossible to call anyone of them my “favorite”. This particular memory stands out because it was the start of many more, tells the story of the maiden voyage of my canoe “built for three” and ends with the last journey and a bottomless pit of “material” for Jimmy and Sean.
 
Sean and I began a father and son fishing, camping and floating trip ritual on the Delaware River in Barryville, NY 22 years ago when Sean was 8. Back at the beginning we would rent a raft along with Bill and Bob and then Bill and Matt. But a few years later Bill bought his own raft for his family and the trip expanded to include Jimmy as well as my brother John making it difficult for us to manage the float trip. Bill and his family used their raft, John would rent a canoe for him and his guest and that left Jimmy, Sean and I with limited options. We could not rent a raft because back then, the “boys” did not have the strength or stamina to handle the raft in low flows or headwinds. We could not rent a canoe because they were not designed to carry three people. So the only option for us was to buy a canoe capable of handling the three of us and fit it with a middle seat. The photo I have included (Jimmy, Sean and Matt in the picture) was taken on its maiden voyage, the first of dozens of trips and countless memories.
 
As time went on, and Jimmy and Sean grew from boys to young men, the canoe became a challenge. Center of gravity is everything in a canoe if you want to remain upright and Jimmy shot up very quickly, earning him the nickname “stretch” by Bill. I tried to lower our center of gravity  by adding extensions to the seats and that mostly worked until it was Sean’s turn to “stretch”. Our center of gravity in that canoe was no longer a match for the swift current and the countless rocks and boulders that were its most visible attributes. Everyone who knows me, Jimmy and Sean especially, is keenly aware that I am a safety freak. So you can imagine what those float trips were like with three 6 footers and a nervous parent. Since Jimmy was the tallest of us he could no longer ride in the middle seat so he took over Sean’s role as “scout” and rode in the bow. But with Jimmy being so tall I could no longer see downstream so it meant that he had the job of spotting the obstacles and giving me direction. Now every time we hit anything, be it major or minor, I would vocalize my frustration to Jimmy. “You didn’t tell me about that one”, “you need to pay more attention”, “you said right and the rock was left” – I think you get the picture.  Instead of getting mad at me, Jimmy turned it back on me. That was Jimmy --- he did that so well. Jimmy and Sean turned my anxiety into a joke and the two of them busted my chops over and over again.  
 
When I started this tribute I made reference to the last journey and that is the funniest and most memorable part of this story. The three of us loaded the canoe and headed down river for a day on the water. We always secured our belongings to prevent loss should we capsize, especially our rods and reels, but since we had just started out we had not completed that task. The water was very low for this trip and that meant navigating without hitting anything was impossible. Almost immediately after we launched we hit a series of rocks and the canoe got hung up and was teetering broadside.  I yelled out, “DO NOT MOVE – NO ONE MOVE AN INCH – JIMMY, SEAN DO NOTTTT MOVE”. I was shaking in my boots and Jimmy and Sean were laughing their butts off. Moments later we capsized, our gear - rods and reels included, was in the water. Now I was even more frantic --- yet Jimmy and Sean continued to mostly ignore me. You see, we were capsized in about a foot of water! Jimmy and Sean simply reached into the water, retrieved all of our belongings, tilted the canoe to drain the water we took on and that was that. That was the last time the three of us used that canoe, Jimmy and Sean opting instead to take their own raft for the remainder of our river trips.  But for the rest of our time together, Jimmy and Sean seized every opportunity to bust my chops --- repeating --- DO NOT MOVE. NO ONE MOVE. DO NOTTTT MOVE!

HB JAMES DUANE!!

This would've been Jimmy's 30th birthday... instead of being here celebrating with us, he is celebrating with a higher being. I know that he is always near, I just wish that I could hear him answer me from time to time; to hear his sarcastic wit would be awesome. Feel free to post some of your favorite memories with Jimmy today to honor his memory.