JFF BENEFIT SALE

Hard to believe that tomorrow is the sale already. 5 years have come and gone without you here, Jimmy. Some days it feels like I just talked to you yesterday- other times it feels like an eternity without hearing your voice, seeing that smile, hearing the laugh, loving the sarcasm... we miss you so much. I am sure that you and Rick sit together and talk about all of the stuff we do on this Earth. I am hoping that you both see that we miss and love you more than ever- and that we keep you alive in our daily lives. I try to speak of you as though you are merely just 'in another room' as the poem says. Sometimes I can't be strong for everyone and I have to go sit in silence and just allow myself the time to process WTF happened ...  I still get angry, I still hate that you had to leave us so soon, and I still can't wrap my head around WHY.
I guess that we will just have to continue 'being present' in everyday life, so that we may live up to your expectations and continue on with your good natured, caring, giving legacy. (That stands for Rick as well)

JFF BENEFIT BAKE/YARD SALE
669 East Main Street
New Holland, PA
8AM-1PM.... TOMORROW!!!

flyer

LAST SATURDAY IN APRIL  JFF Cancer benefit sale Help us help a family going through the struggles Each year we have a bake/yard sale in hopes of raising money for a family going through the all so real financial battle that comes with cancer. PLEASE join us on Saturday, April 29th at Garden Spot High School located at 669 East Main Street, New Holland. The sale begins at 8AM. We will have something for everyone. And as always a wide variety of WONDERFUL home baked items!!

MANY MANY ITEMS TO CHOOSE FROM ──── AMAZING BAKED GOODS ──── FRIENDLY FOLKS ──── CHICKEN CORN RIVAL SOUP ──── BEEF BARBECUE SANDWICHES ACCEPTING DONATIONS       CONTACT INFO:            Marie Resh     jbirdsjourney.com pm_crawford@yahoo.com FB~lovingmemory.jimmyfaus

Benefit - Valentino

Valentino Emanuele DiStefano  12/31/2012

Vale’s story begins in late November of last year- his mother, Viviana, went back to work full-time. Vale had to change daycare facilities.  He got sick, mom figuring it was from all the extra kids = extra germs spreading around; as would ANY other mom. The weeks went on and he was continuously sick. One day at daycare, he hurt his foot. He didn’t complain, didn’t want to be ‘babied’ by being carried. He was taken to his Pediatrician, where the doctor proceeded to order an X-ray; the results demonstrated that it was indeed fractured. A cast was put on and remained on for 3 weeks, removed on January 6^th. The first time he tried to walk on the foot, Viviana helping him, it was painful for Vale. One day, the daycare had called and mentioned that he had a high fever and that his foot appeared to be swollen. Out of concern, his mother took him to see the doctor to ensure that there was no underlying issue. They did an X-ray and the Dr. said it was healed and said ‘the boy may be complaining or not walking out of attention.’ 2^nd week they decided to get a second opinion, he was scheduled to see a Pediatric Orthopedic doctor at Penn State. On 1/30/2017, the Resident on staff commented that he could tell that Valentino was in pain. Mom, in the meantime, was noticing how pale her little boy was getting. The head doctor came in and said that he was fine. Viviana demanded blood tests and an MRI be done to make sure there wasn’t something they were missing on the X-ray and she suspected in the least that he was anemic. Blood work was done and the results were sent to a Hematology Oncology specialist. IMAGINE being a work (OR ANYWHERE) and you receive a call… The first words spoken are “Your son’s blood work came back abnormal.” Your son is very sick, his blood counts are as follows Red: 2.8 (should be at least 11.5), White 243 (should be above 1500), Platelets 25,000 (should be at least 172,000). Viviana and Samuele (dad) took him to be admitted to Penn State Children’s Hospital at Hershey for immediate blood and platelet transfusions. Valentino was sedated for the next procedures: spinal tap and bone aspiration. These were performed to confirm his illness and to see if the infection/disease had spread to his spine and/or brain. It was in this moment that they confirmed that Vale has Leukemia A.L.L. THANK GOD that the A.L.L (Pre-B cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia) had not spread to his brain and/or spine. He is undergoing Chemo treatments daily and IV infusions weekly to try to save his life; the first 6 months of such brutal beatings for this young soul. Then, 6 months to 3 ½ years of treatments, which will be sporadic to keep it in remission. Then if that all goes as planned, he will be considered CURED from this awful disease.

              !!!!!!!!WE ARE ALL ROOTING FOR YOU, VALENTINO!!!!!!! 

benefit recipient 2017

Hard to believe these years are flying by so quickly. This years cancer benefit recipient is such a young lad- FIVE YEARS OLD!!! It makes my heart heavy knowing what he has lying ahead of him with treatments to save his life. Imagine being the parents of this young vibrant child and then one phone call changes your entire existence. I hope to have a successful sale this year for this family.
Valentino Emaluele DiStefano- we are all rooting for you...

 
YARD/BAKE SALE
SATURDAY, APRIL 29TH 2017
GARDEN SPOT HIGH SCHOOL (FRONT LAWN AREA)
669 EAST MAIN STREET
NEW HOLLAND, PA
WE ALWAYS HAVE SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE!!!!
I will be posting his story as soon as I get it ok'd by his momma.

JFF BAKE/YARD SALE

Can you believe it ... another year has flown right by us. I have been preparing for the upcoming sale- a friend of mine moved out of his house after 19 years- I inherited all of the items he was willing to get rid of... and it is LOTS!! He was an avid Disney fan/collector. We have a wide variety of Disney related items to please an entire city! 😎
The sale is the last Saturday in April again as usual. Same place as well... garden spot high school- front lawn area from 8am-2pm.
I hope that we have another great year!! Please join us for great bargains and WONDERFUL homemade baked goods.
More info to follow with pics and details.
Marie Resh

family that will recieve the proceeds from sale

Alexis Javier was 37 years old when he was diagnosed with an incurable brain tumor in April, 2014. He had his first surgery to remove as much of the tumor as possible, followed by chemo & radiation. Alexis was back to work in six weeks and persevering.

Seven months later the tumor was back. He had his second surgery in November 2014. This time the chemo sessions were 1 ½ hours long in hopes of shrinking the remaining tumor and preventing others from developing. Again, he returned to work and held his precious little family together.

In August, 2015 a heartbreaking visit to the doctor brought great sadness. The tumor was back with a vengeance. He had his third surgery which was then followed by 5-6 hour chemo sessions that kept him from returning to work.

I am saddened to say that he lost his battle on March 17,2016. His wife and three beautiful young girls, Natalie (8), Noelle (5), and Nicole (3) will need the funds from our benefit sale to help with the entire financial burden that comes with cancer.

I look forward to helping this family.

                                                  THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!!!
 

another year

Well... it's here ... another year...
We will be having our 4th annual JFF bake/yard sale to benefit someone going through cancer. This year it is a young family; he just lost his battle with cancer Thursday, March 17th. He was only a young 39 years old. He had 3 beautiful little girls... 8,5,and 3. It is just a shame and a hurtful truth that these young ladies will never again be held by their very loving and devoted father. It will be an honor for us to help this wonderful, but broken family this year. My  heart is so heavy for them. I hope to raise enough to make a difference in their bills, etc.
Yard/Bake Sale
Saturday, April 30th 2016
Garden Spot High School
669 East Main Street
New Holland, Pa
PLEASE come on out and support us supporting others.

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

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!!

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

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!!  

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!

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.

:(

Another Christmas..........

I know this may seem strange or sound really dumb, but today I stood and leaned over the back of my sofa staring out the front window for what seemed a very long time, waiting and dreaming of seeing Jimmy walk up the front yard to the door and swing it open to yell a resounding heeeearroooow...... HAAAAPPYYYY BIIIRRRTHHHDAAAAYYY MAW; the only way Jimmy can. :)
Makes my heart sad and happy at the same time.
Sad, because I miss him so much; and happy because he gave me so many great memories! I miss this boy so much that it is painful. My heart aches to hear his smartass comments. His humor was a match for mine- I miss that terribly as well.
I can't wait until I get to see him again!

 Love you boy!

adventure

Yes Cheryl, Jimmy was all about the thrill of living. I am so VERY glad that he did live a very happy and exciting life for the time that he had here with us. And it is awesome to see the friends and family that are still taking Jimmy with them in their travels and adventures. This is awesome in part because of the words in Jimmy's last letter. His desires were to be spread out as far as he could go. Each time I go away somewhere I make sure that I have some of his ashes to take with. (happy and sad moments)
Jimmy LOVED the yearly trip with Brianna. He looked forward to it. I loved that they stayed close for so long too.
 So, close friends and family- bring on the adventures!!

Niagra Falls

Well, it has been quite a while since Jimmy's spirit and some remains went over the falls thanks to Clare, aka "Jeff's Mom". Jimmy has so many people that loved him while he graced the Earth and they continue to love and cherish the memories that were shared, while making more! Jimmy has been taken to so many parts of this earth with the help of friends and family. The most recent being with his sister, Shelley. She went to Las Vegas and did a base jump from over 900 feet in the air. She wasn't allowed to carry and release so she wore her necklace, which was not allowed either but she tucked Jimmy near her heart and did it anyway. She was terrified, but knew that Jimmy would be with her and this is something he would have LOVED. Thank you to all who still continue thinking about Jimmy and following through with his last wishes to be spread as many locations as possible. THANK YOU FOR SHARING THE LOVE WITH US.  

end of an era

Today, I feel Jimmy is right by my side- I have been at my job for 16 years and I will be leaving at 4PM today for the last time. It was a HUGE decision, but losing loved ones proves that life is short and we all need to live up to our best selves and never sell out to be someone that you would never want to be. With Jimmy's strength, I will be fine. It would have been MUCH better to have him here in another form of course, but I am feeling his strength......