tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46829703674896965852024-03-12T22:19:18.634-04:00Theo's Christmas StockingBetween now and Christmas,do something nice for someone. It doesn't have to involve money, just commit a random act of kindness.~The Helbert Fueglein Family~http://www.blogger.com/profile/07365723460650017240noreply@blogger.comBlogger109125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682970367489696585.post-61197661421437405132018-12-10T10:02:00.002-05:002018-12-10T10:04:17.301-05:00Emotionally Naked 12/09/18<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">From Anne Moss
Nimicks Rogers: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I have a blog
called <a href="https://annemoss.com/" target="_blank">Emotionally Naked</a> and about a year ago I started writing posts for the
express purpose of appearing at the top of google for when people were
searching for ways to kill themselves. My post didn't offer step by step
instructions like most of them did but instead offers hope and resources and a
human being that answers them and cares. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <a href="https://annemoss.com/about/" target="_blank">I lost a son to suicide</a> and I know he "googled" how to fashion his instrument of
death so that's my inspiration. So after a lot of hard work and persistence,
those articles are competing with sites offering step by step instructions. So
I got an email this week from lady around 50 who wants to kill herself and
we've been corresponding. I don't know if she will ask for help or live. All I
can do is try to let her know someone is listening. I want her to know she
matters. As funny and talented as my son was, his greatest gift was letting
others know they matter and that's what I want to carry forward.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> ---Thank you so
much, Anne Moss, for sharing here in Theo's Stocking, and for doing what you do
in the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> Anne Moss recently
spoke at Richmond<a href="https://tedxgracestreetwomen.com/2018-speakers/#" target="_blank"> TEDxGraceStreetWomen</a> about Showing Up. You definitely show up
in this world, helping thousands of people through your blog and your work. A
beautiful, meaningful way to continue to parent your beautiful son and carry
his legacy and his gifts into the world, letting others know they matter. Thank
you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">From Mr. Tucker
Smith:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Today, I walked
past a homeless man who often sits on the street corner next to my house. He
usually asks for help from cars stopping at the traffic light. I initially
walked right by him because I was in a rush. Everything is a rush during finals
week, and in my warped, college-student brain, lunch also falls victim to this
rushed mindset. So, I passed right by my fellow human without giving a thought
to how I could quickly help. Even when I was getting my food, the thought never
occurred to me that I could drop him off some snacks on the way back home,
without altering my path at all. I hold myself to be constantly practicing
mindfulness, but neuroses brought on by looming final exams can cloud even a
practiced mind. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> So, I had bought
two apples, one for my roommate and I. On the way home though, I decided to
give the apples to the man after passing him again. He looked me in the eyes
and thanked me sincerely. Looking back, some of the most meaningful acts of
kindness I've received were unpremeditated, simple, and random. The opportunity
to help others might be easier than we think, as long as we can take a second
to think about it in the first place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> ---Mr. Tucker Smith,
Service-Learning Teaching Assistant extraordinaire<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />~The Helbert Fueglein Family~http://www.blogger.com/profile/07365723460650017240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682970367489696585.post-53497768325811505152018-12-06T10:09:00.001-05:002018-12-06T10:09:10.752-05:00Theo's Stocking 2018Dear Mister F.<br />
I think it is so great that you are still doing the stocking for Theo. I do things for other people every now and then while thinking of the stocking. I gave a homeless person 12 dollars. I held open the door of the elevator when I was in a real hurry, because the woman I was holding the door for was frantic. I helped a person who dropped his groceries. I wanted to help a mother (or a nanny) who was having trouble juggling a baby and other stuff, but got a weird look from the mother, so I backed away, which was more helpful. All kinds of stuff all year I try to do.<br />
I hope you are doing good and still teaching and I may come to Richmond soon.<br />
---Anna <br />
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<br />
I swiped meals for homeless people on campus. There are a lot of homeless people.<br />
---Anonymous<br />
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*"I swiped meals" means that this student used a meal plan on an ID that you 'swipe' in order to get food. It does not mean the food was stolen...<br />
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Proffesor F.,<br />
When I feel down, I always think about mentoring at <a href="https://www.cisofrichmond.org/how-we-work/the-carver-promise/" target="_blank">Carver Promise</a>. Next year I am going back to be a mentor again. Everyone needs somebody, and all those kids need mentors. When I feel down, I always feel better when I remember mentoring. It's not that mentoring was all that fun, really, and it wasn't earth shaking or anything like that, but it's one of those small but very important things, so I will go back, because somebody needs me. This is for the stocking. Just use my first initial, please.<br />
---M.~The Helbert Fueglein Family~http://www.blogger.com/profile/07365723460650017240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682970367489696585.post-88721250767008630442017-12-25T21:18:00.005-05:002017-12-25T21:18:45.842-05:00The Tiny Magical Miracles Everywhere<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“I
hate to say it, but the way it seems is that no one is fine. Take time to peel
back a few layers and you will find true sadness.” So say the Avett Brothers.
Sounds better in 4-part harmony, but you get the point. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Christmas
is hard. There. I said it. Most of us are trying to please too many people or
live up to unrealistic standards of joy and giving. In a society of constant
information and feedback, our brains are on overload trying to process it all.
Let’s be honest. It’s overwhelming. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Even
the most outwardly “put together” people have struggles. Take me for example.
I’m married to my high school sweetheart. We have two perfect kids. We own a
business. We’re photogenic to a fault. Reality? Everyday I’m struggling
physically & financially to stay alive after a near death illness five
years ago. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">"This
Christmas has been harder than expected. As recently as Tuesday I was wondering
if I can skip Christmas. I’m grieving
some close personal losses and my never ending medical expenses have strained
my heart and wallet. I wanted to be able to help a grieving family this year, but
I saw no way I could help a mourning family plus have the funds for my own
Christmas. So I did what I do best. Complain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
reached out to a couple girlfriends and let them know my existential misery was
surely worse than any ever suffered. I whined about every petty thing
disrupting my perfect existence. Getting it out made me feel some better.
Misery might not love company, but telling others about your misery is calming.
Selfish, but calming. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Within
a few hours one of the kindest, most generous friends i have showed up at my
business with gifts for the family in mourning. What makes this extra special?
She’s never met these people. I was hurting for them so she was too. Double
extra special? My friend has had a horrible year. One of her children was
diagnosed with a life-threatening illness & the battle has been hard. Yet
she saw the suffering of another and stepped up with abundance. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Really
this was enough to taper my grinchiness, but an hour later a customer came into
my business and made a purchase exactly the amount i needed to fund my own
Christmas. God? Fate? Miracle? Magic? Needless to say, my heart grew three
sizes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">These
events might seem insignificant to those who are greatly suffering, but let it
offer you hope. Tiny magical miracles are everywhere. We just have to open our
hearts to see.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Love, S <o:p></o:p></span></div>
~The Helbert Fueglein Family~http://www.blogger.com/profile/07365723460650017240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682970367489696585.post-34090530744182745862017-12-25T14:21:00.001-05:002017-12-25T14:29:04.467-05:00Kindnesses this Christmas <div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Theo,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This year I decided, in memory of you, to volunteer
with an organization that helps to settle refugees coming from other countries
into the U.S. I signed up to read to children and give out children’s books at
a resources fair for refugee families. I started the day in the reading room,
helping children pick out books, but was quickly called in to serve as backup
for the overwhelmed face painter. The line seemed never to shrink during the
four hours I was there. One after another, I placed the tip of my brush to the
faces of children of all ages, some of whom spoke no English. I touched their
foreheads to move the hair from their eyes. Their little bodies were pressed up
close all around me as I worked, painting the images of Batman, Spiderman,
flowers, unicorns, and American flags—images selected by the kids. What an
honor it was, to make a first impression on these families as they entered our
country, to look into these innocent little faces and welcome them here. Thank
you for inspiring me to open myself up to this experience. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Becky Boncal<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Hello to you sweet Karla! I have a couple of stories
of RAOK in the spirit of our children gone....I have donated 20 pair of shoes
to children in a village in Tanzania for Christmas. Many of them have infected
feet due to not having shoes. One pair for every year Samantha was here. It was
her burning desire to travel to Africa, she never had the chance....on
Christmas Day I will be making and delivering 100 turkey sandwiches to the
homeless, in memory of my sweet son Ryan. I'm also collecting scarves gloves
and hats for those who are in need. Stories for Theos stocking...please make it
anonymous<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Sending love.....<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">In loving memory of Samantha and Ryan </span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GRQ4a6bTOas/WkFRKwAw1MI/AAAAAAAAAMU/hbz7I6X2d1wDExP1N8tW8bXY5sxNRQ6hgCEwYBhgL/s1600/R%2Band%2BS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GRQ4a6bTOas/WkFRKwAw1MI/AAAAAAAAAMU/hbz7I6X2d1wDExP1N8tW8bXY5sxNRQ6hgCEwYBhgL/s320/R%2Band%2BS.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Dear Friends, </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Our Act of Kindness this year was a cash donation for
an outreach effort organized by friends and family members of some families in
Puerto Rico. The organizers live in Florida and have been able to utilize a
structured supply chain to restaurants and small businesses in Puerto Rico to
get the relief items directly to some people in dire need. We love you guys and
are thinking of you all! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Love, Pam and Annie <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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~The Helbert Fueglein Family~http://www.blogger.com/profile/07365723460650017240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682970367489696585.post-72752720022520382952017-12-13T12:15:00.001-05:002017-12-13T12:28:11.834-05:00Selah: Pausing to Give and to GrieveOne of the nearest and dearest things to my heart is the <a href="https://missfoundation.org/" target="_blank">MISS Foundation</a> and the <a href="https://missfoundation.org/help-build-the-selah-house" target="_blank">Selah House Respite Center and Carefarm</a>. We did a fundraiser for the Carefarm on Giving Tuesday this year and gave again to the building fund on another occasion this season. And then yesterday we got a beautiful post card in the mail telling us a donation to Selah was made in Theo's memory from a loving friend.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/can-rescue-animals-change-way-grieve-130038456.html" target="_blank">Please read this wonderful article</a> that just came out today and if you are so moved share it with grieving people you may know, and if you are looking for a cause, this one is beyond worthy. It is so needed.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-odY5WmpNonY/WjFfxUjGipI/AAAAAAAAAMA/dxtA4ytiiLMpgQWBO_oQgul8ubssoeEaQCLcBGAs/s1600/carefarm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1237" data-original-width="1600" height="247" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-odY5WmpNonY/WjFfxUjGipI/AAAAAAAAAMA/dxtA4ytiiLMpgQWBO_oQgul8ubssoeEaQCLcBGAs/s320/carefarm.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://missfoundation.org/help-build-the-selah-house" target="_blank">Help Build the Selah House</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />~The Helbert Fueglein Family~http://www.blogger.com/profile/07365723460650017240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682970367489696585.post-46616432664125493582017-12-13T10:50:00.001-05:002017-12-13T12:56:39.607-05:00Twelve Years of Chistmas<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Our son died of a brain tumor. This year is our twelfth
Christmas without him. We live every day without him here. This is our life. As
a family, and as individuals, we are trying still to figure out how to live our
lives with such a crucial, vital, essential, important person constantly
missing. The presence of his absence colors everything. Always. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Theo died February 20, 2006. That year was horrid.
That first Christmas without him was a kind of black hole that is hard to
describe. I have
said many times that when my son died I realized how very little I knew. I
still do not know much. The mysteries I have been confronted with offer very
few clear answers. But I do know and can see that things have evolved. Things
get different and sometimes that means “better,” and sometimes it just means
different. It’s better that I can sing Christmas carols and actually enjoy doing
it. It’s better that I can shop for gifts and not have a breakdown in a store,
that I can go into a store at all is better. It is easier to put up the tree
than it was before. Still hard. But a little easier. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">To think that it has been 12 years since our first
Christmas without him is kind of amazing to me. In many ways it really doesn’t
seem that long. Considering the increased amount of stress we have endured over
these 12 years, I would think it would seem longer. Shakespeare said, “Grief
makes one hour ten.” I know in the early years that feels absolutely true.
Right now though, twelve years seem to have passed by, not quite in a blink,
but pretty quickly. Strange. But still. Twelve years is a long time. Relatively
speaking. Always. Time is weird. I know that Christmas will continue to come
for however long I am still breathing here on this planet without my first-born
child. And that never gets better. But there are things that are easier. And I
know that the love and kindness in Theo’s Stocking has made each year a little
easier. Love and kindness really are the only things that make this grief any
easier. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I would like to tell you the story of that first year.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Thelonius Luther Helbert Fueglein died on February 20,
2006 at nine months old. Theo was diagnosed at 3 months old with a brain tumor,
a choroid plexus carcinoma. A very rare and deadly brain tumor. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The first Christmas after Theo died, 2006, I decided
initially that I was not going to have Christmas. I did not feel celebratory; I
did not want to have the holiday without my baby. But we had moved into a new
house, we were planning to stay home instead of traveling to family
celebrations—which I did not want to face. And so, I decided to decorate the
tree and the house as if he were here, to honor him and also to have something
to focus on. When I opened the box with Theo's stocking inside—a sweet little
felt stocking, made by Theo's great-grandmother—and hung it by the chimney with
care, I was struck by what that one small act really meant. In hanging the
stocking, I was acknowledging our son's presence in our lives and honoring him
as our child, but realized at the same time, that on Christmas morning there
would be nothing in his stocking.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The image in my mind of the stocking hanging, flat and
empty was so painful. And I did not want to put gifts in the stocking, candies,
toys or other stuffers, which we would then open "for him." Imagining
that scenario felt pitiful and hurtful. I did not know what to do. I just sat
and looked at the stocking. I knew I could not take it down. It was Theo's. I
would never, and will never, do anything to remove his memory, his presence,
his place in our family, from our lives. But the empty stocking seemed a
terribly looming symbol for everything we were missing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">And then I had an idea.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I raced upstairs to the computer and sent out an email
asking our family and friends for help. This is what I sent:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Dear Friends,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Sorry this is kind of late--I just thought of it. We
have a stocking hung for Theo (made by his great-grandmother, Jamie's
grandmother) with a pretty dragonfly pin on it. I got really sad thinking that
there will be nothing to put into his stocking for Christmas. And all of a
sudden I thought of something really nice that all of you could do to help give
Theo a present. And to help us feel a little better on Christmas. Sometime
between now and Christmas, do something nice for someone, no matter how small
or large, it doesn't have to involve money--just commit a random act of
kindness. When you do it, think of Theo and dedicate that act to him and his
sweet spirit. Please write it down and send it to me through e-mail. I won't
read it. I will print it out and put it in his stocking and then on Christmas
morning, we will open up all the notes and read them. If even only a few of you
do this, we will have a really beautiful thing to share on Christmas in our
sweet baby's memory and someone else (the recipient of your kindness) will
benefit by a true example of the spirit of Christmas. I will pray that all of
us will be struck by inspiration, that something will come to each of us, some
kindness that we can share of ourselves, in Theo's name and in his memory, to
benefit someone else. Thank you so much for your participation and your
continued love and support,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Karla and Jamie<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We received more emails that I ever imagined we would.
People forwarded it on to others and I started getting mails in my inbox from
people I didn't even know, from all over the country and from 3 other countries
as well. It meant so much to us. Reading those kindnesses done in Theo’s memory
and dedicated to his spirit got me through that terrible first Christmas
morning without him. We continued the tradition the following year, 2007, as
well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The third year, I felt a little different. It wasn't
as important to me to have the acts of kindness as tangible somethings in his
stocking. It was just part of the way grief changes over time. I didn't need
that physical act for myself anymore. I didn’t even need it for just him
anymore. But I did want to continue the tradition of doing the acts of kindness
in his memory. So I started Theo’s Stocking blog here and for the past 10
years, we have posted stories of the acts of kindness that people continued to
send so that anyone who wanted to could share in the love. Even just reading
the kindnesses makes your heart a little lighter and a little warmer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Continuing the tradition of doing kindnesses in his
memory brings the knowledge that the love, strength, beauty and goodness that
he radiated still touches other people. I know that his love for us and ours
for him continues to spread like waves of light into the Universe. One of the
ways it does this is through simple acts of kindness that we choose to perform
for no other reason than to help another person. And that is, of course, the
true meaning of Christmas. It doesn't mean we have to spend a lot of money. It
doesn't mean extravagance and isn't about feeling pressured to "do
something." It can mean letting an extra car out in traffic—even when you
are running late. It can mean holding open the elevator door for the person
running to make it, taking the extra few minutes to really hear your
co-worker's response to the routine "how are you?" It can be taking a
bag of canned goods, even from your own pantry, to your community's Food Bank.
It can mean giving your time to your church or volunteering for other charity.
It can mean spending the few extra minutes to have a conversation with a
neighbor or helping someone with their bags or leaving an extra $5 or $10 tip
for your server. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We are all in need. When we find ourselves in times
like these, times when we may feel frightened or bogged down in self-centered
worries, the spirit of giving can truly provide, even if only for a moment, a
respite from our own troubles, from our own anxieties and fears. For that brief
moment we can be filled with that warmth of human kindness which is magnified
by the act of giving of ourselves to others. If you try it, you will see.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We invite you to participate in filling Theo's
stocking again this year. We invite you to do kindnesses in memory of your own
beloveds who you are missing this season. We invite you to pass this forward,
not only in your acts of kindness, but to others so they may have the
opportunity participate, joining in to continue to spread the spirit of love
and compassion through adding their own acts of kindness. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">So, as I have asked every year:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Sometime
between now and Christmas, do something nice for someone, no matter how small
or large, it doesn't have to involve money--just commit a random act of
kindness. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">If you would like to share it here at Theo’s Stocking,
write it down and send it through email or Facebook Messenger. </span><a href="mailto:Karlamarie@verizon.net"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Karlamarie@verizon.net</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
or </span><a href="mailto:s2jafueg@vcu.edu"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">s2jafueg@vcu.edu</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We will post your stories here on this blog as they
are sent in so that we can all read and share in the kindness and love. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We wish a warm and safe and peaceful holiday to all. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
~The Helbert Fueglein Family~http://www.blogger.com/profile/07365723460650017240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682970367489696585.post-6434818742193205912017-12-12T18:03:00.001-05:002017-12-13T10:50:54.737-05:00Welcome ~<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><b><span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">Welcome to Theo’s Christmas
Stocking. You may have never been here before, or you may come here often. We encourage
you to commit mindful acts of kindness for loved ones, friends, and strangers
alike in honor of your beloved dead.</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;"> The holiday
season, traditionally a time of giving, provides us so many opportunities to do
so. S</span></b><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "garamond" , serif;">end your act of kindness to us, and we’ll
</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif;">post it here in Theo's Christmas Stocking so that
we can all share in the Spirit of Giving and Kindness.</span></b><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "garamond" , serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><br />
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</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "cambria" , serif;">Hey Professor
F. </span><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "cambria" , serif;">Last weekend my
family and I made some chili and went out to DC along with my church and served
the homeless people there. Other people brought gift baskets with toiletries
and stuff. The people there seemed to really appreciate it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "cambria" , serif;"> ---Anonymous<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">While usually I go to
Monroe Park to give homeless people food, Monroe Park is closed. Where do they
all go? I drove around a while and saw some dudes downtown who had some sad signs.
I gave them bags of Hardees. True, fast food is not the best choice, but you never
know: it maybe kept them from the brink of horrible hunger.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> Giving something small to someone might mean everything
to them.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> ---Will<span style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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~The Helbert Fueglein Family~http://www.blogger.com/profile/07365723460650017240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682970367489696585.post-21923406936085632502016-12-26T14:33:00.000-05:002016-12-26T14:33:14.223-05:00<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
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<span style="background-color: #cccccc; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Christmas<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Hi Professor F,</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
A friend recently recited this mantra of hers to me; it goes along the lines of
“never hesitate to help someone.” This philosophy was revealed after I
mentioned to her that I wanted to treat this homeless man that we see often
around campus. I happened to have an extra doughnut with me that I didn’t
necessarily need because I had already eaten one. With her words of
encouragement, I walked up to the homeless man with that gray cat of his, and
simply handed him the treat and said, “I got this for you.” I didn’t really
know what else to say---some people don’t like to be pitied---but I was
relieved when he smiled and replied, “Thank you, love.” I’m glad that my friend
told me this; her new way of living focused around providing others with a
helping hand highlights the importance of giving back---an idea that is
constant during the holiday season. <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">I’m not sure
why I was hesitant in the first place, but </span>I’m glad to begin or rather
continue, this journey of “giving” with the gift of self-satisfaction and
respect. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #cccccc; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Happy Holidays!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #cccccc; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">---Anonymous<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: #cccccc;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Hey Jamie,</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />
<br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Here's my good deed: a guy dropped a pallet of
boxes on me at Walmart, the guy looked like he was having a bad day, and I
helped him pick up all the boxes. He never said anything, but a bad day is a
bad day.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Hope you and your family have a great holiday!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">---Matt Clingempeel</span><br />
</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc;"><br /></span>
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~The Helbert Fueglein Family~http://www.blogger.com/profile/07365723460650017240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682970367489696585.post-35270925036374239882016-12-21T18:58:00.000-05:002016-12-21T18:58:18.512-05:00Christmas Dream<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oRSycElX1hw/WFsWZApq9sI/AAAAAAAAAKo/faejTO4neq0puoZ0aL_UqZbn5ovFDDltgCLcB/s1600/jamiedrawing.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oRSycElX1hw/WFsWZApq9sI/AAAAAAAAAKo/faejTO4neq0puoZ0aL_UqZbn5ovFDDltgCLcB/s400/jamiedrawing.jpg" width="372" /></a></div>
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<b><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Prelude: Dream<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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I skim glistening waves of starcloud in a boat borne by
weightless ancient dragonflies, one at the bow, one port, one starboard, one abaft,
guiding from behind. My bright daughter Lula, the sun, hangs above me to my
left, and the woman with whom I’ve chosen to share my life, Thelonius’ and
Lula’s mother, Karla, the moon, hovers over my right shoulder. We sail to the
distant Land of the Dead to visit our son and our brother Thelonius. I hope
this time he will take a shape that is pleasing to see. In this Land of the
Dead, the spirits sometimes recline on vast beds of ripe vegetation, sipping paradisiac
joy from tulip cups, where laughter comes as easily as breath. But sometimes, dead
shades mope in Grecian chains and groan with ghostly Roman longing, trudging
through forever one-legged, syphilitic, blind. Other times in the Land of the
Dead, blithe spirits romp with kittens, peacocks, lemurs and llamas, cartwheeling
the Elysian Fields with giddy glee. Sometimes, though, the dead roast screaming
in Christian pits of eternal Hell, or hide in the rotten cavities of Niflheim. And
some other times, they stare at one another for days, and fall down laughing,
in love with each other and with the sound of laughter, and with everything. <o:p></o:p></div>
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It all
depends on me: if my mind is right, my beloved dead boy will this time be as I
choose to remember him when he was at his best, when he was smiling and eating,
aping our expressions and laughing with us. If all goes well this time, when we
reach that celestial shore, he will be as I choose to remember him.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Everything changes:
this is for you</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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What will he look like this time? <o:p></o:p></div>
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I run my
vast catalogue of images of him through my mental viewfinder. Will he be the
baby who emerged for his first breaths, fluid and wriggly, bloody but safe
after such long labor? Or will he be stiff-armed and rigid, a crooked frame of
locked muscles, his nervous system forever tight and impaired? Will he be happy
and laughing, mirroring faces that brought him such joy, or will he be anxious
and frightened, unable to comprehend the sounds he is hearing? Will his eyes be
open or closed, laughing or frightened, amused or pained? Will they be focused
on daddy and mommy and little sister Lula, or will he stare dead-eyed and
blind, lost in a morphine haze? Will he be two months old, curious and amazed,
or will he be three months old, stroked-out and nervous, startled at the world?
Will he be nine months old, the age he reached when he died? Will he be filled
with a tumor, with the wires and tubing that kept him alive? If he is nine
months old, will a caretaker accompany him on the shore, a nurse or a nanny? Will
this nurse be kind? Or might he be 11 years old, as he would be in this land of
the living had he lived? Will he be good at math, bad at soccer, or brilliant
at both? How tall will he be? How is his language proficiency? Is he good with
his hands? Does he like to read? What kinds of books do the dead read?<o:p></o:p></div>
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What will
he look like this time? I think on all of the drawings I have made of Theo.
Drawings as he was then, and as he is now---as barrel-chested baby and as
skeleton. I have a big black book with thick paper, and with colored pencils
and crayons and paint, I draw him. Sometimes he is a dragonfly, like those wise
animals bearing our ship; sometimes he is only his tumor, a tiny human
overwhelmed by black rot; sometimes he is a baby, sometimes an enormous, astonished
eye floating in the sky. Sometimes he is an old man in an old hat and an old
coat standing quiet in the rain. Sometimes he wears a golden dress. He is a
cloud. He is in a purple tower. Through art, you find Self. Through art, you
communicate with the your subconscious. In art, you can see your soul. It is one
method by which you transform yourself. My Soul-Surgeon told me so, and I
believe my Soul-Surgeon. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I converse
with Theo in my drawings. He tells me he is doing fine, that he is okay, that
all is well. While it may seem insane to talk to my dead kid while rendering
pictures of him over and over in different iterations, I think it’d be insane
to ignore him. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I see him
everywhere, yet can never really see him. I close my eyes and am in the room
where he died, and sometimes it feels like I never left that room. A crucial part
of me died in that room, and when dementia and insanity claim me, I will
eternally be locked in that room on Sheppard Street. I remember to the nearest
skin cell and ounce what it was to hold him in my arms as he lived and died. I
remember the pressure of his weight, the smell of his head, the texture of the
sutures on his skull, the tubing of the catheters, of the machines, his
intracranial pressure; my hands ache in the cold because of how hard I crossed
my fingers to keep his ICP below 20. I remember the feel of his blind eyes and
his chemohair and his soft blanket cloth, and they way he sucked the air when I
placed him outside on a bed of fallen October leaves, knowing he’d never again
get to smell this autumnal perfume. <o:p></o:p></div>
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There is no
cure for the grief that accompanies having a dead kid. And this grief becomes
more acute during the holidays when I watch our sad TV, like the commercial
wherein a rhythmless, drunken, red-and-white miniskirted woman throws presents
at me <i>in the spirit of the season</i>. It
seems the only way around the grief is through it, so I go through with paper
and pen and paint and a wee dram of Maker’s Mark. I draw Theo. He is always
changing; I draw Theo, and in minute ways, I change. And I write about it, and
I change.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Change can
be good, change can be bad, change can be hard. Change is the only thing we can
always count on. Nothing stays the same. This blog, a public forum, evolved
from a private moment of intense pain. Karla’s experience on December 21, 2006
as she contemplated the empty and flat stocking which represented our first
Christmas without our boy, our first Christmas with our dead child. The first
year we asked our friends and family to do something kind for someone else.
They typed down their stories and emailed them back to Karla. She printed them
without reading them, folded them lovingly and put them in his stocking. On
Christmas morning, the stocking was full. We read those gifts all morning. It
changed our experience of that mournful day. The next year, she asked the same
thing. The next year, we felt we wanted to share the kindnesses with a broader
public and started this blog. People sent stories of kindnesses in Theo’s
memory and we posted them here rather than stuffing the stocking. Soon after,
we wanted this space to be for anyone to remember their loved ones. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We want
this space now to be for you. It’s not about Thelonius anymore. Not really.
He’s fine; all is well with him. What he’s left behind, this mess of a world, full
of slavery and genocide and bullies and bullshit demagogues and guns and drugs
and psychosis and murder and tumors and desires, this is the place of
suffering, of bad decisions, of addiction and loneliness. If this stocking
helps anyone aside from us, it is a good thing to keep doing. The holidays are
enough of a slog. This stocking is for you. It is for you to remember your dead
beloved. We are no longer doing this just to have something to put into a stocking
made of felt and sequins. It is for you to think about what you’ve lost, and to
try to make something nice, to make some sort of teensy weensy change somewhere
with someone.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Postlude: Dream’s End</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I stand in the bow of the boat and watch for the shoreline,
Lula on my left, Karla to my right. My family is aglow, brighter and brighter,
and the light wakes me and everything has changed again.</div>
<o:p></o:p>~The Helbert Fueglein Family~http://www.blogger.com/profile/07365723460650017240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682970367489696585.post-90247061537849182562016-01-01T15:56:00.000-05:002016-01-01T16:03:13.741-05:00New Year's Day 2016<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;">I baked a bunch of banana
bread for the people I work with at school. In the main dining facility at
school, there are a lot of non-student employees (dishwashers, prep-cooks). And
often times the relationship between that group and the students is a little
cold or non-existent. So in an effort to bridge the gap a little bit I brought
some banana bread in on our last day before holiday break.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">---Tristan Heath <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I
was at the 10:30 pm Christmas Eve mass with my mom, dad and one of my
brothers. We arrived at 10 p.m. so we were too late to find a
seat together. My mom who had her hip replaced a year ago refused a seat.
Not out of pride. The church was hot and humid and she wanted to stand by
the open door. I watched as a mom of three with a new born hustled in the
door and found a spot to stand next to a window on the other side of church. I
thought, hopefully she will find a seat before mass starts.<span style="background: white;"> </span>Mass
was held in wonderful Franciscan church on Quantico. The Franciscan
monks are known as the hippies of the Catholic Church. They teach love of all
of God's creatures. The current pope chose the name of Francis and teaches
similar to how the Franciscan monks have been teaching since my mom was a
little girl. Because of its location, the parish mostly consists of marines,
active and retired, and their families.<span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As 10:30 approached
older couples, young adults, and families of all sizes filed in the door.
I noticed not one person had offered that mom with a baby strapped to her chest
a seat yet. Even the elderly woman with her son next to me, not yet
seated. I looked up and down rows for an opening to where I could point the
couple. No luck.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A
man in a black suit seat near the choir gestured at the elderly
woman and pointed to an open chair on the end. The chair was next to woman who
was sharing a seat with her disabled son. He was 9 or 10 years old but could
still fit on her lap for the duration of the mass. The man then walked to take
his spot at the back of the church next to me. He gave me a warm smile and nodded
politely at the elderly woman's son.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mass
began, and the woman was now rocking her fussy new born as her two children
were laying on the floor and climbing on the window somehow simultaneously. It
made me cringe to think that I had not seen one person offer their chair to her
or any of the others standing. The elderly woman sitting in the choir was now
making friends with the woman and her son. They were smiling and whispering to
each other during the sermon (I probably should have paid closer attention to
the mass). As mass began to conclude, the young disabled boy climbed
over the elderly woman and ran to the back of the church with a big smile. He
ran into the open arms of the man in the black suit, then he shook hands with
the elderly woman's son. It was only then that I realized the man next to me
was not an usher, but the young boy's father. Everyone around the father and
son smiled at the loving exchange.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The
woman with the new born never did get a seat, unfortunately. But that
small act of kindness of the man and his family was still very heartwarming. I
wish more could just offer one hour of standing, or sharing a seat, to
allow room for someone who needs to sit.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
---Christiane
Morecock<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
~The Helbert Fueglein Family~http://www.blogger.com/profile/07365723460650017240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682970367489696585.post-80995892790253837492015-12-25T09:40:00.004-05:002015-12-25T09:40:55.878-05:00<div class="MsoNormal">
Merry Christmas!!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This year I made a donation in memory of Theo (and in honor
of Lula) to assist in purchasing an ultrasound machine for the pregnant women
in Uganda. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is a project spearheaded by an anesthesiologist that I
worked with for many years, Judy Gustafson. She and her husband, Mark
travel twice a year to Magale, Uganda to educate nurses, physicians and
midwives. Their team teaches infant CPR, heart sounds, surgical
techniques, basic hygiene and hand-washing, and sunburn protection. Their
latest efforts were to help the albino members of the community and to provide
equipment that we take for granted, like the ultrasound machine. Through
the years our staff has organized and supplied stethoscopes, medical equipment,
teaching materials, and baby blankets for them to take to the clinic. It
has been a community effort within our OR/PACU departments. In return,
Judy provides us updates, photos, and needs lists for the next trip. It
has been a wonderful experience seeing this medical clinic evolve. I wish
there was more I could do to help, as I would love to travel with them sometime.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Wishing you all a peaceful Christmas season!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All my love --- Meg<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Theo,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I hope this makes it to you on time. This year has been
especially hectic. I now have a baby son I am caring for at home while I teach
classes at night and online, so I hope you understand about this gift coming in
at the last minute. I have been thinking about you a lot again this year, as I
have watched my son grow. He has blond
hair, like you, and he makes me laugh every day.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This year, in your memory, I have made a series of donations
to a family in crisis. Their son was born with a rare and likely fatal
condition called HLH. When little Sam was born this spring, his parents were
seeking financial support so they could take time off work to be with him. The
prognosis wasn’t good and the hope that he would make it through chemo and a
bone marrow transplant was a long shot. He has had rough road, but he made it
through these procedures, and the transplant seems to be taking. He went home
from the hospital for Thanksgiving and is going well. The doctors believe he is
likely to live a normal life. It truly is a miracle. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Aside from my donations to Sam’s family, I have resolved to
always keep something in my car for the homeless folks I pass on occasion
around Richmond and Bon Air. I kept bottles of water that I would hand out when
the weather was warmer, and now, in the (not so cold) winter, I try to keep
some cash on hand. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have also joined a group—well, it’s an app actually on my phone—that
allows me to offer guidance to blind people via my smartphone. They call and
ask me questions and I am there to give them a little help. Last week, I helped
a woman choose a color of yarn for an afghan she was knitting. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am grateful to you, Theo, for reminding me to get involved
and to help other people. It would be so easy, now that I have a baby, to put
off helping because I feel busy much of the time, but you encourage me to live
in the present and to do what I can when I can. That’s the gift you give me all
year long. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Merry Christmas, sweet little boy.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Becky Boncal<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dear Professor Fueglein,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2 years ago, Safyre Terry lost her entire family in an arson
attack. Today she is 8 years old. She suffered horrible burns all over her body
and has lost her right hand and foot from the attack. This year for Christmas
Safyre asked for Christmas Cards to fill her Christmas card tree. She's
received many Christmas cards already! Her story and request went viral which
is how I heard about her. My family wrote her a Christmas card and sent it to
her. If you would like to send her a Christmas card as well, you can make it
out to Safyre Terry, PO Box 6126, Schenectady, NY, 12306. I just wanted to share
this as a dedication to Thelonius. Wishing you and your family Happy Holidays! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
----Kinjal Patel</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A week prior to finals, another student rushed up to me at
the library as I was printing. She looked like she'd been or was about to start
crying. She told me that she'd lost her student id and couldn't print anything,
and that her final speech assignment for class was due in six minutes. Without
her paper, she couldn't present. It was only 8 cents, so I printed her page
out. She was ever so grateful and thanked me before sprinting off to make it to
her class.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
----Kal Boone</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Professor F,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On my way back from work this morning I saw a homeless man
holding a "anything helps" sign. I had a couple extra meal swipes on
my card so I went to Bleeker and got a sandwich and chips and brought it to
him. If nothing else, I know he had a damn good meal ‘cause Bleeker is the
best!!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yours truly,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
----Gray<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
~The Helbert Fueglein Family~http://www.blogger.com/profile/07365723460650017240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682970367489696585.post-92112149974680071922015-12-22T09:02:00.000-05:002015-12-22T16:08:04.513-05:0010 Years of Kindness <div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">On December 21<sup>st</sup>, the winter solstice, 2006, stockings were hung by the chimney with the greatest of care. I decided during that first Christmas season without our darling baby boy to decorate the house as if it were his first Christmas in our new home, just as if he were here to celebrate with us. He died on February 20, 2006 of a rare brain tumor. His first Christmas, 2005, he was here, we were together, but he was dying. That first Christmas, we were beyond sadness, living moment to moment, caring for his every need, not knowing how long it would be until he took his last breath, but knowing he would not live to see his birthday in May.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-axh646qdaPg/VnlmvxTXUDI/AAAAAAAAAJw/XDplsDRGam0/s1600/stocking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-axh646qdaPg/VnlmvxTXUDI/AAAAAAAAAJw/XDplsDRGam0/s320/stocking.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I don’t know what made me want to go all out with
the decorations that year—I haven’t done it again since—but planning and
decorating the entire house was a good distraction. It was painful yes, but it
was also a creative act, which felt good. Making beauty where there was only
pain felt like a good use of my energy and time. I still avoided the regular
Christmas cheer though, I put the ornaments on the tree while watching <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085382/" target="_blank">Cujo</a> and
had a huge breakdown crying fit when Tad, the little boy in the movie stops
breathing. I was crying and begging for him to live, terrified for his mother,
even though I’d seen it before and knew that, in the film version, he does in
fact, live. For the first time I could remember, I was exceedingly glad of
Hollywood’s insistence on a happy ending. I just couldn’t stand it if that
little fictional boy had died that day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The last thing I did after finishing the tree and
hanging wreaths and placing candlesticks in windowsills and lighting lights was
the hanging of the stockings. Theo had a sweet felt stocking with a teddy bear
sewn onto it, made by his great grandmother, Jamie’s grandmother, before she
died. I hung Theo’s stocking last, next to our stockings, and then sat down to
admire the finished, newly decorated living room. I do love the glow of the
lights on the tree. In the silence, I gazed around the room. And in the
stillness, the thoughts, and the grief, as they always do, began to rise.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Looking at his stocking, hanging there, empty, flat,
with nothing in it, I thought of the coming Christmas morning and what it would
be like to see his stocking remain empty on that day. Thoughts of putting things
in the stocking and then opening it ourselves was heartbreakingly sad. Thoughts
of leaving it empty and knowing that emptiness would continue to stretch into
all future Christmases to come brought more waves of pain. Ten months into my
new life of grief, a bare drop into a lifetime to come of mourning my beloved son
in so many different ways, I thought I was rather used to the new and ever varied kinds of pain. Yet each time some fresh hell of a previously unimagined
hurt swept through my heart and mind it was a brand new surprise. The empty
stocking, hanging there, somehow full of every possible torture of all holidays
to come without our child, was an indescribably original kind of gut-wrenching.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Suddenly inspired, I jumped up, ran up the stairs
and sent off this quick email to friends and family: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“<i>Sorry this is
kind of late--I just thought of it. We have a stocking hung for Theo (made by
his great-grandmother, Jamie's grandmother) with a pretty dragonfly pin on it.
I got really sad thinking that there will be nothing to put into his stocking
for Christmas. And all of a sudden I thought of something really nice that all
of you could do to help give Theo a present. And to help us feel a little
better on Christmas. Sometime between now and Christmas, do something nice for
someone, no matter how small or large, it doesn't have to involve money--just
commit a random act of kindness. When you do it, think of Theo and dedicate
that act to him and his sweet spirit.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
Now, 10 years later, the feelings surrounding Christmas are still very painful.
Things are different, as things continue to be. It isn’t as important to me
that people do things to help me feel better, or even that people other than
us are thinking of Theo—though it is always a beautiful thing when I know
that others are thinking of and remembering him. The acts of kindness are
more about the pure acts themselves than about me or Jamie or even Theo. And
this is really how Karma yoga, service to others, evolves over time. When we
start out doing things for others, it is almost always self-motivated, and the
more we persist, doing, loving, serving, the more it becomes simply about the works
themselves. Serving others, releasing attachments to the outcome. <i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">From the chapter on Karma yoga from my recent book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Yoga-Grief-Loss-Meditation-Self-Reflection/dp/1848192045" target="_blank">Yoga for Grief and Loss:</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <i>Teachers instruct that in performing Karma
yoga we are to offer our actions to God, to the Universe, or to humanity. The
ultimate goal is to allow our work to be transformed into purely selfless
service to others. In grief, as in life, this is much easier said than done.
However, when actions come from a place of love, whether the act is selfless,
self-motivated, or driven by the desire for our beloveds to be remembered and
known, the love itself can direct the outcome. When love drives the action, our
personal motivation ceases to matter as much. Swami Vivekenanda taught in a
series of weekly lectures given freely in his New York apartment in 1896, “We
have to begin from the beginning, to take up works as they come to us and
slowly make ourselves more unselfish every day. We must do the work and find
out the motive, the power that prompts us; and, almost without exception, in
the first years we shall find that our motives are always selfish. But
gradually this selfishness will melt by persistence, till at last will come the
time when we shall be able to do really unselfish work.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I know that all the acts of kindness performed by so
many who are remembering Theo, their own children and other loved ones who have
died, all come from a place of love, and when this is the case, that love is
directing the outcome. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Please feel free to take this idea and commit acts
of kindness in memory of your beloveds and in the name of love and service. In
doing this, we all get a little closer to perfect peace. Even for just a moment, which sometimes can last a lifetime.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
continue to pray, as I did that December 21<sup>st</sup>, 2006, that all of us
will be struck by inspiration, that something will come to each of us, some
kindness that we can share of ourselves, to benefit someone else. And that
action will result in the fruits of love. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uviAzEHJepI/STSvYoNnT9I/AAAAAAAAABw/5xqdzRbqk80/s1600/22.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uviAzEHJepI/STSvYoNnT9I/AAAAAAAAABw/5xqdzRbqk80/s320/22.bmp" width="212" /></a></div>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If you wish, email either of us your acts of kindness
and we will put them here in this space rather than in the physical space of
his stocking. Incidentally, we keep those slips of paper printed with the
original kindnesses in his stocking year after year and read them every
Christmas. Our family sends love and wishes of peace to all of you and yours
this season. You can also comment in the blog. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br /></div>
~The Helbert Fueglein Family~http://www.blogger.com/profile/07365723460650017240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682970367489696585.post-18416115626725337872015-01-07T07:14:00.003-05:002015-01-07T07:16:07.481-05:00Happy New Year!<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">From Lydia Armstrong:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jamie and family,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I know this is late,
and I'm sorry, but I kept waiting for some really excellent opportunity to do
something really nice for someone to come along, and it didn't. But I work at a
retirement home, in the dining room, and it's sort of my job to do nice things
for people all day. I make sure Mr. Beverly's bread is always toasted on his
sandwiches. When Eulah comes to lunch a half hour after the dining room has
closed, like she does every day, I make her something to eat and pat her
shoulder when she starts to cry at her own confusion. I gave Mr. Jackson an
extra piece of spice cake and asked him how he was settling in. I try to make
the new people feel welcome and the longtime residents feel important. I always
go across the hall to the activities room to see what new puzzle Betty and Al
are working on, and I always put a few pieces in. I know everyone's name, which
seems simple and kind of obvious but the other day I said hello to Lucille and
she said, "Thank you for knowing my name. That helps." There are
other things, stuff like acknowledging people and remembering little
things. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hope you all had a lovely
Christmas, and happy New Year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">From Triet Le:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">On my flight from
Richmond to Oklahoma one week before Christmas Eve, I met a woman named Vickie.
She was on my right, next to the airplane window. After a few minutes of
silence and awkwardness, we said “hi” to each other and started talking. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Miss Vickie had just visited her sick mother and was on her way
back to Los Angeles to celebrate Christmas with her daughters. It had been many
years since they had had a reunion on this joyous occasion. Besides, she
had just divorced an abusive husband.“This Christmas will be better than the
past few years,” she cheerfully said. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I was genuinely happy for her. Her willingness to share the
deeply personal stories touched me and urged me to do something. So I decided
to make a sketch of her as a way to remember this friendly, opened and
benevolent woman. I asked her for the permission. She resisted by saying she
was old and not beautiful. I said I would do my best and she hesitantly
agreed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Thirty minutes of concentration passed and the sketch was done.
Though I was not satisfied with it, I showed her anyway. She remarked that it
made her feel old, which she said was the fact. Nevertheless, she liked it,
especially the contemplative eyes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“It’s the first time someone has drawn my portrait.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I would like to give this sketch to you. Would you like to have
it?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She gladly accepted it. I was honored to be the first person to
draw her portrait. My greater honor was to give her a little joy before
Christmas. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After the plane landed and before saying goodbye, to my surprise,
she pulled out a grey scarf from her hand bag and gave me. I thanked her and
felt so grateful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="background-color: #cccccc;"><br />
</span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Happy New Year, Mr. James. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qbjiz1e397A/VK0jNuFnmyI/AAAAAAAAAI8/HVJAVeH4lVY/s1600/Miss%2BVickie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: #cccccc; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qbjiz1e397A/VK0jNuFnmyI/AAAAAAAAAI8/HVJAVeH4lVY/s1600/Miss%2BVickie.jpg" height="320" width="250" /></a></div>
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~The Helbert Fueglein Family~http://www.blogger.com/profile/07365723460650017240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682970367489696585.post-55822130011197525632014-12-29T08:08:00.001-05:002014-12-29T08:10:20.222-05:00December 28, 2014<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">From Lenore Gay:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I've been donating for the past several months to
Doctors Without Borders, earmarked for Ebola. When I saw pictures of children
who were orphaned by Ebola, and maybe sick themselves, Doctors Without Borders
seemed to be doing very important work in West Africa. My grandson and I
will be delivering food to the Central Va. Foodbank over the holidays.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">From Theresa Kennedy:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I know this is a bit late, but today I gave two
tickets for the train at Short Pump to the people in line behind us. The people ahead of me had gifted two tickets
to me and I wanted to pay it forward and, of course, I remembered that I wanted
to do an act of kindness for Theo. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"> Merry merry!</span></div>
</div>
~The Helbert Fueglein Family~http://www.blogger.com/profile/07365723460650017240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682970367489696585.post-81307497781407903182014-12-26T09:40:00.002-05:002014-12-26T09:40:56.527-05:00Christmas Day 2014<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">From
Alisha Abrams:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As
always, thank you Professor F for remembering to email all of your old students
to remind us to be more mindful, kind, and caring during the holiday season by
performing a random act of kindness. I appreciate hearing from you every year
and I hope Theo's stocking is full of wonderful acts of kindness. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This
year, I kept Theo in my heart as I gave to: a young high school senior who
could not afford a class ring, Salvation Army bellringers nearly every time I
saw them outside in the cold this season, and also as I gave to a dog rescue to
help them pay for food and medical care for the dogs they save. I hope you,
Karla, and Lula have an amazing holiday season.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Kind
Regards, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Alisha
Abrams<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">From
Grace Hammock:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Hello
Professor F!<br />
Merry Christmas and I hope you and your family are enjoying your break. As part
of your request for Theo's stocking at the end of the semester I have tried my
best to do something nice everyday, even if it's small. I have paid for the
person's coffee who's behind me, helped people carry their groceries, and have
spent more time with my family than ever this holiday because I have truly
realized what the meaning of family is and you helped me do that. Also, I
wanted to make sure that my paper about genetically modified children did not
offend you in any way. I wish more than anything for your family that you would
have been able to see the future of Theo and that he would still be with us
today. I can't tell you how inspiring your story is and how much my heart aches
for your family. I'll be thinking and have been thinking of you and your family
and I hope you guys have a wonderful Christmas, you deserve it. See you next
semester.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">From
Anonymous: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In
the Christmas season we tend to have a lot of extra food around. Every year we
bag up the extra granola bars, crackers and cookies. On the plastic bag we put
inspirational quotes and hand them out whenever we see a homeless person. I
know that will only feed them for a short time but we do what we can to help
others. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">From
Anonymous:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">My
mom has Parkinson’s Disease and I find it very hard to be nice to her and be
around her without feeling overwhelmed with sadness. I don’t tell her I love
her enough and I try to avoid conversation with her when I’m home from school.
I know this is the opposite of what I should be doing at this time but
interaction can be difficult with her. I heard about Theo and I thought of a
good way to honor him and something good to do to fill his Christmas stocking.
I thought about my mother and how she is still alive and healthy and how lucky
I am. I called her up and sincerely told her I love her, and no matter what
happens I will always love her. That phone call meant a lot to her and it meant
a lot to me. I hope you and your family have a good Christmas!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">From
Colleen O’Brien: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">My
great grandmother just turned 99 a couple days before Christmas. She lives in a
retirement home and doesn’t get a lot of visitors other then my grandma. I
thought it would be a good idea to get a couple of band friends together and go
over some Christmas music for the retirement home. We did and everybody really
enjoyed themselves and it meant a lot for the residents there. At the end of
the concert my grandma brought out a cake we made for her while I played happy
birthday on my saxophone. She was overwhelmed
with happiness and I’m really glad I did that for her. It’s the little things
that you do for others this season that make it special. I hope you and your
family have a wonderful Christmas! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">From
Michael Barnes:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">HEY
Professor F.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I have
another act of kindness for the stocking for Theo that I wanted to share. I
need to give some background info first though: for the past two years I have
done this thing called "Reddit Secret Santa" in which you are
randomly matched with someone in the same state as you, or on the other side of
the country, or on the side of the world. Sometimes the gift exchange does not
go as planned and some people send their gifts but do not receive a gift in
return. The website, Reddit Gifts, then asks if you would like to be rematched
to send a gift to a person who did not receive a gift. So I decided to sign up
for that option because I felt like it was a crappy thing to not receive
something for the holiday, especially when the while point of the program is a
worldwide gift exchange. On top of all that it just really feels like the right
thing to do, you know? To make a stranger’s day just seems right. Anyway, that's
my contribution in honor of little Theo.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Hope
all is well with you and yours,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Michael
B.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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~The Helbert Fueglein Family~http://www.blogger.com/profile/07365723460650017240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682970367489696585.post-20332357482037684322014-12-24T09:58:00.000-05:002014-12-24T09:59:18.517-05:00December 24, 2014From Pam Powell:<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
Annie and I are making a donation to the Baby Greyson Grace Fund.
Greyson is the son of our friends Chris & Kelly and spent most of his
first 7 months in the hospital because of a tracheoesophageal fistula. Happy
holidays to Karla, Jamie, and Lula, and as always, we hold Theo close in
our hearts.<o:p></o:p><br />
<div style="text-indent: .5in;">
<a href="http://www.gofundme.com/e7va10?forcedesktop=1">Visit Baby Greyson’s Grace
Fund by clicking here.</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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From Anonymous:<br />
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Daisy Troop 5449 took LOADS of gifts to a family in need--4 year old K. and
her mom, who is expecting a new baby in a couple of months They loaded up the
house with new Dora and Doc stuff, books, toys, clothes, a stroller, a carseat,
baby tub, blankets, supplies and more! Such a wonderful thing to do for this
beautiful family! <o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">From
Dyanne Helbert:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mama
died January 29, 2013 and I had not until this past summer gone through her
belongings<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">and
still didn’t know what to do with them. When my friends came for a visit, I
asked them if they would help me clean out her things. We packed all Mama’s clothes
and put them in their SUV. Still I couldn’t decide where to send them or
who would even want them. While we were sitting in the living room that evening
my friends’ daughter turned on Theo’s tree. Theo is my Grandson, and
I keep his tree decorated with beautiful dragonflies and clear lights always. As
I sat looking at the tree I decided to send Mama’s things to Wise Manor, a
nursing facility in our hometown of Wise, VA. So many of the residents there
have very little or no family to get things for them. The administrator there
was so happy as she said, “to receive so much<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">new
and almost new clothing for the residents.” I know both Mama and her Great
Grandson, Theo are happy with my gift of kindness year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">From
Amy Martin:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As
I was out and about today I made a special effort to hold doors for others,
help old people with their bags, generally be extra nice and helpful in memory
of Theo. Hopefully I made a few people's days a little bit easier.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Merry Christmas!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #cccccc; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">From
The Pandolfe Family:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hey Jamie,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I think this is a
wonderful tradition. Each year, Theo’s Stocking makes me reflect on the year
that’s passed to see if I’ve been kind to people. The one thing I might get
right is to teach my kids that those around us in need are not invisible. We
offer money and we roll down our car window for the homeless person standing at
the side of the road. We check in with the man or woman sitting on the sidewalk
and, while giving that person some money that might help, also take a moment to
recognize them as a brother or sister. Each time, I think the same thing --
that it could just as easily be us sitting there in need. I try to be
consistent this way and, if there’s anything I’ve taught my kids, I hope it’s
that we’ve shown them that those who need help are people just like us, who
deserve our full attention, love and care. They are not invisible and we will
not pass them by as if they aren’t there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Love,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="background-color: #cccccc;"> David, Carri, Samantha
and Cooper</span><span style="background-color: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
~The Helbert Fueglein Family~http://www.blogger.com/profile/07365723460650017240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682970367489696585.post-29547403819506578282014-12-23T09:43:00.001-05:002014-12-23T09:58:53.690-05:00December 23, 2014<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">From Anonymous:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">It's pretty simple. I try to smile at people, especially elderly people. I spend a lot of time with old people these days. I realize that many are strong and sharp mentally. But many are frail and confused. They tend to be ignored and devalued, even resented for going a little too slow, for requiring more clarity and repetition (and volume), for needing help to do what the hale and hardy take for granted. A smile is like a wonderful, delicious tasting medicine with no side effects. It touches even people who hardly remember their own names. More wondrous yet, this medicine works both ways, because when you recognize another human being in a positive way, you become a more positive human being yourself. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">From Robin Tomlinson:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Hi James,</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Thank you for keeping me on this email list. I often think back to the writing class I took with you with great fondness. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The holidays are not the happiest time of year for everyone. Things can get stressful with holiday shopping and sad when we are reminded of loved ones who aren't with us. So I decided, with Theo's stocking in mind, to simply smile at the people I see out and about. Not a forced smile. But a genuine smile with the intention of spreading warmth and kindness. It's nothing big. I just feel like we all could benefit from a shared smile, eye contact, and a kind word here and there. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Thank you again for including me in your beautiful tradition. I hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday and a very happy new year! </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Warmest Wishes,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Robin Tomlinson</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">From Leslie Cohen-Gee:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Dear Theo,</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">This is a story about your dad's act of kindness and not my own. I hope you like it.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Your dad will always have a special place in my heart because of the kindness he showed me during a very difficult time with my own child. You see, when my youngest daughter, Hannah, was eight, she was kicked in the jaw by a large quarter horse. Her jaw was broken in three</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">places and she had many other facial bone breaks. She was rushed to MCV by ambulance and stayed there for four days and nights. She came out with both jaws splinted and wired shut. This is where your dad comes in.....</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The day after we got home, there appeared on our front porch a big, beautiful homemade lasagna.......on top read a little sticky note "Made by Jamie Fueglein." I was only acquainted with Jamie Fueglein at the time and never imagined he would be someone who would cook dinner</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">for me and my family.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> For the first few days and nights at home, Hannah had to be fed by syringe. I had to get juice and medicine into a syringe and squeeze it into the side of her mouth in order for her to be able to get anything in. Well anyway, we baked your dad's lasagna for dinner on about the third night home, and Hannah smelled it and wanted some so badly. The problem was that she couldn't eat with her mouth wired shut. I felt very sorry for her. I never dared eat in front of her. So when the lasagna came out of the oven and Hannah looked at me with hunger in her eyes, I knew I had to do something, and I did. I got a big spoon and pressed the lasagna down on top, so that the juices came up and flowed into the spoon. In that way, I was able to get about 6 or 7 tablespoons of liquid lasagna into a glass to feed to Hannah through a syringe. She was elated! She hadn't tasted real food in over a week, and she was just delighted to have something that tasted good and hearty and real. That was the first time since her accident that she seemed happy and I attribute that to your dad. I will never ever forget his kindness and the good feelings it brought to our household.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Thanks for listening.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Love,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Leslie Cohen-Gee</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">From Anonymous:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">My sister has an alcohol problem, so she often wakes up hungover or comes home looking like hell and unproductive throughout the day. My mother has anxiety, so this causes her much distress. When I come home from college, I try to help my sister every morning to feel better so that she can be more productive and to avoid my mom constantly seeing her like that. I make her breakfast, help her clean and encourage her with advice and kind words so that she can be more productive and successful. I kind of secretly do this in hopes that my mom can have one less thing to worry about in her day.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">From David L. Robbins:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Dear Theo,</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">As per your instructions and kind nature, I have done the following. I hope you approve and my spirit measures close to your own.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>In the grocery store at 25th and Main, the lines were long, with many holiday shoppers on the cusp of the evening. The check-out lady in my line was harried and ill-natured, pressing on with her duties with barely concealed reluctance and one eye on the clock. I had not too many food-stuffs to purchase, some apples, nuts, a salad, a dozen cans of flavored soda water, and an onion. Oh, and bread pudding, Theo. Bread pudding is my sin. The check-out lady fairly snarled that after me, she was closing the line. Behind me were several folks, all with many groceries. Immediately to my rear, a short and elderly gal held only two items, an apple crisp from the salad bar and a cold bottle of Coke. When everyone behind her began to file away, grumbling in search of another line to get in the back of, I asked if could please purchase her items for her. She graciously agreed, doing for me her own random act of kindness.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I hope this qualifies. But I will try again for something bigger and more worthy. I believe the elderly gal will keep at it, too. She seemed the sort.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Oh, and I'm starting a writing program for veterans with the Virginia War Memorial, which I will want to speak with your daddy about soon.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Merry Christmas, Theo. You are not as missed as you might be if you were not so well kept present by your wonderful parents. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">From Matt Clingempeel:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">I’ve been thinking about Theo’s Stocking for a few months now, what good deed am I going to do? Sadly, it is nothing out of the ordinary, nothing that most anyone wouldn’t do. I’ve looked for those big moments to really help someone, but none have arisen for me. Maybe that’s good that crazy stuff isn’t happening to people around me.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Anyway, each time I mow the lawn, I try to mow an extra pass or two into my neighbor’s yard, so they have less to do. I do the same when I gather leaves. Also, the other day at the gym, two repairmen were trying to get these huge parts of a treadmill through a door. There was no way one of them could hold the piece and the other open the door, so I stopped working out and held the door until they could fit the thing through the door. Lastly, I’m taking this online screenwriting class from UCLA and this kid in my class got cut off during our meeting last week, so his work wasn’t critiqued by the group. The following day, I reread his pages from that week and the week prior and emailed him a more comprehensive critique on his story thus far.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> I know none of these are spectacular, I wish I had done something better, but the year is not over. I will let you know if I have something bigger to contribute to Theo’s Stocking.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> I hope you and your family are doing well.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> I’ve also put it down on my calendar to run my stove fan all day on 2/20. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">From Lenore Gay:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Hello Jamie,</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">My eight year old grandson and I are going grocery shopping. We'll buy a cartful of food and deliver it to the Central Va. Food Bank. He'll be in charge of picking out the healthy foods. He remembers our tour of the Food Bank the last time we were there and is eager to donate food again. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Happy holidays to you all!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">From Anonymous:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">First of all, let me say how much I love this tradition, and that I take stock of my year in part based on whether I have anything to contribute to Theo's Stocking.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> This year I noticed a trend in which I'll be at the store, in line to check out, and someone ahead of my will be short for what's due at the register, and I've offered to pay the difference. More recently there was a student in ahead of me at the parking kiosk and, for some reason, it wouldn't take the change she was putting in - so I offered to pay with my card. I paid for the full two hours of parking, even though she had change for just a little over half that. What I love about doing this is how the person's face goes from flustered and embarrassed to relieved and grateful - it's a beautiful thing that so far has only involved pocket change, cents on the dollar. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Merry Christmas, Baby Theo - and God Bless Us, Every One!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">From Kim Gibson:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">In memory of Theo Fueglein, I Kimberly, sponsored 11 children for "Secret Santa." Nathaniel, Rodney, DeSean, Mason, Elijah, Levi, Logan, Cailyn, Saniyah, Liberty and Nydria are all under 5 years old and were in need during this season. I have learned that no act of kindness, no matter how small is ever wasted. For these acts not only bless the ones who receive them, but also blesses the giver. With that in mind, I purchased clothing, shoes and toys for these beautiful children, knowing that one day they too may be a blessing to someone else. Mother Teresa once wrote "It is Christmas every time you let God love others through you...yes, it is Christmas every time you smile at your brother and offer him your hand." This act of kindness is dedicated to and in honor of baby Theo. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> May his spirit live on through our selfless acts this Christmas season and throughout the year. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">From Theresa Gavigan:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">To the Helbert Fueglein Family:</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">I am committing to a meditation practice in the coming year and would like to dedicate my first hour of practice to your son. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">From Kelly Ball:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Hey, Mr. F! </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Though I try to commit several big acts of kindness every year, recently I got my sorority sisters to help me make a bunch of encouraging cards for children with AIDS. We sent them to the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. They sent me a letter back saying the children loved them, and one kid even made me his own card! </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> I love hearing from you every year. I hope you're doing well! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">From Amanda Marsico:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Hi. It's been years since I've sent an email to you, and as time passed, so did my memory of this wonderful testament to kindness and giving that you do each year. I took your class in 2007. I'm pleased to see the link to your blog pop up on Facebook from some friends who have more recently taken your classes. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Even though I lost track of your yearly good deeds for Theo, I never forgot what I learned in your class or how you went about teaching it. Who I am as an Eng Comp 111 & 112 professor is largely because of what and how I learned in your class. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> In preparation for an overseas move, I have begun sorting through art and school supplies, most brand new, that have gone unused. I can't take anything with me when we move, but the children of the Richmond YMCA will get great use out of all of it. I'm happy to give it to kids who need it--there should never have been such excess in my life anyway. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Normally I would never publicize an act of kindness. I don't do it for recognition. But, for Theo, I gladly bend my rules.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Thanks for all you do.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">From Laura Longmire:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Hi Jamie,</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Thanks for including me in Theo's stocking - I am not always the best about writing things down, but I do think of Theo and I like that in turning outward and thinking of other's I am honoring your son. I think so many things around losing Anna Grace and the holidays seem to increase me thinking of her in certain ways. I am grateful for the sweet girls I have but so sad to have not been able to share in Anna Grace's life. I am also thinking of you and Karla as your heart yearns for your sweet boy and enjoys the blessing of your beautiful Lula.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Much love to you all!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">From Becky Boncal:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Jamie, </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Being pregnant, I have been thinking a lot about Theo this year. You’d think the last thing a pregnant person would want to think about is a friend’s baby who passed away, but my thoughts are not necessarily what you would expect. Theo has given me comfort. I started thinking about him this summer, during our wonderful experience at the Podium T3. I actually do think of him every time I see you, because it is ingrained in my memory of when I first met you, in your class at the Visual Arts Center, you had that thermos with his picture printed all over it. When I saw it, I thought, “How cute; this guy must be a doting dad.” As I tried to come up with responses to the prompts during writing time, I sometimes stared at Theo’s little face on your thermos, thinking that he looked a lot like you. At some point after the class ended, I Googled you and came across the Theo’s Christmas Stocking blog. I couldn’t stop reading. The writing was beautiful and devastating. I felt lucky to get to know Theo through his parents’ point view. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> But there was another reason I thought about him a lot during the T3 this summer. You know I was pregnant, but what I don’t think I told you was that during the last part of that week, I was struggling with some rough news. A test had come back that showed our baby had a very high chance of having Downs Syndrome. We were told we would need a more accurate test to follow it up and confirm. It would take two weeks for us to get the results from that follow up test. During that time, my husband and I were up late into the night, discussing our options, preparing ourselves for the possibility of life with a special needs child, doing our research. We learned that Downs Syndrome can mean serious, even fatal, congenital problems. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> At that time, I was far enough along to feel those little kicks and turns in my stomach. Until I became pregnant, I’d spent my whole life, from childhood—from the moment I learned about what pregnancy was and where babies come from—dreading and fearing pregnancy. But I was surprised to find I liked being pregnant. I wasn’t really sure the baby was a “person” yet, but it was alive and it was with me all the time. I began to feel those first inklings of parenthood—that sense of responsibility and terror and love and the feeling that there is another presence always with you, always on your mind. In fact, that feeling brought back a very old memory from when I was a kid, around 6 or 7-years-old. Like many children, I often fantasized about having a small, portable friend I could carry with me everywhere. In my case, it was a bunny who lived in the breast pocket of my school uniform. This bunny didn’t really look like an actual bunny; it had a sort of asexual human-shaped body and a bunny head. Its name was Little Bunny and I used to talk to it all day long, especially when I felt upset.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> When I got the news about our baby’s first test result, I realized that no matter what happened to that little being, a bit of him would always remain there, inside me, the only one like him ever to have been or be. And I thought about Theo, and hoped that if I had to face a crisis, I would be able to do for my baby what you and your wife did for him. Maybe it sounds corny, but I took some comfort in the fact that, if something did happen to my baby, he would be with Theo, wherever Theo is. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> We were lucky. The second test came back showing that our baby was healthy and normal—and that he was a boy. Since then, he’s grown and so have his movements, and, as I approach my due date, I’ve thought a lot about what it will mean to have a son (I was so sure I was going to have a girl), what it will mean to raise a boy with blond hair and blue eyes, as we are likely to do if he looks anything like my husband. The massive risk we take in embarking on parenthood, the risk to our very souls and selves, was apparent to me in those two weeks, that in parenting, we make ourselves eminently vulnerable, as Tolstoy described it in Anna Karenina: </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">There was nothing cheerful and joyous in the feeling; on the contrary,
it was a new torture of </span></span><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">apprehension. It was the consciousness of a new sphere
of liability to pain. And this sense was so painful at first, the apprehension
lest this helpless creature should suffer was so intense, that it prevented him
from noticing the strange thrill of senseless joy and even pride that he had
felt when the baby sneezed.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">I’ve kept Theo in my mind because his life, the way you have shared it, is affirmation that even a brief life is a unique event, and not only worth the risk— it is the reason to risk, that all life is brief. Each Christmas, when I am reminded of Theo’s Stocking, I find that I am called upon to take a very small risk in doing something kind for someone else. Last year, I waited and waited for the right opportunity to come along, when I could commit my act of kindness, and yet somehow, nothing seemed big enough, or kind enough, or worthy enough of his memory, so I never followed through. This year, I wasn’t going to let that happen.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> A friend of mine, who I haven’t seen in years, is also pregnant. When she found out via Facebook that I was pregnant too, almost out of nowhere, she sent me a gift. I consternated over what to do for her in return, what would mean more than just sending her another baby item. Finally, I mailed her a coat that was given to me by a resident at a retirement community where I used to work. It was a special coat from a special friend, though a little too small for me, I hoped it would fit her. But that didn’t seem like enough. This week, my friend had her baby and so I mailed her a gift card to Whole Foods. It wasn’t much, but I hoped it would make even one meal easier for her. But even after having done that, I still feel myself on the lookout for other acts of kindness I might commit, some larger gesture of giving, worthy of Theo. It’s an amazing thing that here, almost ten years after he left this earth, I’m trying to do something for him, and that he has been able to do something for me. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> I am sorry we didn’t end up getting to be neighbors. My husband and I bought a house in Bon Air, though I did fall in love with the neighborhood in Lakeside, the cards just fell where they fell, and we now live in a house that is perfect for the family we hope to raise. If you ever want to get together for a drink or coffee, I’d love that, and I’d love to meet your family, if ever it’s convenient. I also want you to know that you can always talk about Theo when I’m around—it wouldn’t ever make me uncomfortable. In fact, it would make me happy. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Wishing you and your family a beautiful Christmas this year,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Becky Boncal</span><br />
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~The Helbert Fueglein Family~http://www.blogger.com/profile/07365723460650017240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682970367489696585.post-86144836925701044172014-12-09T08:18:00.000-05:002014-12-09T08:18:20.895-05:00I was thinking of Theo...<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
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Each year, we open this blog with an inaugural address in which we describe ways Theo has impacted our lives during the year even though he is no longer with us in this physical space. He is always in our heads and in our hearts. I want to repost last year's introduction because it shows a lot about our son that most people would otherwise never get to see. </div>
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I was thinking of Theo…<br />
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“I was thinking of Theo,” my friend Nicole said yesterday.</div>
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“So was I,” I said, and couldn’t help but smile, struck by how I’d been longing to hear someone say <i>I was thinking of Theo</i> without even realizing I had wanted it. Nicole had given me a present.</div>
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I didn’t mention to her that I think about Theo every day. Thinking about Theo is, for me, much like breathing. It’s a constant. At the same time, thinking about him sometimes socks all the air right out of me. Sometimes when I see a flaxen-haired boy of nine who’s been lucky and skillful enough to reach the age Theo would be were he alive, I need to lean against something solid and focus on expanding my diaphragm to breathe. It’s a precarious balancing act some days, a faltering dance. I think of him, I breathe; then I think of him gone, absent, dead, and I can’t breathe. </div>
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Nicole is wise and kind enough to know I think about him every day even though I didn’t say so. Generally, I don’t talk much about Theo. One minor reason is because some days I feel like I can’t breathe (see above ↑ paragraph). But this hinges greatly on another reason: no one really wants to talk about a dead child. After all, what is there to say? <i>How’s he doing? How’s his teething? How’s soccer camp going in the afterlife?</i> If someone were to ask how I am coping having a dead child, I could go on and on, and there’s danger in that. While I don’t expect anyone to therapitize me, a pretty shabby feeling people who have kids can identify with is when your child is ignored, disregarded, forgotten. Especially when you miss the child so much that at times you can’t breathe. I’ve been enculturated to understand that talking about a dead child kills the mood in every room except in those few specially designated rooms where people purposefully go to talk specifically about dead children. Such rooms exist, and most people, luckily for them, need never visit. But try it—over dinner, or, say, on a date, at a party, or <i>even in church!</i> of all places—bring up dead children, and see if you don’t get the stink eye. The mood shifts; you can feel it in your skin. The barometer drops. Eyes dart, fingers twiddle, and you can see your breath in the air as someone clears his throat in uncomfortable recognition that he will one day die like all the rest of us poor slobs. We’re in this together, after all, though people don’t generally conduct their day-to-day mindful of this understanding, and within a minute, someone changes the subject, and the topic drifts back to something pleasant for everyone else to be comfortable again: sports, food, new plastic stuff to buy, the dreaded <i>I was on Facebook and I saw a picture of this cat…</i> The one who is most afraid of death tries hardest to crack the first joke following that pleasant rebound.</div>
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So it’s brilliant that Nicole said “I was thinking of Theo.” She was being bold and she was being <i>mindful</i>. Until she said this, I did not know how I much I’d wanted someone to appear before me as if by magic, providence, or kismet to say “I was thinking of Theo.” </div>
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Turns out, you are right now thinking of my son; thereby, you are giving me a gift as well. You, then, are a mindful person. It is amazing, really, that you are here reading this, enduring such jolly holiday tidings, breathing in and out, hopefully comfortably, perhaps contemplating what you can do to make the world a touch better and to fill the stocking for Theo, for your loved ones, for yourself. That’s the job of the stocking: it is for Theo, it is for your loved ones, it is for strangers, and it is for you. You, reading this now, are here because you are mindful.</div>
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Some of you have come here for years, and yet you know so little about Theo. What is there to know? He lived for nine months. He lived for 271 days. He only lived for three relatively healthy months in which he was able to laugh, cry, smile, swing, eat, stretch, poop straight, and babble. Then came the concluding six months, bedridden, tubes and tape, shunt and port and machinery and “Careful if you touch him, you may pull this tube out… Watch out for that wire…” </div>
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I will tell you that in my experience there is little that can surpass the great beauty in the mundane act of watching a healthy baby sleep well.</div>
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Since I have you here, now, being mindful, breathing in and out, and since you may know so little about him, I will tell you a few things about my boy Theo. <br />
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Thelonius Luther Helbert Fueglein was born with a mohawk. It was tall, bright yellow, and it refused to stay brushed down. People asked what <i>product</i> (as if) we used to make his hair to stay up like that. I have a hundred pictures of him with his giant yellow mohawk. When the surgical prep team shaved his three month old head to resect his lemon-sized brain tumor, they left the middle path of hair intact, seeing no reason to disrupt his life any more than it had been. I have a hundred pictures of him like this also. He was eighty-nine days old when they shaved the sides of his head. </div>
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Theo loved to swing. When he was two weeks old, 75 days before the tumor hit, we found that nothing would calm him faster than strapping him into his blue car seat and swinging him in wide arcs through the air. His eyes would open wide on the forward swing, narrow as he arced back. His mother Karla talked about how he was going to love roller coasters when he grew up.</div>
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Theo loved his mother. Often when she entered the room, his ears would prick up a bit, and he’d follow her movements. Babies so young don’t track with their eyes, but if he was watching anything, it was her. He knew when she was in the room. She was protector and she was food. After the tumor was resected, she was just about the only thing he’d respond to, if weakly.</div>
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Theo loved ceiling fans. As his newborn eyes adjusted to the life whirring around him, his eyes grew wider for sightings of Mommy and of ceiling fans. He was mesmerized by them. Maybe they helped calm the brewing pressure in his cranium. I am convinced that this is why swinging helped him feel better when he’d whimper and cry.</div>
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Theo loved the hum of the kitchen stove hood vent fan. When swinging him below the ceiling fan wouldn’t calm him, I would dance him in slow circles in the kitchen, on each revolution swooping his bitty body beneath the hood vent fan. I would sing to him a simple song:<br />
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> <em> Where are you my darling boy?</em></span><br />
<span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 2in;"><em> Where are you my Theo?</em></span><br />
<span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 2in;"><em> Here I am, here I am</em></span><br />
<span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 2in;"><em> I’m in the kitchen in daddy’s arms.</em></span><br />
<span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><em> When the sun has gone to sleep, we will find our rest</em></span><br />
<span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 2in;"><em> On the hillside, on the soft warm ground</em></span><br />
<span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 2in;"><em> And the moon will settle us down</em></span><br />
<span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 2in;"><em> As the world spins ‘round and ‘round.</em></span></div>
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Ten minutes of any syllabic babble usually did the trick, until he was three months old. Then the tumor hit, and everything changed.</div>
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Theo cried for hours after he’d had his stroke while we waited for the anesthesiologist from another town to come to the big city put him under for an MRI. We still had no idea what was wrong with him. Since he was crying, he could not be dead, the only comfort. Half his body moved differently from the other half that would not move. No matter how I tried to distract him, he would not look at me. I remembered wondering if he was blind. On that night, he was not. Blindness would come later, after the chemo. <span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">We rocked him and swung him in tiny arcs in cramped quarters. I sang him the song::</span><br />
<span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 2in;"> <em>Where are you my precious boy?</em></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 2in;"><em> Where are you my Theo?</em></span><br />
<span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 2in;"><em> Here I am…</em></span></div>
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I asked Karla if she wanted to sing. She did not—the first time she’s ever been unwilling to sing! Only then did it hit me what these words could mean. I’ve never sung that song since, and I never will again. We didn’t turn off the kitchen vent fan until after Theo died. </div>
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Theo loved his Calming Vibration bouncy seat that displayed in an archway before him a tiny aquarium scene between two clear plastic panels of a happy starfish and two kissing fishes. Real water pumped through this small aquarium, spinning the smiling starfish! Two animals hung from the bottom of the aquarium scene for him to play with: a green seahorse/dragon thingy and an orange fish. When he grew agitated in his massive blue steel cage hospital bed, we’d secure the base of the chair on the bed and strap him into the seat, mindful not to pull out any of his various tubes and wires, and hit the on button: he’d vibrate to the tinny version of Brahm’s <i>Lullaby</i>. </div>
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Theo lost his mohawk to the first and only doses of cytoxan and vincristine chemo he got. After his eyebrows, eyelashes, and hair fell out, his head from behind resembled a dented baseball, red stitches from the shunt and the resection arcing from the base of his neck up around his ears. One might find the comparison somehow wrong or mean. More than anything in the world, I will remember Theo’s battered skull. It will be one of the last things I see before I die, I am certain of it. I will love his head always. </div>
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I remember how Theo’s head smelled during the various stages of his life, the various shapes it took on: from the copper-scented conical dome he was born with, fuzzily soft and smooth, that assumed a rounder shape the longer he was out in the world with us; to the flatish backside that resulted from his first three seemingly healthy months lying on his back, to avoid some sudden infant death, when it smelled like Dreft and sweet new baby skin; to the broken ball smelling of surgery and gauze and Betadine and tape it became when his cerebral cortex collapsed and the occipital plate sunk in and upward. I see all these shapes everywhere. I see his head in cloud formations, in the pattern of wood grain on telephone poles, in oil stains, in the black and gray patterns of slate rooftops on distant houses, in the river as it flows over rocks and fallen tree branches, in hubcaps, in streetlamps, in dreams. I see these things and I think: <i>Thelonius…</i> Sometimes I imagine Theo’s head growing right out of my own. It pops up out of my right ventricle, his head with eyes and smile and mohawk. He travels with me, up on my head, looking at all the things I look at, thinking of the things I am thinking, and we are of one head. </div>
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The shaved side patches grew back once the toxic chemo left Theo’s system. Some hairs grew quite long behind his ears. But nothing ever regrew where the mohawk had been. For the last three months of his life, Theo had a reverse-mohawk, an anti-mohawk, puffy on the sides, bare down the center. </div>
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I love the shapes Theo’s skull took.</div>
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Another thing to tell you about Theo: he taught us many things during his brief stay with us. I figure he taught us more things, or, at least more <i>crucial</i> things, than we could have ever taught him. </div>
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He taught us patience. .5 mg. lorazepam (working its way up to 1 mg, then 1.5) crushed into .5 mg/ml phenobarbital, followed twenty minutes later by a 10 mg/15 ml. solution of morphine. Twenty minutes later, 5 ml. formula mixed with .5 ml of lactulose and/or docusate. Thirty minutes later, fentanyl nebulizer. Set up the feeding pumps. Wash the syringes. Where’s the chloral hydrate? Clean the Hickman port with the proper dose of heparin. Ativan, methadone, Zofran, oh my! Twenty-four hours a day, our dining room was his hospital.</div>
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He taught us endurance. How many long nights did I hold him, wondering if he’d die in my arms before sunup? I could count them; I could break it into minutes. I'd rather not, though. Sometimes it feels like it is still happening. It feels like it was decades ago; it feels like it was yesterday. We still endure.</div>
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He taught me how utterly critical the simplest motion can be: once per second for hours I stroked with alternating thumbs that small space between his eyebrows to comfort him after his gastrointestinal tube placement surgery as he was withdrawing from morphine. Those minutes and hours were the most crucial hours in the world.</div>
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He taught us how to value time. When things would careen south with him—stridor breathing, gagging, crying—time would speed up, everything would become utterly crucial. He'd calm, and time would slow to a crawl. A trip to the hospital: anything could go wrong. The way time moved while we were with him was like regularly experienced life-time, but incredibly intensified. What he taught us is knowing how and when to adjust. Someone told me it seemed like forever ago that Theo died, while it seemed to me in that moment that he died yesterday; the next minute it felt like he'd died seven years ago. Sometimes I think he’ll die tomorrow. To this day, he is still teaching us about time. He is teaching us that time does not heal wounds: what matters is what we do with our time, how we spend it, how little of it there is.</div>
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There was a word on the one-piece, snap-up, soft fleece sleepsuit we buried him in, medium blue with dark banded collar, a solid, strong color on him, featuring a childlike rendering of a mighty orange lion, maned thick brown. Next to the lion, the word “BRAVE.” His dying took forever, and then it ended in an instant. It took all the hard-won qualities Theo taught us to be able to hold him and watch him breathe his last breath on Feb 20<sup>th</sup>, 2006, at 3:33 in the afternoon.</div>
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It is very frightening to be brave. Theo taught us what it was to have to be brave for a little while.</div>
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We remember all this because of the most important quality, the sum of all these pieces: Thelonius taught us to be mindful. </div>
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These are the things I have to tell you about Theo. And so we dedicate this stocking in mindfulness to Theo, to you, to your loved ones, and to strangers we’ll never meet who are anyway our brothers and sisters. As wise man Stan Kustesky once said on this blog, “When you really get down to it, all we have is each other.” </div>
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I am grateful to you for being here, reading this, and I am grateful to be the father of Theo and Lula.</div>
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Go be mindful and have a fantastic New Year.</div>
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— Jamie F.</div>
~The Helbert Fueglein Family~http://www.blogger.com/profile/07365723460650017240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682970367489696585.post-73547154438022672162014-01-20T07:46:00.002-05:002014-01-20T07:47:11.574-05:00January 20, 2014<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee;">From Janet Lynn:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee;">This morning I paid
for a woman and her young daughters breakfast. She needed more money and I
stepped in to pay for it. I was thinking of our baby boys, TJ and Theo. She
thanked me and hugged me. It was a warm grateful hug that made me cry. This
small act of kindness has made my day :)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"></span><br />
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<span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee;">From Anonymous:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee;">I donated to the
Brady Campaign to End Gun Violence.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"></span><br />
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<span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee;">From Anonymous:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee;">I gave to the
Richmond Peace Education Center.<o:p></o:p></span></span>~The Helbert Fueglein Family~http://www.blogger.com/profile/07365723460650017240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682970367489696585.post-67038998521471228832014-01-11T13:47:00.004-05:002014-01-11T13:47:44.772-05:00From the Students at Warren County School<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">From
A Warren County Student: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">"First
off let me say "RIP" to Theo and much love to the family. "When
it's our time come, we will see him again." My act of kindness is being
there for people just not me family but anyone whose having problems. I keep it
real. I'm always that helping hand I feel as though I can make a change in the
world if not I will spark the brain that will change the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">From
Aaron Harper:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Dear
Mr. F.,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I've
heard about what happened to your son, and I just want to say, I'm sorry for
the lost of your son. I did something nice to honor him. To remember your son
when he was alive we planted food for people who might not have food.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Love,
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Aaron
Harper<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">From
Ahaquisa:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Dear
Mr. F.,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I
heard about your son. I did something nice to my brother, sister, and boyfriend.
I help my sister with her problem or whatever and my brother help be nice to
people. I help my boyfriend with his attitude problem. I'm really sorry about
your baby son.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Love,
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Ahaquisa.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">From
Melody Alford:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Hey
this is Melody Alford from Warren County High School so Hello Mr. F., I heard
about your son and I'm sorry for your lost he was so young and cute but R.I.P.
Theo. Umm I do a lot of nice things for people, I'm more like a helping hand
and a giver . So I guess when others don’t have I give that’s a everyday thing
that warms my heart. I love kids so I love to give them and make them happy and
laugh. I put smiles on loving faces.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">R.I.P.
THEO<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">From
Jamarcus Davis:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Hello
Mr. F.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I
heard about your son, so I did something nice in honor of your son. Just a few
weeks ago the librarian at my school lost some money that she needed to eat
with, so I helped her find her money. It was twenty dollars. Most people would
have just kept the money and not said anything, but I picked up the money and
gave it to her. It felt so good. I hope
you and your family have a merry X-MAS.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sincerely:
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Jamarcus Davis</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">From
Kylee:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Dear
Mr. F.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">You
were very young Theo, you died young and the story I was told has done
something to me. I've been doing good deeds all week since I heard about your
child. I spent time in the community, bought
my mom a purse. I never met you or your child Theo. We always live.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Kylee<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">From
Nathaniel Timothy White:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Hello
Mr. F. my name is Nathaniel Timothy White, but you can call me Tim or Nate..I
heard about your son. I feel your pain. Before I was born I had a sister and
when she was born she died. Now let's not talk about me and my life but the
thing I did nice to honor your son is to plant food for people who need it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Love:
Tim<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">From
a Warren County Student:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I
heard about your lost and I am sorry to hear that. But my act of kindness
consists of given back to the ones who have less than me. The reason I am going
to do this is because it is better to give than receive, and also God has
blessed me with things so I will bless others with things too. So I look at it
as loving my neighbors. But I hope you have a blessed holiday.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">From Joseph:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Mr F.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I heard about your
son. I did something nice to honor him to do on the date 12/20/2013. Me and my
third period class went outside to harvest collard greens from the garden to
send to different places where kids don’t have nothing to eat so I showed my
respect and picked them for the people. I respect you for sending the letter to
let us know about your son. I just want to say I really appreciate you for
making me write this letter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sincerely: Joseph<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">From Myesha Wallace:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I heard about your son.
I did something really nice to honor him and I really hope he accepts it and
happy holiday to you and your family. P.S. we went to the garden and we picked collards.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">From: Larissa<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">To Mr. F. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I heard about your
son. I did something nice to honor him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Ever since I heard
about your son, it made me think how grateful I am here today so I started
doing things for people like helping people with things they need like donate
things to people who need it and thank god for the people and family you have
in your life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">PS Hope y'all have a
very merry Christmas.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">From A Warren County Student:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Dear Mr. F. I heard
about your son. I did something nice to honor him. I did work for my uncle by
working on houses with him<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">From Preston:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Mr. F.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I heard about your
son. I did something nice to honor him by harvesting collards for the hungry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">From Kenyahre Watkins:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Mr. F.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I heard about your
son. I did something nice to honor him by making sure that people in need have
food to eat this time of year. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
~The Helbert Fueglein Family~http://www.blogger.com/profile/07365723460650017240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682970367489696585.post-14604923912654643442014-01-06T16:48:00.005-05:002014-01-13T17:33:43.562-05:00January 6, 2014<br />
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">From
Christiane Morecock:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Hi! I
have a new random act of kindness. A little late, but this is a good one!</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>So I am back in Ecuador, in a very
safe city called Cuenca. I have a friend who was getting ready to travel South America
and he started in a city called Quito about 9 hours north of here by bus. He
was celebrating New Year's Eve there and from what I heard had a pretty fun
night. When he was heading back to the hostel, however, his whole group noticed
this girl seizing in the middle of the road. They tried to help her but she
wouldn't stop seizing. So my friend walked to the corner to grab a cab to take her
to the closest hospital.<br />
As he's standing on the corner a girl walked up to him and asked him for the
time. When he looked down at his wrist to checked his watch, she stabbed him (I
should have prefaced this with my friend being totally OK! Don't worry. The
random act of kindness is coming). Long story short, he ended up with three
stab wounds: two in the abdomen and a very fortunate, superficial wound in the
neck. The cops arrested the girl and her accomplice.<br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He was taken to the emergency
room to clean up the wounds, examine them and send him on his way.
Unfortunately this attack ended in a robbery and his credit card was in police
custody and he couldn't pay the $400 emergency room bill. (Side note: a billion
times cheaper than the US, the ambulance alone would have been at least $2000)
So a boy he met just the night of New Year's Eve, named Michael, lent him the
$400 without knowing him. He just trusted my friend enough to be decent.
Michael, from the UK, becomes even more impressive in a moment.<br />
The hospital decides it's about time to release him, and he starts to feel
woozy and his heart is beating out of control. He asks them to keep him a
little longer. They comply. He continually gets attacks of tachycardia and he
feels like he is about to pass out, so he tells a nurse what is happening and
they agreed to give him a CT scan.<br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>My friend is suffering from
internal bleeding and needs emergency surgery to repair the damage. But it
seems, as we came to figure out, that Ecuador requires a guarantee of payment
in these situations before they operate. They are not accepting credit card
numbers over the phone from his parents, they want a physical credit card. The
volunteer organization refuses to put down a credit card because they don't
trust that he or his family will ever pay it back. Instead they called me
because we traveled to Ecuador together. But as you may remember, I am 9 hours
away on January 1st, the largest Latin America travel day of the year. They say
on the phone that he is critical and they need me there right away or he is
going to die and that I am wasting time talking to them on the phone and asking
me why I don't have a flight yet and telling me they can't wait for me to go to
the airline and make a flight they need the card RIGHT NOW!<br />
So, I go to the airline and start begging for flights at the airlines who are
open. All flights are booked. I waited on two waiting lists and cried to almost
everybody in the airport, but no one is buying it. I called them back to ask my
options. The volunteer organization told me my only option was to call the US
embassy, they couldn't do it themselves because they were afraid they wouldn't
take them seriously as Ecuadorian citizens. I called the US embassy, who was
closed for the holiday, and got connected to their emergency line. I explain
(in English, thank god) the entire situation and how I need them to help him.
They tell me they are already aware of the situation. Michael from the UK had
already called them. The embassy explained they were connected to the right
people and they assured me everything would be fine and that my friend would
get his surgery before I arrived to the hospital. Michael continued to call the
embassy to update them on the progress and the embassy would call me so that I
wouldn't have to worry.<br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Michael was an incredible
stranger. Maybe it was just being decent, but the volunteer organization wasn't
doing ANY of what he did. I am not saying my friend, whose name is Demik by the
way, would have been left for dead without him, but that's something I'll never
have to find out. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"></span><o:p></o:p></span></span>~The Helbert Fueglein Family~http://www.blogger.com/profile/07365723460650017240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682970367489696585.post-58837110255106419422013-12-31T13:01:00.000-05:002014-01-06T17:56:04.863-05:00New Year's Eve<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">New Year's Eve<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">From
Pat Tabb:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Hello,
Jamie,</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I was so glad to hear
from you this year about Theo's Stocking and I made plans to deliver bread and
a small check for food to a dear lady we know who is unable to get out.
Today was the first opportunity to pack up my four grandchildren and to
include them in the visit. It was also an opportunity to make them more
aware of reaching out to others, especially those in need. We are
delighted to honor Theo in this outreach.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">God bless you, your
wife, and your little girl.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">From
Jordyn Bradford: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Hi
Professor F! </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Hope you're enjoying
your break! This year over the holiday my family and I participated in Samaritan's
Purse: Operation Christmas Child. We recently received an email saying that our
packages would be delivered to children in Zimbabwe. Our Christmas packages
contained school supplies, toys, comb&brush, toothbrush&toothpaste, a
mirror, soap, a loofa/bath sponge, a pack of pocket tissues, and socks. We also
included a letter from my little sister who are 7 and 10, asking if the
children receiving the package would like to be pen pals.We are very excited to
see if they will respond back to us! Here's the link to the organization's site
if you would like to find out more about what they do. <a href="http://www.samaritanspurse.org/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc;">http://www.samaritanspurse.org/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child/</span></a> Have
a great new year! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">From
Carolyn White:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #222222;">I donated to</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;"> <span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://tipitinasfoundation.org/" target="_blank">Tipitina'sFoundation</a>.</span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Happy Festivus to all!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Love
, Carolyn</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">From Matt Clingempeel:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"> Over Thanksgiving break, this
teenager was running next to me on the treadmill. I guess he’s some big runner
with the local high school team. He was running like crazy, over ten miles an
hour. He did this for over ten minutes, slinging sweat everywhere. I’m serious,
sweat was flying through the air hitting my treadmill and his was soaked. He
stopped the machine and got off. I waited the last few minutes of my run
for his to come back and clean off the machine. He never did. So when I cleaned
off my machine, I cleaned his off as well. That was me being nice. Then I found
him working out and told him to never leave a machine like that again. He
started to walk over and to the treadmills and I told him I had done it
already, in a scolding manner. That was me being a parent and not as nice. For
your son, if it’s not too late, just focus on the nice part about me cleaning
up the leakings of another’s body.</span><span style="background-color: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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~The Helbert Fueglein Family~http://www.blogger.com/profile/07365723460650017240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682970367489696585.post-66795098232223765762013-12-26T19:40:00.002-05:002013-12-26T19:44:43.987-05:00December 26, 2013<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">From
Steven Funes:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Mr. F,</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />
<span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">I am extremely happy to hear from you! Merry
Christmas to you and your family, I hope all is well on your end. My life has
been truly blessed and God is amazing. I graduate in May 2014, continuing my
careers in the military and law enforcement.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"> <span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Today
my church, Life Church, went to Monroe Park around<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span class="aqj">8:30</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> this
morning for a homeless outreach. I read <a href="http://www.amazon.com/F-U-N-E-S-ebook/dp/B003NX7M98" target="_blank">a poem I wrote</a>, "Eternal
Sweetness," passed out fresh stew and hot chocolate, and handed out
numerous gifts and goodie bags to all the homeless present. The gentleman in
charge of our outreach program witnessed to the crowd with his testimony and
Bible scripture. We also prayed with them, played music, and enjoyed each
other's company. One really cool and selfless thing that my mother did today at
the outreach was give her very nice leather jacket with fur to a young,
pregnant homeless woman. Truly made that woman's day as she said in a shivering
voice, "This is much warmer, thank you!"</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"> <span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Sir,
I am so grateful that I have met you and had the opportunity to have you as my
professor. You certainly are an inspiration to me to continue to be selfless
and a servant to our world. May God continue to watch after Theo, as he dances
and worships God in Heaven.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"> <span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Very
respectfully,</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> Steven Funes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">From
Anonymous:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Merry
Christmas! </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">This Christmas Eve, I
took in a distant friend to come celebrate the night with my family because his
parents recently divorced and both spontaneously decided to go out of
town. </span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> For another act of kindness, I
hugged my father on Christmas Eve. We have not spoken to each other in months.</span>~The Helbert Fueglein Family~http://www.blogger.com/profile/07365723460650017240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682970367489696585.post-86519554571289889512013-12-25T12:47:00.003-05:002013-12-26T11:48:56.268-05:00Christmas Day 2013<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="background-color: white;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto; color: #222222;">From Stephanie Ferguson:</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #222222;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto; color: #222222;"></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto; color: #222222;"></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto; color: #222222;">For Theo, I donated 3 bags of cleaning supplies and treats to my local Humane Society. Love and Hugs, Fergie.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto; color: #222222;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #222222;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto; color: #222222;"></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto; color: #222222;"></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto; color: #222222;">From Pam Powell and Annie Zoll:</span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto; color: #222222;">Annie and I served free breakfast to the
homeless at <a href="http://www.kountrykitchenindy.com/" target="_blank">Kountry Kitchen</a>, a downtown Indy soul
food restaurant that provides breakfast and a gift to the homeless. Over
2000 meals were served! Cynthia and her staff are wonderful.
When we arrived at the restaurant and discovered that the restaurant was short
on men’s hats to distribute, Annie took us on a whirlwind trip to the only
store open and bought them out of men’s hats to donate to the cause. With Theo
in our hearts, we committed random acts of kindness along the way and hopefully
spread love and smiles to as many as possible. </span><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto; color: #222222;">I love you, Jamie, Lula and Theo with
all my heart.</span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto; color: #222222;">From Carol Schall:</span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: ""serif"","serif";">For Theo’s Christmas Stocking, and for my mom: A girl on Em’s
basketball team will heal with less pain because Emily and I gave her the good
ice machine--it is electric and pumps ice water through a cuff that attaches to
the knee. It is great for someone who has had knee surgery and makes recovery
so much better. Also, I emailed a friend of Em’s to find out how his
coming out to his family went, and to let him know that we are here for
him. Finally, working to make the world a better place through our law suit!
Merry Christmas Theo! We remember you often, especially during our acts of
kindness at this time of year.</span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: ""serif"","serif";">
Note: Carol and her wife Mary Townley are suing the Commonwealth of Virginia in
the federal court system claiming that Virginia’s amendment against marriage
equality violates their rights granted under the U.S.
Constitution. They are joined in the case by Tim Bostic and Tony
London. Carol, Mary, Tim and Tony have the support of the <a href="http://www.afer.org/" target="_blank">American
Foundation for Equal Rights</a>--as well as the support of the Helbert-Fueglein
family and so many others who love them and support them and believe that all
people should have the right to marry they person they love.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: ""serif"","serif";">From
Michaux Dempster:</span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto; color: #222222;">There’s a feral cat that lives close to the
Five Guys we go to every </span>Sunday, and a lady that comes to feed her
every day. We offered to take a share in this work, and exchanged information
with the lady so that we could relieve her of this sometimes.</span></div>
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto; color: #222222;">From Eugene Gudym:</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto; color: #222222;">Hello Professor Fueglein,</span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: ""serif"","serif";">
First off, I would like to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas, and soon
a Happy New Year.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: ""serif"","serif";">
It has been a couple of years since I was enrolled in your course yet have
contemplated doing this since the very first time I heard about Theo and the
blog you have created. Besides the daily unmentioned kind acts and expected
male chivalry, I would like to play my family an original song in honor of
Thelonius Luther Helbert Fueglein. I hope you take no offence to this because
you truly do not know my skill of piano. I could be an amateur making a
mockery, but I am not; I have played for a majority of my life and will play it
for my family after dinner tomorrow in honor and in memory (already
have it recorded). I hope Thelonius enjoys my song up there and I’m sure he’s
proud of you for receiving so much positive affection from people who didn’t
even get a chance to meet him. </span></span><br />
<div style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: ""serif"","serif";">
Thank you for sharing your wisdom.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: ""serif"","serif";">
Sincerely,</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: ""serif"","serif";">
Eugene Gudym</span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="color: #222222;">From Kevin Tran:</span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="color: #222222;">In honor of Theo this Christmas I committed an act of
kindness. My neighbor who is a single struggling mother raising two kids was
worried she couldn’t provide some holiday cheer for her kids. My sister and I
took some time out to present these children with some eggnog,
snicker-doodles, and crafted gingerbread houses with them. </span></span></div>
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<![endif]--><span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span><br /></span>
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~The Helbert Fueglein Family~http://www.blogger.com/profile/07365723460650017240noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682970367489696585.post-62804716935190423792013-12-24T23:00:00.000-05:002013-12-25T13:14:55.297-05:00December 24, 2013<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">December 24, 2013<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">From
Anonymous:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We didn’t do any as
inspiring as so many who contributed to Theo’s Stocking this year but we do
give to <a href="http://www.stjude.org/stjude/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=f87d4c2a71fca210VgnVCM1000001e0215acRCRD&sc_cid=kwp2&sc_kw=st%20jude%20donations&sc_mt=b&sc_adid=33014929162&tngsourcecode=THWKEYWDO14&gclid=CNu317G_yrsCFW0V7Aodb2YAYQ" target="_blank">Saint Jude’s</a> and the <a href="http://www.redcross.org/index.jsp" target="_blank">Red Cross</a> each year (or throughout the year) and
also donate new toys through a drive sponsored at our health club.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> The other day, though, I did have the
opportunity to perform a small act of kindness when I noticed a man ahead of me
driving erratically. The sun was such that I suspected he might be having
difficulty seeing (this street in our neighborhood presents the sun shining
directly into your eyes on the horizon in the morning this time of year) and it
looked like he was about to drive off the road into a ravine. I honked
repeatedly and he pulled over just before going off the road. I pulled up
alongside him and asked him if he was having difficulty seeing. He said that
was the case and I asked him if he’d allow me to pull ahead of him to guide him
since I knew the street (I told him that just a few days before I’d found
myself driving in middle of the road before realizing). He agreed and I got to
start my day by doing something nice for someone I didn’t know.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> I think of you (and Theo) often.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">From Christiane Morecock:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I just returned home from two shifts packaging
meals for Meals on Wheels. The<a href="https://feedmore.org/search/329a37e10c60cf44af9162128978a1f8/" target="_blank"> FeedMore</a> Richmond. Not necessarily random
though.</span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Random
act of kindness: My boyfriend just yesterday found a one hundred dollar bill in
Seven Eleven. The only other person in the store was the man right in front of
him in line. He asked the man in front of him if it was his and the clerk, both
responded with a no. And even though he has been looking for a job for two
months (and that's money that could have gone towards a flight for him to come
to see me in Ecuador!!!) he gave it to man sitting on the floor outside of the
store in the cold with only a sweatshirt.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I'm
hesitant to call him homeless only because I don't know for sure. Don't want to
make that assumption, could be an insult to assume! But I would think he was
homeless. I was waiting in the car and didn't know what happened. I thought it
was a single he gave to the man. It was a very nice thing to watch, although
boyfriend almost immediately regretted it when he saw how low his gas tank had
become.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Merry
Christmas Mr. F! Have a wonderful New Year!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">From
Jada Toote':<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hello Professor F.,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Merry Christmas Eve!
I frequently hold doors open for strangers especially if they're
struggling, I pick up items dropped by individuals in a hurry, and I
allow pregnant women to sit down on the bus before me if there aren't lot
of available seats. Basically I tend to unthinkingly do random acts of kindness,
so I didn't know what exactly to write about. Then I gave Ms. Brenda, the
cleaning lady in my building (who I talk to often), a Christmas card, candy
cane, and wished her a merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. I could tell my gift
had brightened her day. Ms. Brenda even said she would put my card on her
calendar. I'm not sure if she has a lot of family or who she spends the
holidays with however I'm happy I was able to cheer her up. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">From
Lydia Armstrong:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The other day, I
pulled out of a gas station downtown and came to a red light at the
intersection. I had my window down because it was nice out. As I pulled up, a
panhandler on the corner nodded at me and said, "Merry Christmas." I
waved and said merry Christmas back. He took a step forward and said, "You
know, I've been out here since6:30 this morning and have said merry
Christmas to everyone who came by, and you are the first person to actually say
it back. Thank you." I didn't have any money, but he didn't ask for any
and genuinely seemed more concerned with the fact that I acknowledged he
exists. Since then, I've made it a point to nod or wave or say hello or merry
Christmas to people on the street that usually get ignored.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Merry Christmas.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;">From Leah Moore:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;">My act of kindness this year actually started right
before Thanksgiving. A few days before the holiday my father passed. While I am
dealing with my own grief I am also trying to be there for his
girlfriend. Because she was living there, I think she is taking this the
hardest. So right now, the simple act being a friend and confidant the
gift I can offer her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;">I hope you and your wife have a Merry Christmas. Happy
2014.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"> </span><span style="color: #222222;"> </span><span style="color: #222222;">Best,</span></div>
<span style="color: #222222;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222;"> Leah Moore</span></div>
<span style="color: #222222;">
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
~The Helbert Fueglein Family~http://www.blogger.com/profile/07365723460650017240noreply@blogger.com0