A pledge and a promise

My final two gifts for this campaign will be collected tomorrow. Gift one will be tomorrow morning when I show up in proud support of the local MS Society as my wife and I walk in honor of my sister-in-law who has MS. Gift two will be my donation to the MS Society given in recognition for the work done by this organization and those they serve. To the organizers of 29 Days of Giving, a job well done and a thank you for inviting me to participate in this fun and sometime challenging month. Ken Schulz

On the road again......

I usually slink away from the nitty gritty of getting a fund raiser together but thanks to the 29 Days of Giving, I was inclined to get my hands dirty. The task that was asked to was to find gifts for a silent auction. That does not play well to my strengths but since I was asked and since I was mindful of the spirit of giving, I did get involved and did produce a few items much to my surprise. But, then there was a logistics problem as to how to get these gifts to the location in time for this Sunday's event. Again, I volunteered to do the leg work of gathering and transporting these silent auction items so that the folks that were truly neck deep in other details wouldn't get distracted. Besides, it was a nice afternoon to get out of the office. Ken Schulz

Put my money where my mouth is.

Early on in these 29 days I mentioned that I volunteered to emcee the annual fund raising effort for Apple Patch, a non profit, that I am actively involved with here in Oldham County. I have been an emcee for other events and other organizations in the past and always at no cost to the organization involved. My time is once again offered gladly for free. But, this time, I went and purchased two tickets for the event even though I have no use for them. I gave them back to Apple Patch to gift to someone who might not otherwise get a chance to go to this gala. Ken Schulz

Puppeteering

Saturday is not only the MS Walk, it's also the annual fundraiser for Squallis Puppeteers. My husband and I always try to attend or donate a piece of art to their auction. This year, we won't be doing either, so I sent them a donation in the mail to show our continued support of their mission and work.

http://www.squallispuppeteers.com/Squallis_Puppeteers/Feast_of_Fools_-_TV_Dinner.html

- Leigh White

Show You Care

This will be my last posting for the 29 Gifts challenge. I will be at the Walk so hopefully I will see some familiar faces. I asked a long time co-worker about his new grand baby today. A smile came to his face and said, I think I might have a couple of pictures. HA HA A simple gesture can make all the difference. To me, it says "I care". I think acts of kindness are contagious. So put yourself out there as a positive example for others. I was hoping I could come up with something really Witty for my last post, but I got Nothing. I guess we will have to leave that up to Ken Shulz! Last but not least, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Stacy Funk and all her staff for their dedication in fighting this debilitating disease. See you at the Walk!!! Theresa Edwards

Today was meals on wheels day once again. Two weeks in a row. All of our receipients seemed well. There is one man in particular that is my favorite stop. It never fails, everytime he opens his door he has the biggest smile and always a kind word. Its been a busy week. Looking forward to the walk and seeing some familiar faces on Saturday. Have a good day!
Theresa Edwards

Retro Photos

Sunday, April 4

Since digital cameras have replaced those with film, most people have stopped printing photos. While I don't print every photo I take, I tend to stay on top of having prints made and I always order doubles to share with friends who are in them. Recipients are always surprised and often tell me, "I can't remember the last time I had a hard copy of a photo."

Today I ordered prints of the photos we took on our recent trip to Los Angeles. These are for our personal album but also for the album I'm making for our hosts. I hope they like the little surprise.

- Leigh White

A Little More Spunk

I seem to have a little more spunk in my step today. Not sure why but I think it might have some to do with the beautiful morning we had. A nice breeze and warm enough to go without a jacket. I stopped to get fuel this morning, had a brief conversation with the sales clerk, bought two 1$ Powerball tickets and walked out the door. On my way out, a young man was coming in at which time I handed him one of the tickets. He had the nicest smile and said "Thank you". As I was about to get back on the road, he Thanked me once more. I told him that "when" he won, he had better spend the money wisely. I told him to have a nice day, waived and was on my way. Would'nt that be icing on the cake if he won something from that ticket? Enjoy the day!
Theresa Edwards

I made it!

Easter Sunday I completed my 29 Days of Giving. I also saw my last clinical patient since I was completing my last attending duties at the Hospital. After caring for patients for over 25 years it was ironic that it would end on Easter. I guess I am now reborn to a new life. It has been the hardest thing of my life to say goodbye to patients and staff that I have worked with for years. I learned from the 29 Days of Giving that no matter what loss I was experiencing that I was given so much more over the years. There can be no greater gift than to care for people that need assistance. The ability to impart knowledge and to provide care is the greatest gift that one can have. It validates one's exsistence and makes every day special. I have had no greater privilege than to participate in the care on individuals who by no fault of their own are facing a challenging medical condition.
I hope that I may continue to provide a valid service in my new position to the MS population. I thank those who worked with me for sharing my passion in trying to provide the best care available to our patients. I have been the beneficiary of so many unspoken gifts over the years that I am inspired to continue the Days of Giving.
Dr. K

Ta Da!

My gift today and one promised to be delivered last Friday was the gift of blood. I had decided in my first days of this 29 days of giving that I was finally going to do this. No backing out. All I had to do was make that commitment and it took me until the last few days of this adventure to do it. It has always been that way with me....I'd always get around to it, eventually. I know people do it all the time but I don't and I really should. Evidently, I have that kind of blood that is not all that common and is in demand. Besides, I have always been able to make more. They say I should be able to count this as 3 gifts for all they can do with a pint of blood these days. Not bad for 7 minutes of work. In any case I write this to you today, a pint low but on a personal high. Ken Schulz

A well done book becomes well read and well travelled.

As so many others have done, it was my turn to spread the good word. After reading Cami Walker's book, it was my wife's turn and then her mother's. Now "29 Gifts" is on it's way to Illinois to be delivered to my sister-in-law who was my inspiration to get involved with our 29 days of giving. Shelly was diagnosed with MS over 20 years ago and she remains nothing short of a force of nature. With some of the hurdles that lady has managed to jump, I believe she could write her own book. Ken Schulz

A telemarketers' dream come true.

I, too, have been out of the loop the past few days and will do my best to catch up. I donate to my Alma Mater's scholarship fund once a year. Now, that doesn't stop them from contacting me 6 times a year but I stick to my one donation per year and that usually is in August, I've done that for 36 years. I got a call Saturday afternoon from this young gentleman who is a student at St. Louis University (my Alma Mater) and he, not surprisingly, was asking for a donation. I can't fault him at all, he was doing his job and probably earning a few bucks as well. The young man read his script very well and was a little over the top in enthusiasm whenever I answered one of his questions. "What do you do for a living, Mr. Schulz", he asked. "As little as possible", I replied. "Fascinating!", he bubbled. You got the picture. Bright and early in our conversation, I informed the gentleman that I would not be donating at this time. But he persisted and read more of his script and was thrilled with all my replies. At the end of all this, he asked me again for a donation and again I said no. He acknowledged that he had heard me the first time but it was the first time he had gotten to the end of the prepared script without being cut off or beaten to the punch. He also admitted that he won the contest for the day for the first one on his shift to have accomplished that feat. He thanked me and I wished him well. Ken Schulz

Better Late Then Never

Sorry, I have been out of the loop for several days. My first excuse is that we do not have Internet at home so any & all posts must be while at work (And no, I'm not a SLACKER). I try to preplan so as not to use to much of work time. My second excuse is a "bug" got the best of me for a couple of days. Anyway, I'm feeling much better and back on that Horse. Easter at my sister's was busy, but enjoyable. Once she finally took the time to set down, I volunteered to give her a foot rub of which she thoroughly enjoyed. I called to check on my father today who also seems to be under the weather. (Must be something going around) Bed rest and lots of fluids seemed to do the trick for me. Looking forward to the walk this weekend, it will be a first for me. Theresa Edwards

Breaking Eggs

Saturday, April 3

We invited one of our Bulgarian friends over for soup and salad at lunch today. He doesn't have any family in the U.S. and often gets especially homesick during the holidays. We wanted him to celebrate Easter with us, even though it was a day early. In Bulgaria, it's a tradition to break dyed, hardboiled eggs on Easter. As he was leaving, we gave him two eggs that we dyed and decorated so he could break them on Sunday. 

- Leigh White

A Letter to My Daughter

I've been inspired by those other bloggers who've been writing letters and cards to friends and family members. I decided that I would spend some time writing to my unborn daughter today. She'll be here in less than two months and I want her to know all the hopes and dreams that I have for her. I think this will be quite special to her when she's older, and it made a nice addition to the baby book I'm compiling for her. Perhaps I'll try to write her a letter a year as a keepsake.

- Leigh White

Does commitment count?

I commited myself to do something Monday. Something I should have done a long time ago but I always have had a convenient excuse not to do it. I own this gift but don't think much about it but it's invaluable to someone who needs it. I hear what I own can be considered rare. I don't know about that, my whole family has it. Again, I don't think about it until I see it and then it's usually by accident. If I give this gift up, I can come up with more. So what's the big deal? No big deal, just I have never done this until I started thinking about 29 gifts in 29 days. Once I have formally agreed to do something, I will do it. I don't walk away. So my gift today was that commitment. I will deliver on part II of this gift at 3:15 Monday afternoon. Ken Schulz

A bunch for lunch.

A couple of my friend and I decided to have lunch together downtown yesterday but the whole idea wasn't to see each other and catch up rather it was to invite another friend along who at this point is without employment. There was no surprise element, we told our friend exactly what this was. It was a networking lunch and he was the guest of honor. We didn't guaranteee anything for him other that a free lunch but we'd kick ideas around and toss out a few names. Lunch was good but friendships like these are the best.....and no heartburn later. Ken Schulz

Spring Gift

My friend has recently purchased a new house and accompanying unlandscaped yard. On a previous visit to our house, she expressed an interest in our curly willow tree. After she left, we cut a branch to root for her. The branch has grown some impressive roots, so I took it to her this afternoon while she was working in her back yard. She was excited to have it and had picked out the perfect spot to plant it her yard before I left. It's so much fun to share plants with friends, especially in early spring when the inspiration for yard work is high.

- Leigh White

Circle of Life (JAH)

Wednesday, March 31 (Day 20): I am admittedly the biggest sap in the world. Probably the height of my sappiness came about 14 years ago when as I was standing among 40,000+ people at an Elton John concert in the RCA Dome in Indianapolis I started crying when he played the song Cirle of Life from the movie Lion King. It is a sweet song anyway, but it has very special meaning to me b/c when my niece first came to live with my parents when she was 1 1/2 years old, she and I would spend hours watching the movie Lion King. I had even bought her a Simba stuffed animal that she would hold while sitting on my lap watching the movie. I have always wanted to keep thinking about my niece as that little girl who sat on my lap holding Simba and watching that movie. Well, she isn't that little girl any more. She is a 17 year old young woman who (like all people) struggles sometimes to make the right decisions. Her decision making process is complicated by the fact that she has huge anger issues with her mother and father who were both mired in severe drug problems and were simply not parents to her at that time. My niece has made some pretty bad decisions lately. I reached the point several months ago where I was tired of trying to help her only to see her make further wrong decisions and finally decided that I was "done spending any emotional or physical energy on her". That decision has really been bothering me. So today I decided that I would reach back out to her and let her know that I loved her and was there for her if she needed and wanted my help. I still don't agree with many of the decisions that she has made lately, but it doesn't mean I don't love her and certainly doesn't mean that I don't want to help her if she wants the help. I mailed her a card telling her all of that. I hope she takes me up on my offer to reconnect.

- Jeff Hamilton