I have people ask me sometimes why we give shoes away instead of doing some other type of outreach. I tell them that shoes for kids are not only a need but they are also a want. There are so many things in life we want but we really don’t need. Shoes sometimes can fulfill both areas. I also feel Christian would so appreciate the “giving”. He was a giver. He rarely took from people but tended to try and give something back to everyone around him. He did this unconsciously most times but there were times he made the conscious effort. Lori and Avery had told me about the last Christmas Christian spent with them. Avery’s dad had been hinting to them for months that he wanted some type of range finder for deer hunting. On Christmas when they were opening presents Paul would open each present expectantly thinking it was going to be his range finder. When he opened his last gift and hadn’t received it Lori said “He looked so sad and then Christian looked at him and said ‘I gotcha Dub’.” Christian handed him the gift he had gotten Paul… it was the range finder…..
I know Christian was grinning from ear to ear when Paul opened that gift. He would have been so proud of himself for making Paul’s day. But that is who Christian was. He tended to give to people more than he took. It is in that spirit of giving that I hope Magnolia Son makes a few kids a year feel like Paul did on that Christmas day. We hope that Christian knows we haven’t forgotten him or given up….. We gotcha’.
My 2018 Year in Review post is a little late this year. With the help of many people who donated, visited Magnolia Son’s booth or contributed their time we were able to give 152 pairs of shoes to kids for school and Christmas and awarded a $5000 scholarship. We continue to ask ourselves “How can we do more?” Stay tuned for our answer in 2019…
Such a wonderful gift…He will never be forgotten…I love you Rae and so proud of this gift of love in his memory…
Not only did he give him a range finder he gave him the top of the line range finder!!! Paul still has it and takes care of it like it was a baby!!! When he gets it out he tells the story.
I know without a doubt that Christian is smiling down of every gift and every effort your family makes to make others happy. Me being a shoe person know how much fun it is to get a new pair of shoes. And to know that you are providing shoes for a child that might otherwise not have any makes my heart smile. I didn’t know Christian personally but through your pictures and talks about him, I feel like I do he is only 1 year older than my son and the things you say about him make me think that if Will knew him they would be great friends. Christian will never be forgotten.
I happened upon Christian’s story b/c of my new found obsession with podcasts. I was def drawn to this one and to the recurring descriptions of Christian as a loyal and dependable friend who lived his life to the fullest. When I heard about this charity in the last episode, I googled it to see what it was about. To my surprise, reading about Christian on the home page, I found we share a birthday – Nov 4 🙂 I’m way older than him but as a mom of a larger than life 4 year old boy, my heart breaks for you, your family and all of his friends. And I’m more than digusted with the lack of justice in his case so far. But I firmly believe that the truth will come out and can only hope that all the struggling will not be in vain – that real change is on the horizon.
I love the way you and your family are helping others in Christian’s memory. I just binged Culpable a couple weeks ago. I can’t get Christian and all of you who love him off my heart and mind. I’ve never had someone I don’t know touch my heart so deeply. Thank you for sharing him with so many. I’ll continue to pray for you all and check for updates.
I just came across Christians story on YouTube and immediately I am drawn to it because of the positive way you all described him. It is truly a great loss to our world that he is no longer here to shine a light and provide a smile to those he knew in that special way he had about him. I love that you are keeping his memory alive with this program. I want to offer my services to you for free if you ever need them. I am a Web developer/designer as well as a graphic designer and social media specialist. Basically I can do all things one would need or want online and in addition I can also design all things print related, write content and can do all things related to social media as well as marketing. My email is Lhardin@latronenterprise.com if you ever find you need me. Here’s a huge virtual hug to you and your family. Thank you for sharing his memory with me!