[Moderator's note: Where I was able to do so I have relaxed the length and per-person post limit for today since it is a light day and some of the posts are Holiday related. BIG] I, like many shelters, rely on people to help me run my shelter. This year, I had a few more people jump on board. A shelter can only survive with public support. This year, my "Little Ole Shelter" had $14,875 in just medical bills alone. Of that amount, I currently only have a balance of approximately $3900.00! So this is my first thank you: To Everyone on These Lists- Thank you for supporting me, reading ALL my posts, purchasing stuff on ebay and from my web page, Reading all my posts, and most of all, all the Secret Santa's who took the time out of their lives to purchase some wonderful gifts for the ferrets in my shelter who are overcoming some huge medical issues. Without the public support.......the nice letters of encouragement and all the purchases, I would not be able to continue to do what I do. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH! Oh did I say, READING ALL MY POSTS! Thank You! Thank You To my Husband And Family- Wayne, for allowing me to run this shelter, not divorcing me after I racked up a $14,000 medical tab, and for your behind the scene loving on all the ferrets who come through our doors. My children, who have to be patient everytime we want to go some place while Mommy tends to the shelter. For the endless amount of trash and litter you have to carry to the back of our property or the 1000's of bags of woodpellets you have to carry in from the garage. I am blessed this Christmas to have one of the greatest husbands in the world and 4 wonderful children! I don't need anything else this Holiday Season. To the Ferrets In my shelter-Thank you for the endless amounts of kisses you give me and the comic relief everyday from your antics. For all the Highs and Lows of sheltering. For allowing me to scoop your poop everyday (oh man, I think they have taken over my mind!) Today, I got 32 little kisses and that was the best Christmas Present! To see them enjoy all the treats and gifts people sent to them is amazing. They know where each gift comes from.....the smart buggers! And to all the angels who came through my doors and spent their last days in my arms. I am truly blessed to have known you even if it was for a short bit of time. May we meet again some day in a place far, far away where the health issues which effect ferrets, will not be present! To Caryn and Lisa- Caryn, you help me so much with doing the shelter. Holidays, weekdays, weekends and if I get sick! I can always count on you to help me with the shelter on days I just don't feel like doing it alone. Pooper Scooper Extraordinaire you are! You can sift a pan like no one else! Lisa-for being my chief nail clipper, ear cleaner and Athletic Director! The ferrets LOVE when Auntie Lisa comes and takes them for walks! And for all your support and getting some wonderful adoptive parents for the ferrets! You guys are also my best supporters, helping me out at Fundraisers and shows. I could never do this all without you two! I can pack a trailer tight and you guys never complain (with the exception of Lisa when that darn display piece gets tangled into the cages).And also for going on the endless trips to Phila for surgeries. GO EASY PASS! To Jen and Archie-Being my support system in Baltimore. Thank gosh I answered your post about babysitting and by a long shot, you took me up on my offer. You guys are two of the kindest people I know, you have hearts of gold and I am grateful everyday, that we met. Thank you Jen for your long distance love affair with Murphy. I know how much he loved you........... To Marcy T.- For being my social skills director and teaching biting ferrets, that life is wonderful and you don't have to take a chunk out of everyone who wants to pick you up! You have a wonderful way with ferrets and you are going to make a wonderful vet! Keep up the great work! My Ferret Whisper You! To Sandy G from Texas- For supplying me with the best bedding in the world. My ferrets sleep on her bedding and I sell it on my table at the shows. I hope someday to meet you in person! I enjoy our email chats and promoting your wonderful workmanship! You also donated the hit toy of the Holiday season, the crinkle sack tunnel. They go bonkers over this toy! It is so funny! I will get some photos for you! To Rose G.-Another wonderful bedding maker who has done many fundraisers over the internet for me and my shelter! These Auctions helped to make some much needed payments on my vet bill. Your generosity which you show to alot of shelters, does not go unnoticed! THANK YOU-THANK YOU! To Michelle and her Family-You started out as adoptive parents, and have by the end of this year, become a wonderful friend! I can't thank you ENOUGH for all you do for my shelter, the donations, the sewing, the allowing us to come to your house to see all YOUR animals! I am so glad to have met you! I look forward to many more years of sharing bargains with each other!!!!! And our Families getting together! To Becky C- For adopting ferrets from me, being a wonderful friend and support person, and purchasing all that stuff from me! You are super! You are like the Official Toy Tester for my crochet inventions! To Chris M from WV- You and your husband also came here to adopt, and have become one of my family! I look forward to all your visits when you come to PA, and all the updates on the girls and their antics. I still think you need to write a book! It will be the #1 seller! And for fostering Snow and Cinder. You opened your heart and home to two girls who would have stayed here for the rest of their lives. Now they have a place to call home! To Jessie M.- For helping me with hard medical cases, helping with ears and nails, and for being Jessie! Your knowledge is wonderful and I appreciate every single piece of advise you give to me! For supplying me with blood donors when my boys could not give, and loving Murphy at the Christmas Party in Phila. I know that meant so much to him to spend his last hours playing Santa Paws and handing out the gifts. And for adopting the "special case kids" from me. Including the WILD EXPRESSO! To Patty Ferret- for being a great friend and taking my children's photos all the time. By having their photos in the AFA magazines, that means so much to a mother. And for taking the last couple photos of my Murph-man before I had to say goodbye! That means so much to me! And for being Cam'ron's mommy! The AFA- This organization has given my kids so much in the way of self-esteem. Everyone has been so nice to them. Scarlett, Kay, Vickie, Sally, Ann, Tara (just to name a few), have shown my kids that they can succeed with showing and they really look up to you guys. They are so excited when show time comes around, and I am thankful to be able to set up at all these shows, make some much needed money for my shelter and have a wonderful weekend of memories for my children. The ribbons will fade in time, but the memories you guys help to create will remain with them for the rest of their lives! If you have children, considering showing at an AFA show. You won't regret it! Thank you Everyone!!! These words will never be enough to let everyone know how much you guys mean to me. My Christmas wishes have all come true. I have a wonderful support system which extends across the USA, and what more does one need! A Very Thankful........ Marguerite from TinyPrints Ferret Rescue Life is not how many breaths you take, but how many times it takes your breath away... TinyPrints Ferret Rescue PetFinder Web Page http://www.tinyprintsontheheart.petfinder.org TinyPrints Ferret Rescue Store http://www.tinyprintsontheheart.com/onlinestore.htm Aloha Ferrets Ebay Store http://stores.ebay.com/Aloha-Ferrets-Store http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQfgtpZ1QQfrppZ25QQsassZtinyprintsferretrescue [Posted in FML issue 5103]