Wow, we too had a fun filled evening last night. Of course we could not wait until the 25th to open things and as soon as the ferrets saw the boxes they knew that there were goodies, treats, comfy things and especially crinkley shipping paper. To say the least we are overwhelmed with the extend that the santas have gone to this year. We received things from Alaska, Michigan, California, Massachusetts, Connecticut and other distant lands. I swear we were more excited than the ferrets! Within minutes we reoutfitted the hospice ferrets cages, opened up packages of treats and squirted ferretone on top of the soup (we were literally on our last drop!). After soup we smiled and sighed seeing fuzzy sleeping lumps in their new bedding (thanks Auntie Rose and also Cindy in Alaska). For the first time in weeks we will actually be able to go to the bank and make a deposit (wonderful people simply sent donations and said use it for what you need the most). April called me to let me know that a wonderful person (Meryl) gave us a large credit to our Totally Ferret account. It's such a relief to not have to worry if we'll have enough food for the foreseeable future. Since each ferret is not only glad to be safe and sound at the shelters, they think nothing of sharing with the other shelter ferrets and the ferrets in the foster home. It was so nice to be able to give the best foster mom some really nice things. We always are thinking of and thanking the shelter moms and dads, and let's not forget the foster moms and dads who always get more than they bargained for and devote selfless hours to help the shelter, the ferrets and the shelter moms and dads keep our wits about us and our sanity! Of course we will be sending thank you cards to all of the wonderful benefactors who included addresses and emails, but we also wanted to thank everyone here who not only helps during the holidays, but everytime there is a raffle, a special ferret in need, a huge rescue all year long. Merry Christmas to everyone and those at the Bridge, Prayers to all the ones with the new illness as well as the ones with the illnesses we manage each day. Bless us all, Diane Wall South Shore Ferret Care [Posted in FML 6192]