10:35 PM PT: update III
remembrance now has another $50 - leaving her balance at $100.40
9:57 PM PT: KITSAP RIVER COMPLETED!!!!
AJI's bracelet has now only $40 left plus s/h!
Remembrance's necklace has only $100.40
Sara r is holding at $125 plus s/h
Ann (winglion) is also $125 plus s/h
Spirit of Life - has $100 toward a print - needs more (will update tomorrow)
Kitsap River completed tonite!
ZENTRAINER"S scarf is covered!
Oooh has her scarf!
the marti - complete!
ramara - completed!
that means we only have a total of $350 plus the balance for spirit of life (hey! marko the werelynx - need a TOTAL!) to fill ALL these stockings!
yall can DO this! i'm SURE of it!
these are our outstanding secret santa recipients - we are working of special ways to acknowledge their participation and contribution on this site by giving something special to let them know how we feel about them.
what i'd like to do in this diary is to ask everyone to talk of their interactions with these special people and why they were chosen this year.
we have completed some of our secret santas - and if you'd like to talk about those who have been given this gift from the community, please join below in the comments and let's pay tribute to some special people!
follow below to see what is still outstanding and who is still on santa's list!
here is where we were this morning BEFORE the latest totals:
Marko has received $100 toward Spirit of Life's gift!!!
An anonymous MATCH of $50 toward the bracelet for AJI is on the table! balance left is $140
Ooooh has received HER scarf and is feeling the warmth brought by more than the fabric from which it is made!
and Poz is complete, too!
Remembrance (her santa upgraded - balance left $200)!new donation of $50 - leaving $150!
Kitsap River balance is $80.40
Sara R: Necklace by Aji - $350 - balance left to raise is $175 with a Match offer for $50 on the table, leaving $125 + s/h
Ann (winglion) - Necklace by Aji - $350 - with a balance left of $175 with a Match offer for $50 on the table!! also leaves a balance of $125 plus s/h!
We can DO this, folks!!!
Just a little bit goes a long way when enough give!
i'll update totals tonite!
since this was posted, another $50 has been contributed toward
Remembrance (new balance is $150) and
another $50 toward kitsap river (leaving $30.40 to go!)
Spirit of Life has $115 promised toward a print - no mug for THAT girl!
Aji has another $50 toward her special bracelet by wings and NOW, thanks to jakedog, another $100! i believe that leaves only $50 plus s/h to complete aji's gift! will confirm it and update! - i know so well how hard it is to see beautiful special pieces that are made that we would LOVE to keep, but the need for heat, hay, dog food, people munchies don't allow that to happen very often. now we have a chance to make that special bracelet for Aji be really hers!
zentrainer is only $41 shy of having that scarf to hug her with the love of the community.
ramara has had her total met and will receive the wings earrings she so loved - totally surprised and joyful!
the marti has her print coming, too!surprised and joyful!
i may be missing some here - if so, i hope to get a pm to get these included - but now, for the comments. i'll start out...
i met remembrance the day after her surgery for breast cancer. she was in a state of worry but she and glen the plumber and their beautlful little one decided to take up my invitation to come and meet sani.
sani immediately took charge - the communication between them made us all stand back in awe. this is her diary of that beginning of a friendship that is strong today - they are my extended family and i love them dearly.
but the relationship between us is not the only reason i so admire remembrance. she is a therapist who treats children in need - she is giving and loving and cares deeply into her soul... it shows in everything she does.
her quiet, soft comfort was also felt the day i returned to my special place -that place disrupted by an indescribable evil that took the lives of two of my friendsand left another scarred and a family devestated.
i don't know if i could have faced that without her by my side - her quiet and gentle support let me face that sorrow not alone.
when i had my hand surgery, she and TLO came to take care of my most precious sani while i was unable to do so - the trek was far, yet they were there and gave sani comfort when his "mom" was missing.
the joy she brings to my sani - the joy of hers and in the form of TLO (who sani thinks is HIS little filly) makes my heart fill with happiness. watching TLO today play with lyublyu as they ran and leapt in the round pen gave my littlest baby something i can't do - that indefatigeable energy that these old bones no longer have in abundance... but TLO does have that and lyublyu loves both TLO and remembrance completely!
then, there is the activism - the bodies on the ground to fight for a better world for TLO and all the children yet to come - she and glen and TLO are there. they are teaching TLO the importance of being a part of change - even at this young age.
and, here, on DK - there is no one who asks for more compassion for one another than remembrance. her contribution here is to ask for kindness, ask for each of us to come together with understanding to work for the betterment of this site and the world.
kitchen table kibutzing is just one example of how she has made this site a better place.
so, when it comes to this community saying "thank you" for what's she's given both here and to the outside world, i nominate Remembrance as a deserving recipient of her secret santa surprise!
the balance yesterday was $200 (her gift was upgraded and the price seriously discounted) - and, what is now left to raise is $150.
if we can do this this week, i promise pictures for everyone to see her reaction! that's the beauty of her gift - i am going to had deliver (with camera in hand!) 8^)
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now, for kitsap river - how many of us remember her journey - i first got to know kitsap
i first started reading her diaries all the way back to 2005 - she joined shortly after i did and i was struck how powerful her writing was and still is. she courageously took us with her in her health battle for survival, she talked of and educated us on diabletes 2 when it struck the one she loves. her nonstop advocacy for health care reform from a very personal perspective brought home the need to make the system change.
throughout all her health issues - dialysis at home, the fear of the ever failing kidneys that could result in death, she was right there raising money to help kossacks who were in need - she was in the face of politicians both in person and through the media.
she took us with her the day she got the call that a kidney had been given and was a match - and the night before the surgery, where was she? standing in line to reach out to obama - who, as she tells in this diary - did something totally unexpected! she shared that with all of us - as well as the joy of having that new kidney take living place within her.
she is a tireless advocate for what she believes - and she believes in people first and foremost (just ask lotilizard, vetwife and others who she championed and raised funds to help when they were in dire need).
her love of animals she also shared - the ones she loved until they crossed the bridge, she shared them with us and let us know their special place in hers and charles' lives.
i was so blessed to meet kitsap and charles at nn13 - it was truly one of the highlights of the convention! i cannot begin to imagine dailykos without kitsap river - so, i nominate her for this special petrified necklace (something that lasts thousands of years and may it keep her with us for that long, at least!).
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and then, we have sara r and ann - whose nimble fingers have wrapped so many in orange love - where do we begin when it comes to the community quilts. i think, rather than my saying anything on this, i'm going to ask those who have received them to tell why sara r and ann should be on santa's list!
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aji - how to begin.... where to begin ... she is our foundation - the love of all life and all things - she (and wings) rescue horses, dogs, people - ideas... and she is always here to offer her healing energy, her kindness, her belief that this world is better and could be better still. the stillness that aji brings when turmoil is flying all around - the constant moving forward in spite of adversity - that is aji and that is wings. the precious horses who sought them out and said "may we stay!" are wise to know where they will be safe and loved and cared for.
dearest aji - we hold you and wings in our hearts!
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zentrainer is another long term member of this blog - she has taken us along her journey in her postings in the cancer club - she has fought tirelessly for change in tennessee AND she is a dog trainer, too! she uses pawsitive reinforcement - she cares.
unfortunately, she got bitten in the face two days ago and is recovering - so i'm thinking she has more than earned this warm scarf while she recovers!
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ramara's gift is complete and will be on the sleigh soon - for her tireless efforts to keep us aware of the war on women, may she wear the garnet earrings by wings as a reminder that we are there beside her - fighting for change!
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and the marti - hers is done, too - early and completed. she's the newest one of this bunch who are being recognized. her love of all things feline and love of all things irish and love off all things community made her gift a quick fulfilling one!
please check out these kossacks - go look over their past diaries - go check out their contribution to good conversation and debate - but, most importantly, IF you can, send a dollar or two toward their gifts. let's make this a true community effort - each donation matters. the size is not the issue - it is the love that shines through!
to donate to the secret santa surprise for any of these folks, please either post your contribution below and we'll let you know how to send or kosmail me and i'll put you in contact with the artisan providing the treasure.
merry christmas, happy hanukkah, happy solstice, joyous new year, happy celebration of friends!
see ya after the post!