Parker
Well-Known Member
For once in my life, I don't have enough words to thank EVERYONE who has prayed for me, wished me well, made donations, and worked to help try and put me and the farm back on our feet again, after Hurricane Katrina. Your kindness and generosity will be carried with me always. I am in absolute awe of the miniature horse community worldwide, in what they have done for the horses, and my family!!!!!! Truly, I feel so inadequate in thanking all of you for your efforts in helping me get through Katrina. I can't thank you individually here, as there are so many of you.
The REX, & MONETTE, FREEMAN family, of WISTERIA FARM and their daughter KAITLIN, and friend AARON DAIGLE, spearheaded a rescue that was truly of epic proportions during such a dangerous time to even their own lives in coming to my rescue in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Much to my surprise and delight, came someone else in the CARAVAN OF MERCY, and that was KARIN SANTANGELO of NAKAR MINIATURES. Most of you know that Karin has suffered her own tragedy only a few short months ago, with the loss of her husband, Nat, How unselfish of all of them, to drop their lives and be fearless enough to come to my town, as there were killings over ice, yes ice, etc!!!!!!! A man got killed for his generators and gas, he was taking to help others in need. And another man got killed in the parking lot of Lowe's for the items and gas that he had. Not rumors, as many days later, read it in our newspaper. Their belief in GOD, along with your prayer vigil on the forum, saw them through.
The relentless mental and physical work that was put into THE CARAVAN OF MERCY is amazing and selfless on their part, besides the donations all of you so freely gave on my behalf. Thank goodness, they brought over 50 bags of horse feed, gas, generator, non perishable food for weeks, water so desperately needed, fencing, hardware, candles, soft drinks, personal items, and the list could go on and on. I have a small grocery store in my living room as I speak. I will never be able to probably do back for any of you personally, and I would hope you would never be in this situation or one similar to it. I feel very guilty about that. But, the way I see it, is GOD HAS HIS VERY OWN SPECIAL "RELAY RACE" , where we pass the torch of kindness and help, on to others we may not know, as you have done for me. And in turn, it comes back full circle to us, probably from people we may not know either, when we need a helping hand.
I have been blessed to have so many people helping in so many varied ways. I am also blessed in the fact, there were winds of up to 125 miles an hour with tin from the barn and projectiles flying at the same speed, and not one of the horses has a scratch on them and my house is still standing!!!!!!!! And I have a vehicle that didn't get a dent on it either! I am the very most grateful that the horses did not suffer some horrendous agonizing slow death. But, the rest of the farm looks like a nuclear blast went off right here at Seahorse Farm. Hundred year old gigantic oaks snapped in half all around the house and barn, and not one fell on either! Fences down, no electricity, no water for a while, hot as where the Devil lives, no gas to be found, no ice, feeling like you are the only one left alive on the planet and no communication---all the things we all take for granted and consider a necessity--gone. With that said, I am not complaining, just informing. Because once I did get to see what was going on outside of my farm, my heart just broke, at what happened on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and in New Orleans. The horror of what other people are going through, with no home, missing loved ones, bleak future, being removed to other states, no jobs, no money, no water and food for days and some dying in agony because of it---------well, let's just say, I am on my knees on a regular basis giving thanks. I have it easy, when I think of others!!!!!!
Again, let me say I appreciate all of you and everything you have done to help me. And a very special thank you to WISTERIA FARM, Monette Freeman, and to NAKAR farm, Karin Santangelo, who represented all of you and THE LORD ABOVE! I will pass THE TORCH on to others, in the same spirit you all have done for me.
Oh, and by the way, I don't have electricity, but do have a generator that Monette brought. It can be run, only so many hours, so I don't have the computer on 24/7. Just at select times. It may take months to try and get back with each of you to say hello, and a huge THANK YOU. I also had a wonderful stack of emails that came in with over one thousand one hundred and two other emails. You know the ones that are just spam. But, it will take time to reply to all who have written to inquire about me, so please don't think I am ignoring you on purpose, if it takes me a while to get back with each of you. It may be another two weeks before I get electricity or longer, and have full access to this computer. And I will be outside for at least a whole year, trying to pick up the debris Katrina left me for my birthday! Yes, I got Hurricane Katrina as my own special birthday present on August 29, 2005! I only had to wait 56 years, to get the biggest hurricane to strike the U.S. in memory, for my special birthday present. THANKFUL TO BE ALIVE AND FOR ALL OF YOU CARING SO MUCH!
With a very grateful heart,
Ann Simmons
SEAHORSE FARM
The REX, & MONETTE, FREEMAN family, of WISTERIA FARM and their daughter KAITLIN, and friend AARON DAIGLE, spearheaded a rescue that was truly of epic proportions during such a dangerous time to even their own lives in coming to my rescue in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Much to my surprise and delight, came someone else in the CARAVAN OF MERCY, and that was KARIN SANTANGELO of NAKAR MINIATURES. Most of you know that Karin has suffered her own tragedy only a few short months ago, with the loss of her husband, Nat, How unselfish of all of them, to drop their lives and be fearless enough to come to my town, as there were killings over ice, yes ice, etc!!!!!!! A man got killed for his generators and gas, he was taking to help others in need. And another man got killed in the parking lot of Lowe's for the items and gas that he had. Not rumors, as many days later, read it in our newspaper. Their belief in GOD, along with your prayer vigil on the forum, saw them through.
The relentless mental and physical work that was put into THE CARAVAN OF MERCY is amazing and selfless on their part, besides the donations all of you so freely gave on my behalf. Thank goodness, they brought over 50 bags of horse feed, gas, generator, non perishable food for weeks, water so desperately needed, fencing, hardware, candles, soft drinks, personal items, and the list could go on and on. I have a small grocery store in my living room as I speak. I will never be able to probably do back for any of you personally, and I would hope you would never be in this situation or one similar to it. I feel very guilty about that. But, the way I see it, is GOD HAS HIS VERY OWN SPECIAL "RELAY RACE" , where we pass the torch of kindness and help, on to others we may not know, as you have done for me. And in turn, it comes back full circle to us, probably from people we may not know either, when we need a helping hand.
I have been blessed to have so many people helping in so many varied ways. I am also blessed in the fact, there were winds of up to 125 miles an hour with tin from the barn and projectiles flying at the same speed, and not one of the horses has a scratch on them and my house is still standing!!!!!!!! And I have a vehicle that didn't get a dent on it either! I am the very most grateful that the horses did not suffer some horrendous agonizing slow death. But, the rest of the farm looks like a nuclear blast went off right here at Seahorse Farm. Hundred year old gigantic oaks snapped in half all around the house and barn, and not one fell on either! Fences down, no electricity, no water for a while, hot as where the Devil lives, no gas to be found, no ice, feeling like you are the only one left alive on the planet and no communication---all the things we all take for granted and consider a necessity--gone. With that said, I am not complaining, just informing. Because once I did get to see what was going on outside of my farm, my heart just broke, at what happened on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and in New Orleans. The horror of what other people are going through, with no home, missing loved ones, bleak future, being removed to other states, no jobs, no money, no water and food for days and some dying in agony because of it---------well, let's just say, I am on my knees on a regular basis giving thanks. I have it easy, when I think of others!!!!!!
Again, let me say I appreciate all of you and everything you have done to help me. And a very special thank you to WISTERIA FARM, Monette Freeman, and to NAKAR farm, Karin Santangelo, who represented all of you and THE LORD ABOVE! I will pass THE TORCH on to others, in the same spirit you all have done for me.
Oh, and by the way, I don't have electricity, but do have a generator that Monette brought. It can be run, only so many hours, so I don't have the computer on 24/7. Just at select times. It may take months to try and get back with each of you to say hello, and a huge THANK YOU. I also had a wonderful stack of emails that came in with over one thousand one hundred and two other emails. You know the ones that are just spam. But, it will take time to reply to all who have written to inquire about me, so please don't think I am ignoring you on purpose, if it takes me a while to get back with each of you. It may be another two weeks before I get electricity or longer, and have full access to this computer. And I will be outside for at least a whole year, trying to pick up the debris Katrina left me for my birthday! Yes, I got Hurricane Katrina as my own special birthday present on August 29, 2005! I only had to wait 56 years, to get the biggest hurricane to strike the U.S. in memory, for my special birthday present. THANKFUL TO BE ALIVE AND FOR ALL OF YOU CARING SO MUCH!
With a very grateful heart,
Ann Simmons
SEAHORSE FARM