newspaper: [anotherchance4horses] RE: [FoalRescueFoundation] Some special thoughts from HFH- A rescue family

Oh Jen, this was wonderful... You sure know how to write the words to bring us right there into the experience with you...

You are right...Together we are strong... Together we can "move mountains"... And together, we can save more horses!!!

With Love and Respect,

Michelle

-----Original Message-----
From: FoalRescueFoundation@yahoogroups.com [mailto:FoalRescueFoundation@yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of jswan0415@aol.com
Sent: Friday, February 15, 2008 6:41 PM
To: FoalRescueFoundation@yahoogroups.com; FoalTeams@yahoogroups.com; floridaequineandmore@yahoogroups.com; NewEnglandEquineRescues@yahoogroups.com; EquineRescueScams@yahoogroups.com; anotherchance4horses@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [FoalRescueFoundation] Some special thoughts from HFH- A rescue family

The Home for the Holiday horses have been on my mind lately. I just cannot wait to get them all here. As they come down I look at them and remember. Today Savannah Jane and I spent some time together and she brought me back to the auction.

I guess once you experience it, it just never leaves you.

I remember the night before we left I could not sleep. Then I had to get up early. It was a HORRIBLE day I was so scattered and then at 4pm Camille left to go to Minnesota. As Alan and I pulled out I realized that Camille was flying and I had no idea what airline or anything. I has been so consumed I forgot to get the information and her father had made the reservations. So until about 10 pm when I finally heard from her I was just crying. Then finally as about 1 am we pulled into the BATES MOTEL. It was a horrible night. WE slept in out clothes on top of the beds and I would not even shower that morning. It was nasty.

We walked out of the room ant it was gray, cold and rainy. I thought to myself. Happy Freaking Thanksgiving. AS we passed cars loaded with people dressed up and packed up I knew they were all on their way to see loved ones and soon would be laughing, happy and together. Yep I was having a major pity party. About two hours into the trip I got a call from Kaitlyn, Tracy's daughter saying WHERE ARE YOU GUYS!!. They told us the exit to pull off at and THERE THEY WERE. I was so happy to see them..... I was with FAMILY..I smiled and we drove together the whole way. Kaitlyn and I were texting back and forth while Alan and Tracy were driving.. Not a normal Thanksgiving, but I was happy and laughing and with family...

Then we drove through an area I could not get service. When we got service back I had a message. It wasn't a voice I knew. The person on the other end of the phone was Carol and she left a message saying she did not know what are plans were but there was a warm Thanksgiving dinner waiting for us at her house if we had the time.. she said anytime we get in .. They would be there. I did not know her and she did not know me... I could feel my heart fill. I just broke into tears. That was so kind. You know the old saying "the kindness of strangers." Well, she sure isn't a stranger now she became part of this wonderful rescue family.

WEe arrived in Sugarcreek, exhausted and hungry. Dinner was at Denny's and The BED!!

We arrived early at the auction the next day. I was full of apprehension and very nervous. One woman was there by herself. I thought to myself, what a smart dresser, she looked at me and said Jen? It was Mary Hatheway, what a great lady, got me through the auction, gave me a sense of peace. Then I got to finally meet Diane, Ida and Rachel.... It was like they were long lost friends .. The standing outside I got to meet Carol, who was the stranger the day before welcoming us into her home for Thanksgiving dinner. Nervousness went right out the door. We were on a mission! I also got to meet Mary, Rachel's Mom who is wonderful. Then I met Lisa from Frog Pond Farms and her family. Very nice people. It was just a whirlwind of horses, then the reality of the number of horses that were there and the number that would need us set in.... we set out looking for shipping. We must have looked like a gang setting out for a rumble .. we were determined.

Aha... Rachel recognized someone.. We scurried and whispered and tried to figure out how to approach him ... and there we went. All of us. He was up in his cab looking down at us.. Asking how many horses, where are we going...question after question, talked about pricing, more questions, more talking and then ... THE QUESTION... He looked down at us and said. "Are you a rescue?" Tracy and I were standing in the back so I could see the back of everyone's head, looking up at him, no one said a word, no one knew what to say, what would he say, everyone thinking the same thing, should we lie, if we tell him will he not haul for us, no one said a word. It was the longest pregnant pause you have ever lived through. Then the words were said. "Yes we are a rescue"

As I looked at all of us standing together...united, together, supported not only by each other but all of you, we were strong, we were going to make a difference that day all of us near and far and for days to come...

WE ARE A RESCUE FAMILY!

Jen

Jennifer Swanson
Pure Thoughts Inc.
Horse & Foal Rescue
www.PTHR.org
19181 Capet Creek
Loxahatchee, FL 33470

Saving the life of a horse may not change the world...........
........but it will change that horse's world.

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