As a registered nurse at the Sultan Clinic, I never dreamed that I would one day be the one receiving help from my community. On Dec. 6, my husband received a call at work that there was a fire at our house. He came home to find not only a fire, but an inferno, being fought by the Monroe, Sultan and Gold Bar fire departments, the Snohomish County PUD, neighbors and the Sultan Police. Gary Fleming, Brett Tuggle and Keith Estes were the first of the neighbors to arrive and much credit goes to them for saving our home from complete destruction and getting our 100 some animals to safety.

Thanks to the Sultan police officer who steadily hosed down the wood shed to protect the animals, the PUD gentlemen who took necessary steps to ensure the electricity could be restored to the home and slipped my husband the money that bought us dinner that night. And of course, the men and women firefighters, whose courage and strength was that of a million in our eyes.

Since then, so many have given in kind, time and treasure to us in this time of loss. Especially those employed at Gold Bar Family Grocer. It is this giving spirit that proves there are still miracles even in difficult times. It opened us to realize the gifts to be cherished are not those that we can hold, but are of the ones of love and caring from those around us. Thank you each and every one for making our holidays the best ever.

Thank you and Merry Christmas to all.

CARRIE &OLIVER CULVER CARROLL

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