LOL I hit submit too soon and didn't have time to "edit'.


I just wanted to add that I hope that EVERY member who wants to participate do so at the level they feel comfortable participating. Those who like to make lists and do hint threads should have a ball doing that..... and those who don't should also be welcomed to participate as long as they adherre to the GE guidelines setforth by Admin.

Great posts chattiesmom! :goodpost: I want to second what you said! Reading through everyone's responses left me feeling encouraged, so much so that I signed Zoë up for the GE! Like you said, I just hope that whoever we get knows that I had fun putting everything together and I hope they enjoy it and appreciate that if nothing else a lot of love was put in to it! :)

you should not feel this way at all as there are alot of things you can do for people who have don't lists and maybe if someone has a sick baby as i have two and deal with ibd, pancreatitis, allergies, mvd and hypothyroid they would understand more so just as i do when someone has a don't list. I think you should definitely join as it is a lot of fun and i am never offended by don't and do lists and would feel bad that someone who has a dog with health issues such as mine do cannot join in a fun part of having their yorkie. This has definitely taken the pressure off of me with mine and i refuse to not join just because my dog has health issues and has do's and don't for them as that is not right as this is alot of fun and for people who deal with sick yorkies it adds some laughter and fun into the day to day health issues we deal with. I think those that have dogs with health issues can better understand that I think.

If you do not want to read the posts then you can go into the picture section, sick and health section, etc and not just new posts or pm admin to remove you from exchange posts as stated by admin. Why ruin it for the people who do hint threads and have alot of fun with it during the exchange as that is part of the fun of the exchange. Glad admin has an option for those individuals.

good for you as you will have a lot of fun as we always do :)

Thanks! That's what I'm hoping! :woof: (We're really excited!)

I am glad that I started this thread. Yes, there were some not-so-nice comments, but I'm a big girl and can take it. We ALL have opinions and should be allowed to express them regardless of whether or not we have done this or done that. I think that there are very constructive comments on this thread and if anything, it has let everyone see different sides to this. Like I said before- I have absolutely no qualms with the don't in relation to health issues. We too deal with food intolerances and allergies. They are not fun and it is very important to stay on a strict diet. For those of you who have long lists of dont buy's in regards to health concerns, I say for all means post them!

I am still considering joining, and hope that the gift exchange will maybe be re-focused on the giving part instead of the recieving. I know I was excited to join, and already had a plan for exactly what I was going to purchase for my SB. But then when I went through the sign-ups and I did get frustrated because I felt like I was being told what to buy.

Soooooooooooo. What I have learned from this thread: Buy what you want to buy and be thankful for whatever you recieve, eh? ;)

:goodpost: I sincerely hope that I see your name when I sign up late late tonight or in the wee morning hours. I agree with you 100%. I have always focused on the giving and have been grateful for all of the gifts that I have received.

I don't want you to spoil the surprise, and maybe I'm not all that imaginative, but what gift would be perfect for every single yorkie in GE? I don't want to start this whole debate all over again, but just as people shouldn't be rigid in what they expect to get, it would be a shame if someone buys a gift with no thought about who they are giving it to. I mean, I could buy a bunch of bows and send them to a dog that doesn't wear them, and expect them to be grateful that I sent anything at all... but that doesn't seem to be in the spirit of giving.

...WOW

There are several members who participate in the GE and have gifts already bought months before. They send great boxes too.

Sheesh, I'm just asking. Please help me in my ignorance, what have some of those gifts been?

In the spirit of receiving, please understand that most of us have signed up for the GE with the intent to purchase items that our buddies will enjoy. There are a lot of gifts that are fairly generic - blankets, bows, etc. and I cannot imagine a gracious member not being happy with a gift sent "from the heart" as long as it fulfills the requirements set forth by Admin :) .

I, hope that we can focus on the GIVING - that each member can be allowed to GIVE according to their budget, and shop according to their style and time constraints. I have a huge box of brand new goodies that I purchase when I find "good deals" and I will be doing a lot of shopping from my own personal Treasure Chest.

I have participated in 7 or 8 GE's maybe more and this has always been my style. I have yet to have a receipent that wasn't THRILLED with the gift they received from me.

Add me to this list. I have most of my shopping done - I have several boxes of BRAND NEW ITEMS that I purchase and stash away for the sole purpose of giving ......

Never mind.. I give up. You guys will have a great time though and I will look forward to seeing all of your surprises.

That makes perfect sense to me. Way beyond my planning abilities, so my hat is off to you. :) I'm sure your gifts have been lovely.

Maybe I misunderstood, but presumably you are still looking through your box of goodies with an eye on the actual yorkie in question, not just saying "I'm sending bows and that's that."

At the risk of sounding rude, why can't we just have faith and believe in our fellow members that they will "do the right thing" with the gift exchange and not question. Let's maintain a positive attitude and ass/u/me that everyone who signed up did so to have fun and participate at a level they feel comfortable with.