Thank You Donna

[Dave]

You might have noticed our moderator Donna has been MIA for a little while now. Today, I received a message from her saying she is stepping down as super mod due to time constraints.

Donna has been one of our longest-standing staff members, joining our staff back in October 2006! Throughout her time as moderator, she has helped to bring this community to a new level.

I'd like to thank her for her time here, and I wish her well wherever her life takes her. :)

Thank you Donna.

(As a side note, some staff additions will be made shortly. These additions will fill in our new vacancies and will cover other areas aside from the normal moderator positions.)

[stacey101]

Awn we will miss you Donna! you did a great job! And i hope you can visit soon :o Hope all is well in the future!

Cant wait to see the new mods!

[AngelWings]

Aww Donna i'm sorry :( *hugs* you did a wonderful job in the forum!
Don't forget to sign in once in a while and let us know how you have been doing! :)

[ronsig]

Donna was the one who welcomed me to the forum when I joined in 2006.
I still remember that:)

@Donna: Too bad you cannot be super moderator any more. But I hope you will remain a member at TB:)

http://www.smilies.4-user.de/include/Schilder/smilie_t_006.gif

Sigrid

[Ki-Ki101]

Yeah! Thanks for everything you have done for us! Please sign in to tell us how your doing and what your doing! Thanks for being awesome!

[helloyo53]

Donna, I have never met you:(

But looking back on old posts (I do that a lot) you seemed like such a great person here. You were such a knowledgeable, friendly person here, and it is sad to see you go.

Good luck in the future:)
Can't wait who the new moderators will be.

[Bethany]

You were a great mod Donna!:)

I hope you visit often!

[BUUZBEE]

aww Donna... i'll missya!!!

dave, your staff are dropping like flies, what are you feeding them in the staff forum??? lol ;)

[AngelWings]

dave, your staff are dropping like flies, what are you feeding them in the staff forum??? lol ;)

LOL!! Anna this made my day :p i was just wondering the same thing... but i can't help but be so curious who this new mod may be.. i do have a couple of guesses though okay more like 6 guesses :o but i mean with 6 guesses i'm sure i have a high chance of getting it right :D

[Dave]

aww Donna... i'll missya!!!

dave, your staff are dropping like flies, what are you feeding them in the staff forum??? lol ;)
By the end of the week we should be up in the number of staff members. :D

[Pippin's mom]

Donna~
You haven't been able to be here much lately, but you will never be forgotten! We love you and miss you!:D Please visit when you can!

[critter mom]

Donna you will be missed. Hope you keep in touch.

[pipin_barb]

donna! well i remember her! i joined in 2006 too! the forum has grown so much. :D

[ozzie]

I remember her slightly, she will be greatly missed! I can't wait to see who the new mods are, I've already got my guesses :)

[clifff123]

Hi Donna, you will be greatly missed by all.
Its been my pleasure having you as a friend and please drop in every so often to say hi.
Your friend always Cliff

[BeckiC]

Aww Donna, hope you can still pop in and say hi sometimes. I can remember seeing you around when I first joined too.
Thanks for doing such a great job!

[Robin's Nest]

Thank you for paving the way and all that you've done, Donna! I hope we see you around from time to time! Good luck in all your future endeavors! :)

[Rebeccaveggie]

I never knew you liek the older members did, but from old posts you seem like a wonderful person. Im sure you will be missed. :)

[keet_tweet4]

Goodbye Donna!! I remember you when I first joined, you were still an active member and a mod. I think you welcomed me to the site and stuff. You haven't been online lately but we will all miss you! Best of luck in the future!

[louara]

Best of luck to you Donna:) Don't forget us.

[BUUZBEE]

aww Donna... i'll missya!!!

dave, your staff are dropping like flies, what are you feeding them in the staff forum??? lol ;)

hopefully kristin (babycakes) will be more active. she hasnt been on in a month, not really ideal for a mod on an active forum like this is. So hopefully your new mod will be on a lot

[pal0m1n0]

Donna, I know it is hard to leave a community you have been an active part of, and I am sure you made the decision with the same care and wisdom you applied as a moderator. I hope everything works out and that you find you are once again in a position to be an active member here. All the best for your future.

[Donna]

Thank you EVERYONE for your kind words. Of course you know it made me cry when I read all of the wonderful comments.

I have felt bad for quite some time, not being able to commit to my position of Super Moderator, as I should. There have been many times I felt I should step down, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. At present, I almost feel like a stranger. So many people I knew, are no longer here, and there are many new members I've never met. This has been a wonderful experience for me, and one I shall never forget. Until I joined Talk Budgies, I had never been on a forum before, let alone held a Moderating position. I have met so many dear friends here, and enjoyed being a part of their lives. This community is like family to me, and I feel like I know so many of you personally.

The past couple of years have been so hard for me and no one here except Staff has really been aware of the struggles I've faced. Just to touch on things briefly, my 2 teenage Sons ran away from home 2 yrs. ago (at age 16) and never returned. Thankfully, one did stay in High School and graduate, but the other didn't. He became troubled from losing his best friend to death on HIS skateboard and not being able to deal with it, he turned to drugs. He was missing for 6 months and we didn't know where he was or if he was even alive.

I lost my Father 5 yrs. ago to Lou Gehrig's. I was just telling my Mother (via e-mail) that I really was struggling with missing him. Mom wrote back with a comforting message, but little did I know, Mom would die SUDDENLY less than a week later. Oh how I miss her - she was my BEST friend. Mom died 5 yrs. and 2 days after Dad. Her funeral ended up being on her and Dad's Wedding Anniversary. (5 days before Christmas, 2008) Thankfully my Son that was missing, got a hold of us 5 days before Mom died so we were able to tell him and he could attend Mom's funeral.

Our Son that graduated from High School is now halfway through Basic Training in the Army. Our other Son joined the Army also, and he will be leaving June 2nd. He will be getting his GED first, and then he will go on to Basic Training. He is commited to 6 yrs.

I have lost a few dear friends to death since Mom died in December, and I have a close friend right now that only has a couple of weeks to live.

As of now, I feel like I'm finally seeing some light at the end of the tunnel, and I have been focusing on trying to take care of myself, healthwise. (I have lost 67 pounds this year, have been exercising 6 days a week, and am making healthy choices when it comes to eating.) Only 18 more pounds to go to reach my goal. :)

I didn't plan on writing so much, but just felt I owed it to everyone, to explain why I've been gone, uninvolved, and am stepping down from my position as Super Moderator. It's not that I didn't want to be here, I just couldn't emotionally handle it.

Take care everyone, and know that you are loved. :D

A Friend Always,
Donna

[AngelWings]

Donna, i'm so sorry you had to go through this :( I can't even begin to imagine how hard it all must have been for you. I know that we don't know each other at all but i've always seen your posts around and you have always given off this warmness from your posts and it didn't matter if you knew them or not, your posts have touched many of us here on TB.

[Pippin's mom]

Donna that is a lot to deal with! You are in my thoughts and prayers! (((HuGs)))

[Wonderbird]

Hi Donna! I'm sorry to see you go! But I understand why. You've been through a LOT and you deserve a break. I do hope you will come and hang out from time to time when it's convenient for you.

Are your sons identical? Congrats on the weight loss! Good for you. ;) I lost my mom in 2004 and she was my best friend too. FWIW I don't feel that you owe anyone an explanation. But I am glad that you shared. I feel like I know you better now. So come back!

[Budgietom]

By the end of the week we should be up in the number of staff members. :D

Replenish the stock :p

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Oh Donna :( :( :(

I am so sorry. I have known of your struggles. It must be so hard to deal with. You have been through so much, but you've come out a stronger woman because of it :) I am so proud of you, you are so strong.

You were one of my first friends when I joined this forum :) I will never forget the hospitality you have shown me, and I hope to repay it one day. You are an iconic member on all accounts :) You have so much love for this forum, I see it everytime I read one of your posts. The depth, the care, the love that you put into each and everyone of your posts is amazing.

But I know this isn't the end. I know I'll be seeing more you on the forums ;)

[Pippin's mom]

See Donna.:) Phillip certainly used the right adjectives to describe the kind of person you are..
Loving and caring. So glad we'll still have your company!:)

[Donna]

You guys sure know how to make a person feel special. I don't quite know how to handle all of the flattering comments, but I just want you to know that you've made a big difference in my life - and for that I am thankful.

Donna ;)

[aka.pody]

You guys sure know how to make a person feel special. I don't quite know how to handle all of the flattering comments, but I just want you to know that you've made a big difference in my life - and for that I am thankful.

Donna ;)

It's funny that you mention the difference it's made in your life because I've felt that way many times. Isn't it odd how people across the borders that we've never seen can affect our lives.
One of those great mysteries of life I guess. :)