Here comes the New Year!

 Welcome to a New Year - 2024!

Wow!!

I will be turning 60 this year. Crazy thinking about where all the time has gone.

All the memories, all the peoples and pets.... So many loved ones have already passed on. It's getting to the age of wonder as to 'how many' years one self has left?

Looking back at all that has happened, both good and bad. Thinking about the dreams we once had and how things 'really' turned out. Is this the life you planned? I wonder how many can say, YES, this is what I wanted and how I wanted my life to turn out.

Christmas is the time to remember and think about the past and all the wonderful blessings and miracles one has had in life. The New Year is a time to look forward, to dream, to hope to plan on what you want to accomplish in the coming year. 

This is part of why I un=Christmas, the day after Christmas. The house is clean and fresh and ready for a new beginning. Papa had to do most of the work this year, I just kind of packed and pointed. He had to do all the climbing, lifting bending, mopping... I so appreciated the help.

This year my back was in critical pain.... I managed to sit up and hold back the tears while the kids were here. Sadly, I was glad everyone kept the visits short so I could lay back down. I get to see the back doctor in January, and I got to tell you this has been the longest most painful wait ever!!!!!

Papa reminded me of how it seems every Christmas, I have something going wrong to make the holidays a challenge. Wrecking my truck was in December. I've ruptured tendons in my heel in December, had super bad tooth aches, in December..... and now my back...

Thankfully I have a new seating arrangement that helps support my back so I can get some sleep without too much pain.

UPCOMING EVENTS ~ 

The house goes up for sale in the new year. Things are going to be changing. We have a few ideas for the 'where are you going'? location. We will see which plan works out. A lot of prayer has gone into this one. I do believe God is leading us in the direction that will make life better. For all involved. IF plan A works out, you'll be surprized where we end up! 

Blessed by God

Life's good @ the Bright side of the Barn

Thanks for stopping by

Until next time, Stay Safe and Happy Trails

My Therapist

I've had a couple heart/stroke - related incidents, so a few memories are incomplete as far as specifics. But it's been about 10 years since.... 

Life hit a rough spot, in many ways. Some of my kids crushed me and broke my heart. Mind you my heart has been breaking for years over one of my children. Then a grandchild added to the pain. When this last series of events happened with some of the others 

- it was too much.

I bought 2 horses. They saved me when there were no humans to turn too. The horses brought me back to who I was, rather than being stuck with who I had become.

One has since passed the other still with me. She's been my rock. This will be our   9th Christmas together. Finances are tight so I don't have the gas every day to go see her and bring her lunch. I'm hoping things will get better in the new year. 

Technically my therapy costs $300 a month and the insurance doesn't pay for this one. We accept donations to help. I have one sponsor that gives a little every month to help cover her costs. I would love to find a sponsor to cover her farrier appointments. We've had to get a new farrier, since ours has passed {Or at least gone missing}. The bill has went up to $70 every 8-10 weeks. 

Sponsors can sign up here 

StarBright knows the car when it's coming down the road. The daily connection we have is what keeps me going. She knows me better than any human. I think she understands me better too. 

Blessed by God

Life's good @ the Bright side of the Barn

Thanks for Stopping By

Until next time, Stay Safe and Happy Trails.

Last Minute - Unique Gifts

 There is still time depending on how far away you are.. 

If your looking for the perfect gift. 

Something that is One of a kind,  

you don't find just anywhere?

Check out our ~~

Mugs $10

Coasters    $5 each mix and match

Shot Glasses    Small 2/$10 Large 2/$14

Canvas's and Prints   Prices vary by size

Check out all the products available @

Timbers Photography.com

and still open for custom orders, again depending on how far away you are, to make it by Christmas.

$5.00 Local delivery - free Pick up always available.

Blessed by God

Life's good @ the Bright side of the Barn

Thanks for stopping by

Until next time, Stay Safe and Happy Trails.

59 Christmas's

 Looking back, it's hard to say which was the best or which was the worst. They were all unique and original in their own ways. It's been a hard time of year for me, I've managed to overcome most of the dark and replace it with lighter happier memories. 

We decorate Thanksgiving weekend - so I'm ready to take it down the day after Christmas. Once the kids had all the new things, it was time to get ready for the New Year.  So, the day after Christmas was 'make it clean make it fresh. 

 In with the new and out with the old. I Drove everyone crazy!

 We have had to move many times, not something I wanted. Something I had to do, because there was someone causing problems in my life that were life threatening. 

My kids never got to feel like they were HOME. Neither did I for that matter. I'm currently looking to move again because of the same threatening situation. It wasn't the life I planned nor was it what I ever wanted. It was what I had to survive and what they had to endure. I always tried to make the best of it. I hope they understand someday, rather than blame me for what life was. 

It was always the being together than mattered for me. I never could sleep well when my little ones were out of the house. Holidays were complicated with the divided families and divorce. It was having them with me that brought me joy, and still does to this day.

Being a single mom with 4 was hard. Money was always tight, and we didn't get child support financially, physically or emotionally. So, I was mom, dad, and every other entity that resembled family. We were alone in this country, I only had 1 brother that lived nearby. Never a big happy family holiday, just us and maybe a few friends. We missed out on all 'family events', birthdays, weddings, reunions, we were even excluded from funerals.  Like I said, just us. 

Holidays were just us and my roommate. I never minded the years of not getting anything for Christmas, I was happy to see them happy getting the things they wished for. I was grateful for all the help I would receive over the holidays, to be able to provide them with a 'good Christmas'. 

A good meal and plenty of toys and clothes. 

Remember, I had to buy and make up for an entire family that wasn't doing for them. 

They are all grown up now. I've watched as my grandchildren are growing up into fine young adults. My great grandchildren are amazing and seem to grow even faster than children or grandchildren! Thankfully, I have so many photos to sort through, or I might have missed something! 

You see,

My tree this year is filled with ceramic ornaments of pictures of the family throughout the years. I bought Amazon out on the round ornaments and had to get the ovals. They are pretty too - but - by next Christmas, there should be about another 40 or so more pictures! Hopefully on the round rather than the ovals.

I've reached the age where many of my friends are losing their mates, spending this Christmas on their own. They were blessed to have someone share the years with them, making memories, living in maybe one or two different places.  Having the big family holidays and celebrations.

This is a hard year for many of us older folks. One of my brothers passed near my birthday this fall. It's the first Christmas without him. 

It means something different the older you get. The magic is still there, the joy and the wonderful feeling inside - it doesn't matter how well off or broke we were, and still are. I've loved the magic of Christmas.  Some years were quite painful, others were truly blessed. But the magic, the warmth and the feeling of Christmas was always there Christmas morning.

59 Christmas's ~ All I want is 59 more! 

Blessed by God 

Life's good @ the Bright side of the Barn

Thanks for stopping by

Until next time, Stay Safe and Happy Trails.

Catch up time.

 It's been a bit crazy lately. Papa was supposed to go to Canada and see his mom but his brother-in-law ended up in the hospital, they all had to cancel the trip, so his sister could take care of her family. We cancelled the event this weekend because he was going and ended up at home all weekend. 

 On the plus side, I got to enjoy my 2 youngest granddaughters for the weekend.  Other than being up all-night last night with one of them not feeling well. At least it's quiet here and she was able to rest. Rain... oh my has it ever been raining! One day it's super cold then the next it's 'not so bad'.... Almost thought it was going to turn into snow the other day, things got a bit slushy for a few minutes. 

 The idea of getting a puppy for Christmas went downhill with the mountain pass being horrible this year. I don't have snow tires or chains and there have been massive multi car pile ups. Even the big boys have been not handling it well.  Pass has been closed days at a time. So, there is no way for me to get to where the puppy is. Dang it anyway he is soooo freaking cute.. 

 Seems Papa has been having more pains in his left side now since the last procedure. One spot feels better then next starts hurting, poor guy can't get a break. He has more appointments coming up, so hopefully we will find something out soon. He did manage to gain a couple pounds and has so far kept it on. Still have about 30 pounds to go before he reaches what he 'should' weigh. 

 

 I'm pretty much done and ready for Christmas!! Ornaments and cups for all the kids. Just need to get the grandkids something now. I don't want to add to the massive clutter they all have in their rooms so I'm trying to find something that isn't a 'thing'. lol This shall be fun! Wish me luck. I hope it doesn't end up being 'gift cards' although, that does seem to be the 'wish'. I think it's so they can buy things in their games? At least it wouldn't add clutter to the rooms. 

 I'm really exhausted tonight.  Too tired to actually sleep and too tired to think.  So I should probably go find a Christmas movie to watch, maybe I can fall asleep to the TV.  I hope you had a wonderful weekend and may the joy of Christmas fill your house and your heart. 

Blessed by God

Life's Good @ the Bright side of the Barn

Thanks for Stopping by

Until next time, Stay Safe and Happy Trails.

Christmas in Heaven

 

December has arrived!!

 

I honestly don't know how things have gone so well so far other than being blessed by God repeatedly. I felt very blessed and brought tears to my eyes when I looked at the power bill for the month, as a new bill is coming soon, and I wanted to start planning ... 

Someone, don't know just who {I have my suspicions and thank you so much} paid $1,000 towards the power bill, leaving him with a credit rather than a bill. I am so thankful! He struggles more than a normal person, when bills get piled up. Any amount of relief is a great reward for his health. His rent is caught up to December, so there is still a need but no 'past due balances' looming overhead. So many other bills falling behind....  

We were hoping holiday events would have helped bridge the gap, but being in the mall didn't work out so well. Schools and church holiday bazaars were fantastic! We did the business justice. At the mall ... dark forces prevail. No Christmas music, no decorations... Coffins, skulls anything black - yes - even at Christmas. It looked much more like Halloween than Christmas type vendors and the way all the people dressed I thought 9 out of 10 were still wearing costumes from Halloween.

We had 1 more event at the mall but something has come up with his mom and a trip is being made for him to go be with her for a couple days. Unfortunately, the date he needs to be there is the same Friday before the event. So the decision was made to cancel the event and him go to see his mom. She is in her 80's and has dementia sadly it won't be long and she won't even know him. 

That leaves us with a large amount of ready to go Gift Products available. Ready to go for online shopping!  I did some sizing up with boxes and I can get most items into 'flat rate shipping boxes' which will help keep costs down on shipping and make charges easier to calculate. 2 boxes of shot glasses ships for $6.95 for example. 

Custom orders and open house! I will be busy working on the gifts we have planned for our own family as well as taking in orders. New supplies are on the way., some things won't be here for about a week or two.  Colored mugs are being discontinued, all mugs will be white with imaging. Still safe and non toxic as well as dishwasher safe! Tshirts are discontinued.  And I think the candle jars will be as well. They look so pretty when they are lit but you don't want a bunch of lit candles at an event NO, NO, NO.  So they don't get to 'shine' like they should on a display.

God knows our hearts, He knows the needs. God knows we try.  My family has been so blessed this year with many good things happening, for each of the kids in their own lives. Now, we are praying for answers for Tim this coming year. He has been doing a bit better with being retired, getting more rest and eating healthier. However, his weight is still dropping at an alarming rate and he can't seem to get any of it back. Other issues are stable, not having as many ups and downs.

Life is challenging sometimes, 

Just remember..... Breathe and take it ~ One day at a time.... 

Blessed by God

Life's good @ the Bright side of the Barn 

Thanks for stopping by

Until next time, Stay Safe and Happy Trails.