A Grateful Heart and Mark’s Process of Healing
I want to thank everyone who has helped us during this difficult time—with prayer, meals, animal care, financially and with your encouraging words of support. The response to our needs has been overwhelming and more than I could have imagined. Thank you….
Since Mark’s stroke on December 11th he’s been in intensive care (for 3 days), then in the hospital wing for another week, then rehab at the Peace Health South Campus for nearly 20 days. He was finally able to come home on January 8th. Since then, we’ve been busy with doctor appointments, in-home rehab, nursing visits and adjusting to a new way of life. He is slowly improving and we’re hoping for a near full recovery.
Now, it’s time to move forward and embrace a new way of life. I’ve really slid backwards with all the magazine side of things. My role is mostly sales and production. Mark did so much that it’s been a bit of a challenge taking on his job as well. It makes me appreciate all he did. My only advice to others through this experience is to have a back- up plan of some sort. It would have made this much easier.
On a positive note, the horses came home last week and this was truly life giving for me. Taking care of them sustains me and grounds me. I never realized how necessary they are are to my happiness. I have much to be thankful for and am blessed with family and friends.
We are planning to attend the Washington State Horse Expo February 20-22nd and the Northwest Horse Fair & Expo March 20-22nd. It will be nice to get away and see familiar faces again. Please stop by our booth and say hi. I would like to thank as many of you personally as I can for the ways you’ve helped lighten the load.
Remember; enjoy each day and every possible moment. With all the recent chaos, I really savor quiet time and simple pleasures. And, I look forward to being back in the saddle again and soaking in all the enjoyment that comes from owning a horse.
Quote: “Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Owner/Publisher Karen’s lifelong love of horses began at a very early age when she wore out a couple of rocking horses before convincing her parents to get her the real thing. That ill-tempered bay gelding, Brandy, was a challenge for the young horsewoman, but it drove her ambition to become a horse trainer. After attending Canyonview Equestrian College’s Horsemanship Program, Karen realized she needed work that was a little more lucrative than training, so she took a job with Customs Brokerage to pay the bills. There, she discovered an affinity for computers and a talent for creating informative, entertaining newsletters. The Northwest Horse Source began as such a letter in December 1995, with a distribution of 1000 copies for its 12 black and white pages. Now 25 years later, it’s an online magazine and website with a reach of over 10,000 per month and growing! Not bad for the results of one woman’s dream to work with horses!
Today, Karen remains involved with every aspect of the magazine and treasures the community of thousands who share a common passion. Now excited to start a version of her original magazine in Colorado!