It has been a tough couple of years losing my mother in 2018 and then my boyfriend Jack in 2019 a year apart at Christmas. Thankfully through my church family and my blood family they pulled me through and I am doing much better although I still have my moments of tears. I think it is true what they say about things get better with time but I do not believe that time heals your wounds. I believe that you learn to live with the pain as time passes and it does not control your life as much it does when it first appears. I have lost my entire immediate family and my sweetheart but I still have a wonderful son and his family and several aunts and uncles and nieces that care about me. I have my cat Sandy who is spoiled rotten so she is my company most of the time. I write about her often on my author face book page and post photos of her also. She is one lazy, fat diva cat but I love her. Hopefully I will be able to start another book in a few weeks. I am now working for Better Horses Media and am thrilled about the opportunity to write for their newspaper and to promote advertising along with other duties. Ernie Rodina is the president and along with his pretty wife, Connie, they are a wonderful Christian couple who have made my life better each day. I enjoy writing articles for their paper and am learning something new about the television and radio aspects also. Better Horses is on RFD-TV, Sirius Radio and there is a Better Horses paper that comes out 6 times per year. You can check them out online. I hope you all have a wonderful spring and Happy Easter!
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This has been a very hard winter for me. I have lost so many people that I care about this fall and winter but on December the 4th I lost my mother. Now I have no more parents, no sibling and I have been feeling very lonely. The one positive that has come out of all of this is that I have been writing poetry like never before. Some sad, some heartfelt and some religious but it has been pouring out of me so I thought I would put a few of them on my blog. The winter months this year have been bitterly cold with snow and freezing rain. The winters in Kansas are not usually this brutal and I am also trying to sell my home. Snow, ice and mud do not make for a good scenario when one is trying to bring out the best qualities of their residence so it will appeal to others. I will manage, I always do, but I wanted to let all that read my blog, though they have been few and far between lately, that I have not forgotten you and once I am relocated I will try and do better. Taking care of my mom was not a burden it was a blessing. I spent almost everyday with her and when I wasn't taking her shopping or on an outing I called her at least six times per day. It is difficult, to say the least, not to have that always listening ear for me to talk to anytime I feel the need. So many times a day I pick up the phone to tell mom something only to remember that she is never going to answer. I do talk to her though and although she doesn't talk back I am sure that she still hears me. So to all of you that don't take the time from your busy lives for your elderly parents, please, take the time. They were always there for you and you will sure miss them when they are gone. I know that I will be with my family again when I cross over but until then, Dad, Mom and Sister, I miss you more than you will ever know.
Here is a sampling of the poems that I wrote, have a wonderful day and remember that someone needs and loves you. The Light By: Barbara Sue Sweetwood 10/29/2018 I've spent my life most all of it, searching for a light Something that could bring me peace or comfort me at night. I've followed many paths in life some crooked and some straight Looking desperately for the door that would help me learn my fate. Then one night while I was home I decided on a choice I knelt down humbly on my knees and prayed in quiet voice. "Please Dear Lord, please help me, to make a brand new start" And that my friends was all it took to have Jesus in my heart. I finally found my answer and now I do feel whole For anyone can find their peace with Jesus in their soul. So if you feel unhappy and your life feels incomplete Just bow your head and clasp your hands and these words you can repeat. "I know I am a sinner and I pray that you'll forgive because I know you died for me so Lord, that I could live." Christmas Story Barbara Sue Sweetwood 11/19/2018 T'was the night before Christmas In our little town There was music and laughter and joy all around. The candles were lit in each and every row And it brightened our church with a sweet loving glow. The pastor was telling of our Lord Jesus' birth How He brought peace and faith to the people on earth. She told of the manager where our Savior did lay Among cattle and sheep in the warmth of the hay. Where the three wise men came to be by His side By following a star that they used for a guide. They brought Him incense, gold and myrrh And Mary thanked them all as they laid them by her. They fell to their knees as He lie in His bed and they noticed a halo around his sweet head. "This surely must be the Christ child," they'd say And we know that He was to this very day. He preached to His people when He grew to a man but was scorned and belittled across the great land. But His Father He knew that to save everyone He would have to sacrifice His only Son. So the people they took Him and on a cross He did die And our sins were forgiven in the blink of an eye. So remember this story to tell each girl and boy So they will know the true meaning of each year's Christmas joy. Pieces of my heart Barbara Sue Sweetwood 12/26/18 Picking up the pieces and searching for the glue Wondering how I'll manage whatever will I ever do? Not knowing where to turn or which way I am going As the years keep racing by and my mind is ever slowing. Praying for an answer, a hint of any kind Hoping that the Lord above will please send me a sign. I'm lost and I'm scared and I feel so all alone My heart is so empty and my house is not a home. The quiet is so deafening not a sound can be heard I long to hear their voices just one sweet spoken word. I know the time has come for me to make a brand new start But I cannot offer any love with this scar across my heart. The Carpenter By: Barbara Sue Sweetwood 9/8/2018 With his tool pouch on his hip and a hammer in his hand the carpenter leaves his legacy all across the land. He can take a pile of lumber wherever he may roam and turn it into something that you can call a home. He works in every season winter, summer, spring or fall and is always there to make repairs when he receives the call. The summer heat may cook him but you'll never see him fail he will work a full day everyday in heat or sleet or hail. With a pencil stuck behind his ear he snaps his chalk line true with perfect angles he will build whatever you want him to. One day the time will come when he lays his hammer down but still he sees all the good he built in his hometown. Jesus was a carpenter and He became our Lord, and it all became possible with some nails and just a board. My Mother December 5, 2018 My mother had amazing faith and she had it from the start, keeping God and His Son close inside her heart. There was only one man she ever loved and did so all her life, and she was so proud and happy to be chosen as his wife. She had two nurturing hands that were soft but also strong, teaching both her daughters what was right and what was wrong. She was married to my father for almost sixty six loving years, and the day my father passed away she cried a river of tears. I cared for her and shared with her for the six years that he's gone and I wonder if my heart will heal so I can carry on. My mom and dad and sister are all waiting for me now I know what I must do because mom, you taught me how. Written with all my heart from your loving daughter, Barbara Sue Sweetwood (Susie) PS This was the poem that I wrote for her funeral service. It was on the pamphlets that they pass out about her life. I have not been on my blog for some time and I apologize. It seems life and books get in the way. I spend a lot of my time these days looking after my 90 year old mother and I feel blessed to still have her in my life. I spend as much time as I can with her. I am also writing a new book entitled Annie Gavin. It is about a young girl who runs away from an abusive orphanage in Abilene, Kansas. I am about a third of the way finished with it and I really like her character. She has a zest for life and is not afraid to take a risk, kind of like me!
I had several book shows in October and did quite well. I had a fabulous Thanksgiving with my family and Santa spoiled me rotten at Christmas time. I am not a winter person so when the weather is cold or snowing or raining ice like today I pretty much hibernate. I would like to have my new book finished sometime this spring so I better get busy on it. I get excited this time of the year when I see a robin in my front yard or the temperature jets up to 60 degrees. I can hardly wait for spring and then summer to get here. The smell of freshly cut grass and the aroma of steaks cooking on the grill send me in a tizzy. It won't be long before it all happens again and I for one am more than ready. Please check out my face book page at www.facebook.com/barbarasuesweetwoodbooks. (I think that is right!) You can also find my books on the home page here or on any reputable online retail site where they sell books. Of course, they are always available at Auburn Pharmacy in Wellsville, KS at The Ground House Coffee Shop in Gardner, KS and at the Cornerstone Christian Book Store in Ottawa, KS. Have a warm rest of your winter and I'll be back in the spring, until then, Saddle Up 'cause life is short! Barbara Sue I'm proud to announce that I have completed my new book The Dusty Trail. It is a book about a young couple that have decided to follow their dreams and head to Texas to start a new life. They joined the wagon train that followed the Santa Fe Trail from their home in St. Louis, Missouri. On their way they discover hardships and tragedy but also find a young boy that needs the love of a family. It is a fictional story as all of my writings are but it is based on historical fact. I have submitted it for review and it should be ready for publication very soon. It will be in paperback version as well as Kindle. I hope you enjoy it as I always write for the pleasure of my readers.
With gratitude, Barbara Sue Hello!
I just returned from a cruise with 3 other ladies, it was interesting to say the least! I am almost finished with my latest book "The Dusty Trail" and am hoping to have it for purchase by the first of September. The summer has gone by so fast. So much rain and unusually cool weather in Kansas this year. It seems it is either horribly hot or unusually cool. I am thinking that my next book will be about four gals that go on a cruise together and I'm pretty sure it will be a hilarious read. The situations that four, over 60, women can get themselves into should be a fun book to write and although I plan to include many things that happened to us on our trip there will also be some fiction to the story. To my friends that I traveled with, the names will be changed to protect the innocent! I hope you all have a wonderful autumn with the cooler nights and the crackling of leaves beneath your feet. I have two different book stands this October at the Sugar Mound Festival in Mound City, KS on October 14-15 from 9-6pm and at the Blackjack Park log cabin on October 21-22 during the Maple Leaf Festival on highway 56 right before entering Baldwin City, KS. I hope to see you at one or both of these events. So for now have a great rest of your summer and see you soon! Barbara Sue I have started another new book about the Santa Fe Trail. I have not titled it yet but it looks like it will be another historic and adventurous book. This will be number 10 and I am excited to get going on it. So far I have only introduced a couple of the main characters and am setting the scene for the events that will take place. I believe starting the book is the hardest part. I always want to make sure everything I write about the time period or the place is correct so I have a lot of research when I begin a new story.
I also want to tell you about a book signing I am having in Ottawa, Kansas at the Cornerstone Christian Book Store on April 22, 2017. 217 South Main Street in Ottawa is the location and I will be there promoting not only my new book "The Long Ride" but all of my other books as well. There will be light refreshments and maybe a live remote from the radio station there, KOFO. I am very excited about this and hope all that can come will be there to support me. The Cornerstone Book Store is a quaint and charming store with lots of "Precious Moments" statues, etc. and many books, records and other Christian articles for purchase. I plan on arriving at 11:00 AM and plan to stay until 1 or 2:00 PM depending on the amount of folks that show up. I'll stay until they close if you want me to! I will not only have books for purchase but I'll be happy to sign the ones you already have. I really enjoy meeting new folks and feel very blessed when I meet my readers. I hope to see you there! I finally finished my new book The Long Ride and it was published the end of November 2016. It has been a busy year for me taking care of my place, my mother's place and trying to get this work finished. I seem to be busy during the summer months and forget to take time out for my writing. Anyway, enough excuses from me, I hope you enjoy my latest book. I will be having a book signing on December 17th at the Groundhouse Coffee Shop in Gardner, KS.
The November weather spoiled me, the days were warmer than usual but now December has raised it's blustery head and I will be indoors more so hopefully I will get started on another book soon. I am contenplating on a story about The Santa Fe Trail. Have a wonderful holiday and Merry Christmas and a grand New Year! I finally finished Ace In The Hole and have it out for purchase at Amazon and other reputable retail online outlets. I enjoyed writing this story and really love the side kick to the main character. She is a rowdy, heartfelt woman who had a sad and bitter life but won't let it get her down. She has a way with words and is so full of fun and joy it was easy to write her into the storyline. I think you will really enjoy this book. It is hard to believe that in four short years I have had 8 books published. That may not seem like much to the likes of Danielle Steel or Louis L'amour but to me it is quite a feat.
I have been contemplating on what to write next and the idea of a family of farmers living in Kansas during the dust bowl or maybe even before that period sounds like something that would be of interest to me. Please keep in touch through this site or face book with me and let me know your thoughts on my latest book. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone and remember to count your blessings! Barbara Sue I spent an interesting week at Horseshoe Canyon Ranch close to Jasper, AR with a high school classmate named Robbin. We had a wonderful time and although I have been suffering from hypothyroidism, Robbin and I rode horses everyday and took a trip on a half a mile zip line and a swing that catapulted us off of a cliff. It was a great adventure. I must say that Robbin had more energy that myself and succeeded in rock climbing, something I did not partake in. We had good food and met some wonderful new friends. One of the ladies there was from Seattle, WA and nailed the hatchet throwing on her first try. I finally got the hang of it but Jan hit the bulls eye every time in her first three tries. I told her I would include her in my next book as a character named Hatchet Jan, she was elated. She was a lovely, tall but very petite soft spoken woman and bless her heart, bought every one of my books!
If you ever want to stay at a guest ranch for a very reasonable price try Horseshoe Canyon Ranch. They were all very gracious and accommodating. The horses and goats were loose over the complex which made for a lot of side stepping around excrement and the housekeeping could have been better but all in all it was worth the price. If I ever get my energy back I plan to take another guest ranch trip to a new place and I will let you know about it as well. I had planned to have my new book Ace In The Hole finished several months ago but many trips to the doctor's office and many blood tests have absolutely deleted my energy. I am still working on it and if you will please be a little more patient I will have it done soon. Have a wonderful autumn. Crackling leaves and camp fires, warm days with chilly evenings and the many fall festivals make autumn one of my favorite times of the year. With great adoration, Barbara Sue It seems the grass never stops growing this time of the year. I have quite a few acres to mow so I am busy either on the riding mower or the tractor during this part of the year.
I did manage to get my children's book put together and published. It is called "The Adventures of Susie and Dandy". It is a charming 48 paged chapter book. There are 9 chapters each one describing the adventures that a six year old girl and her kitten encounter during different times of the year. There is a bit of education in the book but mostly it is just fun. It is written as if the girl, Susie, is writing the stories. I know children will like this book. I read several chapters a couple of years ago to pre-schollers at the library and they reall enjoyed it. |
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