Merry Christmas
Music, Meals, and Making Ends Meet
Now, I know You may not believe exactly as I do, and we may not always seem eye to eye on everything. That’s ok, it’s part of what makes life interesting.
So, please indulge me…
I’m sitting here on Christmas Night, 2025. Listening to the incredible music playing on CountryAirRadio.com and having just ate a wonderful meal.
I made a brown sugar heritage ham. Raised right here at BridenFarm.com and just processed about a week and a half ago. Denis made potatoes and carrots. Michelle made us a loaf of bread, and Karen made us a Christmas Pudding and sent it with some dry ingredients and we added the Watkins Vanilla, a bit of butter, and some hot water. It made an incredibly delicious Christmas Pudding. The Bread from Michelle helped make the meal enjoyable too. It all come together beautifully.
Last Night, on Christmas Eve, We had ….
Surf and Turf! Briden Farm Style! Of Course!
Denis loves Lobster, and that what I got Him for Christmas. Course, I bought two!!
We had those Lobsters along with a nice Rice Denis made and some of our #BridenFarm Pork Steak. Like I said, Briden Farm Style Surf and Turf!
Our friends Lisa and Simon got tired of watching us “Get By” with our Holey Boots. So, a week or so ago they insisted on buying us some beautiful Winter Boots.
It’s been a tough Year!
That might sound strange, considering the photos, meals, and Christmas we’ve had. It’s true though, a year of struggle, but it’s coming to an end. Here at Briden Farm we give Farm Tours, and sometimes visitors give us donations. With the woods ban we weren’t able to do that. We also raise and sell some chicks, lambs, goat kids, etc. This year it just didn’t work! Our Rooster, Jack II, was obviously too old! We had a few hens go Broody and want to set on their eggs. Some did, but sadly not one chick come of it!
With the Fire and Woods Ban people just weren’t buying! I don’t blame them, we were about 20 kms away from the Dalhousie Wildfire and we never knew what was going to happen and many people who might have bought were even closer. So, we sold very little if anything. Making for a very tough situation all around.
Just to further complicate things Nova Scotia fell under a drought, still is! Grass never grew after July, the Trees a dropping needles and branches by the end of August. We usually move our animals and rotational pastures every week or two. Having at least one or two to move each week. This year… I was trimming fence lines and moving something almost every day for months from about August through November. It was exhausting! Very difficult indeed.
As some of You may know I launched a new online, Radio Station, CountryAirRadio.com Getting it off the ground over the past month or so. Slow going with a very tight, shoestring, budget. I actually thought of Crowdfunding to get it off the ground and had -0- response! Or so I thought! 💭
We had a Paid Ad, our first ever, from the 32nd New Ross Christmas Festival. I was pumped! If I could sell one Ad, I could sell two! If I could sell two, I could sell a few!
There’s a small, $50 a Year, Fee for participating as a Host in the WWOOF program and we couldn’t even pay it! Thankfully, Robin, saw fit to trade our fee for some advertising. I’m forever thankful to both of our first two Advertisers and know more will come as we become more well known.
So, at the first of December I’d tried about everything I could. I’ve been reading the Indeed Job Listings that come to my email. I’ve even applied for a number of positions. Nothing! Being in Sales, Marketing, and having Telemarketing experience, I thought getting at least a part time telemarketing position would be easy! Not! Actually, most now want a Bachelors Degree just to apply! Crazy!
Anyway, come the first of December, I didn’t know how the Bills were getting paid, let alone carrying on with the Online Radio Station! The Station I think might help fund my Senior Years which are closer than You may think! How’d that happen!?
So, as I have many times before, I started praying 🙏
Now, I feel I should also say, in many ways I’m always in Prayer. Not the reverent prayer of a Sunday morning at Church, but in communion with God. I became a Christian at a showing of the Cross and the Switchblade at the Yarmouth Memorial Consolidated High School when I was still at the tender age of nine. While I’ve stumbled, and disappointed Him, many times. He’s never disappointed me! Not to say I haven’t struggled! I recently told one of my Nieces that I’m thankful to be a Christian. Not just because I know where I’m going but I know where I’ve been! I also know the many times having that relationship has saved me! Not just my Eternity!
Anyway …
The first of December I was t sure what was going to happen!
So, I started praying. I mentioned Simon and Lisa insisted on by us boots, without our ever asking! It was humbling, I honestly wasn’t very comfortable with it. Yet, I know it was a lesson in humility.
I also got a text message on my phone app! Not surprising really, except that it had been sent a month prior! From a friend, Steven, who had indicated He’d like to support CountryAirRadio.com with his help we now have the Songs needed to develop a more robust playlist. With this will come more listeners and with more listeners, more advertising. Hopefully! Our Ads are only a Dollar or Two a Day!
Then, on top of that, I saw a friend’s post pertaining to Christmas. I commented something about praying for money for gifts for Christmas. Also mentioned that even if there were no gifts, we’d still enjoy the Day for the true reason. The birth of our Saviour. That friend, Terry, received a cash blessing from a family member and in turn gifted us with portion of that! Thanks Again!
Then, we had some friends and family buy some pork! (Thank You)
Now, after praying, and the gifts from friends and family and everything else. We now have what we need to make ends meet this month! As well as the ability to keep moving forward with the songs and programming of CountryAirRadio.com
So, once again, God has proven Himself to me in very real ways! So, I just had to write and share the story with You. I’ve seen this happen many times in my life. Never so evident as this past month. It hasn’t all been good. But even under spiritual attack, and we’ve had some this past month, God is always faithful. Even when predators sneak in and snatch our joy, and things look dismal at times. God is there, working to free us of all the attacks! Even when jealous, hateful people come against us!
So, the next time I’m down! Remind me!
The next time You’re down! Pray! 🙏
Merry Christmas
