Kristie Blackburn

They Gave Their Lives. We Remember. 🇺🇸 | Freedom 13

The Freedom 13 honors the 13 American heroes who lost their lives at Abbey Gate in Kabul on August 26, 2021.

Their mission is to give back to veterans, first responders, Gold Star families, and their loved ones through recreational healing camps, family activities, and meaningful support.

The first Freedom 13 healing camp is being developed in Missouri, with the long term goal of creating camps across all 50 states.

Learn more and support their mission at **TheFreedom13.org** 🇺🇸

#TheFreedom13 #Veterans #FirstResponders #GoldStarFamilies #NeverForget #SupportOurHeroes

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2 weeks ago (edited) | [YT] | 1

Kristie Blackburn

❤️ **Thank you for all the views and support on our channel!** ❤️

Our family has been going through a lot, and we want to share a little more of our journey with you. Between dealing with **cancer, kidney failure, disabilities, caring for our family, and being forced to move and sell nearly everything we owned**, this has been one of the hardest seasons of our lives.

Some days have been incredibly difficult, but we are doing our best to keep moving forward, one day at a time. We are rebuilding, starting over, and trying to find the good even when life feels overwhelming.

Every **view, like, comment, share, and subscription** helps our channel grow and means more to our family than you know. ❤️

**If you've been following our journey, thank you for being here. If you're new, welcome to our family.** Follow along and see what happens next as we work to rebuild our lives and create something better from where we are today. 🙏❤️

**Please share our channel with someone who might enjoy following our journey. Every share helps!**

2 weeks ago (edited) | [YT] | 0

Kristie Blackburn

🛍️✨ **Our New Zelle Store Is Now LIVE!** ✨🛍️

We’re excited to finally have our new store up and running! We’ll be adding **more products, new items, and more updates** regularly, so there’s still lots to come.

If you’ve been following our family and supporting our channel, we’d love for you to check out the store and see what we’re working on. ❤️

👉 **New items will be posted soon, so keep checking back!**

Thank you for supporting our family, our channel, and our small business. Every view, share, follow, and purchase truly helps us keep moving forward. 🙏❤️
www.zazzle.com/store/bliss_bloom

4 weeks ago (edited) | [YT] | 0

Kristie Blackburn

If anyone would like to help, we’re trying to come up with enough for gas to get Andrew to camp tomorrow. We’d also love to send him with a light lunch and a couple of boxes of snacks to share with his cabin buddies.

Any support, big or small, would mean so much to our family. Thank you for helping make this experience special for Andrew. 💙

Cash App: $MichaelBlackburn50

#SupportSpecialNeedsFamilies #CommunitySupport #MakingMemories #SpecialNeedsParenting #ItTakesAVillage #CampMemories

1 month ago | [YT] | 0

Kristie Blackburn

We have over 10,000 videos on YouTube and many more products available through Amazon, all while balancing daily jobs and other responsibilities. On top of that, we are navigating medical challenges, disabilities, and the many extra needs that come with them. We still have a home that needs repairs, bills that need to be paid, and things that need to be taken care of, but we continue working hard and doing everything we can.

Hard work does not always mean things happen overnight. Every share, like, comment, and purchase helps more than people realize. Supporting our work helps us continue creating, providing, and taking care of the many responsibilities in front of us.

Christ taught us that when we serve one another, we are serving Him. A small act of kindness, a shared post, a prayer, or a word of encouragement can help lift someone’s burden. We may not always see the impact we have, but every act of love and compassion matters. We are grateful for everyone who chooses to support, pray, and walk alongside us during this journey. ❤️❤️ Our family deeply appreciates every bit of support and hope for brighter days ahead.

1 month ago | [YT] | 1

Kristie Blackburn

Welcome to our newest adventure… also known as **“The Never Ending Repair Olympics.”** 😂
First, we want to say thank you to everyone who has shown us love, support, prayers, and kindness while we continue navigating everything life has thrown at us: medical challenges, cancer, disabilities, work, raising five kids, and everything in between. It truly means more than you know. ❤️
When we bought this place, we knew it needed some work, but we definitely didn’t realize we were signing up to become full-time repair experts. 😂 At our old home, we didn’t have nearly this many urgent repairs staring us in the face, and we actually had a yard we could enjoy, relax in, and let the kids and animals play.
Right now, our family feels a little like we are being held prisoners of our own house. 🏡🚨 We step outside and get attacked by bugs, worry about unsafe trees, have no privacy, and the yard is basically a “look, but don’t touch” zone. 😂
ne. 😂
And don’t even get us started on the outdoors. We have **five trees that require professional removal with a crane**, along with several others that need urgent attention because they’re too dangerous to handle ourselves. Branches are falling almost daily, and every storm has us anxiously hoping these trees stay where they belong., Because if one of these trees falls the wrong way, it could hit the house, cause serious damage, or create a dangerous situation for our family. And don’t get us started on the fencing that needs replacing to keep things safe and secure.
No privacy. No safe outdoor space. A yard that currently feels more like a survival challenge than a place to relax. 😂
My wife’s new favorite saying has officially become **“wrecking ball and bulldozer.” ** 🤣 Every time another repair gets added to the list, I hear, **“Maybe we just need a wrecking ball and a bulldozer…” ** 🔨🏡
At this point, I’m pretty sure she’s imagining a whole construction crew showing up with **loudspeakers blasting dramatic music, a wrecking ball swinging, and a bulldozer rolling in like it’s the grand finale of a home makeover show.** 😂🎶🚜
Forget HGTV… welcome to **“Extreme Home Repair: The Wrecking Ball Edition.” ** 🤣
The funny part is that every day we find something new, and the house keeps adding to its own repair list. I think the walls are secretly making their own requests at this point. “Hey, don’t forget about me!” 😂
One day, we hope the only thing we hear outside is the sound of kids playing, not branches falling and another project being added to the list. Until then, we’ll keep laughing, praying, and tackling one crazy repair adventure at a time. ❤️
Honestly, at this point, I think she may be trying to convince the house to repair itself out of fear. 😂🔨
Everything has a to-do list attached to it. From safety modifications and repairs to the air conditioning, windows, door, and heating system, this house has definitely kept us busy. If these walls could talk, they would probably just say, “Please fix me.” 🤣
The list we have shared is honestly only the smallest part of what we are facing. Sometimes you truly see a different side of people when life gets hard. When you are dealing with cancer, medical challenges, disabilities, raising five kids, financial stress, trying to work, and trying to keep everything together, you learn very quickly who stands beside you and who doesn’t.
After starting over in 2020, rebuilding our lives from the ground up, we never imagined we would have to sell nearly everything we owned again to cover expenses due to medical conditions and disabilities. We sold our belongings, sold our home, and made huge sacrifices to survive through some of the hardest seasons our family has faced.
We are thankful for a home, but this new address came with a whole new level of stress and challenges we never expected.
While many families are enjoying summer vacations, swimming, camping trips, movies, and extra summer activities, our summer looks a little different.
We are working, helping others, managing medical needs, going to appointments, trying to keep up with repairs, and doing everything we can just to keep moving forward. ❤️
Dealing with cancer, medical issues, disabilities, trying to survive, work, business, and even going to college has already been more than enough for one family to carry. We know not everyone will understand this post, and that’s okay. We are not sharing it to make everyone comfortable. We are sharing our reality.
This is our life right now. It is messy. It is exhausting. It is overwhelming. But we are still standing.
So for now, enjoy the pictures of our “before” adventure. 😂 Maybe someday we will look back and laugh while sitting outside in a beautiful yard that doesn’t try to eat us alive. 🦟🌳
It would mean so much to receive some help with the smaller repairs and modifications, more tree work, fence removal, and the many other projects that need attention. We are truly grateful for the help and kindness we have already received. ❤️
At the same time, some of these projects are bigger than the four of us can handle on our own. We can only do so much with the time, tools, and abilities we have, and some jobs require people with more experience, knowledge, and the right equipment to safely complete them.
Thank you to everyone who has stood beside us through the hard days. Your kindness, encouragement, prayers, and support have helped carry us through seasons we never imagined we would face.
📸 Don’t forget to vote for your favorite picture! We need your help choosing which one will become our new Christmas card this year. 🎄❤️
So, take a look, pick your favorite, and help us decide which photo gets the official holiday spotlight. 😂✨
One project, one prayer, one repair at a time—we are truly so blessed.
#HomeRepairAdventures #FixerUpperLife #OneDayAtATime #NeverEndingRepairOlympics See less

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2 months ago | [YT] | 2

Kristie Blackburn

🐴 **Today is the LAST DAY to support Horse of Hope!**

Come out and shop the Horse of Hope Yard Sale and help support a program that is making a real difference in the lives of children and families in our community. There are still plenty of great items waiting to be discovered.

If you would like to support Horse of Hope beyond the yard sale, **financial donations to the program are always welcome and greatly appreciated.** Every donation helps Horse of Hope continue providing life changing services to the families they serve.

Thank you to everyone who has supported Horse of Hope through your purchases, donations, prayers, and by sharing our posts. Every act of kindness helps make a difference. We hope to see you today! 💙🐴

2 months ago | [YT] | 1

Kristie Blackburn

Cancer does not only affect the person who receives the diagnosis. It touches every member of the family. It brings emotional pain, uncertainty, physical exhaustion, and often overwhelming financial hardship. Many families face lost income, expensive treatments, countless trips to doctors, medications, and everyday bills that continue to pile up while they are simply trying to make it through another day.

Our family knows this reality all too well. Over the past year, we have watched cancer change nearly every part of our lives. Sold almost everything, including our home, just to make it through. Today, we are living in a fixer-upper that needs well over $150,000 in repairs, safety modifications, and other essential work. Cancer does not just affect a person's health. It impacts their home, their finances, their future, and the entire family.

That is why it is so important for us to love one another as Christ taught. The Savior taught us to bear one another's burdens and to mourn with those who mourn. Sometimes the greatest act of service is not something grand. It is a meal, a prayer, a donation, a kind word, or showing up to support a fundraiser. Those simple acts remind a family that they are not alone.

You never truly know what someone is carrying behind closed doors. The smile you see may be hiding fear, exhaustion, grief, or financial struggles. Rather than judging someone's situation, let us choose compassion. Rather than assuming, let us extend grace. Let us be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ by lifting those who are hurting.

None of us knows what tomorrow will bring. Cancer, illness, or hardship can touch any family at any time. That is why we should always be willing to help when we can. Every prayer, every donation, every act of kindness, and every word of encouragement can make a lasting difference. Together, we can bring hope to families walking through some of the hardest days of their lives and show the love of Christ through our actions. a.co/083HPkgs

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2 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 0

Kristie Blackburn

Andrew’s Back to School Blessing Project was created with a simple goal, to help kids who may not have what they need for school. He is working toward building 500 backpacks filled with basic school supplies for families who are facing financial hardship. Every backpack represents hope, kindness, and a fresh start for a child. We are grateful for any help in making this goal possible. a.co/0iO95zAL

2 months ago | [YT] | 0

Kristie Blackburn

To everyone who stood beside our family, thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
The past year and a half has drained us financially, emotionally, and physically. With cancer treatments, countless medical appointments, therapies, and tending to our family's medical and disability needs, we've been through one of the toughest seasons of our lives.
We lost nearly everything we owned. We were forced to move, start over with very little, and now face thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket repairs and modifications just to make our new home safe and accessible for everyone in our family. These are not luxury upgrades. They are necessities that allow our family to function and meet medical and disability needs.
One of the hardest parts has not only been the financial burden but also the hurtful assumptions. We heard people say that FMLA and disability provide "lavish money" or that we were living a "lavish lifestyle." We were told to get off FMLA, to get real jobs, and heard other painful comments along the way.
The reality is very different.
FMLA is job protected leave. It is not a paycheck. Disability benefits do not make a family wealthy. They simply help people survive difficult circumstances, and for many families they replace only part of a person's income. Serious illness often brings higher expenses, not financial comfort.
Our days have been filled with doctor appointments, therapy sessions, treatments, paperwork, home repairs, school meetings, and caring for our family. We have worked from early morning until late at night just trying to keep our heads above water. There have been no vacations, no weekends off, and no breaks. Every day has been about doing whatever it takes to care for our family.
People often say you find out who your true friends are during life's hardest moments. We learned just how true that is. Some people chose kindness, encouragement, prayers, and support. Others chose judgment without ever knowing our circumstances.
To those who stood with us, prayed for us, encouraged us, and helped us when we needed it most, thank you. Your compassion gave us strength on days when we had very little left to give. Your kindness reminded us that we were not fighting alone.
To those who are no longer beside us, we sincerely wish you well. This past year has changed us in ways we never expected. While some relationships ended, the lessons remain. We have learned to value those who show compassion instead of criticism, who seek understanding instead of making assumptions, and who stand with people during their hardest seasons instead of walking away. We hold no bitterness, only gratitude for what we have learned and hope that, if you ever find yourself facing a difficult season, you are surrounded by the same kindness and support that every family deserves.
Although we are starting over with very little, we are moving forward with faith, determination, and grateful hearts. We will continue rebuilding our home, our lives, and our future one step at a time. To everyone who has walked this journey with us, thank you. Your love and support have meant more than words could ever express.

2 months ago | [YT] | 2