About me

My name is Donna, and I've been writing about my life in a very special, what I consider, enchanted, forest, since 2008. Over the years I have shared thousands of pictures of my animals, thousands of stories of happiness, heart break, triumph, humor, struggle, and adventure. I've written hundreds of thousands of words, and opened up my life, and also my heart. 

My blog, Our Forest Haven, has lead me to meet some very special people, to write articles for many wonderful farming magazines, and online blogging and news sites. I have met a whole world of people who I am very grateful have taken the time to read my words, and get enjoyment out of my pictures, and share my life with me from afar. 

For several years now I have been getting progressively sicker as I've been through 7 surgeries and diagnosed with more than one devastating auto immune disease. I have almost died twice, and I lost my husband to a heart attack without any warning at all. 

My last years on the farm have been a struggle and while I continued to write, I have done much less so publicly. 

My illnesses alone have caused me to give up a lot of things I used to be able to do, and made my future so uncertain. But they have also taught me and continue to every single day, to be grateful for every day, and every little blessing, because they matter more than we usually realize. It's easy to take them for granted. 

It took me a long time to decide if I could come back to the blog and continue writing, or if I should just quit, or start over. The first seemed like the best option because this is my home, and my history. But my heart needed time to adjust, before I came back. I hope to continue to share my journey with you, with my animal family, through sickness, and health, through all of the ups and downs, and I'm so grateful for all of you who take the time to read my blog, support me, send me messages, and spend a little bit of your time visiting with me, at my forest haven.