Never thought I'd be in this position, but 3 little girls depend on me, so here we go. Friends and family, near and far, many of you know my situation. Those that don't, here's a semi-brief update. I just finalized my divorce last Wednesday, after 23 years and 5 children with one man. I will not say his name. Those that know, know. He subjected our children, and myself, to 2 decades of physical, emotional, financial, and narcissistic abuse. He choked me, threw me against walls, punched and kicked holes in every home we had, shot a gun into the living room floor, inches from my children, did the same thing in my truck while i was driving. Terrified me to the point of not eating or sleeping. I tried many times to leave him, but due to my own cowardice, and fear, and lack of self worth, was unsuccessful.

8 months ago, I was able to get him out of my physical residence, but only as far as a camper in the front yard, 20 feet from my front door. For several months, he continuously threatened me, gaslit, manipulated, and otherwise tried to control me, alternating between cajoling and apologetic to menacing and completely irrational. When he threatened to dig up my baby sons body, that I lost in 2019, from our back yard if I tried to make him leave, I had had enough. I utilized my local sheriff's department, took out an order of protection, and the county placed myself and 4 children still at home in hiding in a hotel while they served him, and forcibly removed him from my property. That was 5 months ago. Since then, I have had a hearing regarding the restraining order, to which he did not respond. My oldest 2 children wrote letters to the judge, the contents of which will haunt me forever, along with 6 other witnesses to his abuse from the past 20 plus years. He was not present, the judge read all the evidence, was crying, and ruled in our favor, extending the order of protection for 14 years until our youngest child turns 18. I subsequently filed for divorce and child support. He did not respond, or participate in any manner, and I have retained all custody, parenting, and property rights. However, this brings us to the point of this fundraiser.

Although I have been awarded sole ownership to my little 3 bedroom house on 20 wooded acres of paradise here in Montana (purchased solely by me from an owner financed offering from the inheritance I received through the dissolution and trust of my families ranch in Weston, OR, which i spent my child hood working), I am currently 20 months behind in my mortgage, and in imminent danger of losing it. Despite my ex husband being an extremely talented master carpenter and builder, who has made over $5,000 a month for many many years, he only made 4 mortgage payments in the last 10 years. His many vices, and personal needs, always came first, to the detriment of our financial stability. I have done what I can, making payments with trust money, tax returns, stimulus money, family inheritance, etc. I have worked full time the last 3 years. But my income potential is limited by my circumstance. I was a stay at home mom for 15 years, supporting his ability to increase his experience and build his resume, while mine remained stagnant. So here I am. Divorced and free, yet still living in fear of retaliation, about to lose my house and land, my children's legacy. Their nest egg. Where my sweet little David is laid to rest. Insult to injury, my well pump died a month ago, haven't had water since. I can't afford to pay a professional to fix it. So, my pride is gone, I care only about my children, and I am reaching out for help. I'm asking for help. Anything and everything counts. Sharing counts. Awareness counts. A conversation counts. Too many women are too afraid to leave. I was. For too long. Well I DID IT!! And I'm proud. No matter how bad it is right now. But I still need help, and I appreciate anyone able to do so. Love you all.