Thursday, June 30, 2011

ASPIRE VIDEO and happenings

It has been a beautiful week here at the farm.  Amazing children, amazing parents.  I enjoy visiting with the parents.  They are so appreciative of what we do.  We cancelled two Wed because of weather and one parent said this is Iowa.  We try real hard to make up the lessons that are missed.  It is so awesome to watch the children grow and the parents smile with their children as they ride. 

ASPIRE received a nice video yesterday.  Please watch this amazing video on ASPIRE facebook page.

Don and I drove to a farm to look for some hay for the winter.  What an amazing evening.   We had a great time visiting with the lady and enjoyed the evening ride on the mule.   They had two haflinger, fjord mix horses.  They were gorgeous.  

It will be hot so keep hydrated and keep cool.  Blessings to all for a wonderful 4th of July weekend.  

Friday, June 24, 2011

Life at ASPIRE

The week has come to an end and we are thrilled to have so many wonderful people come and help at ASPIRE.  We have wonderful interns, great staff, beautiful horses and a great time serving all the wonderful riders.  A special thanks to Bobbi and her team for the great work in the barn.   A special thanks to our program staff and horse staff.  Jen, Molly, Alicia and Jenna.  A special thanks to Jen for going the extra mile and getting the work done.  It is truly awesome to watch her blossom and grow.  Thanks to Alicia for the great work she does with all our horses.  Thanks to Molly for hanging in there and assisting with the paperwork.  I am looking forward to having Molly, Jen and Jenna become certified instructors.  Looking forward to seeing more of Jenna this year as an instructor in training.   Americorp finished their project with ASPIRE and is moving on to a new site.  They accomplished so much and we enjoyed all the great work they were able to get done.   Stop by sometime and see the great accomplishments.   Thank you to each and everyone that contributes to ASPIRE and I enjoy working with the volunteers, parents, board, advisory board, staff, interns, riders and horses.  You are all a great team and very special individuals.  Thanks and have a beautiful weekend.  Hope to see you at Sturgis Falls Parade or stop by our booth on Sunday and say hello.   Blessings for a great weekend.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Interesting Week

There is never a dull moment around the ASPIRE farm.  This week has been one of those weeks of interesting and different happenings.  Snickers our dog got sick this weekend.  Vet visit to find a mass in his stomach.  Turns out he had food stuck and it had to be removed.  This week Salvation Army has been at the farm.  Beautiful young children learning about horses.   Yesterday brought a group of wonderful young people from to help with a service project.   Working around the weather we were able to have class Monday evening and everything seemed to be going well went out of the corner of my eye in the field stood one of the ASPIRE horses.  It was a hairy moment to try and catch him.  He was one determined horse to get away.  After some exhausting exercise he was caught.  I think he loved playing the catch me if you can game.  Our five o'clock class went exceptional well and ended the evening with a storm early Tuesday morning and woke up to no power.  Mid America came out to fix it and his words were this is freaky.  Just a weird coincidence nothing to do with the storm.  What a deal!  It is only Wednesday folks.  Hope and Pray the week goes much better.   Have a wonderful rest of the week and continue keeping us in your prayers.   Thanks for following.

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Exciting Week

Our week began Sunday with returning Snickers the horse back to his owner.  She was so thrilled to get him back.  It was amazing to watch the connection.   Tuesday was a Cody visit and evening class.  Tuesday also brought an Advisory Board Meeting.  It was a small but wonderful meeting.   Wednesday traveled to Ames to get Erika tested for allergies.  She is allergic to some grasses but mostly bug bites.   Wednesday, Thursday and Friday brought Girl Scouts for programming.   What a joy to serve this excited little girls.   Classes went well on Monday and Wednesday evening.   A special thanks to Larry for giving so much of his time to help with classes each day and evening.  Thursday found 36 volunteers from Students Today Leaders Tomorrow at the farm.  Friday EPI was here to help.  It was a great afternoon.   Americorp has most of the house painted.  Stop out it looks nice.   Today ASPIRE is attending the Iowa Trails Summit.    Looking forward to meeting all the recreational people.  It will be a interesting day.   Sunday is Father's Day.  It will be a quiet day.  Happy Father's Day to all Father's and hope everyone can have an exceptional day with family.   Thank you for blessings our lives this week with so many great helpers, riders, staff and volunteers.  Looking forward to a great week next week.   Enjoy and peace and joy to you for the upcoming week.

Sunday, June 12, 2011

ASPIRE News

It is a new day!  Rejoice and be glad in it.  Moving a horse to Minnesota today.  Wednesday down to Ames to get Erika tested for allergies.

Today I wanted to talk to you about our mission.  ASPIRE provides benefits to individuals with disabilities through animal assisted activities and outreach programs, primarily through partnership with horses.

Horses are amazing animals.  They bring so much joy and love to each person they interact with.  A horse has a very intuitive sense.   They teach joy, peace, love, patience, gentleness, calmness, trust, respect,kindness, self-control, exercise, and a sense of spirituality.  They teach us to think outside of the box. 

ASPIRE has served thousands of children and adults with and without disabilities over the course of 12 years.  It has brought dreams a reality, it has brought joy and love, it has changed the quality of life of many individuals.   I think back 12 years and how far we have come.   I watch the Amercorp group outside throwing hay into a trailer, diligently working on painting the arena, and ramp.  Putting up fence posts and cleaning the barn inside.   What a joy to watch them give back.  This week they will be painting the office.

You see ladies and gentlemen this program not only changes the quality of life of the individuals we serve but the volunteers and staff.   Open your hearts and mind to a different way of life.  Think about a child that couldn't walk, can now walk his horse around the arena.  Think about a young man that could not say any words can not speak words you can understand.  Think about a child that couldn't swing or ride a bike, can know do both and more.  Think about a child that refused to be part of extracurricular activities at school and now can participate in sports.   Think about a child that is so afraid of horses can now ride her horse independently and in front of large audiences.  Think about a child that has suffered so much abuse that there is no love to find and then they find a horse and the love begins.   Think about a child that is ridiculed, teased, bullied and lost all sense of self-worth.  Imagine putting that child in an environment that no one cares what they look like or what labels they might have.  There is no judgements, labels, only the challenge to reach new levels of skill.  Imagine what that does for their self-worth.   Imagine being a child that the only way of survival is to exist each day.  Imagine a child in a wheelchair and has every part of their body strapped in.   Now visualize this child sitting on a horse with no straps only sitting with people assisting on each side.   Are you imagining the freedom.   Imagine that you no longer have to just exist that your life is filled with joy and love and you can now look forward to each day.  Imagine a senior that interacts for the first time with a little horse that loves to come and put his head in your lap.   Imagine the love this little horse gives to people that sit in places that sometimes don't get visits from people.  Imagine a senior that is able to visit about days gone by and this little horse is willing to listen.  Imagine someone that is suffering from life's tragedy and has decided life is not worth living.  Imagine now you are getting up every morning and coming to a peaceful place where each day you are giving back to others.  Imagine what a difference that makes in your life.  You see ladies and gentlemen a person can't achieve all these results in an office or home or television or video games.   This comes from a relationship with a beautiful horse and many adults that are caring, kind and want to give back. Imagine if you are a parent and you watch your fearful child ride a horse for the very first time.  Imagine a child that is filled with anxiety can now seat astride a thousand pound horse.  

Please help ASPIRE to continue bringing all of this and more to our wonderful community with your gifts of talent, money, volunteerism, and your children that are in need of services.   ASPIRE is proud to serve an individual no matter the ability to pay.   Help us to reach our goals and to strive to provide this community with a service that can bring joy to every child's life that is need of our service.   Your gifts of time, money, or service go towards changing peoples lives.   Please consider helping us grow and providing service to thousands of children and adults.  Dreams do come true.  It is with your help that we will be able to make many more dreams a reality. 

Friday, June 10, 2011

Exciting Days

ASPIRE was on the Front Page of the Waterloo Courier!   The Americorp NCCC was working on the office and ramp.  What a great promotion!!!!!   Then ASPIRE received a suprise visit from Teen Trust with a Jumbo Check.  ASPIRE was their favorite organization!   Then an email from CVS.  ASPIRE is a recipient of  a grant.  Wow!  So many things happening!  Board meeting!  Then Tuesday night is our Advisory Board Meeting!   Exciting things coming your way so please follow us on this blog.   Watch for all the news from the projects Americorp has been doing out at the farm.   ASPIRE had an article in the Cedar Rapids Gazette.  The Gypsy Horse Journal will soon publish and article about Blue Bayou.   I will be working on stories for Erika and Benny.   I enjoy writing about all the wonderful and exciting times we are having at the farm.   Let's get the ball rolling and get started with a great summer and good weather.  We have many programs planned for the summer season.   Watch for more news!  Enjoy and have a blessed weekend.

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Waterloo Courier

Good Morning on this very hot morning.  Hope everyone is staying cool and will enjoy the hot weather.  Sure prohibits us from class.   The Waterloo Courier was out yesterday to watch, take pictures and write an article for all the wonderful work Americorp is doing for ASPIRE.   We are looking forward to all the wonderful end results of this project as we move forward with the many work projects they are providing.   Hope you all have been watching the website and seen our newsletter.   We will soon have a brand new brochure.  

ASPIRE participated in the My Waterloo Days Parade and was honored with the equestrian award.  What a beautiful day and fun for our riders to ride in the trailer.   Noelle did a great job on the signs and we had fun with Cody and Ginger.  


Thanks to everyone that help with the parade.   Please keep watching for more and exciting news.  So follow my blog and catch the excitement.

Saturday, June 4, 2011

A day in a life of ASPIRE

Bobbi and Jeff worked hard yesterday supervising all the Americorp people.  They cleaned part of the inside of the barn.  3 stalls are cleaned mats, walls the works.   Part of the inside of the barn is cleaned, the empty hay loft will keep the barn cleaner.  Not so much dust.   Painting the ramp and powerwashed one side of the house.   It was a busy day.   Get ready Ginger and Cody for My Waterloo Days Parade today.  
Courier will be out Monday for an article about Americorp.   Classes begin on Monday.   Get ready for a busy summer.   Volunteers are needed to help with classes day time and evening.   Have a wonderful day. Please come and watch us in the parade.  Noelle and Jordan did an awesome job on the posters.

Friday, June 3, 2011

ASPIRE News

Good Morning,

It has been an interesting month.  AmeriCorp is working with us through June 30th.  They have gotten all of the old hay out of the hay loft.  We now have brand new tie up posts. They are painting the arena, ramp.  Two new doors are on the barn.   They have built a trench for water drainage in the pasture.  They are in the process of cleaning the inside of the barn.   They will begin painting the office next week.  Stop by and see all the wonderful work they are doing.

Jen is working full time and teaching on Monday and Wednesday evenings. 

This summer will bring Girl Scouts, Salvation Army and Bremwood for summer programming.

Jordan and Melissa are two of our PR interns.  They have been diligently working on getting donations and making the public aware of our upcoming Cowboy Breakfast on July 17th at the UAW Hall from 8-1. 

Noelle and Kristin are two of our Program interns and working on Camp Hope.

Alicia is working part time getting our horses exercised for classes.  She is working hard with Thunder and Blue. 

Molly is working on getting summer classes lined with students and volunteers.  She has been amazing at diligently working on finding those volunteers.

ASPIRE has now developed an Advisory Board and watch for updates on this wonderful group of positive and inspiring people.

ASPIRE is developing and mentoring three people to become certified instructors.  

I find it exciting and challenging to continue moving forward with so many possibilities.   It is rewarding to watch the children explore their new world of horseback riding.   We are enjoying watching Cody discover and make new friends at preschools, nursing homes and churches.  Cody loves to put his head in the laps of people.  He even visited inside a nursing home this year.  Watch for many more visits.

It is truly awe inspiring to watch and observe the interaction with each individual and the horses  that enter our doors.  Every person is touched in a different way. 

I want to say that we are very thankful and appreciative of the many people that helped to make Let's Dance a huge success.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart.  

As our summer journey begins watch for many updates.   Keep smiling and following. 

Marilyn Moore