Thursday, July 26, 2012

Women With Hope

You never know where it is you'll meet that one friend that you can rely on for anything.  It may be in school, work, or at a social gathering.  Or it may be in a barn....

ASPIRE Therapeutic Riding Program in Waterloo has traditionally served primarily children with mental, physical, and emotional disabilities.  Now, however, ASPIRE is branching out.  This spring Marilyn Moore, the Executive Director of ASPIRE, began a 8 week equine therapy program called "Women of Hope" specifically for women dealing with the effects of abuse.

Friendships first begin with spending time getting to know one another, and so did the women's relationships with the horses.  Through using their horses as canvases, these women artistically shared their life stories and learned about the life stories of their classmates, both human and equine.  They were told that they could now be whoever they want to be; the horses didn't care who they had been in the past or what others thought of them.  The horses were friends that were always there and always accepting.

Recovering from trauma is never easy, and at times the horses brought out the women's vulnerabilities .  They felt scared to take the next step, but just like when moving to the next jump height, fear to take the next step meant that growth was happening.  The weekly sessions helped the women learn to once again trust others and accept themselves, and one woman said it was the most peaceful experience she has ever had.

The class will begin again this fall.   If you or anyone you know is interested, contact ASPIRE at 319-296-0964.

Thanks so much.  Rachel Tish, ASPIRE Intern


Tuesday, July 17, 2012

On a Warm Summer's eve

Wow!  What a week it has been here in the Cedar Valley.  The sheriff's department has had a busy week.  Thank you Tony Thompson for the great work you are doing.

An escape from jail, an attempted suicide, and now missing little girls.  Who would of thought that our small community would endure so much in such a few days.  Here we are looking back and looking forward.  What a great team of supporters and volunteers.  Great sheriff and police departments.   Wonderful people to get us through these struggles.   We will keep praying for the people at Peregrine and the little girls and their families.   The community is faithful and God's love is everlasting.  Many of us are facing losses with the drought conditions.   Rain is a necessity.   Heat makes us stressed and short tempered.   Remember a few months from now this will all just be memories.   We continue to pray and love and forgive all that has occurred.  We keep our heads high and love our neighbors.  

At ASPIRE we are busy serving people each and every day.  We are making differences in the lives of our participants as well as staff and volunteers.  Reading all the sad news it brings joy to my heart to see the faces of the children as they ride astride a horse.   Please keep our animals in your prayers during this heat and trying to find hay to get us through the winter.

Cowboy Breakfast was a success and a special thank you to all that helped or attended.  Your presence is truly appreciated.   Please come next year to support our campers.  

Camp Hope is in need of volunteers it takes 60 people to make this camp happen so please consider volunteering even for one day.  It is a lot of fun and you can go to Lost Island Water Park.

Blessings and prayers for a beautiful day.
s

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

ASPIRE News: Summer Haze

ASPIRE News: Summer Haze: It is the 4th of July and it is hot.  More than hot.   How are you surviving the heat?  On this Independence Day it is important to me to gi...

Summer Haze

It is the 4th of July and it is hot.  More than hot.   How are you surviving the heat?  On this Independence Day it is important to me to give thanks to all of our veterans for their service and their families for supporting them while they are fighting for you and I.

On this 4th of July I would like to give thanks to God for the many blessings and freedom he has bestowed on me.

You see I am blessed to have 4 beautiful grandchildren, a son and daughter, husband and two brothers.   Yes that is my immediate family but my family extends way beyond blood relatives because God has blessed my heart with the ASPIRE family.   Wow I am so truly blessed to have such great staff, volunteers, riders, families, horses, community, and of course the wonderful and awesome interns.   My life has been enriched and blessed with such awesome people.   I have learned some hard lessons across these years and I have struggled and I have fell short of God's desires.   I have gained some beautiful friendships and I have learned many lessons from these people that have crossed my path.   I have learned life lessons from the horses and humbled by the families we serve.   I have learned that nothing in life will keep me down for any given time.  My mom always taught me that you pick yourself up and dust yourself off and start all over again.   You pull yourself up by the boot straps and get on.  I am getting on with God's help.

ASPIRE is blessed with awesome donors that care and are concerned about ASPIRE and the future.  My heart is touched by the awesome people that step up.  I can't even begin to thank and appreciate this awesomeness in words.

ASPIRE is blessed with awesome board members that truly make a difference.  Thanks for their time and dedication. 

As we click our heels and look into the future only God knows where we are going but you know I will keep on pushing on and moving one step in front of the other.   God will lead me along the right path.   He keeps reaching in and touching my heart.

It is my wish to have no one ever come to us without leaving better and happier.  Be the living expression of God's kindesses,  Kindness in your face, Kindness in your eyes, Kindness in your smile.  Mother Theresa.

This is the desire of my heart.  Go out and hug someone, love someone, let them know how much you care and have an awesome holiday!