Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Christmas Giving

Wow, it is almost Christmas!  A day to celebrate the birth of Jesus!  A time for giving and receiving gifts.  A time of year that we seem to be most vulnerable.  We hurry to get our shopping done and we hurry to bake and get cards sent out and we just hurry, hurry, hurry in fear that there is not enough time to get it all done!

Pause for a moment!  As I was taking a walk on the beach with my grandson one day during the Thanksgiving Holiday I found myself relishing in the beauty that we had before us.  The sun was setting and on the lake and there were so many beautiful colors.  I said to Kameron, "What colors do you see?"  Purple, Blue, White, Pink and listen, "What do you hear?"  "I hear the water, and the geese" he said.   What an awesome time to just stop and pause and gather in God's beauty.

On this Christmas I challenge you to pause and relish in the God's beauty and take time to share, give and enjoy the time we have together.

On this Christmas it is time to pause and decide what or who will receive our wonderful gifts.   I challenge you to think about giving a portion of your giving to ASPIRE. Christmas is about celebrating and giving.   Give from your heart, think about giving to this program.  Do you need so many things or can you give up one thing and give back to our community?   As you decide where your Christmas giving goes I hope you will consider making a difference in the lives that ASPIRE serves.  2012 ASPIRE served over 800 people with benefits that surpassed all our goals and dreams.  The program met all of its goal for the year.   We are making a difference one person at a time.  In order for us to continue to grow and expand it is with great hope that you will consider giving to ASPIRE through a check, credit card, or online.

ASPIRE has set its sights on a 5 year plan and that includes an indoor facility.   ASPIRE is looking for 10-20 acres of land.   You see as I paint this picture it is with my heart that we continue to grow and expand.  ASPIRE has run out of space to grow the program further as we only have so much land and it does not afford us to expand our herd of horses and will not allow us to grow the programming or build our indoor facility here.  ASPIRE has it sights on growing with a veterans and veterans family program, expanding our women's group, doing more therapeutic riding groups, expanding our outreach programs and creating new programs to serve the youth and adults of our community.  You see ladies and gentlemen that is not possible without land and a bigger facility!  So that we can serve individuals year around and we can provide the much needed services to a broader scope of people we need to grow and find that land.   The lives of the people we touch with partnerships with our beautiful horses are in fact healing and beautiful and the impact we have on their lives is amazing.  Lives are being transformed everyday and with your help we can continue to provide more healing and transform more lives.  PLEASE CONSIDER GIVING A PORTION OF YOUR CHRISTMAS GIVING TO ASPIRE.  AGAIN YOU CAN GIVE BY CHECK, CREDIT CARD OR ONLINE THROUGH OUR WEBSITE WWW.ASPIRETRP.ORG.  If you are interested in donating land, please contact us directly at the ASPIRE office (319)296-0964.  I wish you a very blessed Christmas and wonderful New Year.

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Thanksgiving

There are some individuals that are posting 21 days of thankfulness on facebook.  I decided it would be a wonderful way to start my day.  So each day I come up with something to be thankful for. 

I challenge you to be thankful 365 days of the year not just 21 days.   We decide that the world is in chaos and we need to post and feel that chaos but in the midst of our chaos is our own lives.  As we sit down at the the Thanksgiving table this year and give thanks remember we can only make a difference in the our life which will in turn will affect another person.  One day, one moment, one person.   "Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me!  Being thankful comes easy for me as I have so much to be thankful for even in the midst of chaos we can be thankful

ASPIRE just completed its 13th year and Volunteer Recognition brought a beautiful powerpoint presentation and over 80 people.  What a great night of celebrating volunteers, staff, riders, board members, families, community and our beautiful horses.   It was a blessing to celebrate these wonderful individuals and animals that give so much of themselves and think nothing of the effort.  It is humbling to be part of these amazing individuals and animals and I am thankful for each and everyone.  

I am thankful for my amazing family and the time I have to spend with all of them.   I am truly blessed by God to have a wonderful husband, children, grandchildren and extended family.  

It is on this Thanksgiving day I will give thanks to God for being part of my life and thanks for the many blessings I have received in this life and will continue to receive from God.  

I wish you all a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving.  Enjoy your beautiful time together.

Friday, November 2, 2012

Praises and Blessings

In the midst of the storm there is darkness.  Out of the darkness comes the light and even a beautiful rainbow. 

When we are in our darkest moment if we step back and look for the light we can feel and see God's vision for us.   What a great opportunity!  I was talking with a friend last night and we discussed that when you see God opening a door we better run through it.   When he shuts the door we better look for the glimmer of light through the window.  

2012 started with some darkness.  In the midst of the darkness came the light.  Our lights are shining so bright that we are in the rainbow watching for the pot of gold.  Where is your pot of gold?   Is your light shining bright?   What opportunities are being offered to you and the your darkness is so heavy there is no light?

I challenge everyone to look for their light to shine,  because as we go through storms we never walk alone.  God is always by our side.   We will go through storms, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, death, destruction, trauma, unmet needs, unfulfilled dreams, life is not promised us a bed of roses.  

God is there in the midst and we must look to our faith and follow the path he has laid before us.

ASPIRE is pleased to know that we have made a difference in over 800 peoples lives this year.  Even for a moment when a senior reaches out to pet Cody or Pixie.  Even when a person comes out to tour for a couple of hours and watching the look of excitement on their face.   One person, one day, one moment at a time we help them to see their lights shine.  

2012 has brought us darkness but the light is shining bright and even if darkness comes our lights are shining bright enough that the praises and blessings, our faith and grace will prevail over the darkness.

It has been an praises and blessings year and we are blessed and thankful and appreciative for all the wonderful people, animals and friends and community that have come forth to support us in our endeavors.  Thankful is just not the right word.   It is so much more than being thankful.  

Blessing for a beautiful day.