Jump in and join our team

The old saying Jump in the water is great.   Jump in and join the ASPIRE team the environment is great!
Summer has completed and we are on a short rest.   Fall is just two weeks away!

As our team prepares for fall and all it has to offer we are not amiss to reflect back on our summer programs.  What a busy summer! Therapeutic riding lessons in the morning and many make up classes from spring.  Bremwood came this summer and we enjoyed their time with us and they were excited about being with the horses and team.  Horsemanship 101-102-103 was a huge success. Cowboy Breakfast was a huge success and wonderful food.  Camp Hope brought us beautiful weather and many campers and volunteers.   Everyone enjoyed their week and I was able to spend some time with grandchildren and created some lasting memories.   Then it was our Veterans Open House and a great evening of conversation.   What a wonderful time.

Summer has come to an end and it seems like it was just yesterday.  Where does the time go!  It only means that time flies when you are enjoying life!  The wonderful horses, volunteers, staff and everyone who has helped us financially this summer deserves a big round of applause.  In two months we will end our 14 years of service to individuals and without all of you and our amazing team it would not be possible.  Words are not enough to thank everyone for helping us to be a success.  My life is truly blessed and I am fortunate to have so many that have blessed our lives.   

Fall will begin September 9th.  Join us as a rider, volunteer, sponsor, donor or just come out to the farm and see our wonderful animals.   You will learn so much about the program and all of the joy it brings.  I hope you will give us a call or email us as we love to visit with you about ASPIRE!

September 21st will bring "The Night of the Horse" an exciting night of equine entertainment and laughter.  Please bring the entire family and enjoy the evening of fun.   We are excited about all the acts that are coming and giving their time to provide you with a thrilling evening.   McElroy Auditorium, Waterloo, 7:00 p.m.

Blessings are abound with joy and laughter so please join us in our beautiful facility not the Cadillac kind but lots of love, peace, and joy abound at ASPIRE.   Looking for a way to reduce stress spend some time with our awesome horses.

Thank you and hope to see you around the farm!

Summer Days and Summer Nights

Wow!  It really seems like summer has finally arrived!  It is spinning by so quickly!  Life lesson do not let a moment pass you by without some impact from the day.

I am feeling the results of a long winter and wet spring!  Great for hay weather!   It is great to have some beautiful weather and sunshine to absorb some great Vitamin D.   Life lesson make note to self to enjoy outdoors as much as I can with all the sunshine.  Note to self go buy a sun hat.

Camping weather is here.   We love the beautiful campfires and the talks we have while gathered around the fire.   Life lesson play more and enjoy these beautiful memories.

It has been a busy summer so far.  Horseback riding lessons in the morning, evening and outreach programs during each week.   ASPIRE is thrilled with the number of students participating and the watching the joy on their faces literally makes your heart melt.  Progress they are making is nothing short of a miracle.

Yes, I am overcoming some fears and learning some new techniques with Benny our beautiful Haflinger.  He has been an awesome teacher.   Teaching me ways to sit, guide, relax and be in charge.  He is a teacher for so many wonderful students.   So many things to learn but learning those stretches and muscle strength and leg control all are helpful with my hip problem.   Yes it is like yoga on the horse.  Life lesson nothing is impossible with God leading you in new directions no matter what age you are you can accomplish anything you set your mind on.  It is great to learn what our riders are learning and gaining the great benefits.  

July 14th, you will find all of us at the UAW Hall for our great Cowboy Breakfast.   Eggs, Biscuits and Gravy, Sausage and Ham, Fruit, Coffee, Juice or Milk and all you can eat Pancakes for $8 adults, $4 children.  All Proceeds assist our campers in going to our annual Camp(Camp Hope).   Please join us for this amazing breakfast.

August 5-9 will take us to Cattle Congress, Hanson's Dairy and Lost Island Water Park for our annual day camp(Camp Hope)

August 14th , ASPIRE will host our first Veterans Open House.

In between all of that we have our Horsemanship Camp.   What an amazing summer it will be.  I am looking forward to all that is in store and where God will lead us this summer.

Life Lessons

I read an article the other day that captures the essence of good writing skills.   This article talked about how you can capture the audience by talking about life lessons.   I thought I would write in my blog this morning about the life lessons I have learned through the midst of the storms and the light.
 
One lesson I have learned that no matter the storm you never walk alone.  God is always there holding your hand, loving you and carrying your weight.

I learned that there is always a rainbow after the storm!  I have learned to set boundaries and hold yourself to your boundaries.  Life is hard when you always give in and let people take advantage of you.

I have learned to love with all my heart and soul.  Love God first and then the rest will come.

I have learned patience in the midst of chaos.   When my house is full of people and so much is going on and there does not seem to be a moment of peace, I go for a drive or I sit and write in my beautiful office.  It is those moments of peace and mediation I spend with God that I learn many life lessons.

I have learned about leadership, sharing and delegating.   I have learned to trust, trust myself and trust others.

I have learned to grow within myself, my self-confidence, self-esteem, and yes I still get frustrated and down from time to time but we are all a work in progress.

I have learned that life is not always about our family but the relationships we build over time.   I love my family but sometimes you just have to let go.

I have learned about priorities and pride in ownership and giving back.   My mother gave me the greatest gift of all, the joy of giving back to others.  You see unless you take care of yourself it makes it hard to give back.

I have learned that sometimes we have stand up for what we believe is right and honorable even if it means a little conflict.   I have learned to teach, facilitate and be an important part of a team.

I have learned the greatest gift is providing cherished memories and loving and taking care of animals.  God gave to me this gift.  I cherish and honor that gift with family, friends, riders, animals, volunteers, staff, board, and community.   These are only a few of life lessons.   I can write more and follow along as I bring you into my story.

RUN FOR THE ROSES

Today is an unusual May day! There is snow on the ground and raining in many places.  It is suppose to be warm and sunny.   Our weather is changing all around us and so is our nation. 

Today is Kentucky Derby where this beautiful horses will run for the roses.  They run with all their hearts and souls as fast as their legs will go.   In the end they win lots of money and beautiful roses.

Running for the roses what does that really mean to you?   Are you constantly running for the roses as fast as your legs will take you?  Are you running from something or towards something?   Are you running with all your heart and soul?

A little over one year ago I was running as fast as I could from a lot of things happening in my life.   I wanted to find a place of peace and comfort.   I ran for the roses.  I was experiencing so many thorns.   What was in store for me I did not know but I knew I needed to run.   Like horses that get scared and they run or fight.  At that point I did not want to fight just run.   Then I slowed down to a walk and listened to my voice and God's voice and he said fight for all you are worth as I have roses for you as your prize.   As I listened and felt the peace, hope was renewed and I went into life fighting with all my heart and soul.   I was worth it and everything I represented and honored in life was worth the fight because in the end I received the most beautiful roses that anyone could ever receive in victory lane. 

Right now I am going through some more difficult times and I feel like running for the roses again.   I want to find that peace and comfort.   I want to run with all my heart and soul.   Once again I must slow down and understand and listen to my inner voice.  God will tell me what I need to do.  He will show me the way.  I just have to slow down everyday and listen and pray. 

Today is ASPIRE'S fundraiser.  Trotting towards the Future.  Yes, we will have a Kentucky Derby and you can run for the roses, well sort of but it will be warm inside and it will be fun.  Join us this evening in running for the roses.   7:00 p.m. New Aldaya Lifescapes, University Ave, Cedar Falls, Iowa.

You see ASPIRE wants to run for the roses.   We want to trot into the future and you Ladies and Gentlemen can help us run for the roses by your presence, bidding on our beautiful auction items.  The greatest gift you can give is helping us in making a difference in the lives we serve. 

God has a plan and we will run for the roses on this journey and look for victory lane.   It will take longer than two minutes but we will keep our eyes on victory lane.    We will keep looking for a miracle in the midst of the difficulties.   When I am overwhelmed and I don't think I have an ounce of energy to continue it is when miracles occur.   Join us in running for the roses.  This picture is pure love.  He is running for the roses.

Sharing the Success

           Monday’s beautiful sunny and warm weather brought thoughts of spring and new beginnings into the office. It seemed that the weather had finally decided to allow us the perfect day to start this year’s classes. We enjoyed seeing the familiar faces return and new faces join us for another great year! The horses were happy to see the arena again, and our volunteers were happy to be getting our riders back in the saddle!

            One face in particular proved to be a wonderful reminder of how ASPIRE programs benefits those we serve. Just one year ago, one young rider was terrified of her horse, Erika. She did not much care for the miniature ponies either. By the end of last year’s classes, she had built a special bond with Erika and her volunteers. She surprised us all on Monday night. After taking a five month break, the same young girl would not only run straight to her beloved Erika with no fears and remembered the names of her volunteers, but she impressed us all by remembering all of her commands that she had learned five months prior! We are so happy for this young lady’s great achievement, and are excited to watch her continue to grow this year!  

            We at ASPIRE love to share our success stories! Nothing makes us happier then to experience our efforts assisting in the growth and triumphs of our riders. We look forward to sharing many more stories like this with you and our community. Be sure to join on May 4, 2013 at New Aldaya for our Spring Fundraiser, Trotting Towards the Future. We need your support to continue our great efforts and programs. Tickets are available now. They are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. The ticket price includes a $5 drink ticket. Call 319-296-0964 to purchase your tickets today.

Touching lives

I have been thinking about writing you for a couple months now. I am so grateful for the experience that you both taught me. You entrusted duties to me that might have very easily been screwed up, yet you believed in me enough to get it right. I appreciate all of the PR expertise you allowed me to experience, but perhaps more than anything, you both taught me a great deal about physically and mentally challenged human beings. I use the phrase "human beings" because that is exactly who and what you treat people of different abilities. It was overwhelming how great you guys are with the riders and how you have given your time and life to see that they have a better life.

I have a cousin who has severe mental retardation but is a loveable character. Everyone in our family treats him well and loves him just the same as if he were functioning at the same ability as their own. Although I love him with everything in me, there were times I didn't know exactly how to act with him. Do I talk slower? Do I smile more? etc. etc.

When we had the volunteer appreciation dinner, afterwards there was a rider who came up to us with his ipad wanting pictures. He was an adorable boy, but again I didn't exactly know what was the "right" way to act. I followed both of your leads when he was asking to take a picture and wanting to show us the pictures of him and the other guests. It was amazing how you guys simply treated him as if nothing was wrong, as if he was just like you.

Something broke in me that day. Something I didn't even know was there. I now look at anyone with a physical, mental, or cognitive disability through new eyes. I have not only compassion, but I am no longer fearful of how to act when I come into contact. In fact, I go out of my way to smile, talk or shake their hand in church for example.

You guys have shown me what it's like to change the perception of people that are different than everyone else. You guys were patient with me every day and I am thankful I had the opportunity to work with you last semester.

Thank you again,

I am blessed and honored to have received this beautiful letter from an intern!   As I look back on 13 years of serving so many individuals it is with compassion, love, determination, persistence, perseverance and loving support.  It my love for the individuals that come to us with a need, whether a need to have a closer relationship, socialize, learn to ride, hang out with horses or learn new skills that will assist them in their life careers.  I am blessed with a dream that has touched and will continue to touch so many lives.   

As I look ahead and behind and how far we have come and how far we can go, my heart is filled with tears of joy, excitement, fear(just a little), but most of all an attitude of gratitude because it is you ladies and gentlemen that have made this all possible.  It is all of you that will assist in taking this into the future, I will facilitate with love and kindness but you will be the ones to facilitate more lives to be touched.   God will continue to guide us on this journey and blessings will abound in the midst of joy, laughter, tears, storms, losses and great accomplishments.  Thank you so much for assisting us in touching the lives that mean so much to us.  Thank you for assisting us in supporting our beautiful animals that touch lives everyday.

Please watch for lots of exciting plans and programs coming this year.  It will be a busy one.  In the meantime keep a song in your heart and smile on your face and enjoy each moment each day! 

Keep on going!

The world keeps on going!  The acts of violence continue on a daily basis.  The bullying in schools is reaching an epidemic level.   Bullying in the workplace is becoming a issue for many businesses and organizations.  Some days America seems out of control.  The mental health issues that we face makes being part of a family that was normal difficult.   Our children are playing video games and watching TV hour after hour.   We are nation built on a foundation of Christian values and we have lost our perspective.  Live simple.

In this nation that keeps on going is a serene place!  You say where is this serene place.  It is in many places if we take the time to look.   I am going to visit with you about just one and there are thousands.  This place is nestled among trees and bushes.  It is in rural Waterloo, Iowa.

Come join us and surround yourself with love, trust, breathe in the fresh air, join us as we teach, learn, facilitate and lead our program into the next year.

Join us in loving and surrounding yourself with our beautiful horses, cats, rabbits and dog.  Join us in surrounding yourself with the beautiful natural setting and watching sunrises, sunsets, deer, fox, squirrels, birds, and many other wild but loving animals.

2013 keeps on going and it will soon be spring.  Awww, yes, spring and new beginnings.  ASPIRE classes will begin April 1 and we need you.  Yes we need our riders, volunteers and our beautiful horses.  We need you to give our horses a job and watch the riders grow in their new and renewed growth.   It is rewarding to watch them step through their paces and the smiles and laughter are so thrilling.

2013 will bring changes, watch our newsletter, website and facebook page for the great changes we have in store.  ASPIRE will keep on going!   It is with gusto, greatness and faithfulness that we will turn our small little world around!  Yes, we live very simply and conservatively but we make big changes in our little corner of the world.   We can't change America but we can facilitate, teach and lead the small segment that touches our lives.

PLEASE JOIN US in 2013 in making a difference and changing lives one person at a time!!!!!!!  Just keep on going!