Christmas

Christmas by the Lake

Moore Farm and ASPIRE

So the story begins with Christmas by the Lake.  It is December 2010  and the Moore’s decide to take their vacation at a condo in Clear Lake.  Christmas by the Lake include: snowmobiling, laughing and playing with grandchildren, swimming, sitting in the hot tub(cold), shopping, shopping, shopping, Cabin Coffee, visiting, listening to Christmas carols, singing, dancing, watching the beautiful sunrises and sunsets on the snow over the lake.  The beauty of the frost on the trees was breath taking.   We watched the parade in downtown, fireworks over the lake, visited with Santa, ate and ate, watched people jump into the frozen water and then into a hot tub (Polar Bear Dip), went sledding.  We made lots of memories.  Marilyn was able to spend time with each of her grandchildren.    It was a Christmas to remember. 

On this Christmas as Marilyn celebrates her time in Clear Lake this year along with her family members we will treasure more memories and enjoy the peace and quiet of this beautiful house on the lake.   This year Marilyn and her family will spend Thanksgiving and Christmas by the Lake.  I believe it is becoming a tradition.  Clear Lake is truly her place of refuge.   It is where she can breathe and relax and enjoy the many blessings and memories she has encountered throughout the year.   It is a chance to reflect and thank God for the many blessings. 

Blessings you say, so many this year.  Marilyn and Don spent a great deal of weekends camping at various campsites.  Their favorite was Morwood by Oelwein.   It was great to spend so much family time by the fire and create different memories.   Marilyn has decided she loves camping as it gets her away from the everyday things.  Marilyn enjoyed spending camping time with Don, Dale, Christine and Kameron.

Blessings you say, more blessings with over 1,000 individuals served at ASPIRE with over 300 volunteers and 4,000 hours of service.  Blessings you say, successful special events, Let’s Dance, Cowboy Breakfast, Dances with Horses.  It was a truly awesome year.

Blessings you say, more blessings bestowed on ASPIRE with the new and returning employees, including Jen, Jenna, Molly, Bobbi and Alicia. Marilyn is truly blessed with the wonderful employees and the great service they provide.  Thanks to Larry for helping the instructors through their teaching hours.   It has been great to see them blossom and grow.  Thank you Cindy for helping Marilyn this year as ASPIRE trekked through all the changes.  

Blessings you say, more blessings with our horses, Sonny, Erika, Blue, Kily, Bo, Buddy, Benny, Cody, Pixie, Ginger and Maverick.   The horses give their hearts and souls to our great volunteers and participants.  They are amazing and Marilyn’s life has changed because of the relationships she has developed with these majestic animals.   Blessings from the beautiful barn cats, Snappy, Penny, Mouse and Patches,   Snickers the dog and Shadow the house cat.   Marilyn and Don are truly blessed to have Snickers with them as he developed an obstruction in his stomach and had major surgery.   He is fine now but they were very worried about him and have thank God for his healing powers along with Dr. Bixby. 

Blessings you say, a week over the fourth of July in Clear Lake brought us some very weird happenings.   The week was not complete without stories and scary episodes, from storms that knocked trees down to smoke alarms going off to TV running through channels and couldn’t be shut off, to Kameron waking up and talking to someone who wasn’t there.   Marilyn decided that this cabin was not for her.   She said she does not want to rent this cabin anymore.   It was a week of memories and small blessings, boat rides, sunshine, swimming and lots of work cleaning up tree limbs. 

Blessings you say, Camp Hope was a success.  The first time in the history of this camp ASPIRE had a college intern plan and implement this camp.  58 people were served and it was a wonderful week with all the campers.

Blessing you say, to all the wonderful volunteers, interns, horses, sponsors, riders, families, campers and ASPIRE’s board of directors.  

Blessings you say, to a new a beautiful granddaughter born in July, Briana Leigh Carley.  

Blessings you say, to a Marilyn’s husband Don.  His work and volunteering, along with her son Dale, her brother Craig and friend Rich for helping to keep the lawn beautiful, hay unloaded, bedding unloaded, keeping the fence fixed and all the maintenance projects around the farm.  Thank you to Don and Dale for supervising the Americorp team.  It was a true blessing to get the old hay out of the barn, ramp painted, arena painted, stalls cleaned with new sealer on the walls, part of the house painted, all the equipment cleaned and waxed and much more.   We truly appreciated the work they accomplished and the patience from Dale and Don in supervising the crew.

Blessings you say another Christmas by the Lake.   As I close please join the Moore’s and ASPIRE in celebrating Christmas for the true meaning, the birthday of Jesus.  Go out and create memories and enjoy time with family and friends.   Find a place of peace and relaxation as we have done with Christmas by the Lake.

Blessings you say, to Marilyn’s family, Craig (brother), Dale(son), Christine(Dale’s girlfriend), Kelly(daughter), Adam(son-in-law), Kameron, Justin, Autumn, Briana(grandchildren) and Don(husband).  Each and every one of you has contributed in making special memories for Marilyn this year.  Blessings came with laughter, work, fun, tears and memories.

2011 would not have been the same without all the special memories with family, friends, volunteers, riders, horses, coworkers, sponsors and our special pets.

A blessed Christmas and Happy New Year from all of us at the Moore Farm and ASPIRE.