RISE ABOVE

It is Thursday and my day is filled with activities.  Not like any other day except it is Thursday and my blog is late.  How do I make this up.  I can tell it has been a busy week.  Interviews, auction, tickets, program, classes, horses, and the list goes on.  Staff is assisting in getting ready for the big night.  Night of the Horse will be an exciting night and by the time I do my next blog it will be about that evening.  I hope you will join us on Saturday Night.  It is shaping up to be a great night of exciting entertainment, beautiful auction items and lots of fun for the entire family.

But I did not want to just blog about the night.  I want to tell you a story.  As I have been interviewing on TV and attending meetings I have encountered some amazing people.  Let's remember I have been ED for 18 years.  Yes that means I have seen many of our children grow up and become adults.  Wow where has the time gone.

Stories to tell to the nation will melt your heart.  The stories I hear are thank you.  Thank you for the service you have provided as the children, now adults have grown into young successful and independent adults.  They have overcome some major obstacles and now have surpassed their parents belief.  I can not take the credit for the entire work   ASPIRE gave them a moment in time to be strong, rise up, show us their independence, freedom and love for others and animals.  My heart melts when I hear the success stories of not just one but many of the children we served so many years ago that I loved and cared about and still do.  The children we serve become part of our family and we love them in all their broken ways.  They socialize and love their animals.  I watched last night as they groomed and tacked their horses.  Wow through the midst of the heat and then rain they conquered what was once an impossible task.  It is a beautiful picture to see these children with issues only God knows why become fearless, overcome whatever is in their way and RISE UP.  Thank you Lord for blessing my life with these awesome children and thank you Lord for allowing me to see that a small act of kindness sets the wheels in motion to become awesome adults.

Gratitude and blessings

This week and next week will be filled with lots of activity as we prepare for the Night of the Horse.  Between flyers, tickets, radio advertising , television advertising and preparing the program there is a lot to do.

I want to pause for just a moment and take a deep breathe and think about the many blessings that God has provided.

I am extremely grateful for all the students that ride and work with us.  I am grateful for the volunteers that give so much of their time to enjoy their time at ASPIRE.  I am grateful and blessed to have a wonderful staff that loves the work they do.  I am grateful for beautiful dry days.  I am grateful for the wonderful animals that are part of our program.  They give so much to us each and everyday.

I am grateful for a house, food, gas and meals.  I am truly blessed to have a greater understanding and love for God.  I am truly blessed to everyone that supports ASPIRE on a daily basis.  Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart.

As the time grows closer to our event I hope you will consider bringing your children and grandchildren to this wonderful family event.  Your time and dollars mean so much and we are looking forward to a great event.  Remember Children 12 and under are free in advance and free military tickets in advance.  Thanks again for the blessings and wonderful support.  God has truly blessed my life.

Jumping into Fall

Wow, the time has flown it hardly seems that it is time to harvest crops and fall classes are beginning.  Where has the summer gone.  Lots of changes and lots of fun but it seems like there is never enough time for all we want to do.  Summer came and went with classes, Horsemanship, YMCA, Camp HOPE, Bremwood, miniature horse visits, and pre-school visits.  It is time to think about leaves fall off trees, apples, cider, and sweaters.

ASPIRE is preparing for lots of activities this fall and it  is time to jump right into the water and get wet.  It is a busy month with volunteer fairs, career fairs, health fairs, classes, Bremwood, finishing up with miniature horse visits, and our events.  Join us Sept 23rd for Night of the Horse, October 27th for our Halloween Open House and then Volunteer Recognition.  Wow the year flies by way to fast.

God is good all the time.  We sold the wonderful travel trailer that was donated.  It was a great donation and we enjoyed the people that received the trailer.

I am so thankful for the great staff and the wonderful time we are having making a difference.  It is so wonderful to see all the happy faces.  Join us each week and I update you on the wonderful things that are happening around the farm.

Small but mighty

ASPIRE is small but mighty.  I have been  networking more in the past couple of weeks.  I attend the meetings and the events, I realize that we are a small organization compared to some in the community.  We are serving so many people in need and changing lives everyday from our students, to our volunteers and staff.  It is amazing to watch the transformation of our participants as they sit a top of a horse or interact with our mini's.  ASPIRE is small but we are doing amazing work.  Please don't ever underestimate what you can learn and gain from the small places.

I have been watching the news with all the flooding going on.  I watch as the media centers on Houston and all the people, but there are small towns that are just out there surviving and helping each other just as much as Houston.  Don't get me wrong they are all in my prayers, each individual and animal not matter where they are in the flood waters.

I am truly touched by the shear numbers of neighbor helping neighbor.  When it comes to very small organizations like ASPIRE we need lots of help to keep us moving forward.  It is everyone coming together to make us mighty.  When I thought about donations for Hurricane Harvey I chose the small organizations that were truly trying to make a difference.  ASPIRE truly works hard to make a difference.  Our animals work hard to touch everyone's life.  Please make sure you are keeping your eyes open to the great things that we do.

I hope you will attend the Night of the Horse, Sept 23rd.  It is a wonderful night of entertainment. As we move forward we will once again have our Halloween Open House with hay rides, haunted barn and lots more.  Volunteer Recognition will happen in November.  Wow this year is flying by.  Join us in helping with classes, donating to help keep our horses, help with events.  It is with awesome pleasure that we stand tall and move this program forward.  ASPIRE is truly SMALL but MIGHTY.

God is opening doors and he is reaching out and guiding us all!  Have a wonderful day and blessing and prayers to all in need.

Memories

Today is Sunday!  The day we worship the Lord!  It is a day to give thanks and praise for all the blessings we receive.  The storms of life hit us on a regular basis.  Sometimes they are dark storms and sometimes just a whirlwind of turmoil.  Life is not always easy but it is truly the way we react.  I am so grateful to be in a position of witnessing changes on a daily basis.  The small changes.  Sometimes in our riders, sometimes in our staff, sometimes in our volunteers and even sometimes in our horses and other wonderful animals.  When it comes to animals we are on 24/7.  The heat is taking its toll on all of us.  We have to remember to do the best we can and this to shall pass.  It such a beauty to witness the time with our students.  Thanks to all of the staff and volunteers for stepping up and making this a happier place to work.  Each day will get better and we will trudge through the greatness of our loving path that has been set before us.  Each day is decision making and life's journey.  I hope we can make this journey with love and kindness.  Someday's days we need an extra prayer as we trudge through the deep grass to handle yet another time of trial.   All of you are so amazing and I truly am grateful.

The stories of life.  As I reflect on the past couple of weeks and the discussions with parents, staff and wonderful volunteers it is time to grow and learn.  I am working on more education to work with trauma children and adults.  We have amazing animals waiting to give back to those that are willing to participate.

Life takes us on some uncertain journeys but when I reflect back on the best childhood and adult memories I remember the laughter, joy and love.  I choose to dwell on those memories and take the difficult ones and make some wonderful tasting memories.

Enjoy the sunshine and praise the Lord today!

Change

Today is a new day! Rejoice and be glad in it!  Wow everyday we are faced with changes!  Changes in our attitude, changes in the weather, changes in the world, changes in the government, changes in our health, changes in our children, grandchildren, spouses, even our parents as they or we get older.  Everywhere we turn there are unexpected and expected changes.   This year I have learned so much from the many changes in my life.   This year has been a year for me to work on forgiveness and trust.   I have learned about letting go.   I have learned about appreciation.  I have learned there is a season for everything under heaven.  I had the honor of visiting a therapeutic riding center in Ill for a couple of days there is much we can accomplish.  As we remain dedicated and passionate and let go of some of our control and turn it over to others and God it makes is so much easier. It is what God has in mind.   Changes in horses as they come and go. We welcome our new Gypsy Horse Maggie and Morgan Horse Gemini. Our new rabbit Puff.   Wow so many changes and our old horses just go with the flow.   I need to learn to just lean back and go with flow and not get so anxious about everything.  There is a time and a season for everything under heaven.

As we look at the many changes.  Please visit our new website for a new look. We continue a presence on  twitter, blog, facebook and yes even You Tube.  Please visit our page and print out our new annual appeal forms.  We would love to include you in our wonderful benefit package for being a donor.   Just fill out the form and mail it back with a check, or credit card.  We are offering a variety of options this year.  So I hope you will visit our website at www.aspiretrp.org and join us in helping ASPIRE be the best it can be in 2017.   Blessings for a great weekend.  Remember to take in the beauty of the changing of the seasons. Watch for some additional programs including preschool visits, women's program and we are working toward a teambuilding program.  ASPIRE is excited about the new Equicizer(mechanical horse).  We will be able to provide more through assessments and much more.  Stay tuned for more updates.

Merry Christmas 2015

Merry Christmas 2015

Christmas 2015 brings some reflections for the year.  I wanted to share important lessons in life I have learned over this year and lifetime.  I hope that you enjoy these lessons.

Lessons in life

1.      Always and I mean always put God first in your life.  Life has a way to teaching us lessons and challenges but with God first, you have a firm foundation to fall back to and he will never leave you or forsake you.

2.      Never break a promise. I have four grandchildren and I try very hard to follow through with the promises that I make to them each day.  I try to stay impeccable with my words.  Fulfilling promises as an adult is hard but it brings about lasting relationships.

3.      Celebrate each day and holiday as if it was your last.  Dance in the rain, weep when you feel the need, laugh all the time, smile at people on the street, help someone in need.  It will uplift your spirits.

4.      Enjoy and embrace the special memories you make with family and friends. Spend time planning and implementing those special moments.

5.      Be trustworthy and honest.  Even if the people around you are not it is important to our health and well-being to be honest and others can trust our feelings, actions and words.

6.      Love yourself.  Be honest with yourself, trust yourself and finally respect yourself.  Hold your head high and fall in love with you.

7.      Embrace change it is inevitable.

8.      Reach high for your dreams and goals. Set your dreams high and always work towards fulfilling your dreams.

9.       Remember that all good things come to an end, grieve, cry, share memories and then it is easier to move to the next phase.  Do this with the understanding that you will never be the same person again.  Loss changes us forever.  There is a better door waiting as we push through the grief.

10.  Embrace the blessings and accomplishments no matter how small.  I thank God every day for each blessing he has shown me.  Sometimes it’s a penny, sometimes it is a child that has accomplished more than they dreamed possible by riding one of the ASPIRE horses, perhaps it is a donor that has a loving story, sometimes it sharing a song with my granddaughter, sometimes it is sharing a special moment with my grandson, sometimes it is sharing a special moment with animals, sometimes it is cherishing moments with friends, sometimes it is setting quiet and listening to the sounds of nature, and sometimes it is rising to the beautiful sunrise, sometimes it is sitting by the lake and reflecting on the times you remember so dearly.  Embrace these moments.

11.  Remember to take good care of your body.  Live well, eat well, exercise often and reduce stress, breath and slow down.  Take the time to take care of you.

12.  On this Christmas remember the reason for the season.  We celebrate Christmas to remember the birth of Jesus.  Spend time with family and friends but remember to make some time to celebrate the reason for the season. Celebrate with peace and letting your light shine.

On this Christmas 2015 I will celebrate at Christmas by the Lake.  I will enjoy all this year has brought from special memories with grandchildren, honor my faith and spirituality, I will be thankful for the blessings I have received in 2015.  I will cherish the many memories with the animals and humans that have passed before us.  We are so fortunate to be in a place to touch literally thousands of lives.  It is a blessing to watch a children accomplish so many goals atop our beautiful horses.  It is a blessing to watch a senior reach out and love on Pixie and Cody.  It is a blessing to give a senior the last wish of seeing a horse.  It is a blessing to provide a camp to so many wonderful children.  It is a blessing to have the community and beyond to support our programs.  It is a blessing to have so many dedicated volunteers helping in every way they can find time. 

I will close with saying thank you to my husband, my children, grandchildren, friends, volunteers, riders, and families, board of directors and all those seniors and children’s lives we have touched the past years.  Thank you for allowing me into your homes, allowing me to spend time with you, allowing me to be part of your children’s lives.  Thank you to all the wonderful donors that have made it possible to make a difference. 

Thank you to all the staff for helping this year.  Special thanks goes to AARP and our staff person for the great work that he does in the barn. 

Please know that I am blessed and grateful for everyone that has touched my life this year. I have learned many life lessons.

Thank you to Sonny, Bo, Snickers and Blue.  You are running free and I am grateful for the memories.  Thank you to our human friends that have touched my life and now are feeling the hands of the angels and feeling the beauty of heaven. 

Thank you to the beautiful horses that have dedicated their life to ASPIRE: Benny, Ginger, Maverick, Cody, Pixie, Sarge, Rika, Erika and Chex. Thank you to our beautiful barn cats Mouse, Bob and Sassy.  Thank you to our energetic dog Josy.  She has challenged us and taught us many lessons.

I wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. 

Marilyn and Don Moore and ASPIRE