A round of applause needs to be offered to the “Ranch of Rescued Dreams” for the contribution they are making to children and horses who are in need of rescue. Kim and Troy Meeder had an amazing dream of giving back to their community and with a lot of hard work and determination, their dream has become reality. It touches my heart to hear that their dream has now become the dream of so many more.
In 1995 – Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch was started with the intention to bring troubled and abused children into the path of troubled and abused horses. A place intended for healing and helping for both the horses and children. A place for both to find hope again. I truly believe that they have succeeded in creating such a place. In their book, Hope Rising, you can read the stories of these moving encounters.
I personally know how much a horse can bring into your life. You can create a bond with them that can change your whole life and perspective. And with all the things that children have to face these days, what better way to reach out to them, then through the love of a horse. These horses are in just as much need for someone to bond with and to trust that they will be safe and loved since they have all been rescued from difficult circumstances by the ranch. I applaud this foundation for their work and I hope that they continue to touches the lives of so many.
They are open to the public so if you are ever visiting Bend, Oregon – please look them up and stop by to see the great things they have going on there or to make a contribution to such a great charity. You can also look them up on the internet for more information or to meet the children and many horses that they have helped along the way. They also have a very special picture gallery that completely captures the “rescued dreams” they are fulfilling.
Archive for Livin'
Ranch of Rescued Dreams
Child Safety Day
It appears that Child Safety Day has recently passed. According to many different news articles, many states and companies celebrated it on different days during May by offering events or workshops on issues regarding children’s safety. Meridian, MS is actually doing a child seat checkpoint this Friday to make sure parents have their car seats correctly installed. I personally think that this is a very important day for parents. We should constantly be aware of our children and the safety of their environment and lives but it wouldn’t hurt to also take this one day a year to review the common things that surround our children. Sit down and create a checklist of toys, cribs, high chairs, activity centers etc. and visit one of the many recall sites our there to make sure what you have in your home hasn’t been added. Or take the time to do a little internet research and find out some of the newest safety laws for your area. I think this should also be a good time to remind parents to go get their CPR license for the first time or renewed. No matter how old our children are, it is up to us as parents to provide them with safe and happy surroundings.
To the Tornado Victims……
I just want to take the time to say my heart is going out to all the victims that are suffering from the devastating tornadoes that have been hitting parts of our country. I’ve been reading that this could be a record breaking year for the amount of tornadoes we have had and the amount of deaths resulting from it. It is just heartbreaking to see entire communities being demolished by the natural disasters. I only hope that they can recover from the loss and rebuild stronger then before. My thoughts are with them. I also have to commend the American Red Cross and all the other relief programs such as CJ’s Bus that have volunteered their time and resources to helping the victims out. It is truly a great thing that they do and for those looking to dedicate their time or donate money, I would definitely look into either one of these organizations. I have a special feeling for the work that CJ’s Bus is doing for the children. This was started by a mother who lost her son and other family members during a 2005 tornado and is now turning her grief into something positive and life changing. It was no surprise that Oprah’s Big Give gave $12,500 to this cause. It is well deserved and very needed.
I’ve noticed over the newspaper articles and news broadcasts that I’ve looked into, they all seem to be really pushing for people in severe weather areas to purchase a NOAA Weather Radio. This device has been reported as being helpful in saving lives during a tornado or other sever weather disaster. Most deaths from tornadoes occur at night because people are sleeping instead of paying attention to the weather. The weather radio is to alert or call you at night when there is a warning in your direct area. Not only does this radio alert you of severe weather but it can also be programmed to alert you about other things such as amber alerts, national security issues, safety alerts and much more. If you live in a hot zone for extreme weather and if it can help save your life – I say it’s worth going out and purchasing NOAA as soon as possible. I would also recommend looking into the American Red Cross for information on what to do in case of a tornado or other disaster. It always best to be educated before that warning or alert comes your way.
