Once upon a time, there was a boy.

He was a wonderful boy, filled with mischief and adventure outside the classroom, but filled with angst and frustration inside its walls. Today, he would’ve been diagnosed with Dyslexia, but then, they thought he was having problems reading because he was left-handed. So, they pulled him out of his class, and put him into a program referred to as “Plan A.” There, he joined a lot of other kids labeled as ‘different,’ kids with special needs of all kinds. They worked and worked to change his handedness, and two things happened as a result: 1) he became ambidextrous 2) he fell behind in school.

Fortunately, over time, he received the help he really needed and his Dyslexia became manageable. He got caught up in school and used his new-found skill of ambidexterity to amaze his friends (and still does to this day). However, the most important thing that came out of that time in Plan A was a fierce defense of people with challenges. As a kid, he would beat up anyone that made fun of his friends, but as an adult, that kid – my husband – has learned to channel that defensiveness into something a little more productive (*grin*). Combining his love for horses with his desire to help the challenged community, he had an idea.

Today, I’m pleased to announce an important day on the timeline of a dream that’s been stirring in his heart for years and years and years:

We open registration for the first official session of Hope for the Trail Therapeutic Horsemanship.

When we moved out to this property, it was specifically to start a non-profit that would provide equine therapy to those with physical, cognitive, emotional, intellectual and developmental challenges. Finding the property, selling our other home and moving out here happened so quickly and easily, it hardly seemed real, and we knew the timing was obviously right. But once we began the process of filing for the 501(c)3, setting up a board, and getting our facility built, time seemed to all but grind to a halt, everything seeming to take f o r e v e r.

I sit here now, this morning, and realize, yet again, that God uses waiting. He stretches and grows and prepares us in ways that we wouldn’t experience in a fast-track setting. We had no idea what all was involved in setting all this up when we began, and He knew we’d need time to just try to get our brains around it.

I guess I want to tell you this morning that God is still in the dream business. If He’s planted a dream inside you – even if it was 40 years ago – He’ll bring it to fruition. You just have to get out of the way and expose it to the Light, then, you too, could be standing at the edge of it one early morning, smiling and thankful.

**You can help us by “liking” us on Facebook, sharing this post or the link to our web site, or letting anyone you know in the Parker County/Greater Fort Worth area about our services and need for volunteers. Thank you in advance!!

“Meanwhile, friends, wait patiently…You see farmers do this all the time, waiting for their valuable crops to mature, patiently letting the rain do its slow but sure work. Be patient like that. Stay steady and strong.” James 5:7-8 MSG

“Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.” Psalm 33:20-22 ESV

“But me, I’m not giving up.  I’m sticking around to see what God will do.  I’m waiting for God to make things right.  I’m counting on God to listen to me.” Micah 7:7 MSG