The Sunday Salon: Do You Dare To Live Your Dream?

Sunday, Jul 25, 2010

The Sunday Salon: Do You Dare To Live Your Dream?

I’ve recently crossed paths with a beautiful and brave soul. She’s taken chances that have led her to be able to live a life that fills her spirit. At the same time, she is passionately saving lives. She is not a doctor, not a nurse, but definitely is a healer. Through knowing her briefly, I have taken a closer look at how far I’m willing to go to chase my own dream.

My new friend Miki has trusted her faith and has dared to live her dream. But, her dream isn’t the typical one… being a movie star, a prize-winning author, nor a famous politician. Rather, her dream was to save animals. Not just the little ones that most of us try to do via adoption, but the big ones too. Miki and her husband Clayton dreamt of rescuing draft horses. As she shares on her website:

“This dream of ours was kept in our prayers for many years. We always knew however, that one-day, when the time is right, we would move and make this dream of ours come true. And that indeed happened. In March of 2006, we moved to a ranch in Murrieta, California. It is a beautiful property surrounded by nature with a lot of flat space for the horses to roam around and be happy. A place were a horse can be a horse…”

Miki’s dream had a greater vision than just giving a sanctuary to horses who no longer served the use their owner intended. Rather, there is a large number of horses that were being bred to produce Premarin. The hormones excreted from pregnant mares were largely used in the production of this menapause pill in the early 1990′s and 2000′s. For the foals of these mistreated mares who were not sold at auction nor retained for the purpose of continued breeding for the collection of the hormones, they were sold to slaughter houses for meat distribution. If you click over to this page on the Gentle Giant Sanctuary Website, you can read much more about this industry. It seems that the practice is slowing due to lawsuits which ensued 2005+ due to side effects of Premarin. However, there are still many baby foals (mainly, from what I’ve read, up in Canada), who need adoption.

Miki and Clayton adopted the most gorgeous babies… (Click on the horse and read their story)

TESS

WILLOW

EMMA

OLIVER

ELLIOT

After you read these tender stories, you just can’t help but to smile and be proud of Miki and Clayton for living their dream. You can see on their website that they are a normal couple, living just outside a normal urban area… but, they are living their dream.

I got so inspired that I asked some friends of mine who run local stables if they had anything that they could donate on Miki’s wishlist. They told me they’d check and gave me a lead on a sale. But, what inspired me was just the pure fact that, despite this scary economy, money being tight, not knowing how you will support 5 very large horses (don’t get me started on the rest of her menagerie), they just prayed about it for a very long time. After a while, their dreams were realized. All they had to do was do the footwork and keep the faith. To me… that is so brave and so trusting.

I am sometimes so trapped in fear of losing what I have, focused on work and putting forethought into what I need to manage next for our livelihood, that I forget to dream. I think often tell myself that the dreams that I have will “happen someday.” But someday won’t come if I don’t believe enough in myself and in my faith that God will provide when I honor him and when I care for the earth and its many beautiful creations, large and small.

Rather than reading about my thoughts on books today.. what’s cool on TV.. the radical sunburn I got at soccer camp.. and my typical rantings on the Sunday Salon post, can you just take a minute and think about your dream? What is it that you really want to do? How do you get there? Remind yourself not to put off until tomorrow what you can do today, as cliche as it may sound. And, pray to your God & don’t be afraid to ask how to accomplish your dream and fill your spirit.

I’m also putting a “pretty-please” call out to all dreamers, horse fanatics, animal lovers, and book-bloggers who follow my blog, to donate $1 to the Gentle Giants Sanctuary. The link to the PayPal donate button is here at the bottom left corner of the page.

Now you may recall that I recently gave a 9.5 rating on a wonderful story about horses by Lisa Jones entitled Broken: A Love Story. I am so completely thrilled to tell you that she was generous enough to donate 3 copies of her amazing story to A Novel Menagerie Readers. I am so unbelievably excited!

For a refresher on my review of this story about redemption and the power of love, please click HERE and read all about this amazing book.

To enter the contest, you must be located in either the United States or Canada. For one entry, simply leave a comment below and tell me about the animal that most changed your life. For two entries, please leave two comments (the one above) and the second telling me that you have either twittered about the contest, posted about the contest on your site, or posted about it on Facebook. For 4 entries, tell others about the Gentle Giant Sanctuary on Twitter, Facebook, or your blog. FOR 5 (YES, COUNT ‘EM 5) entries, please donate $1 or more to the Gentle Giant Sanctuary and email me about it at anovelmenagerie@aol.com or you may leave a comment about it below. Since I have 3 copies to give away, there are many chances to win!!!!!

CONTEST ENDS AUGUST 31ST, 2010

I hope that, just for today, you took that minute to think about your dream(s) and encourage others who live theirs.

God Bless!

As always, my thanks to all of you for reading not only this post, but the others as well. Your readership means the world to me! AND, your comments are invaluable to me!

25 Comments

| Posted in Contests, Personal Blogs

25 Responses

Anne Fescharek

July 26th, 2010 at 5:49 am

I have had many loveable animals in my life who have made me a better person but there was one who was amazing. Rusty was a 3 year old field spanniel who liked to wander. Now that I’m more enlightened, I will never let my Madeline off leash but in my younger, free-thinking youth I couldn’t see restricting my dog’s need for adventure. We stopped at a rest stop on I-95 in N.C. and he took off. Minutes turned into hours, he didn’t return. Since we were on our way to a crucial business meeting in Miami, we had to keep going. He had a tag on his collar but I knew I had lost him forever.

Three days later we received a phone call from a waitress in Titusville FL. Did we lose a dog? Rusty had hitch a ride with a truck driver from N.C. to Florida and the driver had given him to the waitress and she called us! Rusty came home for good and forever.

He was not just my friend but my protector and my cuddle-bug. He was sweet and loving until a strange man walked in then he went into attack mode, usually trying bite the man’s knees, he was tiny but fearless.
Anne Fescharek

July 26th, 2010 at 5:53 am

I tweetted about Gentle Giant Sanctuary (@AnnFes) and added it to Face Book (Nadine Alte)
diana mack

July 26th, 2010 at 7:47 am

i grew up with cats and yorkies…small animals
my first dog as an adult was a scarred doberman……the most loyal, loving dog i have ever had
West Of Mars — Win A Book! » Blog Archive » Broken: A Love Story by Lisa Jones

July 26th, 2010 at 1:50 pm

[...] Novel Menagerie has 3 copies for those of us who live in the US or Canada. Please stop by HERE and enter to win. I didn’t see an end date, so you might want to [...]
karenk

July 26th, 2010 at 5:38 pm

what a fabulous story…thanks for the chance to read it
my friend Nancy’s puppy always puts a smile on my face
amandasue

July 27th, 2010 at 3:40 pm

I have a 3yr old boston terrier/daschund mix named Lolo that I rescued at 5 months old from a humane society where she came abused from a puppy mill. At first she was scared of everyone and everything, it quite a bit of time, dedication, trust and love for her to realize that I was not going to hurt her and that I was going to be there for her and love her forever, in time she opened up and has turned out to be the most loving and caring dog ever! In turn she has rescued me and has helped me through many tuff times and battles of sadness and never lets me be upset for long, as she is always willing to cheer me up with a big ol’ puppy kiss and lots of hugs and cuddles, its amazing how much love animals can give us, and with animals its unconditional, it doesn’t matter how we look, or who we are, as long as we treat them good, they will love us!
Bethie

July 27th, 2010 at 7:35 pm

I had a dog, Fuji, as a child. He brightened my day whenever he would comeing running to the door as I got off of the school bus. I sure do miss him.
JHS

July 28th, 2010 at 1:29 am

My parents loved animals, esp. my mother who grew up on a farm in S.D. But they wouldn’t let us have animals when we were kids (because we lived in town). So when my first pet adopted me, I was transformed. T.C. (Top Cat) wandered into my life in 1981 and refused to leave. She lived to be 18 years old — slept on my feet every night & the was the most beautiful, loving cat I could ever imagine. I have never, ever been without a pet since the day she followed me up the driveway to my house (with me trying to shoo her away). Buddy (age 16) and Sophie (age 10) have been my canine children for the past 9+ years.

JHS
Colloquium
JHS´s last [type] ..Book Review and Winner- Good-Bye to All That
Reyna

August 8th, 2010 at 4:29 pm

The animal that has touched me the most in my life is my 5 year horse Bailee, (Apaches Princess Bailee), who I trained and raised myself, but just this year I found out she has a neurological disorder due to her previous owner not taking care of her. Bailee is the sweetest horse! Just today when I went to see her she came running up to me! She has taught me so much!

Thank you for the chance to win, this looks like a great book!
Reyna´s last [type] ..Dear John
Reyna

August 8th, 2010 at 4:30 pm

I tweeted about your giveaway!

http://twitter.com/PoloPony95/status/20662655342
Reyna´s last [type] ..Dear John
Reyna

August 8th, 2010 at 4:31 pm

I tweeted about Gentle Sanctuary (Tweet #1)
http://twitter.com/PoloPony95/status/20662731520
Reyna´s last [type] ..Dear John
Reyna

August 8th, 2010 at 4:31 pm

I tweeted about Gentle Sanctuary (Tweet #2)
http://twitter.com/PoloPony95/status/20662731520
Ruthie B

August 17th, 2010 at 9:00 pm

I never had pets growing up, so for our first wedding anniversary my husband brought home the cutest poodle-schnauzer (they’re called schnoodles). She was completely untrained & we had no idea what we were doing but we loved her till she died from old age. Her name was Pookie…RIP

ruthiekb72@yahoo.com
Stephanie Suesan Smith

August 22nd, 2010 at 3:43 pm

When I was in my early 20s, I adopted a lab/cocker mix puppy from the animal shelter. Someone had dropped a barely weaned litter off. I got Bear when he was 5 weeks old. That is much too young to leave his litter and mother. He had a host of physical and emotional problems. Learning to care for and train him helped me start caring for myself, too. Without Bear I would probably not still be here.
Stephanie Suesan Smith´s last [type] ..The Texan’s Irish Bride Book Trailer
Sharon Walling

August 29th, 2010 at 9:00 am

I have always grown up with cats. Growing up I loved watching Mitch Miller.
Needless to say my first cat was named Mitch in honor of Mitch Miller. The cat even had the gotee.

Thanks for the chance.

sharon54220@gmail.com
Mozi Esmes Mom

August 30th, 2010 at 10:55 am

My cat, Flame, is my baby… He annoys us like crazy each morning, begging for food at sunrise, but I can’t imagine not having him around with his snuggles and chats and playfulness!

janemaritz at yahoo dot com

We posted about this giveaway at Winning Readings: http://winningreadings.blogspot.com/2010/08/broken.html
Mozi Esmes Mom´s last [type] ..Schedule
Janet Ruth

August 30th, 2010 at 11:39 am

My favorite animal was a sweet border collie named Domino. I still miss her even though she passed away almost 10 years ago.

Would love to read Broken, it sounds fantastic! Thanks for the chance.
Janet Ruth´s last [type] ..A Monday Chuckle
Linda Kish

August 30th, 2010 at 2:05 pm

That would be my first dog that we adopted 9 years ago. His name was Blaze. He was 4 when we got him. I never understood dog people until then. I had always been a cat person. He loved me unconditionally until he passed away 5 years ago due to kidney failure. We got another min pin, named Puppy, who was also 4 when we got him. He is now 9 and crazy as ever.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com
Wendy

August 30th, 2010 at 3:59 pm

My favorite animal was our dog King. Such a sweet dog. I have found that he is impossible to replace.
Benita

August 30th, 2010 at 9:52 pm

I had a terrier for 14 years. She was a constant faithful companion.

bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com
Chanelle

August 30th, 2010 at 10:28 pm

I absolutely love horses! When I was little the animal that changed my life was my dog Lucky, as I was lucky to get him.
Chanelle

August 30th, 2010 at 10:29 pm

I tweeted about this awesome giveaway!
http://twitter.com/zoja214/status/22590380628
409cope

August 31st, 2010 at 7:32 pm

The animal that most changed my life was my beloved Border Collie.We had Shane for fifteen years and he was like a third son to me.He pasted away four years ago and I still miss him terribly.
409cope

August 31st, 2010 at 7:37 pm

I tweeted-http://twitter.com/409cope/status/22671658164
Patricia Boyle

September 5th, 2010 at 5:52 pm

The cat – that is, cats – has changed my life. I have lived with cats since I was a young girl and today I have three of the 4-footed fur creatures. They have taught me patience, tolerance, and especially they have enriched my life with laughter and love.