Read Blind Hope: An Unwanted Dog & the Woman She Rescued Online
Authors: Kim Meeder and Laurie Sacher
Blind Hope: An Unwanted Dog & the Woman She Rescued (20 page)
I’m grateful for
Brian Thomasson, who cried when I first shared the idea of this story.
Joel Kneedler, who encouraged me to write this book.
Alice Crider, who loves animals as much as I do.
Judy Gordon Morrow, who shouldered with me to do the impossible—again.
Jenni Reiling, Judy Jeffery, and Larry and Katie Kepple, who prayed this project to life.
the staff at Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch, who combined all their efforts to clear a time path for me.
Troy Meeder, who is the love of my life.
Jesus Christ, who is my life.
O
UR
M
ISSION
Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch was founded in 1995 by Troy and Kim Meeder.
After the rescue of its first two abused horses, something wonderful and unexpected happened; children began to come to the ranch. In their simple but passionate efforts to help the horses, they themselves embraced emotional healing. By what can only be attributed to the compassion of a loving God, the lives of the children and horses began to change.
Since the inception of the Ranch, abuse, loneliness and sorrow have been replaced with peace, belonging and joy. It is a healthy, faith-based environment where children, families and horses choose to embrace hope within the healing circle of unconditional love and support.
Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch exists to
RESCUE the horse,
MENTOR the child,
offer HOPE for the family
and EMPOWER the ministry.
Please visit our website to:
Learn about our programs
Sign up to participate in information clinics
Find similar ministries in your area
Find out how you can share hope
www.crystalpeaksyouthranch.org
We would be happy to hear from you.
E-mail us at
[email protected]
.
TORIES FROM THE
R
ANCH OF
R
ESCUED
D
REAMS
Follow a horse where no one else can tread, through the minefield of pain that surrounds a broken child’s soul. From a mistreated horse to an emotionally starved child and back again, a torrent of love revives their barren places.
In the presence of unconditional love, a mute girl speaks for the first time. A defiant teenager teaches a horse to trust again … and opens his own heart to love. A rescued horse gives a dying man his last wish. A battered girl finds love and protection in the friendship of a battered horse.
Come visit a place where the impossible flourishes, where dreams survive the inferno of reality—a place where hope rises.
OMETIMES, JUST BELIEVING IN SOMEONE IS ENOUGH FOR THEM TO START BELIEVING IN THEMSELVES …
Hope is like the stars—always there, yet shining brightest in the blackest of nights. It is like the dawn, always rising anew. Hope is for everyone. This collection of more than twenty true stories from the ranch of rescued dreams unveils the heart of true strength and the character of genuine courage. Experience the kind of love and hope that can change a person from the inside out. Because sometimes, just believing in someone is enough for them to start believing in themselves. It’s the galvanizing truth that no matter how deep your pain … God’s love for you is deeper still.
B
LIND
H
OPE
P
UBLISHED BY
M
ULTNOMAH
B
OOKS
12265 Oracle Boulevard, Suite 200
Colorado Springs, Colorado 80921
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked
(NIV)
are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.
Details in some anecdotes and stories have been changed to protect the identities of the persons involved.
Copyright © 2010 by Kim Meeder and Laurie Sacher
Photography © 2010 by Benjamin Edwards
Published in association with the literary agency of Alive Communications Inc., 7680 Goddard Street, Suite 200, Colorado Springs,
CO
80920,
www.alivecommunications.com
.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Published in the United States by WaterBrook Multnomah, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House Inc., New York.
M
ULTNOMAH
and its mountain colophon are registered trademarks of Random House Inc.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Meeder, Kim.
Blind hope : an unwanted dog and the woman she rescued / Kim Meeder and Laurie Sacher—1st ed.
p. cm.
eISBN: 978-1-60142-281-1
1. Sacher, Laurie. 2. Christian biography—Oregon. 3. Human-animal relationships—Religious aspects—Christianity. 4. Dog owners—Religious life. 5. Dogs—Religious aspects—Christianity. I. Sacher, Laurie. II. Title.
BR1725.S15M44 2010
277.3′083092—dc22
[B]
2010009799
v3.0