Grace Therapeutic Horse Program

10/21/2024

I'm obsessed with our Rescues.
Sadie was such a beauty. Picked her up in a chevron parking lot in Morton Wash......, after purchasing her sight unseen from eastern Washington. She was a beauty. Sweet and kind. But deep in my heart, I knew her life was meant for more. She had a sadness in her soul and I could feel it. Some people ask why I don't keep all our Rescues. I so wish I could explain the answer. But sometimes words are just so inadequate. It's something deep in my heart and soul. Sometimes I fight it. But that fight of selfish ambition just never wins. Because our biggest desire at the Grace Barn....is to nurture happy, content horses. That's always our goal.
Selfishly I wanted someone here to connect with Sadie and unlock her passion. People loved on her, but something was missing. So....
The last picture is at her new home up in Bellevue. There are NO words to explain the "whys." THIS was her passion. She has found her purpose in life. Needless to say, I don't have to guess if she is cared for and happy. Every placement is carefully prayed over and thoroughly weighed out.
Sadie is beautiful and talented. We were just her rest stop. I cried when her owners sent me her recent picture. What a job we have. Even when there are sad tears, as I load them up at the end of their stay with us.....there are even more "happy tears" when their real purpose in life is unveiled.. ❤️
And I am always so incredibly grateful for our small part in their life journey! ❤️

10/21/2024

2015: We lost one of our "biggest stars" here at the Grace Barn. What a tremendous blessing this ole boy was over all the years we had him (thanks to Tim and Rachael Wigren). We shall never forget you sweet Krass. You loved, taught, listened, lead and healed so many hearts along your journey. From the very young to the older. YOU loved them all!!!! Today.. ...we remember you dear sweet friend. ❤️
Our memories are with the greatest of gratitude!!!

10/15/2024

The best friend I could ever have been blessed with.. And the greatest farm dog around. Busy busy boy.
Went to get hay. Watched over the chickens as they ate. Warned his momma that one defector was entering the house. Checked in on baby chickie. Went grocery shopping (by now he was kind of over it). And now heading home.
Grateful and blessed. ❤️

10/13/2024

My "greeting crew" every morning. Nothing better than farm life. (Except when the pipes freeze). ❤️

10/04/2024

The Life of Saving Rescued Horses......
Redeeming Love.

I often wonder why we love doing Rescues. At the end of each success story....I swear I'm taking a LONG break. And then. Then I look back and see how they have grown. How they have learned to trust again. How they are always (well...most of them) willing to give us humans another chance.
But this one. This one has been my biggest challenge the last 10 months. He came in edgy. Strong willed. Pushy. And yet.... he was everyone's favorite. He would draw people in. But it wasn't easy. Day after day. Month after month I would have a long talk with him. Trying to convince him he needed to be a good boy. He pushed me to the edge many times. And I don't give up easily. But I was beginning to doubt that his "someone special" was out there. And that has never happened before.
I knew three distinct things about him.
1. He had been terribly hurt and mishandled in his past.
2. He didn't trust. Like at all.
3. And somewhere in his short life... there was a young girl. Probably between the ages of 12 and 16. For here with these girls... his heart longed to be. He felt safe. In that obviously secure relationship, he felt at home.
So....for confidentiality purposes, I can't go into alot of the details. But is was a young girl that began to take lessons on him. She had been in the foster care system, and then adopted. She formed a bond with this boy, that was incredible. She would softly sing to him during his grooming....and I would watch his heart melt. She told me once... "he saved my life and I guess I helped him find his". It was truly remarkable. She was his first healer.
And then came along one of the most talented 16 yr olds I have ever seen. She was in love with him the first day she met him. Because of his past and his abuse, it took weeks together before I felt that it was a match made from heaven above. I knew he had found "his girl."
So....are these guys easy. No they can be incredibly challenging.
But isn't that how it is with life?. We often push people away. We linger in our messiness....Long after we should. We trust when we shouldn't. And distance ourselves even if it is safe. And we learn. And grow. And dream....❤️
And sometimes our journey is beside 4 hooves and a big heart....that we learn to take another chance.
And hope that our hearts can forgive. And love again. And soften our jaded edges....
Tonight, I am so grateful that we kept pushing forward with this boy. His dream will be fulfilling a young girls vision for her first horse.
And that my friend. Is nothing but God. ❤️.
Welcome home Bo.....welcome home.

09/21/2024

We are committed to helping make dreams come true.......if you know of a special circumstance that we can help with....or a heart that needs some mending. Perhaps a soul that needs to be refreshed. Please let us help. The barn amd all its inhabitants would LOVE to help make dreams come true. This last smile in the video, is our main goal. ❤️. We just let the animals do their job!

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/CqLi4uTgaJy4iXhP/?mibextid=jmPrMh

09/19/2024

We all need a little rescuing at times. ❤️

09/18/2024

What do you do when you already have too many chickens, and you hear chirping at the very top of the hay (stacked like 7 bales high). Momma had already hatched 10 babies and had additional eggs under her.
You call a good friend who loves chickens. And enjoys raising up more babies. Lol
Thanks Ashley, for always helping me out. I love that you love them like we do. ❤️❤️

09/14/2024

07/27/2024

A beautiful day with beautiful people. Our annual Memory Care luncheon at the Barn. Elders that love to share their stories about days gone by. Having percherons and clearing land. To riding saddlebreds and loving life!!!! Always a joy. (A special shout out to incredible volunteers: Maiya, Andria, Sarah, Ann and Diane. What hearts you have.
I love you all)!!!! ❤️❤️

07/20/2024

Church at the Farm!!! July 21 11:00. Everyone welcome.
Join with Unity Church. Hope to see you here.
12608 NE 299th street Battleground
Bring a chair if able!

07/09/2024

Best way to spend a summer day (even during a heat wave). Thanks Pastor Curtis and Debra and all your junior leaders. What a wonderful group of kids and leaders. We love having you here. ❤️

07/07/2024

A farm with a mascot.... is one of the biggest blessings there is. Many come with heavy hearts and saddened souls....but often find refuge and relief. Even if it is just for a moment.
My heart is overwhelmed today. Remanicing about all our babies that give so much of themselves. What a blessing to watch each of them "at work." ❤️. Our love and appreciation for our (team members) is never-ending. They are a gift from God! And today....well today I just want to say "thank you" for helping to change lives. ❤️

05/23/2024

It is with great sadness and regret.....that I had to make some tough decisions. And the end result is, we will not be adding this sweet little guy to our farm family just yet. Sometimes what "we want and what we need" collide and hard decisions have to be made. Some financial needs arose and my time and energy is a bit maxed out. (Somebody told me I wasn't getting any younger). 😳😳.
Maybe someday.....hope everyone understands. We were all so excited. ❤️.
Cowboy will have to do for some hugs. ❤️

05/22/2024

Thanks to Leilani Nichols....I'm so proud of this boy. He is doing so good in his new home!!!! It's always such a blessing when one of our babies gets to transition to their destiny. This boy is going places. This is what he was made for!
And I'm so grateful!! ❤️

05/15/2024

What an incredible life lesson. Love this❤️

04/22/2024

Thank you Leland, for choosing us to complete your Eagle Scout project. You are such an awesome young man and a joy to work with! Our equipment and storage area is AMAZING!!!
THANKS to the entire group and of course to parents Dave and Mary. You are raising some. fine young men. Again...we are so thrilled! ❤️

04/14/2024

Wonderful Open Barn Day!!!! April 2024 ❤️
Close to 50 people here. Couldn't do it without AMAZING people (Amanda, Ann, Diane, River, Thom, Cassie, Kirstan and many more).
So good to see Sue Martin and kids Jen-Jen and Nova. Michelle, Luke C. And kids. John A. and his darling two. Newcomer Sarah J. And boys!!!! Megan, wife and girls!!!! Ed, beautiful wife and kids, Kathy and daughter, Carrie from hospice and sweet wife. My Choochoo and Etopi!!!! Brandon and his 2 sweeties (who belong to Charity RN From long past ago) Everly her darling daughter! My extended church family Emily, Mark and kids. Cindy and friend. And of course Eva!!!! Please please forgive me for those I missed. I'm a tired old woman. Lol
So much fun. Love my work friends and their sweet precious families! We are so blessed. ❤️
Thanks to all those who brought wonderful food!!! What would we do without you (starve).

04/02/2024

My sweet precious sister decided, at the age of 74. And after not having been on a horse for over 55 years.....that she wanted to ride. It was like a miracle. After losing her husband (and the absolute love of her life) over 2 years ago....she has had a rather rough time. She has been experiencing some issues with her cognitive abilities and it has been very sad and frustrating for her.
But today. Today was like a journey back in time for her. Her memory and her ability to recall that imprint of riding in her mind's archive....was unbelievable. I was in complete shock as she confidently hopped up on Hunk and cantered off. And anyone that knows my sister, knows that is just not like her. She was confident and poised. Her seat was good and her hands light. She was so incredibly happy. Like REALLY HAPPY.
And then...she cried tears of great joy. She has missed it so much. She has missed that part of her mind that seems to have traveled so far away lately. She has longed for those memories. For some sort of remembrance of days gone by.
Thank you God. For giving her this gift. For allowing her sweet heart to "feel all those feelings" again. And to bring her such peace. And of course....great joy. ♥️
Once again...these animals far surpass every imaginable expectation i could have ever had . They are the greatest miracle-makers ever. ♥️.
We are all beyond blessed on this beautiful day.
(Video included in comments. It is superb indeed).

03/21/2024

Well we had a mishap with an aggressive group of raccoons. Our new sweet gray rooster lost all his hens and he was devastated. He was coming up every morning....to report how sad he was without his girls.
So...Cassie announced at work several days ago, that she had 6 beautiful hens that she was rehoming. Yesterday Devon and Ben delivered the sweet girls to Chicken City. We put them inside the coop to allow time to settle in.
Mr Rooster caught wind that his coop was full. We found him peering in through the window...talking to them. ❤️. And at last. All are together. Happy and content. ❤️
Success at the farm! Thanks Cassie!!!!

03/06/2024

I've always liked to consider my glass as being half full. But this puts a whole new spin on being an optimist!!!! ♥️