2013 - A Year In Review

It's a bit hard for me to write a year in review without joining both Sanctuary life and my personal life. The two were such opposites it's hard to fathom.

For the Sanctuary, 2013 was absolutely amazing. We held our first fundraisers ever and we did such a huge success I am so motivated to see what 2014's fundraiser's will do. We were blessed with the opportunity to raffle off some horseshoe art at the Cowoby Way Church booth during the SD Horse Fair. We also had our first annual Easter Fundraiser. I learned a lot from that fundraiser and will hopefully make each subsequent year better! We also held a playday in October that was great. I learned a few things so hopefully the next playday we have will be better. Considering I'd never been to a playday before, I learned a LOT. So hopefully those that attended will forgive my mistakes and attend this year's playday!

With all our health scares, I learned that we have some AMAZING supporters. It's hard to find people willing to go out during the coldest  night of the year and do chores while we were stuck in the hospital. But we did. I swear we have guardian angels watching over us. I consider those volunteers my guardian angels because  no matter what, they said yes to any of my requests while I wasn't able to get to the horses. And never once did they complain about going out in subzero temps in the middle of the night. Then we had guardian angels willing to step up while we were in the hospital again to push in round bales because the pasture wasn't ready yet for horses. Without a word of complaint, people volunteered to help us out. With all our ordeals, I learned that we have so many people we can rely on. It restores my faith in humanity and humbles me to think of the generosity of people.

We were able to reseed our pasture thanks to Mike and L. Hopefully the pasture will come back this coming year and we won't have to deal with any droughts or flooding. I'm always amazed at how people are willing to step up and help people out. We may call ourselves a Sanctuary, but in truth, we are just two people trying to make the lives of a few horses better and more comfortable until their final day on this earth.

I would love to thank everyone by name for all their support with the Sanctuary but I'm afraid I may accidentally leave someone out (not on purpose). There's been so many people that have helped us this past year it is quite humbling. We arent' doing anything extraordinary. I do believe those willing to help us out in our dreams and goals with the Sanctuary are the ones that are extraordinary.

We did have a few sad times at the Sanctuary with the loss of our biggest supporter, my grandmother, Shyrlee Roling.  This place is just not the same without her  moral support and encouragement. Such a wise woman that I can only hope that I can be half as wise. We also lost Babe, our beloved blind Appaloosa mare. She taught us so much about patience and dealing with what is handed to us in life. Of all the horses, I believe she has taught me the most (in multiple areas of life in general even!)

2013 was a whirlwind of excitement for the Sanctuary and I can only hope that 2014 will be an even better year. I'm hoping that with 2014 being the Year of the Horse, that more positives will come.

On a personal level, this year was a living nightmare. Mike and I were talking the other night and I think we are both still in denial or shock over this past year. I can say the words but I don't think they have or ever will sink in, that I almost lost both Mike and Garrett in 2013. With Mike's heart scare and subsequent heart surgery, I am more leary of our health as we grow older. Growing older you realize that you are not invincible but this year was a true wakeup call for me. I stall cannot get over almost losing our son to menincole meningitis. To realize how close we were to losing him is unthinkable. I cannot put into words or even clear thoughts what would have happened had the outcome been different. I thank my lucky stars every day that Garrett came out of that scare with no lasting affects and that he's a happy and healthy little boy (although he seems to be getting the flu a lot more this winter). Knowing how close I was to losing both of them leaves me dumbfounded.

I am absolutely grateful that they both recovered without any lasting affects. The only affects we had from the ordeals was in our pocketbooks. We've been feeling the pressure of the hospital bills ever since Garrett was born (with his stay in the NICU and my emergency surgery and third trip into the ER). I had hoped that we would be able to take in an old horse this past year but with all the hospital bills, we'll be lucky to bring in another horse in a year or two instead. The Sanctuary is run completely off my paycheck (and don't get excited, I don't make a lot in the paying job. We simply sacrifice in other areas). The fundraisers this past year have really helped and I am eternally grateful to all those that have donated and helped out to make the Sanctuary what it is today. I hate having to turn horses away and the funds people donated have helped ease the pressures of caring for the current herd. But it would be so much nicer if we had more funds coming in. I hate to say no.

I am hoping that with this being a new year, we will be able to restore our health and have no more trips to the ER, that we will be able to enjoy our health (and the horses' health), and have a great 2014. I am excited to see 2014 in front of us. There are so many opportunities I can hardly wait to get started on them all. I have never in my life been more excited to see a year behind me than this past year.

So here's to the Year of the Horse. And for all those that have helped us this past year, even if it's simply giving moral support (which I despeartely need...always), thank you. The horses may be the reason why we do what we do, but we couldn't continue without your support. Your support and generosity humbles me.

Goodbye 2013, HELLO 2014!!!!