This just in: my dream, Healing Horse Touch, has just been approved for non-profit status in the state of MN!
I am so excited and petrified at the same time! We have been moving toward this goal for several years now. I was hesitant to apply (even now) because not everything is perfect…
The fencing isn’t up.
We don’t have a round pen.
I missed spring and summer training.
The products haven’t been created.
I don’t have a course lined out.
The website isn’t complete.
Yep. Not perfect. But, as the saying goes, if you wait for everything to be perfect to start, you will never start!
So, I sent in the application. It was supposed to take 3 wks for approval. Two days. It only took two days to receive the approval! I am taking that as a sign that we are moving in the right direction!
Now to apply for IRS non-profit status. And, the scary part… being open to talking to people…
oh dear. What have I done?!
Sep 12
Trivia question: what TV show was Bob watching that inspired this design?
Sep 14
A couple of months ago, I started using a new tool from Content Gorilla I like to try new stuff and was just dabbling with it, getting ideas for things to write, but mostly focusing on finishing up my website designs and main pages.
After getting the non-profit status from MN on Healing Horse Touch, I saw a post that this company was doing a blog contest. I decided to enter because I figured we could use a little free exposure. So, I added a few updates and entered the contest, but wasn’t expecting much because I am still missing a few key elements…
I certainly was not expecting 1st prize!!! I personally thought my site was pretty awesome, but prize worthy? And we are getting so many more visitors than I thought! Talk about a confidence boost!
Sep 16
The barn is clean. Working on the barn yard… one shovel at a time. I should be done in a couple more days, depending on how I feel (I have a tiny cold, at the moment).
Sep 18
This morning, I filed an amendment with the state for Healing Horse Touch. The IRS requires a detailed purpose clause included in the files, whereas the state accepted a simple sentence that it is for charity work. Just waiting for that to be approved before starting the process with IRS (which, I learned, could take any where from 3 weeks to 6 months to process!)
I also just finished our Client Welcome Packet full of other required forms. Plus, last night, the required equine activities warning sign arrived and Bob immediately mounted it for me.
Now to create educational pieces… So many details to keep in order!
Sep 23
I am taking a marketing course. I am on module 2 of 10. Most of it, so far, is review, but it is a good reminder. One thing that got my attention today was the statement: a sign of growth is friction in your brain. Well, I must be on the path of growth because there is plenty of friction in there!
I needed to decompress and get a little creative…
Sep 24
I am considering starting a personal development devotional series. What do you think about this?
Title: Loving in Deed and Truth
Scripture: 1 John 3:18 (NIV)
“Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”
Reflection:
John encourages us to love authentically, not just with words but through our actions and in truth. This love is often reflected in nature itself. Think about a tree: it doesn’t need to say anything to provide shade, beauty, and oxygen. It simply does what it was created to do. Its actions speak of life and giving without any expectation of reward. The tree is rooted deeply, and because of that, it can give freely.
In our own lives, our love should be just as natural and unwavering. Words can be powerful, but it’s our actions—how we help, serve, and care for others—that truly make an impact. Are we like the tree, providing shelter and comfort, or are we merely words that vanish in the breeze?
Personal Growth Application:
Spend some time outside today, maybe under a tree or near a garden. As you do, reflect on how nature gives without expecting anything in return. Think of someone in your life who could use your love in a tangible way. What can you do this week to love them through action, just as nature gives so freely?
Write down one action step you can take today to demonstrate love in a way that mirrors the generous nature around you.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for the beauty and lessons we see in nature. Help us to love others with sincerity and purpose, just as nature gives without words. Let our actions reflect Your goodness and love, and may we be firmly rooted in truth. Amen.
Sep 27