Introducing.......

 

This is our current farm house!  We live on 5 acres in town in Colorado Springs. I found this location a year and half ago in October. We went for it!!! I put our house up for rent and BAM! 3 days later a family rented it and we were planning to move within 21 days.  The home is remodeled inside, looks beautiful …dun dun dun! However, the home was built in 1904. For some reason it didn’t bother me or concern me--it even added to the ambiance. I was in love with the 4 bedroom 2 bath farm house. We also have this shabby barn-like structure in the back off of one of the pastures! Off we went into the home, ecstatic.

            The first year was a NIGHTMARE! We had no water at times and when we did, it was ORANGE! We had no heat off and on throughout the winter; leaks in the roof, wet carpets, and sewage in our tubs at times …I mean seriously! At the age of 32, I had to ask my mother to do my laundry. I pretty much cried every other day. Okay, then 13 months into it, the landlord finally (with a few threats of suing) agreed to fix the water and put a whole new system in. He also fixed some of the sewer problems. Things started to feel “normal” again! However, I have recently been accepted in a masters program at Metro State in Denver. We felt like this home and everything in it was too costly to stay here. I prayed and prayed and finally was willing to leave. We tried to buy a “normal” home in a “normal” neighborhood. (Just so you all know,  I’m not a “neighborhood” kind of girl. ) So……(you’ll get the end of the story at the end! )

            Over the past three years my faith has grown tremendously. My heartbreak and tumultuous divorce was an incredibly devastating experience. I had a great fear of getting re-married and did not trust my decision making skills.  My expulsion out of some of my closest communities, gossip, and the loss of many meaningful friendships was painful beyond words. At first I totally isolated myself.  However, I began to find verses of encouragement and grace and, of course, strength. My first step was practicing stepping out of my front door.  I began to live my life, go for my dreams and focus on moving forward and taking off any pressures that were on me that I put on myself or that I believed others put on me. Amazingly, I found this house, someone gave me a horse, I found a RV that would be perfect for the boys and me, and I got a job to help provide for my needs.  My mother began a praise journal for me because prayers that I lifted up to God were being granted left and right. Neal has stuck with me through it all. The joy of my three boys is insurmountable. Isaiah, my youngest, is truly a gift from God.  It’s been difficult at times no question, but God has truly blessed me and has NEVER left my side. Not only has he not left, but he is with me so closely sometimes I get afraid. (If that makes any sense)  So here we are! We tried to move when our lease was up and buy a house. God immediately closed that door and I was confused, but knew I could trust God. (AFTER I threw a fit. FYI--poor Neal, he sees 9 million of my fits…you should see one of my fits, they are incredible) Anyway, I believe one of the greatest blessings by God is when we get to see “WHY” he closes doors.

            So, back to my story, I was accepted to complete my masters online. Through this program I applied for an internship with a local agency that I have close ties with from my last job. They were excited and agreed to let me do my internship with them!  I proposed to the agency and to the University to start a horse therapy program, combining my horse experience as well as my social work experience for my internship.  They both accepted just last week.  I also found a local agency (Boy Scouts of America) that is willing to offer insurance. Holy moley, I say! I am starting a horse therapy program! Then, another horse was given to me to use for FREE!

            AGAIN GOD HAS BLESSED ME. I named my program after my given name, Susanna, found in Mark 8. It means lily of the valley, true beauty.  “true  beauty” The program will be mainly for girls ages 15-18. I wrote my own curriculum focused to work with girls whose futures may be at risk due to their past. The curriculum was written from my heart, my experience as an adolescent therapist/social worker and from my own experiences.  I am passionate about them learning how to break patterns, gain a new faith in God, and create plans to be successful through creating education plans, health and spiritual awakening. Most of all I hope to share the GRACE OF GOD. This is truly God’s program because he has led me in this direction and opened doors that I would have never expected to open three months ago. (The idea came to me one day after going to a church service three months ago. The message was on using your “gifts”. We are called to use our GOD GIVEN GIFTS! I felt motivated and that day the idea came to me to present the idea of starting a horse therapy program and combine it with my internship!)  Like I said, HOLY Crap. He moves quickly when it’s HIS plan.

            I am truly thankful for ALL of the experiences God has given me and the people he has placed in my life to be able to start this program. I am forever grateful to those who gave me a safe place to be and to ride while growing up (during difficult times), which has given me the horse experience necessary to do this program. I am thankful for my pain and substantial learning through my divorce because my faith has grown so much as a result of it. (Recently Neal and I did spiritual gift testing through our life group and one of my top three gifts is FAITH)  That was not the same gift I had three years ago. My gifts have changed and fit me and I aim to use them! God is so good! I am thankful for those who have accepted me where I am!

            This letter is to ask for prayer. Recently my mother met a woman with the gift of intercession/prayer. Her ministry is teaching others about the importance of prayer and most of all the importance of a prayer team behind every ministry. I have huge needs with starting a horse therapy program. Funding needs: horse hay, shovels, trash service, helmets, equipment to train girls to ride (saddles, pads, helmets, etc) including a port-a-potty!  We also need prayer for protection for the girls, finding the right girls for the program, and of course protection for my family. 2 Chronicles 20:15: Thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God’s. Please let me know if you may be interested in being on a team to pray for us as we embark on this journey of which I feel fear and excitement!

True beauty   Σουσάννα