The Start of Hope
Hope Rising
Faith, Help, and Hope
At first Madeline was tentative and unsure. Her thoughts were too fractured to allow her to focus. (Pg 96)
This quote is from the authors perspective as she observes another child who has locked everyone and thing out due to a traumatizing experience. The author is meeting one of the visitors, Madeline, for the first time and learns that Madeline's mother and two brothers had just been killed in an automobile accident causing Madeline to lock everything out. This quote is just the beginning because by the end of Madeline's experience at the ranch, she is full of energy, laughs, and smiles for the first time in a while. While learning to ride a horse that has gone through a similar situation when it comes to loosing family, Madeline relaxes and takes in the love from the workers and especially the horse.
The exotic facial structure proclaiming her Arabian lineage still remained, but her eyes were deeply sunken. (Pg 132)
In this quote, the author is describing the horse that she sees before her. The author, Kim, and her husband are called to go and rescue horses all the time and they always have to be ready to face the worse. This horse was ten months pregnant, extremely skinny from no food, and depressed because the owners abandoned it. This poor gray mare could barely walk and just taking a few steps would put her out of breath. Usually Kim and her husband can nurse a horse back to health, but sometimes they try all they can, but they can't do anything. In this case, they were to late and had to put this horse to sleep, but with prayer and hope, they made the right decision.
The theme of this book relates to the book, Soul Surfer by Bethany Hamilton because in both books the families must come together and have faith. They also must help each other and then go out and help others in anyway possible. In both books, they have hope and inspire others causing the hope to spread.
Having a desire to help and spread love saves many kids, adults, and even horses.
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"Black Diamond"
"Black Diamond is for sale!" (Pg 149) Black Diamond is a gorgeous black filly who starves with the rest of the ponies. Kim ends up nicknaming this horse and does anything she can to buy her, but the owner keeps refusing until months later, the owner says the filly is for sale. Kim ends up purchasing the filly and nurses her back to health.
Help, Hope, Heal
"A black muzzle gently bumper her in the back. Instant realization split her face into a smile that would have melted steel." (Pg 190) A shy little girl named Emily gets put with a shy horse named Solemn who is very frightened of humans. The horse can sense that Emily is the same and ends up trusting her with hopes that she'll love her. This horse helps Emily have hope and to heal while Emily provides the same for the horse.
Big Heart
"No child, I resolved, should suffer like this. Without taking my hands from the blond girl's shoulders, I simply turned to the right and gave my dark-eyed lamb a kiss on the top of her head." (Pg 111) The protagonist, Kim, is a woman with a big heart who cares for everyone and wants to help them heal. She's always there ready to help and always wants whoever it is to feel loved. She is a true inspiration to others.
Kim Meeder
Email: kimmeeder@gmail.com
Website: http://www.crystalpeaksyouthranch.org/who-we-are/our-founders/
Location: Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch, Innes Market Road, Bend, Oregon
Phone: (541)330-0123
Facebook: facebook.com/KimMeeder.com
Twitter: @kim_meeder