The Good, The Bad, The Awesome!

There have been a lot of things happening these last few weeks.  So much to tell.   Bad news, good news, great news.  Typically, when people ask me that question of which I'd like to hear first, I always choose the bad news.  So, I will start there.

A couple weeks ago I went for my yearly check up.  The results came back not so great.  So, I had to return for a biopsy.  (and to my relatives reading this, my mother does NOT need to know any of this.)  To have to wait for the appointment, then to wait for the results, was agonizing to say the least.  Here I am, running an organization to raise money for cancer, and there I was getting a biopsy.  As usual, I tend to make a joke with serious things to lighten things up.  I had told my husband, "Well, if the results are bad, perhaps the Ellen Show will finally hear me and have me on their show!" and that "man won't that kick DO3 to the next level!"  He didn't seem to find humor in that however. 

As I had mentioned before, with my winter "down time" from barrels, I sit and look through photos, creating inspirational quotes to match each one.  This particular quote at the time of finding this news, was one of myself and my (hubby's) horse Smoke.

I know all to well, that horrible things can happen.  That none of us are safe from such things.  With the Holidays coming, I would drive to work listening to Christmas songs, tearing up as I drove thinking and praying that God did not do this to my kids again, not me, not now, I have got alot to accomplish yet. 

Luckily, (without making you suffer waiting for the answer), the news was good, and negative.  Thank GOD!  I am certainly enjoying this Holiday Season alot more, spending time with my family, cuddling on the couch with my husband on the cold winter nights, and being thankful for everything!

During this waiting period, one of DO3's major supporters and sponsors, Island Cowgirl Jewelry  contacted me in regards to helping a man and his wife who ran a horse rescue in New York.  The man, Mike Dodge is dying of lung cancer and currently is in Hospice.  The rescue is H.O.R.S.E. The article is below:
http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20121129/NEWS01/311290027/Michael-Doyle-horse-rescue-Wyoming?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Cimg%7CHome%7Cp

He made a promise to each and every one of these horses and he does not want to leave this world with their fates unknown. They have 11 horses left.  Over the years he and his wife have taken care of or placed over 400 horses and he has given his life to them. His wife, Christine, is no longer able to care for them as she is elderly and not in good health either. 


http://www.hrsny.org/index.html

It took me two seconds to reply to her with a "Certainly we will help!". I quickly sent out a memo to the Team, asked them to put their "thinking caps" on of what we could do, how we could help in quick way.  Something to sell, not a tshirt, as I felt we did them too much in the last few months.  We all decided on a cap for winter!  As everybody usually wears them to the barn, to shows, out and about.  The members also wanted something on them to honor Mike, and therefore we came up with placing "The Promise" on the back of the hats, to represent the Promise he made and the Promise we will try to help him keep.

http://dreamingofthree.bigcartel.com/product/dreaming-of-three-beanie

They are $15 each and all proceeds will go to H.O.R.S.E. to help them care for the horses until they are placed in Forever Homes.  We will have a photo and story of each of the remaining horses soon, as Heather (Island Cowgirl) has flown into New York to document them all.   (http://islandcowgirl-blog.com/)

Last but certainly not least, I finally heard back from an organization in Ft. Worth to help find a Rodeo Kid family!  I contacted The Ronald McDonald House and they responded with gratefullness!  It's something I certainly needed after calling and writing to many organizations without any response.  I sometimes feel like people wanting to do good things are draped in a blanket of suspicion.  I assured RMH that we had nothing but good intentions and certainly have plenty of references.  So I am happy to say, that we have partnered up with RMH to help us with our Rodeo Kids Program in Ft. Worth and hopefully in other cities as well as we grow! 

As I looked through their site to familiarize myself more with their organization, I saw that they collect pop tabs to raise funds for their families in need.  I thought what better way for us to work throughout the year to help an organization that is going to help us!  So I shot out an email to all the Team members, told them my idea, and within minutes most responded and said they would take a container and set it up at horse shows, offices, arenas, etc. 

http://www.ftworthrmh.org/index.html

I sometimes think to myself, am I crazy for continuing to add things like this to DO3?   But why not!?  Most of us go to horse shows, or trail ride...how many cans of pop (or beer!) are cracked open ?  It's a very simple task..to collect them!  My co-workers father works at a scrap yard where I can send them, receive the cash and send down to the RMH in Ft. Worth.  (as no reason to send the caps..alot cheaper to send the check!).  State Captains can do the same in their area as well.  They can cash them in at a scrap yard themselves from their State collections or send the tabs down, it would be up to them entirely. 

So, lots of things happening!  Exciting things!  Things that lift my spirits for this Holiday Season, things that make me very Thankful for family and friends, and things that are helping to make DO3 grow!