Today is Veteran’s Day, and I am so grateful for them and all of their service, thank you! My mother is a veteran, an Army nurse. I am so proud that my mother, a German immigrant Muslim woman, served in our nation’s military. I am so proud of her on so many levels, and grateful she is my mother.

I am also grateful for the Veteran’s Pathways Grant we won, and was able to put in the beginnings of a beautiful, easy path around the ranch so people of all abilities can come here and enjoy nature and the horses. The pathway makes it much easier to take care of the horses, too, having a nice, flat clean, space to work with them whether for the farrier or to get a bath. It has been a huge improvement in quality of life taking care of the animals.

And I am grateful for Jose, an El Salvadorian veteran, who was a ranking officer in the military there, and now helps us take care of our tractor, fences, feeding, and everything else that goes on and needs hard work. He and his team are already out here, at dawn, making the most of every minute of the wood chipper we rented to make bedding for the barn before the worst of the winter sets in soon. We have not yet been able to buy our own, so we rent one every now and again, at great expense, so we can make good use of our brush pile. As we enter the holiday season of giving, won’t you please help us offset our costs of taking such great care of the animals? https://www.coloradogives.org/organization/Resqranch

At least you would know your donation is going to an actual good cause, not a bunch of administration and marketing. I don’t know how I got so lucky to get Jose, or how I have managed to afford to keep him for the past 3 years, but he is such a valuable asset to us and I don’t know what I would do without him! So yes, be grateful for all the veterans in your life today!

I am tired. Work was brutal yesterday, short handed (people can’t help getting sick) and stayed long. Missed a school volunteer meeting. At least the weather is still holding. Despite all that I am grateful I woke up this morning, that I have a home, heat, running water, supplements to put in my dog’s breakfast, and the whole day ahead of me. I can make it whatever I want, we all can. Today I will have more fun, learn something new, accomplish a big task that has been
alluding me, and spend time with friends. I have no idea right now how any of that can happen, but it’s worth a try to start by just wishing for what a great day could really look like! How about your turn? How about you take a moment right now and just imagine what the rest of this day would be like if it was more perfect and fun than you can now imagine. Would you be snowboarding? Riding horses? Sleeping? Having a rewarding day at work where you know you are appreciated and make a difference in people’s lives?

​Whatever that is, I wish and hope you will take a moment to visualize what you want out of this day. Not exactly what will happen, but just the feelings you want to experience more of in your life. And do something nice for yourself. It’s Tuesday. We made it through Monday, we are all doing the best we can, and that’s more than enough, so take heart!

Tell a Veteran how much they mean to you today, and how grateful you are for them and their service and sacrifice. Have a wonderful day! And thanks for being here you Animal Loving Angel!
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​Check out my YouTube channel for a daily "Good Morning!" from the rescues and lots of free tips and training resources. https://www.youtube.com/@the1drq