“I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Rom. 15:13, NLT)

Excerpt from Kim Meeder’s 2024 Q4 Newsletter Story:

Throughout the years of working with and around countless kids and horses, one truth remains. I experience every child with a similar delight. Its as if they reflect a unique flower placed within a timeless bouquet. Kids are amazing.  Each one is so special.  Each one is such a gift.  Each one radiates something beautiful.

Years ago, I had the privilege of spending time with an extraordinary “flower” such as this. Although she was in her late teens, her slender build and sweet, childlike voice made her seem much younger. Although her outward appearance was stunning, it was what poured from her heart that made her truly glorious. Despite her unique challenges, she was filled with a rare anointing of joy. And what made her joy so powerful was that it was not dimmed by her equally rare autoimmune affliction. Instead of focusing on her suffering—she chose to focus on all that it could build within her.

From the world’s point of view, she had every reason to be negative, bitter and to blame God. But not this rare blossom. She chose to allow her pain to become the Refiner’s fire—a necessary tempest that melted away all but the true golden joy which she embodied.

She knew Jesus—the Author of hope—the Author of her—for her name was HOPE.

One of Hope’s goals was to learn as much as she could about horses. She wanted to train a few of her own so she could help kids know the love of Jesus during their own seasons of struggle.

Even though Hope’s body declined with illness, her desire to own horses and help children did not.

Armed with a heart full of joy and a meager budget, Hope and her family traveled east to the Burns Oregon Mustang corrals.  After hearing the story of her illness and dream, it was unanimously decided—to sell a rare pinto buckskin colt—to the rare girl—for an adoption fee of $125 dollars.

To ensure that her new four-legged friend would not be alone, Hope rescued a second horse from a kill pen. She learned that the frightened bay mare had only two days left before she was scheduled to be shipped to a slaughterhouse in Canada. The new horse was also an unusually beautiful Azteca mare.

In deference to her waning health, the strong-hearted but frail-bodied girl went to work. Her every remaining ounce of energy was poured into the care and training of her two four-legged friends. Her dream never faltered. She was determined to use her horses to help hurting children step forward into the healing love of Jesus.

When the time finally came to host a few children, Hope was no longer strong enough to carry a saddle. Undeterred, she helped her tiny friends ride bareback. It was a glorious breakthrough for Hope, the children, and the horses. She had successfully trained her once unrideable horses into mounts gentle enough to safely carry kids.

Yet, during this season, even though Hope’s joy remained constant, her body continued to slide into irreversible oblivion. She had a deep awareness that her time on this earth was winding down. Hope sensed she would not be able to complete her “race” in its fullness—but would need to pass the baton of love forward—to others who would finish what she had started.

Within this timeframe, the Ranch received a somber call from Hope’s mother. After much prayer and many tears, it was the family’s desire that Crystal Peaks receive the treasure of Hope’s horses. The rare girl was extending the rare “baton” of her horses—to us—that they might go on to fulfill her loving dream of helping hurting children.

After taking this request to the Lord, an equally prayerful, tearful decision was made. We all agreed that Hope’s horses needed to stay with her—until her last breath this side of heaven. These faithful friends were needed to lovingly walk her into the arms of Jesus. Only then would they be ready to enter their new life on the Ranch.

In the meantime, the Ranch sent teams of staff, interns and volunteers to support their family by delivering hay, cleaning paddocks, grooming the horses—and praying for Hope and her family.

Continuation from Sarah Robinett:

On one such visit, our team observed an extraordinary interaction between Hope’s mom and the tall bay mare. Hope’s exhausted mother stepped out of the house momentarily to retreat from the excruciating pain of watching her daughter suffer. The grieving woman found solace in the mare’s warm neck. As she wept into the dark horse’s mane, the elegant horse rotated toward her.

With wordless understanding, the mare carefully moved her head around Hope’s precious mama—encircling her. 

In an astounding display of knowing compassion, the mare held her tightly . . . in an equine embrace.

One staff member saw the embrace and shared how the horse “didn’t let go.” She watched in silence from a distance and recounted how the distraught mother’s sorrowful sobs slowly settled into deep breaths of peace. Only then did the mare release her hold. 

This moment revealed the depth of God-given compassion that the stunning Azteca possessed . .  . and how exceedingly rare it is upon the earth.

We knew the extraordinary gift this beloved horse carried was needed most to comfort her immediate human family—before—coming to serve children at the Ranch.

Not long after, during the Christmas season, Hope celebrated her 30^th birthday. Then Christmas passed and the New Year came . . . all too quickly for Hope’s parents.

Two days later—beloved Hope Noel—entered the arms of Jesus.

I spoke with Hope before her passing. My friend’s greatest desire was to be with her Savior and King, Jesus Christ. When I received the news of her entry into heaven, a ray of surprising joy swept over my heart. I knew in that moment—her pain was gone and she was with Him.

Words from our last conversation also swirled in my heart. Next to being with her Savior, Hope longed for her horses to encounter children and draw them toward the redeeming love of Jesus Christ.

I knew that we could be a part of making her final requests and dreams come true.

Days later, Hope’s dear mother notified our team. Hope’s horses had faithfully completed their mission to love her daughter well. Now she was ready to release them—as she had bravely released her daughter—into God’s plan for their lives. 

One week after Hope’s arrival into her new home in Heaven, her two most treasured equine friends also arrived into their new home on earth . . . Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch.

The weight of her immeasurable gift was deeply felt. Our team tearfully welcomed the precious gift of Hope’s beloved horses. Together, we prayerfully considered how to honor our young friend’s life and legacy. 

In honor of our own calling, the Ranch renames every horse that comes into our care. And with Hopes horses  . . . a tender sprout rose from the soil of sorrow, where one tiny blossom appeared . . .

We knew with certainty Hope’s mare—a horse who reflected her former owner in rare beauty, compassion and calling—should be named after the girl who rescued her.

Hope was born during Christmas time.

Hope’s greatest desire was for her horses to point children toward Jesus Christ . . . the King of Heaven who was humbly born in a stable . . . during Christmas time.

Like a circular ring of vibrant colors, each beautiful facet of Hope’s story combined around a central core of endless truth—because of Christ being born at Christmas—we have HOPE—and Hope’s middle name was “Noel.”

“Noel” means to be “born on Christmas.”

In loving honor of Hope, we would call her beloved mare . . . Noel.

Excerpt from Kim’s Newsletter Story:

Hope knew the source of her hope. She knew the Author of her hope. She knew who she was in HIM.  She overflowed with confident hope until her last breath this side of heaven. And now, she is handing the same baton of faith to you . . .

“I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Rom. 15:13, NLT, emphasis added)

No matter what dark storms we face, we all have this choice—to TRUST IN HIM.

“Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.” (Rom.12:12, NLT)

Friend, no matter what storm you face, I pray that today you will reach for the immovable hand of hope—the hand of Jesus—and ask HIM to lead you home.

This is the unstoppable power of HOPE’S gift.