Breadcrumbs from Heaven

By Julia E. Savitsky

When her daughter, Allison, was ten years old, she asked her mom if they could buy a horse. Her daughter was told to "ask God for the horse she wanted" and that if it was His will, He would provide one. The very next morning, ten hours after praying to God, the phone rang, and the very horse she had prayed for was given to her. This was the first in a series of miraculous steps or "breadcrumbs from Heaven" as our extraordinary God laid out a step-by-step journey for a very ordinary family.
This story is about God’s desire to be invited in and involved in our daily lives; every decision, big or small. You don’t have to be a theologian, a religious, a mystic or prophet. God loves each of us, just the way we are, and doesn’t want to hear from us only on Sunday or just when we are desperate for healing or help.
Follow the journey of trust, faith and “hands on” guidance and encouragement with one God-incidence after another, as the Savitsky family followed God’s promptings in going from the suburbs of Westfield, to an empty bean field in Sheridan and building a ministry to serve children with special needs. Reins of Grace Therapeutic Riding Center (a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) tax exempt corporation) uses horses, goats, chickens, and beautiful gardens as respite, hope and healing for families with children with special needs. Our Mission is to offer services to all families who come to Reins of Grace, regardless of insurance or ability to pay.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Feb 27, 2020
• ISBN: 9781728348728

Julia E. Savitsky

Julia E. Coash Savitsky, was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan. She received her BA in Psychology from St. Mary's College, Notre Dame, Indiana. She worked as a veterinary pharmaceutical sales rep for five years, then started a home-based medical transcription service when her first child was born in 1989. She started her second career in 2004 when she became a PATH Internationl, Registered Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor. In 2007 she and her husband Bob moved to Sheridan, Indiana to start a therapeutic riding ministry for children with special needs. Julie is available for speaking engagements and can be reached at [e-mail]. You can visit our website www.reinsofgrace.org or call 317-710-1470 to contact Reins of Grace for more information. To donate, go to www.reinsofgrace.org/donate.

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© 2020 Julia E. Savitsky. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 02/27/2020

ISBN: 978-1-7283-4873-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-7283-4872-8 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2020903941

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

ESV

Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®). Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

CONTENTS

Dedication Page

Acknowledgements

Chapter 1     Quit Horsin’ Around and Write the Book

Chapter 2     Foreshadowing

Chapter 3     Blind Dates Can Work

Chapter 4     Walking the Talk

Chapter 5     The Prayers of a Child

Chapter 6     A Place That Does Something with Kids and Horses

Chapter 7     What We See; What We Don’t See

Chapter 8     PATH Intl. Training

Chapter 9     Levi’s Story

Chapter 10   The Ah-ha Moment

Chapter 11   You Have to Move the Horses

Chapter 12   For Sale by Owner—Again

Chapter 13   Green Acres Is the Place for Me

Chapter 14   Becky’s Story

Chapter 15   Reins of Grace Therapeutic Riding Center

Chapter 16   Raising Snakes

Chapter 17   Sensory Garden - To Bloom and Grow

Chapter 18   Where We Are Now…Oops, Wait a Minute

Chapter 19   Pearlie’s Story

Chapter 20   Finally

DEDICATION PAGE

To my husband, Bob, who in this journey of faith and trust, gets the top prize. It’s one thing to feel a personal calling from God but much more difficult to have faith in someone else’s faith. I’m pretty sure he reviewed our wedding vows and in the for better or worse section did not find anything about moving to the country, mowing and weed-whacking acres of land, or battling 4’ snow drifts down a 250’ driveway to take the garbage to the curb. Everything about this journey has been out of Bob’s comfort zone, but his faith in and dedication to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, keeps him steadfast. "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me" (Phil. 4.13).

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Reins of Grace Therapeutic Riding Center

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I want to thank my family for putting up with me on this roller coaster journey and taking each step blindly, one at a time, fully relying on God even as they rolled their eyes a bit.

There are so many friends, co-workers, colleagues, volunteers, families, riders, and the Board of Directors—past and present—whom God has sent and will send to Reins of Grace. Each person who has crossed the barn threshold has made a mark on my heart and soul and taught me more than I’ve ever taught anyone in the arena. I thought I’d started out as a teacher, but as it turns out, I was the student of Life, Love, and God 101.

And a very special thanks to Editor Extraordinaire, Deb Vessels. A casual conversation in the barn in the summer of 2019 was another nudge from God to write the book, when she said she could help with editing, which was the understatement of the year. I had no idea the English language had so many rules—and Deb knows every single one of them.

Breadcrumbs from Heaven—what does that even mean? Is it an Old Testament reference to the manna God provided to the Israelites in the desert? Or the quail? Is it a new version of Hansel and Gretel on a religious retreat? Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions’ (English Standard Version, Exod. 16.4).

What best describes this story is the scripture verse about manna from heaven. God provided exactly what the Israelites needed in the correct amount. Of course, His timing was perfect; it came when they needed the nourishment and encouragement. He was faithful to His word and was with them. As with the Israelites, God provided everything we needed to build Reins of Grace Therapeutic Riding Center, one breadcrumb at a time. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future (Jer. 29.11).

This book will allow the reader a quick glimpse into the fascinating world of therapeutic riding and hippotherapy. A few brief chapters—Levi’s Story, Becky’s Story and Pearlie’s Story—will let you see the incredible diversity, generosity, and willingness of our equine partners as they work with us and our precious riders. Their ability to connect with us—their human partners—and recognize our needs beyond our facades and physical boundaries is truly uncanny.

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CHAPTER 1

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