Blind Hope - Giveaway!

UPDATE Thursday, 9:30 pm: WINNER

Here are your random numbers:
1
Timestamp: 2010-07-23 02:27:52 UTC
Congrats to Kathy! Email me your address, and I'll send the book your way.

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Blind Hope
An Unwanted Dog and the Woman She Rescued
Kim Meeder and Laurie Sacher
(Multnomah)
ISBN: 9781601422804
July, 2010/178 pages/$13.99

An unwanted dog. An emotional rescue.
Two lives forever changed.

Laurie's dreams had been shattered before she came to work at Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch—the ranch of rescued dreams—where broken horses and broken children encounter healing every day. In an attempt to soothe her aching soul, Laurie reached out to save a dog in need. And she soon began to realize that the dog was rescuing her.

An inspiring true story told through the engaging voice of Kim Meeder, Blind Hope reveals poignant life lessons Laurie experienced from her ailing, yet courageous canine friend. Despite the blindness of her dog—and her own heart—Laurie uncovered what she really needed most: authentic love, unconditional trust, and true acceptance, faults and all.

As Laurie and her dog, Mia, both learned to follow the lead of a master they couldn’t see, Laurie discovered the transforming power of God’s grace even for imperfect and selfish people—and she experienced a greater love than she had ever known.

“Love is a bridge that stands firm through difficulties and connects one heart directly to another, not because of how it looks, but because of what it is.” --Kim Meeder, Blind Hope

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
Kim Meeder is the cofounder and director of Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch, an organization that rescues abused and dying horses and pairs them with children in need. Kim’s first book, Hope Rising, propelled the ranch to win the national Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Award and launched her extensive public/motivational speaking schedule at schools, churches, and governmental conferences across the United States. She and her husband, Troy, have been married for twenty-five years and live in Central Oregon. The size of their family fluctuates each year with the number of horses and kids that they rescue.

Laurie Sacher is a team leader at Crystal Peaks Youth. Laurie graduated from Point Loma Nazarene University in 2003 and taught English as Second Language in Spain before returning to her native California roots to pursue her passion for kids and animals. When she isn't working at the ranch, Laurie enjoys running with her dog, snowboarding, hiking, horseback riding, and spending time in coffee shops with friends.


MY THOUGHTS:
If you've been around my blog for very long, you know that I'm not fond of animals. But that didn't keep me from enjoying Blind Hope. And animal lovers, especially those with dogs, will absolutely love this sweet story of the spiritual healing and renewal that Laurie experienced by caring for her dog--a dog whose unconditional love, total dependence on Laurie, and encroaching blindness taught Laurie more about herself and God than she ever expected. Just one of the many truths Laurie learned is, "It's not possible for God's light, his truth, to fill the space within my heart that's already full of me."

The publisher has graciously provided an additional copy of this book for me to give to one of you. Leave a comment on this post by 8:00 pm Thursday (7/22) and I will randomly choose a winner. US Residents only, please. Be sure to include an email address if you don't have a blog in order to be in the drawing.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from WaterBrook/Multnomah as part of their Blogger Review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”