Windows To My Soul

11/03/2021

So this is how our Windows team will spend the next few months. October 31st was scheduled to be our last day of operations, but then there was the Caldor fire. This is our community, these are our people, our children. The board voted and the entire team jumped in. Windows is here for just a bit longer. We still have work to do.

It’s an honor.

Kids LifeStyle PUSD Students Find Relief from Horses “During and after the Caldor Fire, we knew we needed to do something to help the community. Although our organization is closing, our focus became helping our community heal.” News MoLo November 2, 2021 2 min read [Dina Gentry] Recently, Pione...

08/17/2021

CALDOR FIRE UPDATE

The fire is currently moving away from Windows, and we are safe for the moment. We are evacuating the horses as a precaution should anything change. Thank you to everyone for reaching out to see if we are ok and sorry we cannot respond to you personally as we are transporting the horses.

We are praying for everyone impacted and for the brave first responders fighting to keep our community safe at this time. 🙏

You can check for Caldor Fire Status Updates Here:

08/15/2021

Hi Everyone-just wanted to let you know that the Caldor Fire is about 10 miles from here. We are are watching for updates and the trailers are staged - ready to go. We are prepared, but very safe at this moment. Thanks for all the phone calls and texts.

Deepest gratitude to all of our First Responders. 💕

07/17/2021

Today we’d like to send out one final thank you to a great supporter of Windows through the years - Lee Hodge, husband of Founder Cindy Skelton-Hodge.

Lee has served as a volunteer, donor, and facilities and logistical support for on and off-site events. Although he loves the work of Windows, horseback riding is another story! He claims he may be one of the worst riders on the planet.

A fun fact you may not know about Lee and Cindy is that from 1997-98 they sailed from San Francisco to Mexico, where they spent six months exploring the west coast on their 44-foot sailboat. A friend joined Lee to sail from Cabo San Lucas to Hawaii and back to San Francisco – Cindy preferred a 747 for the return trip home.

We asked Lee what made him so passionate about supporting and working with Windows, and this is what he had to say:

“When my wife, Cindy Skelton-Hodge, first talked about working with her horses to help individuals who were struggling mentally/emotionally, I thought we would have a few troubled teenagers out to the ranch to groom horses occasionally. Eight years later, the lives of hundreds of adults and children and their families have been transformed. I have learned that equine therapy as practiced at Windows is scientifically based and incredibly successful in treating the effects of trauma.

Supporting Windows has been the most rewarding work of my life.”

Thank you for your work supporting Windows - it truly could not have happened without your steadfast support through the years!

07/17/2021

A Letter From Founder, Cindy Skelton-Hodge

Dear Windows Community,

Eight years ago, I founded Windows to My Soul to help individuals struggling with the negative impacts of trauma through equine-assisted psychotherapy. Since then, we have helped over 350 clients, distributed $220,000 in scholarships for our services, and conducted 8 Bridges first responder retreats. We have served veterans, survivors of domestic violence, families, first responders, cancer patients, and children to help them build the emotional and mental health skills necessary to live connected, empowered, and purpose-filled lives.

It is impossible to put into words my gratitude for our volunteers, sponsors, donors, and partners. The way this community came together to support and participate in our mission has been nothing short of awe-inspiring and for that, I will be forever grateful.

A lot has happened over the past year including running an organization in a pandemic world, contracting Covid myself, and continuing to suffer from some Covid “long-hauler” symptoms. These events contributed to a personal awareness of my need for a life transition which includes spending more time with my family, friends, and animals.

Although Windows is a non-profit organization, it is no different from running a small business which takes an enormous amount of personal time, effort, and financial resources. After significant consideration and board consultation, my husband Lee and I have decided that it is necessary to shut down Windows in order to reconnect with life at a different pace. I hope to continue to feed my passion for serving those who can benefit from equine-assisted psychotherapy as a trainer and by teaming up with clinicians in private practice.

I know this announcement will come with a level of sadness and grief for our incredible Windows community, and I share those feelings. I hope you can set aside some time and space to reflect and celebrate the many accomplishments we made over our eight years of service. Everyone we were able to help is now equipped with tools and knowledge not only to better their own lives but those of our community.

Again, we are eternally thankful to each individual who has contributed to our program with their gifts of time, skill, and finances to make this experience possible. Everything you have done to make this program a success lives on in the lives we have changed.

What to expect moving forward:

✅ Our September Fundraising Gala and all future events are canceled.
✅ Individual client sessions will continue through the end of October, and we will not be taking on any new clients during this time.
✅ Our Bridges Retreats are under assessment and may be taken over by an outside party with our continued support. We will let you know if this comes to fruition.

We invite you to share your fond memories, celebrations, photos, and farewells in the comments below. 🙏

07/10/2021

See you tomorrow for Concert Under The Stars!

When: July 11th, 2021
Where: Windows To My Soul Arena
When: Gates Open at 6PM

Please note: Bring your own picnic, beverage, and chair. There will be NO food or beverages for sale.

Purchase Tickets:

Join us for a lovely evening under the stars with the wonderful Dave Stamey.

07/09/2021

Mark your calendars and buy your tickets!

A Natural Life: Love & Grief Are Connected
July 23-25, 2021

Designed by The Natural Lifemanship Institute, this virtual conference will bring together a community of helpers and healers from all over the world, to guide us in the art of grieving—so that we may remember the well of love that rests within it.

Learn More:

This virtual conference will bring together a community of healers from all over the world, to guide us in the art of grieving.

07/07/2021

Concert Under The Stars is just around the corner and this is one event you won't want to miss. Join us for an evening of music and community in the Windows To My Soul Arena.

When: July 11th, 2021
Where: Windows To My Soul Arena
When: Gates Open at 6PM

Please note: Bring your own picnic, beverage, and chair. There will be NO food or beverages for sale.

Purchase Tickets:

Join us for a lovely evening under the stars with the wonderful Dave Stamey.

07/06/2021

“El Dorado County is so blessed having this wonderful organization in our community.”

This week we’d like to introduce you to Bob Campbell, a Windows volunteer with a service background. Bob served as a Lieutenant in the Coast Guard station at Cost Guard Headquarters, Washington, D.C. in the Ocean Engineering Division, Acoustics and Optics Section where he was instrumental in designing an airborne remote sensing system to detect and monitor oceanic oil spills.

Bob has a heart for veterans and first responders, along with their families. He began volunteering with Windows because of their outreach and support for veterans.

In addition to volunteering with Windows, Bob and his wife, Peg, volunteer for the Pioneer Volunteer Fire Department at the Crab Banquet and other fundraisers. Because of their love for animals, they also volunteer at Sierra Wildlife Rescue where they have rehabbed opossums, foxes, bobcats, and coyotes for the last 24 years.

From all of us here at Windows – thank you, Bob, both for your volunteer work and your service to our country.

07/04/2021

From all of us at Windows, wishing you a wonderful 4th of July. Be safe and well!

06/30/2021

Who is ready for some music with Dave Stamey?

Concert Under The Stars is just around the corner and this is one event you won't want to miss. Join us for an evening of music and community in the Windows To My Soul Arena.

When: July 11th, 2021
Where: Windows To My Soul Arena
When: Gates Open at 6PM

Please note: Bring your own picnic, beverage, and chair. There will be NO food or beverages for sale.

Purchase Tickets:

Join us for a lovely evening under the stars with the wonderful Dave Stamey.

06/28/2021

Reflecting on what you are grateful for is a wonderful way to start your week on a positive note.