St. Luke's Women's Fitness Celebration

This upcoming weekend is the St. Luke's Women's Fitness Celebration. This is one of our premier releases each year. It's the entire experience we rejoice in: The masses of amazing women celebrating femininity and fitness together -- and the high energy that eminates from the city of Boise for blocks as we all gather there! It's quite the experience, and our birds surely feel the positive excitement as they soar with their own strong wings, to soar for us!

Because of the rainy weather last year, we chose to cancel the release. It was raining cats and dogs! Those wonderful women still had a very fun, memorable year! However, this year, the weather forecast looks stunningly gorgeous and A Breath of Heaven Doves, both the feathered and the human-type, are ready to CELEBRATE!

The race will take place in downtown Boise, right at City Hall, bright and early this Saturday morning, September 26, 2009.

St. Luke's Hospice Bereavement Seminar

Saturday, November 8th brought us a "grey-skies" sort of day -- yet the vivid autumn leaves on the trees and other living landscapes made the day pop with color. One of the special events the day flowed with was a very special program St. Luke's Hospice lovingly put together for the families they've served in the last 6 months: A bereavement seminar.

Individuals who'd lost a loved one in recent months were led through workshops, activities, and therapeutic discussions to assist them in their grieving process. The day was concluded with the interactive white dove release by A Breath of Heaven Doves.

Following our specially-written reading, we invited loved ones, one at a time, to approach the microphone. There, Gail (of St. Luke's Hospice) would hand each person one of our individual release baskets, containing a single, snow white dove. The grieving person would say the name of the loved one they were honoring the memory of, and would then open the lid to release their special bird.

Once the individuals had their opportunity to participate in the release, 4 care-takers from St. Luke's Hospice each opened the lids of 4 white wicker trunks. From those trunks, 80 birds flowed into the sky like a graceful white river. The guests who were there seemed to richly embrace the memories of their loved ones with great love and affection as the birds winged their way into the heavens. They watched, with tears, and pointed to the skies, as the birds continued circling, the flock making certain each of their own was able to join up with them before heading home.

And then, there was a calming peace.

Wishing Star's 25th Anniversary

This summer, A Breath of Heaven Doves performed a dove release in celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the Wishing Star Foundation.

According to the foundation’s website: “Established in 1983, The Wishing Star Foundation, Inc. is the oldest, wish-granting organization in Eastern and Central Washington and Idaho. Wishing Star grants wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses between the ages of 3 and 21. A child does not need to be terminal to qualify for a wish.”

The dove release took place at Stephen Grueber Park in Eagle, Idaho on a beautiful, bright and sunny afternoon. We made it possible for some special honorary people, consisting of Wishing Star’s organizers, volunteers, and some families, to release a flock of 25 snow-white doves. The birds soared in joyful celebration of the 25 years the Wishing Star Foundation has been touching the lives of Treasure Valley families.

The honorees then released about 100 additional doves, signifying the bright future of the foundation and the many beautiful lives it’s wishes will touch in the years to come.

There were some precious hearts at this event, including those of the organizers. The family relationships touched my heart deeply as I observed the love and support Wishing Star people extend toward one another. After the doves soared above, and made their way home, I drove away changed because my heart was touched so deeply by some beautiful souls. It wasn’t “about me.” It never is. But thanks be to God for allowing me to catch a glimpse of yet another lovely element of our world: The Wishing Star foundation and those who walk in the light of its goodness … Those it blesses and those who make those blessings happen.

Here is some news footage from Idaho’s News Channel 6. Michele Edmonds provided some very thoughtful coverage of the event and the organization’s 25th anniversary: Channel 6 News

The Dove Lady & Santa Clause are friends!

HO! HO! HO!
CHRISTMAS IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER AND SANTA IS BUSY PREPARING!

(That is how our good friend Santa's webpage begins.)

A Breath of Heaven Doves has yet another touch of magic in our feathers, in the form of a very jolly, special friend of ours named Santa Clause! How blessed are we to have spent time with him, joining Mr. Clause in some of his jaunts about the Treasure Valley. Mission? To spread sunshine and joy to all.

Want to know a really great, well-kept surprise of Santa's? Our friend -- your friend and mine, that is -- Santa Clause: The guy can DJ a Christmas party like a well-seasoned professional DJ and Emcee! That's because he is a finely tuned (get it? hahaha) professional DJ! Who knew? He keeps the Christmas parties rockin' and rollin' and full of massive amounts of fun. I guess the jolly guy is always full of amazing talents that thrill us all, young and young-at-heart!

Not surprising, however, is that his December schedule fills up rather quickly, so if Santa's the guy you need to take your party to that next level, be sure to plan ahead and book early. According to his website, Santa can visit homes, schools, offices (he loves to hand out the boss's sealed employee bonus checks!), and more! Santa can drop in on holiday parties (business or personal) for photos or to help hand out gifts. He loves visiting Senior Centers (for kids of all ages).

Santa's booking manager is Johnny D of Successful Celebrations. Please be sure to visit his website: SANTA CLAUSE for more information! Our great friends Johnny D and Santa Clause are sure to take fantastic care of you and make your Christmas event outstanding! And you can take that to the bank, 'cause A Breath of Heaven Doves knows all about the joy and smiles Santa brings to Boise, and beyond. What a guy, that Santa is, indeed!