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The future of Little Belle’s Sanctuary – Can you help us?

Dear friends of Little Belle,

What I am about to write now, share with you all, is something I delayed for some time. It makes me feel vulnerable and I am always a person who wants to solve problems herself instead of asking others. But now that Little Belle’s Magical Sanctuary is involved, I have to step aside my pride and find the courage to ask for your help. Little Belle her sanctuary, my family, is everything to me, and with all my heart I want her legacy to go on.


The place where we live now is not our own place and because of certain circumstances that changed we really need to have our own place where we can continue our Sanctuary and to fulfill our dream to give many more animals in need a forever home.
Another part of that dream is also to give people the opportunity to experience a whole other way of living with animals. To feel and learn more about life through the animals with a true understanding for who they are, to learn more about themselves, to explore the world together, to grow, to feel the magic.

Of course, this was always Robert’s and my plan, to move to another country with a better climate, more space, and more living in nature, to follow our dream. That’s why I went to Portugal, to explore the possibilities for us and the animals.
During my research in Portugal I learned a lot and I also discovered that Robert and I don’t have enough finances to buy an appropriate property for our dogs and horses, for our dream to do more for the old and ‘handicapped’ animals, and to create something beautiful for people to experience as well.

We had the plan to emigrate already for years but because of my health (Lyme disease and neck trauma with two surgeries) we weren’t able to. Due to my health we also have spent a lot of money to help me heal. Nowadays I feel much better, occasionally I can still have a pain attack, but not that severe as before anymore.
Do you know who played a big part in this? Our beautiful Little Belle. Who gave/gives me the most inspiring insights in life, and who gave/gives me the strength to follow my heart. She and I will also describe in our book about how we changed each other’s lives.

Only at the moment, I don’t know how to continue our Sanctuary without having our own place. I don’t know how to make it possible to follow our dream.
But I won’t give up, and I will keep fighting, searching and thinking about solutions. Make my and Little Belle’s dream happen.

So, my question is: Do you have any ideas or advice to help us?

Please, let me know in a comment, by sending me a private message on FB/ IG, or to send me an email at info@littlebellesmagicalsanctuary.org

Thank you so much, your love and support every day on FB and IG mean the world to us ❤️

Love,
Irene, Little Belle’s mom

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Reflections on our journey and life lessons

Where to begin?
That’s a question I asked myself several times the last week. So, I postponed the writing each day, hoping I would somehow find the right words later. I realize now there is not an exact point to start, so much has happened that it is even impossible to just write that down in one blog. Of course, many of you followed our stories and pictures each day, which was wonderful, it was pure joy to read your comments,  but that was just a part of what we’ve experienced.
What I didn’t share is that I didn’t felt so great in the house that I rented. Not that the place wasn’t good, it was a lovely house, at a beautiful location, and with very heartwarming people. It was more a personal matter, something I wish not to write about it at the moment. Maybe one day, I don’t know yet.
A consequence of this was that I couldn’t reach my heart anymore and that was a complete surprise to me and also very hard because my heart is my guide in life. And, as many of you know, also Belle is a very important part of my heart and the most-valuable guide ever. I thought that, once in Portugal, I would feel less pain missing her physically by my side, but it turned out to be much worse. It taught me a meaningful lesson, that instead of ‘running away’ from all the memories at home, to be able to experience all those memories at the place where you made them together is an amazing gift to treasure every day, here at the exact same spot where we lived together.

I’ve seen a lot of signs that Belle gave me during our stay in Portugal. Some examples; at a moment where I was very emotional, missing her so much, a little bird came by the window of the door, landed on the little ridge of the window pane, and sang a lovely song.
Once I was driving back to the rented house, the sky was dark with grey clouds everywhere. I was doubting if to go back to the place where I didn’t feel well, when suddenly the sky broke open and bright rays of light shone down exactly at the spot where our destination was. Another time, I was walking with Emi and Kintana, a memory of Belle came to my mind which caused a deep heartache. I looked at the sky and a big heart-shaped cloud was there, with on both sides the wings of an angel. And so many more, some I prefer to keep for myself, between Belle and me.

One of the hardest parts during our stay was the loss of our dearly beloved horse Joy. That moment when Robert and I had to decide that we had to let her go, and I wasn’t able to be physically there, for Robert, for Joy, for the others, was heartbreaking. No more words to write about that… An old picture of Joy and me, this one was made about 12 years ago! Beautiful memories:

 

As for the search for a property for our family, we didn’t find one yet. I’ve seen a lot of properties and I also drove to a lot of regions to just see and feel if it would be the right environment for us to live. I couldn’t find it. Remember that I couldn’t reach my normal intuition, so it was not so easy to determine how it felt. But maybe it also told me a lot, that this wasn’t the right region for us. I don’t know for sure yet, I just need time to let it all sink in.

The funny thing is that there is one little dog that led me to another country and that is Cloudman. And I know for sure that another little dog, our warrior angel, led me to him.
While driving to Cloudman, which was from the west coast of Portugal to the east coast of Spain I was in awe of the beauty of nature there. Where in some parts of the Alentejo I got a sort of suffocating feeling by all the mountains everywhere around me, here I saw more flat areas with every time another mountain or mountain chain in sight again. I loved that! I learned that I love hilly landscapes but I need to have a nice and clear view too. Besides that, I discovered that the east coast of Spain is quite interesting, feeling the even warmer temperatures there.

So, what has brought this big journey to us?
Of course, it was an amazing adventure, we’ve traveled through 4 very different countries and we’ve seen a lot. We met lots of wonderful people and friends, and made beautiful and special connections. We’ve seen and felt such pure and magical places, where nature touched our hearts in the most breathtaking ways.

 

We’ve learned a lot about what we want with our search and what we don’t want. We learned a lot about properties and land for sale, about the different regions, the people and culture, and the climate.

Although we didn’t found our dream place yet, which I didn’t expect to happen so fast (but you never know of course), it brought us a lot of experiences and information. Robert and I decided to take a little break now, for me to get lots of rest because the whole journey had a big impact on me, and for us together to think and feel more about our next steps.
In the meantime, we will, of course, continue with Little Belle her magical sanctuary here: www.littlebellesmagicalsanctuary.org

I will write and share more about our life here with all the dogs. There is also a very special event coming in memory of Little Belle, the magical birthday auction, where we also need your help! See: https://littlebelle.org/auction
So, lots of work to do!

I would like to thank all of you for your beautiful support along our journey, that meant, and still means, a lot to us. There were also friends that supported us with a donation, which was really amazing and touched our hearts deeply. Thank you so much! Little Belle will smile in heaven and in our hearts knowing and feeling that she and her family are surrounded by such wonderful friends.

I think it’s already pretty obvious that I am very happy to be home again. I’m sitting behind my desk, in Little Belle her special corner, with the countless gifts you gave to her and to us, in her memory. All the dogs are close to me, resting in their own beds, or on the chairs or couches. Robert is attending a course today but will be home in a few hours. The horses are enjoying their hay outside and I can watch them through the windows, or later more closer when the dogs and I will go outside. Oh yes, it’s the best feeling ever to be home again!

Never ever, in any case not voluntary, will I leave home again for so long. Well, one thing is very clear, the best part of our journey was finding our little man Cloudman and bring him home! And one other part, for sure, the amazingly happy homecoming! While feeling my little angel by my side all the time… 


Written by Irene, Little Belle’s mom

 

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Little Belle’s new Magic Fund

Today, I was finally able to stop the fundraiser that we set up 2 years ago to help Little Belle with her food and medical costs. I planned to do this for weeks already, but I just couldn’t take this last step. So many memories…
It’s only that I think it is too confusing to have two funds and besides this, also the aim of the fund has changed.

I decided to keep the same name for the fund, which is ‘Little Belle’s Magic Fund’ . The obvious reason is that Belle her magic will continue, now in the most beautiful way to help her family.
You can find the new fund here:  Little Belle’s Magic Fund
The donations will go to Little Belle’s Magical Sanctuary and 15% to other charities. You can read more about this and how you can support us, here: Little Belle’s Magical Sanctuary

Although the ‘old’ Magic Fund is closed, it will remain visible. This way, all donors can still find their donations, read their and others’ comments and I also love to read them once in a while. So many heartwarming words to our little angel.
The enormous amount raised there is something I sometimes still can’t believe. I knew that people offered to help Belle with her food, but when we started it I could never ever imagine that it would grow this big. Your support helped us more than you will ever know. The costs of Belle her food and medical costs were very high and because of you, it was also possible to get her special food all the way from to U.S.A. to us in the Netherlands.

 

Little Belle and I thanked you many times, but still, it doesn’t always feel as enough. I hope you feel our warm smiling hearts when we say to you… A very big thank you to all donors for your beautiful donations!
And, we’re also very happy and grateful for the new donations to the Magic Fund for our Sanctuary. Last 2 months, with the emergency surgery of Lulu and with Kintana her operations and treatments, the medical costs ran up to nearly 3000 dollars… So, thank you so much, your love and support for also Little Belle her family is truly amazing.
This all in honor and memory of Little Belle, her magic will never end <3 .

Irene, Little Belle’s mom

 

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How will we travel to Portugal?

 


A good question 🙂 After much thought, the pros and cons weighed against each other, we decided that it would be best to travel by car all the way to Portugal! One very good reason for this is because Emi and Kintana will travel with me. If I would choose for traveling by plane, Kintana can be in the cabin with me but Emi will have to go in the cargo and that’s something I don’t want for her at all, she is such a sensitive girl. And another reason is that I like to have my car with me when we are in Portugal, in the end, this also means fewer costs.

For those who’ve missed the story about out Portugal adventure, see previous blog: Our journey continues

This will be our route:

Yes, I know it will be a very long journey 🙂 , about 25 hours drive and this is especially not so very easy for me because of my health. That’s why I will drive maximum 5 hours a day and with lots of rest breaks in between.  Therefore we also have to make 4 stops along the way in order to sleep, eat and rest.
I am trying to find good places to stay but that’s not so easy yet because of the dogs. Two friends already offered a place in their home to us which is so very beautiful! We’re very grateful!
I made this map where you can see at which points (approximately) I would like to stop and at the yellow stars, we already have a place to stay! The last yellow star is not the end of our journey yet, but the home of the former foster mom of Kintana where we will stay for a few days!


Now I have a question, is there maybe someone among Little Belle her friends who lives near the other red dots and you like to offer us a place to stay? Or maybe you know of someone who lives there? That would be really wonderful! You can contact us via: info@littlebelle.org

In about 5 weeks we will start our journey to Portugal, time really flies! There is still a lot of preparation that needs to be done, so it will be busy weeks, also exciting, and sometimes uncertain. I’ve never ever done something like this before in my life, so I can honestly say this is one of the biggest adventures ever. And when I write this, I immediately see my beautiful little angel girl who smiles and says:
“The best adventures are those where you follow your heart! I am with you, all the way!” 

Always 

Irene, Little Belle’s mom

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Our journey continues…

Today I would like to share some special news with you that might be quite a surprise, but maybe some people already sensed something after our adventure in Portugal. Anyway, I think lots of you have seen how special our time in Portugal was and a lot has happened since then.
What I never shared with you, because it was not really a current thing yet, is that Robert and I were already thinking of moving to another country for years. But, because of my health, we never took actual steps to follow our dream.

Reasons
We hear a lot of times that we live in such a beautiful place, why would we maybe leave all this?
One of the things that had a very positive influence on my health was the different climate in Portugal. This really was an amazing discovery. In the Netherlands, during summer time and higher temperatures, we always have a very high air pressure which always causes more pain. Also, the many days with rain and wind throughout the year increases the pain.
We also wish a better environment and more space for the horses. The soil we live on is clay, so with the amount of rain we have here, it gets very easily completely rain-soaked with a lot of mud. We have spent already lots of money to keep the ground good for them, but every year it’s the same story.
Another reason is that where we live now isn’t our property, it belongs to Robert his father who lives in the main house. Robert, I and the dogs live above the stables of the horses.
And last but not least, a very special one, with Little Belle’s Magical Sanctuary and my plans to help more dogs in need, we also like to have more space.

 

 

Our plan
To be sure that Portugal will really be the best place to go with the dogs and horses, our plan is that I will go back in November and stay there for about 2 months, maybe longer depending on how it goes. I will bring Kintana with me and probably also Emi because she missed me a lot during the weeks I was in Portugal in July.
Thanks to financial support of someone close to me this is possible. It was a big decision though, and I had quite some moments that I was unsure what’s best to do and I can still have these moments. Especially leaving the other dogs at home makes it really difficult for me. But this is the only way to do it, the only way how we can search for a new place to live. Robert will need to work and take care of all the horses and dogs. And in my heart I know the other dogs will feel okay together with Robert, they love him too 🙂 .

In Portugal
In Portugal, I will look into two specific regions, the Alentejo and the Algarve. To investigate and explore different areas and to find out what feels as the best place for us to live.
And one other big thing I want to do in Portugal is starting to write again. To continue with the book where Belle and I had to stop in February this year, the moment when we found the new tumor on her jaw. I haven’t been able to write since then, due to all what happened and so many emotions… And there are so many memories here that I just haven’t been able to start again here. Therefore, I hope I will be able again once I am in Portugal, in another environment and with more time to write everything I still want to write, there is so much to tell (!), with the help of my beautiful little girl Belle.

Of course, nothing is certain yet, we don’t know exactly where it will lead us and maybe we just stay here and we will keep focusing on giving the best care to all our animals. But then we know that we have thoroughly investigated all possibilities.

Sanctuary
Little Belle’s Magical Sanctuary will stay in the Netherlands as long as we live here and we will continue with the work we do for our own animals and other animals in need. Your support will always be needed a lot, so I hope you will continue to help us.

 

Little Belle’s spirit
I strongly believe that Belle played a big role in all of this, she was the one who led me to Portugal and only because of her I had and have the courage and strength to follow my heart. So, I think our always very brave adventurer helps me to become one as well…

She will watch over us:

If you have any tips, advice or perhaps you think you can help us, please let us know via: contact

Thank you!

Irene, Little Belle’s mom

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