Transforming Lives
Together, we can create a brighter future
for our Gold Star Wives & Widows of Heroes
Transforming Lives
Together, we can create a brighter future
for our Gold Star Wives & Widows of Heroes
About Gold Star Wives & Widows of heroes
Our History
We are passionate about loving-on and providing a space for Gold Star Wives & Widows of Heroes to gather together in the Mesa mountain range of Powderhorn, CO at Sky Ranch Ute Trail to bond in this safe place where walls come down and vulnerability and authenticity are encouraged to grieve and move forward after the loss of their husbands who fought in our military and paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. God bless these women. MY BIO The Freedom Movement was founded in January, 2010.
Our Team
Our team is made up of ministry leaders who are passionate about bringing the Hope of Jesus Christ to the hearts of people through service and mission work. May we be the Hands and Feet of Jesus to fill the world with His Love.
Blessed to be a Blessing
Out of our healing and abundance we partner internationally in Africa, Asia, and in India to provide homes and schools for orphans and the underprivileged so they can have a Godly foundation and be raised up in the way they should go. We minister to women and communities across the nations, as The Lord leads.
Support Our Gold Star Wives & Widows of Heroes
Help us make a difference in the lives of women and children by making a donation to our Gold Star Wives & Widows of Heroes Encounter Retreats today. Your contribution counts.
Testimonials
Since losing my husband in 2012 I have been on many widow retreats. Each retreat was a wonderful experience and helped bring the widow community together. Unfortunately I feel as though there was something missing from the retreats, the healing aspect. Laura’s retreat has been providing many great tools for healing.
Laura helped establish
Since losing my husband in 2012 I have been on many widow retreats. Each retreat was a wonderful experience and helped bring the widow community together. Unfortunately I feel as though there was something missing from the retreats, the healing aspect. Laura’s retreat has been providing many great tools for healing.
Laura helped establish an intimate bond with each other, provided us with a safe and comfortable space away from the rush of our daily lives where we could connect and share our stories. More importantly she helped us understand what we were feeling and more. She provided us a space where we could let go and cry without judgment.
The location and the cute little cabins, rocking chairs on a wraparound porch, sitting beside a beautiful river are all absolutely breath taking. The location also provided us with hiking trials and a church that provided us with a calming place to be. I can’t do the church justice describing it as it is a special place.
The staff was very welcoming/friendly, and the food provided was absolutely delicious. I highly recommend considering Laura and Ute Trail for future TAPS retreats. ~ Beth
If you have never attended a GoldStar Women’s retreat at Sky Ranch Ute Trail in Colorado at the invitation of Laura Mazzu. Then get there like yesterday!! I was invited and encouraged to attend nearly three years ago by another GoldStar friend and I was very excited to get selected. I was stressed out from my job and at a place in my
If you have never attended a GoldStar Women’s retreat at Sky Ranch Ute Trail in Colorado at the invitation of Laura Mazzu. Then get there like yesterday!! I was invited and encouraged to attend nearly three years ago by another GoldStar friend and I was very excited to get selected. I was stressed out from my job and at a place in my life where I could not decide what I wanted to pursue next. The pictures on the website were like “Calgon, take me away.” I read the expectations provided; but just wanted to get away for some much-needed peace and quiet. The retreat was more than I expected! I attended one of the winter retreats and the ranch, location, and scenery was absolutely breathtaking! A snow-topped chapel on the grounds caught my attention immediately upon arrival and I felt God’s peace. The lodging accommodations and homemade/homecooked healthy meals far exceed that of a 5-star hotel (in my opinion). Trust me, you will not be disappointed. First time I attended (I have been three times lol!), I thought it was going to be one of those retreats where they have you talk about your “grief”. Not so, and I was glad. Laura Mazzu was and is an absolutely amazing host! She planned activities that I felt addressed the holistic needs of us. Meaning, she had us engaged in activities, games, and discussions that focused on your needs while simultaneously thinking and servicing others. Example, the foot washing ceremony. An activity carried out by Jesus and a reminder that we are not her to be served, but to help others. We had pampering sessions, mini-seminar on healthy foods and vitamin nutrients, quiet time-either outdoors or inside curled up by the fireplace in jammies and a good book, movie night, and plenty of opportunities to bring out the inner child in us all like making snow angels and snow sledding. I love that the retreats are faith-based. ~Erica
This is a retreat I highly recommend any GoldStar surviving spouse to attend. There wasn’t anything that I did not like about my experience at the ranch. I enjoyed meeting up with old friends and meeting new “sisters”. Peacefulness personifies the entire experience of this retreat. Looking forward to attending another one.
In October of 2019 I decided to attend my first Christian retreat with Laura. I had no idea what I
was getting into, it seems like I wasn't meant to go as I had a problem with childcare and I was terrified to take a plane to a state where it snows all the time and have to rent a car to then drive to the mountains!
I truly believe I was mean
In October of 2019 I decided to attend my first Christian retreat with Laura. I had no idea what I
was getting into, it seems like I wasn't meant to go as I had a problem with childcare and I was terrified to take a plane to a state where it snows all the time and have to rent a car to then drive to the mountains!
I truly believe I was meant to be there, I lost my husband in 2016, our daughter was one. I
struggled with my faith. I was angry with God. I was scared to go on this trip where I would not
know anyone and didn’t know what to expect. I didn’t know how I would feel but being in
Colorado for a few days with other widows like me with Laura, with people who never met me before praying for me, changed my life.
I felt so welcome and loved. I renewed my faith. I can't emphasize enough how it changed my life. Being in nature, having amazing meals and disconnecting with life back home for a short
while to pray and feel Jesus love.
What Laura has done for me, I can't repay. I highly recommend this retreat for all widows. it is life changing and Laura is an amazing mentor. I have made a lifetime friendship and am so
appreciative of everything she has done for me. ~Marlene
I have attended the Widow Retreat that Laura Mazzu puts on in Colorado for military widows. I can attest to it being a very healing retreat at what was, in my case, an encredibly prolonged period of blinding grief which I call my "wobbly phase" where I needed to learn who I was, and what my life could be without my husband. In my c
I have attended the Widow Retreat that Laura Mazzu puts on in Colorado for military widows. I can attest to it being a very healing retreat at what was, in my case, an encredibly prolonged period of blinding grief which I call my "wobbly phase" where I needed to learn who I was, and what my life could be without my husband. In my case, I had no friends or family that had experienced anything like this, nor did I know anyone who had gone through this at a relatively young age. For me, it was my first time meeting other military widows, like myself, and was a very positive experience that I recommend, even if they are afraid to be out in public, like I was, due to profound grief, fear, and depression, which I had suffered from for many, many months. ~Dana
When my husband, David died I was 42. David was healthy and active – the picture of health. I never expected him to die. I had so many questions about what life – and my spirituality - would look like in the future. I attended events, counseling, and church to begin the healing process and to better understand my grief, but until I was
When my husband, David died I was 42. David was healthy and active – the picture of health. I never expected him to die. I had so many questions about what life – and my spirituality - would look like in the future. I attended events, counseling, and church to begin the healing process and to better understand my grief, but until I was introduced to Laura, I was just going through the motions and checking boxes. We talked about how to recreate your life, a woman resting in peace and confident in her God and her relationship with Him. Before the retreat I felt completely stuck. I couldn’t move forward and felt that I wasn’t making the most that this life had to offer; I was hiding behind my shield of grief. Laura’s retreat helped me develop strategies and tools to rebuild my life without David.
The retreat venue was amazing; a sacred space where we could come together and share our stories – that only other widows could understand. With each step that I took out on the trail, with each meal, with each gathering - I felt an easing inside of me.
I left the retreat with a better understanding of myself and my strengths as well as a new group of amazing ladies to call friends! Most importantly, I left knowing that I was not alone in this process and that Laura - as well as the other ladies I met - would walk beside me beyond the days spent at Sky Ranch at Ute Trail in Powderhorn, CO! ~Tammy
I am writing to nominate Laura Mazzu’s Sky Ranch Ute Trail Widows Retreats to be added to your roster of recommended Widow Retreats.
I have been blessed to attend two of Laura’s retreats. The first as a spouse, the second as a spouse and the worship song leader.
Laura’s retreats offer a safe space for widows to come together and turn off t
I am writing to nominate Laura Mazzu’s Sky Ranch Ute Trail Widows Retreats to be added to your roster of recommended Widow Retreats.
I have been blessed to attend two of Laura’s retreats. The first as a spouse, the second as a spouse and the worship song leader.
Laura’s retreats offer a safe space for widows to come together and turn off the noise of the outside world in a breathtaking environment. We silence the electronics and unplug from the comotion of life for a few days, and instead plug in to God’s word. From the hikes, to the scriptures, the meals and the self care exercises, Laura gives us the tools to turn to our faith as we walk in our journey of grief.
Laura’s retreats also allow us to do all of this while we connect with other widows. The retreats I have been blessed to attend, have brought some beautiful women into my life whom I now get to encourage and be lifted up in my day-to-day life.
I fully recommend Laura’s Retreats, and continue to praise her work for the widow community.
Thank you for your time, and for your consideration of this great program! ~Kim
Laura Mazzu invited me several times to attend one of her healing retreats for Gold Star wives. A friend of mine attended and told me it was life changing for her. I was finally able to fit it into my schedule and I am so happy I was able to go. It has been 20 years since my husband passed away in a military accident so I thought I had
Laura Mazzu invited me several times to attend one of her healing retreats for Gold Star wives. A friend of mine attended and told me it was life changing for her. I was finally able to fit it into my schedule and I am so happy I was able to go. It has been 20 years since my husband passed away in a military accident so I thought I had made peace with everything…I learned so much more about the pain and emotions I had tucked away for years so I could muster on and raise our boys. I was able to release everything in a loving and safe environment with the sessions Laura led us through. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting the other widows on the retreat too. We were all able to bond and help each other and we became fast friends. Laura is so caring and compassionate and a truly dedicated disciple of Jesus. I could feel God’s loving and peaceful presence around us the entire retreat. The location of Ute Trail is absolutely breathtaking and I felt like I was supposed to be there. The staff was so friendly and helpful too! I highly recommend this retreat as I found it healing, and it gave me more confidence and hope and my relationship with Jesus grew deeper for which I am truly grateful to Laura and Ute Trail for providing me with! ~Ami
I had the honor of attending a Gold Star retreat at Ute Trail with the Freedom Movement in 2021. This small retreat was a much needed restorative opportunity to meet with a fellowship with other woman of shared tragedy. We were able to pray, sing, worship and dig deep into our own spiritual growth for a time of healing. The location, the
I had the honor of attending a Gold Star retreat at Ute Trail with the Freedom Movement in 2021. This small retreat was a much needed restorative opportunity to meet with a fellowship with other woman of shared tragedy. We were able to pray, sing, worship and dig deep into our own spiritual growth for a time of healing. The location, the food and the staff who came to love us was profound. ~Rosanna
Contact Us
Your Generous Contribution is Tax Deductible
