Wrap - Girls

This past weekend we had a group of 10 girls from Highfields. While driving to Jackson in a rain storm, I was thinking we would have to rearrange our whole schedule! As soon as I got to the pickup point to get the girls, the rain stopped and the sun came out! I am sure Jan was praying back at the ranch for good weather!
Saturday turned out to be a beautiful day and all activities went as planned. The water games have been a big hit for young and old! I know you will enjoy the pictures of that. The girls loved everything and had a wonderful time. We had a bad storm in the middle of the night, though. But the girls toughed it out thanks to our awesome bunk captains, Lizzy and Kelsi.
Sunday we had breakfast, Stephen came to lead worhsip, and the girls made their leather bracelets. Take a look at the pictures by clicking the link to the right called Wrap Girls 7/24/10.

Last Night-Girls Young Travelers

Well Monday was our last night with this group of girls. It was a special night because we received our first financial grant from Ronald McDonald's charities. They came out to check out the ranch and present our "big cardboard check". Twiggy was a little nervous about what the "big cardboard check" was, so we took the picures in front of Oreo. The girls finished up their belts, and dreamboards, and Sharon taught the girls how to back their horses up. It was a great night. We talked about our last point which was persistence. Today we are going to the lake and the rodeo with the girls. Should be a fun time! Take a look at the pictures by clicking the link to the right Y.T. Girls 7-12-10

Brightmoor Garden Club 7-10-10

Our friends from Brightmoor, Detroit came back again this past weekend. Reit came with 7 girls. It was a beautiful weekend. They all rode, competed in the archery challenge, played games, and sat around the campfire discussing the seven points while swatting mosquitoes! We then played a few rounds of spoons, and went to bed. I think they all had a great time. Stephen came Sunday morning to lead worship with special guest Bill Latocki on percussion. Jan shared a word from the Lord, and then they worked on their leathercraft. It was a lot of fun. Johnathan shined again working with Oreo and this time he really looked like a cowboy with his new hat.
Take a look at pictures by clicking the link to the right called, Brightmoor Garden Club.

Save Our Youth March

Sat. July 10th was a great day in Jackson. Many people came together in unity for one purpose; to recognize the need to help the youth in Jackson. The weather was picture perfect. Johnathan and CeCe were two of the youth that spoke at the rally; speaking of their struggles in life and where they are going. Johnathan praised his grandmother for her part in his life. I wished she could have been there. (she was on vacation). He wore his new cowboy hat and boy did he look great in it. It is the same hat that Bill wears when we go out. CeCe looked great and spoke with passion and confidence. Four other youth spoke who are living right now in the Jackson County Youth Center. Their stories were moving and really set the stage for compassion to rise up inside those who were listening.
We walked from Jackson Arts and Tech. to Ella Sharp Park and joined the Human Relations Commission Picnic. It was a beautiful day. All the ranch volunteers who were there had to leave early to go back to the ranch to greet a group of youth coming from Detroit. Take a look at pictures by clicking the link to the right called: Save Our Youth March.

Young Travelers Girls 6-28-10 Forgiveness

It was a beautiful night and we took the girls out to the arena and Sharon worked with them on their riding skills. Each girl is at a different level and improving each time we work with them. Tonight's subject was forgiveness. Horses are a great example of this and we like to use them to describe how forgiving they can be. I love the use of horses to discuss the 7 decisions outlined in the book. The girls should be riding on their own by the end of the class. Yeah! They really like it. They continued to work on their belts and are close to attaching the buckles. They are coming along very nicely.
Chris made breakfast for dinner and we talked about forgiving each other and ourselves. We spoke about how not forgiving someone is just hurting us and not the other person. Take a look at the pictures by clicking the link to the right called Young Travelers 6-28-10.

Save Our Youth March

We are partnering with the Mentoring Collaborative of Jackson County on Saturday July 10th for the "Save Our Youth March". It will start at 10:00 a.m. at Jackson Arts and Tech School and finish our walk at Ella Sharpe Park and join the Human Relations Comission Picnic. We are very excited about doing this. There will be 5 youth sharing their life struggles and how they have overcome them. The purpose of this march is to open the doors of opportunity for the community of Jackson to get involved with the youth of the city and see what they might be able to do to make a difference in their lives. Two of the youth are part of our Young Travelers program. Please, if you could take a few minutes out of your day to come and hear what the youth of Jackson has to say, I know you will be glad you did.
Thanks for your support and prayers.

Salvation Army 6-25-10

The Salvation Army came back again this past Friday. We gave five kids a trail ride out on the field and spoke about the 7 decisions for success with them. All of The Lazy B's Ranch programming is built on 7 principals we found in a book called "The Young Travelers Gift, by Andy Andrews. Even the young ones can learn about, Responsibility, Wisdom, having a Decided Heart, being a person of Action, having a Forgiving Spirit, being Happy, and being Persistent. This time no one decided to try and take a kitten home with them!! The kittens will be taken to their new home next weekend. Take a look at some pictures by clicking the link to the right called Salvation Army 6-25-10.