MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF OUR FAMILY, FRIENDS, VOLUNTEERS, SUPPORTERS,CHILDREN, ETC., ETC., WE THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS FOR YOUR LOVE, SUPPORT, PRAYERS, TIME, GIFTS, AND ALL THAT YOU DO! YOU ARE ALL A BLESSING TO US AND WE ARE SO THANKFUL FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.

GOD BLESS!

UTOPIA RANCH FOR YOUTH

Where have we been?

Hey Everyone!
Sorry I have been so slow about getting something posted! It has been a busy summer already! We have some new faces here at the ranch this summer and have said good-bye to some of the kids that have been coming here for a while. Our girl Chrissy is off to college next month! Congrat's girl! You have worked so hard and come so far! You will always be one of the "ranch girls"! We have greatly reduced our herd; Miss Dixie went a bit South with her mom, we miss her but it was a great move for her:) Pascal, Rosie, Kiowa, Tonka, and Cappy are all here and doing their thing. What a blessing every one of them is. Starting some new woodworking projects this week and getting ready to finally have our yard sale. We are still taking donated items so let us know if you have something that you would like us to take; we will come and take it off of your hands!

Yahooey! It's Spring!

Well it's a little more pond and a little less pasture but we are happy to be moving into the spring season. The horses are ready to get to work! We are having a little competition here at the ranch; each counselor is responsible for preparing a horse for the upcoming ranch season. Each of us will be judged on how well prepared we get our individual horse. I can't wait to see the creative ways our fantastic counselors use to accomplish this task. Maybe you would like to come and see a demonstration at the end of this competition? Hmmmmm........

What next?

Well, it's decision time again. We are still experiencing financial short falls and have made the difficult decision to continue to decrease our herd. We are going to try to sell Rosie (ouch!) and sell or place Prince. This has been an extremely difficult decision but one that had to be made. We have several horses available to us for free lease over the summer season so our program is in tact and safe even with the reduction in our herd. Thank you to all that trust us with their beloved horses; it is such a HUGE help to have your horses during our summer season. We will keep you updated on our progress with trying to sell/place these horses. Thank you for all of your support!

Spring is just around the corner!

Preparations have begun for the 2010 season! We are really excited about the upcoming season and are looking forward to getting back up on horses and to the many chores, etc. that the spring season brings. The girls and Miss Karen have begun the task of making the signs that we will have for sale in our on-line Utopia Ranch store and we are certain everyone is going to LOVE them! Kevin has just finished some updates to the site so go and check it out.


The "Clothing Closet" at the Higher Ground Baptist Church is now open! If you or someone that you know of has a need for clothing, coats, shoes, etc. all of the items in the closets are free. It is open from 8:30 to 10:30 on Saturdays and is available for emergency situations.

We had a bit of an accident here at the ranch yesterday. Joe was out in one of the paddocks putting out a fresh round bale, he noticed some baling twine that had gotten frozen into the ground and he attempted to pull it out, (concerned that one of the horses could get caught up in it). He stepped back, got caught up in the twine, and ended up falling. One of the horses that is in that paddock ( a rescue that is pretty scared)spooked and kicked Joe in the side and then in the arm. He ended up with two broken bones in his arm. I am hoping that our fellow horse loving friends that read this will please, please be careful if you work with or around your horses alone. These kinds of accidents happen so quickly. We are so thankful that God was watching over Joe; this could have been so much worse. Joe was here on the property alone. Off to the Orthopedic Dr. tomorrow.

Blessings,
Deb

What's love got to do with it?

Everything! Love is often painful, joyful, inspirational, unexplainable, and amazing. When I think about all of the ways that love has impacted my life (so far), I am simply in awe that it has taken me this long to appreciate it beyond any material, earthly gift that I have ever received. My brother came to share dinner with us tonight; I love him in a way that is almost painful, like a son. The way that he loves me well, I can sense (at times) that I can reach out and physically touch the feeling. How many people do you know that might not experience the depth of love that you have felt or known? Now, think about how much more our Father in heaven loves us. He gave his only son so that we would have eternal life. When I put that into perspective, it is overwhelming. I do not deserve the depth of God's love and yet, I have it. That love is available to every single person that you know, love, and come in contact with. We have a responsibility to spread the word! We MUST make people aware of the FREE gift that is available to them. How have you shown people that you love them? How are you going to show them tomorrow? What will you do to make a difference? This isn't about religion people; it's about LOVE! No repetitive, clanging, symbolic words, phrases, or prayers. LOVE. Honest, pure, joyful, non-judgemental love. Does your neighbor look different than you? Does he/she dress different, wear their hair different? How do you show them that you love them? Does judgement get in your way? Today is the day! Today is the day that you can change all of that. Look beyond the clothes, tattoo's, hair, piercings, etc. and assume that you are talking with Jesus. He is in disguise and standing before you. He is hungry, lost, trapped in a world of drugs, a prostitute, a single mom, etc. How will you love HIM today? How will you insure that he knows that he is loved?

The Power of Love

You have the opportunity here to make a difference. How you treat someone today could impact them in that moment, on that day, for that year, or you could change their life. Maybe the person that you compliment today is at the end of their reserve and is ready to call it quits. You could be the one person that has shown them that someone still cares about them; you could show them that they are loved. We all need to be loved but we don't always feel that we are. Compliment at least two people today.

Love Revolution

Utopia Ranch has joined a Revolution! Yes, you heard right! A Love Revolution! As many of you know, we are a youth ranch for "at risk" and troubled kids. We have learned that most of these kids have a life changing experience here for one reason and one reason alone; the love of God. Imagine if we all got together and just simply loved each other, our neighbor, the guy at the gas station, our teachers, the boy bagging our groceries at the grocery store. We are in a very interesting time here in the world and we all have the means and ability to simply love one another. I challenge you this week to simply smile at every single person you encounter. That's it! Come back and blog your experience! I will share my experience with you and next week we will have a new love "challenge". Send this to everyone that you know. If we are going to get involved in a Revolution, let's make it BIG! Like GOD sized! I want people to feel the love! Joyce Meyer has a book published: the Love Revolution;if you can, pick up a copy. Love and Blessings to you all!