Rollin in Oregon! (Click to enlarge photos)

The pictures above are from the family outting that i went on today and from Sam and I watching Pearl Harbor. The Craig family and Sam Staley (the other male volunteer at Crystal Peaks and also my new roommate) and I drove out into the Deschutes National Forest today for a Sunday afternoon hike. In the top picture, Sam I sit just being Hecka-Raddy (that pretty much means that we're cool out here on the west coast). In the next picture, Daniel (age three) runs ever so picturesquely with Lucy. In the bottom picture, stands the famliy: (from front to back) Lucy, Lana, Daniel, Callum (age 5), me (supercool), Sam (middle), and Cameron.

This week has been pretty packed with action. On Monday, I had the opportunity to hang out with the boys from the Juvenile Justice Program. The boys in the program are amazing kids, especially when you consider where they are coming from. We worked on moving railroad ties and building fences for the upper paddock. For one of the boys, Brad, it was his birthday, so not only did we have some ice cream sundays but we also threw him in the water trough. By the end of the day all five of the boys were thrown in the trough as well as myself. Though I remembered to take my beloved cowboy/harley boots off, I forgot that my cell phone was in my pocket. So for the time being, I am out of phone service.

From Wednesday until Saturday, the ranch was closed for a clinic that drew 130 people from all over the country. The clinic was designed to teach others how to begin, operate, run, and better Christian equine therapy programs. The clinic was an incredible week in which I was able to see the Lord preparing and improving ministries all over the country.

We have two days off from work at the ranch, so Sam and I plan on taking it easy for one day and sneaking onto the ranch on Tuesday to get some work done for Kim and Troy. Ill try to get some more pictures your way that will give you a better idea about what the ranch looks like. Peace

What Didn't Happen (but could have) in My First Week (Click on picture to view larger image)

I found out this week that this is the very first year that they have let/had males on the ranch as volunteers for the summer. I work with all girls, all the time. I anxiously await the arrival of the other male volunteer next week. During the week i have done lots of upkeep jobs like dragging the paddocks, shadowing other staff in their work with horses, irrigating with Troy, and helping out leaders during lessons with kids. Being exposed to Troy and Kim and thier staff over these first few days has been wonderful. I know about half of the horses already and i know about a quarter of the horeses' stories. I am still waiting to really begin my research for the summer, as i am still getting familiar with the way that things are run around here. I have been slightly comforted concerning my research as Troy, Kim, and the staff have been very open to the ideas that i have run by them.

About fifty people came to the ranch on Tuesday night for a time of fellowship where families and children alike could come and eat food, sing songs, and hear a talk from Troy. This "Ranch Fellowship" happens every other Tuesday night.

I get back "home" around seven each night, where I am warmly greeted by Callum and Daniel (the young boys of the family that i live with). We wrestly, play soccer, or watch Clifford the Big Red Dog until dinner and bed. For the last two nights Cameron (the father) and i have aquired 2 tons of hay for his cattle and loaded the bales up in his loft. One of the his cows is pregers adn is gettin ready to spit out a calve any day now. I promptly told him that if anything went wrong I knew what to do back from my good old lambing days. Cameron has asked me to join the elders Bible study that meets every Wednesday morning at 6:00am. He told me that the group is mostly made up of old farmers...and they were bound to spend most of the time making fun of the long haired city boy.

Overall, it has definately not been easy, but the Lord has truly been good to me in allowing me to be apart of a wonderful family and an amazing ministry. Thank you for the prayers that have been sent my way and if you can, continue to pray when you can remember.

And PLEASE realize that the drawling above is merely for a few giggles, it does NOT represent the staff's reaction to me at all! They have been so gracious to me and have made me feel very very welcome!

Stay tuned, more stories to come...

First Day in Oregon

Three hours before leaving Yakima, Washington, I received a call from a one Cameron Craig. A friend of the ever famous Krue Brock, he offered me a roof to cover my head. The Lord works, and sometimes pulls through on the clutch at the last moment. I arrived at the Craigs last night around 7:30. They have two boys, Callum (age 5) and Daniel (age 3) and they live just outside of Bend. They have a mini mule and twenty cattle in the pastures outside of their beautiful farm house. From the front porch, the Cascade mountain range can be seen looming in the near distance. It is beautiful, espeically since i am not viewing them from my tent. This morning i woke up at 4:30a.m. to help Cameron in launching three hot air balloons, because apparently thats normal around here. Because I dont have a camera at the moment, the paint file above will give you an idea of what this morning looked like. I wasnt able to ride in them due to my long hair (or something) but it was fun putting them altogether. I go to Crystal Peaks this afternoon for the first time...They dont know what they are in for. More on that later.

Anchors Away Tennessee

Saluting sweet Tennessee goodbye was hard. Mike Shaw, Paul Norman, and myself left Sunday, May 6, hoping to reach Memphis in time to catch Michael Rhodes splattering himself with BBQ. We plan on leaving Memphis on Monday and heading for St. Louis. From St. Louis we go to Denver, from Denver we go to Idaho Falls, and from Idaho Falls we go to the Yakima Indian Reservation (we plan on stopping by Yellowstone to feed the bears). Theoretically, if all goes right i will be leaving Shaw and Stormin Norman in Yakima, Washington next Sunday and heading down to Bend, Oregon. I have a condo to stay in for two nights thanks to some church goers in Sisters Oregon. On Monday i begin work...and looking for a spot in the woods to call home. Peace in the Golden Fleece....the Teagueteam