Galloping Grace Youth Ranch

Red Solo Cup

Michelle — Sat, 19 May 2012 13:05:56 +0000

Sing along with me!

A big thanks to Aud’s crew (Aud, Willow, Eb, Wyatt, Andrew, Aud, and their two helpful friends) who helped Max pulled weeds at the Rowland’s lot. You guys, rock!

Hurry Back!

Michelle — Thu, 17 May 2012 14:07:55 +0000

In a bit of sad news, Frank has decided to flee the country. Max is smiling in this picture, but I think he was weeping on the inside. Frank gets us completely and totally dependent on his helpful ways and then abandons. It doesn’t seem right. Three whole weeks of no Frank!

Frank and Ellen, have a great trip to Germany. Just know we are counting down the days until you return.

Spudtastic

Michelle — Thu, 17 May 2012 13:36:51 +0000

I’m back from my blog hiatus (recovering from an all-nighter while finishing a slide show) to bring you buckets of spuds. Our animals are eating like royalty with all this donated produce. Thank you, Amy.

I’ll take mine mashed.

At Last

Michelle — Tue, 15 May 2012 05:57:25 +0000

Photo-quality disclaimer: Took Claire’s point and shoot because I am tired of hauling my camera around. To make things worse, I don’t think her flash was even on. Yep, grainy city. Whew. Had to get that off my chest– I feel better now.

Our little Birthday Claire (May 14) finally got to get her ears pierced! Ten years of agony! Ten years of being one of the few remaining children left in America with no ability to wear earrings. Big sis was there for moral support. She had the same rite of passage almost three years ago.

Ashley, the lady who pierced, was exceptionally patient and kind as we debated the perfect spot for the dot. A little too far to the right or left could have been disastrous.

Thanks, Ashley who will never read this unless we’re both related to Kevin Bacon. You were amazing!

Happy 10th Birthday, my Claire.

A big howdy to all the new readers out there. I hope everyone remembers sign ups for the first two weeks of June are Tuesday morning (the 15th) at 8 AM.

Love,

The Lady Who Keeps Talking Too Much About Her Family And Not Enough About The Majestic Horses And Cutie Goats At Galloping Grace Youth Ranch

Loving Juju

Michelle — Mon, 14 May 2012 06:20:40 +0000

I happen to have the world’s greatest mom. No, really! My mama is probably the most generous, giving, helpful woman I’ve ever met. Even though this site is supposed to be Galloping Grace related, I still feel comfortable saying this. She has done a TON for the ranch. Just a few examples:

It takes a great mom to work until the late hours at the Christmas Corral. We would often chuckle at the agony during the cold nights, but it didn’t stop her from helping out. If she wasn’t there with us, she would take the kids home.
When generators were stolen from the stand, she bought a new one for GGYR.
She has purchased numerous bags of senior feed, alfalfa pellets, etc.
She paid for a whole year’s worth of storage fees for the box containing pumpkin stand/Christmas Corral items.
There isn’t a more friendly pumpkin seller!
So much more!

I’m sure there have been quite a few people touched by the kindness and generosity of my mom, Julie. Mom, I love you!!! Happy Mother’s Day. I hope you felt the love and appreciation in the taquitos and refried beans, from a box and a can, I made for your special dinner.

And even though Max’s mom doesn’t have a computer to read posts, Happy Mother’s Day to her as well. We sure lucked out in the helpful mom dept. Donna is a very dedicated seamstress for GGYR and has made many, many items for our Country Store and Auction Dinners. Thank you so much, Donna. We love you.

An extra gift I just gave my mom–I uploaded a really cute picture of her and my girls at the Christmas Corral. Then I recalled that she dislikes her picture taken as much as I. Yep, I deleted it. What a daughter, huh?

Adorable Art

Michelle — Fri, 11 May 2012 18:02:00 +0000

Mom, Look What I Found!

Michelle — Thu, 10 May 2012 06:19:05 +0000

Saturday Morning Plans

Michelle — Thu, 10 May 2012 04:12:43 +0000

Sagebrushers are coming back to GGYR. Too bad this ol’ broad is going to miss a lot of the festivities. (Garrett has a baseball game at 8 AM.) Sagebrush, thanks for supporting GGYR with your amazing Second Saturday program! Hopefully Max can handle the morning without my amazing leadership. ;)

Volunteer, “Michelle, what should we do next?”

Michelle, “Um, I’m not sure. Go ask Max.”

Repeat 89 times. Or 189.

Second Saturday Update

Hello everyone!

We want to update you on Second Saturday this weekend.

This week we will be serving our friends at Galloping Grace Youth Ranch. The mission at Galloping Grace Youth Ranch is to bring pure joy to children. They accomplish this by connecting children with horses. While at the ranch, children experience the rewards of working hard, serving others, and expressing gratitude to those people who make it possible for the ranch to operate. In addition to this, they spend valuable one-on-one time with the horses. If you would to learn more about Galloping Grace, please visit their website at www.ggyr.org.

Galloping Grace is one of our favorite Second Saturday projects, and we hope you will join us. We will meet at our Riverside Campus on Saturday, May 12, at 7:30 a.m. There will be plenty of work for everyone, so invite a friend and come join us. This is a family-friendly project, so please bring your school-age children to serve by your side.

Here are the tools* we need:

Yard tools- rakes, shovels, sheers, etc.
Construction tools- power drill, circular saw, hammer, screwdriver, socket set, tape measures, etc.
Work clothes- weather-appropriate clothing that can get dirty, work gloves, etc.

*As always, please label all your tools so you don’t lose any of them.

We are eager to serve this weekend and hope you will join us. Once again, we will meet at the Riverside Campus at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 12.

See you then!

Sagebrush m1ssion Team

In The Pokey

Michelle — Wed, 09 May 2012 04:30:24 +0000

Because you all don’t seem overly impressed with boys and blocks and begging chickens, how about some junior volunteers trapped in a cage?

I especially love Eb expressing pure joy at seeing her friends in such a predicament. Tanner and Andrew, it’s probably a good idea to stay out of the duck cage . . .

At least when Eb is around.

Double Standard Cluck Cluck

Michelle — Tue, 08 May 2012 05:23:42 +0000

I know my faithful followers would remember Max’s obsession with worms, and I’d link it for you if I had more energy. Let’s just say he adored them. He could be seen many a day visiting his red wigglers at the manure pile. Later, he had bins full in our garage. Didn’t finish a sandwich? To the worms it went. One time he took a cup of them on one of our dates. Well, maybe he didn’t but I bet he wanted to. All of that to tell you about his newest infatuation–chickens!

Max always says, “I love my girls. Chickens are great!” He loves them so much that he even shares his lunch with them.

One day I caught him encouraging a begging behavior.

“Do you want more, my feathered friend? Well here you go. Please enjoy. I love you. I really do! Be my chicken forever.”

And please notice (through this poorly exposed photo) how our dog is NOT begging, just the chicken.

I’m sorry, Hank. Sometimes life is simply not fair. Better you learn that from your master to whom you are nothing but loyal and loving.

Willow wasn’t having it. If Hank couldn’t have a snack, then neither could that pushy chicken.

“Get away from me, pushy chicken. You’re not getting one single bit of my burger.”

“Well, maybe just a tomato.”

“What could it hurt?!”

I will end this riveting narrative with a big thank-you to all of today’s (and Thursday’s volunteers.) When I get myself organized, maybe I’ll thank you properly. Until then, please know how much we appreciate you.