"Lavish Your Soul" ... "HOPE" for Prisoners ~ Marcus' testimony
My name is Marcus Jacquette and I graduated from the HOPE for Prisoners workshop last year. I had recently been released after serving 11 years in prison. I grew up in a single-parent home and my mother worked two jobs to support me and my sister. She worked hard to make sure we didn't want for anything growing up. We were growing up on the streets of Compton and I found myself running the streets at a very young age. I joined the Southside Compton Crips when I was just 14 years old. I began to sell drugs and became more deeply involved in the violent street life ...
Lavish Your Soul... Jon's story ~ Everything's going to be alright!" Part II
HOPE for Prisoners . . . Jon's story ~ "Everything's going to be all right!" Part I
Lights from the Las Vegas strip shined in the distance as the sound of the helicopter overhead sent Jon Ponder’s beating heart into overdrive. Jon squinted his eyes as flashing police lights flickered and sirens screeched around him. Police dogs barked and officers surrounded his vehicle. “Get out of the driver’s seat!” The thunderous and demanding voice sounded like God to Jon’s flustered brain. Distorted, he climbed out of his car... “Raise your hands! "Get on your knees! "On the ground!” ...
A Christmas story ... "Mary's love for her baby boy" ~ by Karl Ogg
MERRY Christmas from WHY Ranch .... by Amy Meyer-Terry & a "special" letter from Lauren Sokolowski
Wake up
Go to school
Get bullied
...and go home
Each day blended into the next with seemingly no way out....until I discovered the Ranch! WHY Ranch gave me a reason to get up in the morning..."
Phoebe & Hayden .... A story of love & devotion from the Ranch
I knew he would be a forever friend...
"Lavish Your Soul" ~ Veteran's Day...a soldier's letter to his daughters
"It has been four months, eight days, several hours and countless minutes since I left you. I miss holding you in my arms and watching you grow up each day. I wanted to let you know that I am safe. I have brought a little of our memories together with me to keep me sane…. and have named each of my weapons after your favorite Power Puff Girls: Buttercup, Blossom & Bubbles. I know this is unusual, it helps me remember you are with me and that protecting you from the evil in this world is always on my mind..."
"My Dad" . . . by Karen Kasson
He died on February 7, 2016 and now resides in Heaven with his Savior and the love of his life, my Mom. He left me the legacy of his writings and it is my desire to collect, sort, rewrite, edit, and produce those writings for others to read and enjoy ...."
Meet Pumpkin! . . . a White Horse Youth Ranch-resident
Pumpkin, one of our rescued & rehabilitated horses begins to Winnie as I approach the turnout. Her mouth starts to water, her nose begins to twitch in anticipation for hay and grains. This is a welcome site … just a few days ago our barn assistant, Phoebe, discovered Pumpkin lying down and rolling in the sand when her Turnout Crew was eating all their dinner....
Lavish Your Soul . . . "HOPE for Hope" by Briana Mackey
"Lauren's story" . . . a mom's message from the Ranch
"Sara's story" . . . a mother's letter to the Ranch
"When you first met Sara she was a very shy and withdrawn young 8 year old. She had been experiencing challenges in school with emotional and behavioral acting out.
Teachers reported her as aggressive, non-responsive, lying on the floor in a fetal position, and not responsive to her school work. Children were afraid of her. Sara has been a bully and has been bullied . . ."
