Merry, Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas to You!

Hello and Merry Christmas! We are thankful to have our wood burning stove all hooked up and warming the inside of the Welcome Center! Not only does the warmth warm our bodies in contrast to the cold outside, but the smell and the beauty of the fire warms our hearts as we relish these comforts! With the Welcome Center decorated for Christmas and the wonderful winter flurries outside, it definitely feels like Christmas! And can you guess who is watching over our "flock" this Christmas? Yep, Sid is our shepherd! What a guy!

Thank you all for your prayers and support! We always appreciate the gifts we receive! Of course the most important gift that has ever been given to us is that of the Christ child born in Bethlehem over 2,000 years ago. This baby didn't stay in that manger bed but grew up to die on the cross, conquering death and offering us the opportunity to be forgiven of our sins and to spend all eternity with Him & His Father! Thank you, Lord! As tiny Tim said, "God bless us, everyone!" Merry Christmas!

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6

Happy THANKSgiving!

We at HIS Ranch want to thank all of you for all that you have done for us this year! Whether by your participation, your prayers, or your financial support, we are truly thankful! But most of all we are thankful for how the Lord has continued to provide for us this year! May we continue to be focused on HIM alone and trust HIM for how He will provide in the future!

"I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving."
Psalm 69:30

Sheriff Sid Patrols the Fundraiser!

Sheriff Sid Patrols...
The Welcome Center boardwalk ramp & Sid watching from the other side!
As people rolled into the fundraiser, Sheriff Sid was there making sure everything ran smoothly. He is after all, the official mascot of HIS Ranch!
On a more serious note, we were so blessed to have so many people support us in this year's fall fundraiser! Amazing coffee, great food, and even better fellowship was the order of the day! We welcomed many new and familiar faces to HIS Ranch and are very thankful for the Lord's faithfulness in providing funds! We raised over $5,000, and we are thankful for every penny of it! So, thanks to all who came as well as all who gave of their time & money! Praise the Lord!
Thankfully we were able to finish the board walk around the north & west sides of the Welcome Center before the fundraiser! The built-in ramp was a great asset for those in wheel chairs to have easy access into the Welcome Center. We were thankful to have each and everyone come!

"But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."

Phillipians 4:19

Just a few more days...

As we continue to prepare for the HIS Ranch Fall Fundraiser this weekend, we are reminded of the Lord's faithfulness! The small things He has provided reminds us of the greatest sacrifice of all, His Son Jesus Christ!
We appreciate your continued prayers! We are excited for the weekend and hope to see you then!

HIS Ranch Fall Fundraiser!!!

Steps are being made towards completing the Welcom Center! As you can see more cement was poured to finish out the Welcome Center porch. With the cement containing a brown pigment and the type of stamps used to finish it out, the cement floor looks a lot like distressed leather! It definitely fits into the ranch theme. Thankfully we were able to finish this before the HIS Ranch Fall Fundraiser!

The HIS Ranch Fall Fundraiser will be held on Saturday, October 17, 2009 on the HIS Ranch grounds. All are invited to come and enjoy some free food & Starbucks coffee as well as the opportunity to check out the HIS Ranch grounds and horses! If one hasn't seen Noah & Genesis for awhile, they are in for a BIG surprise! We hope to see you then!

Beautiful Job!

Yay! No more dirt out front! It has been awhile since we prepped the area's around the Welcome Center with dirt. Although it was good to have it ready, all of the mud that has been tracked in the Welcome Center has not been as fun to clean! It was an endless battle! Thankfully today we had the Rassi Construction Crew come down from central Illinois to pour congrete. After they poured it and smoothed it out, they dusted it with a blue powder. One will see in the picture above how it looks blue. After we powerwash it its true color will be revealed! Although this will not keep the dirt from coming in, at least it won't be quite so much! Thank you Rassi Crew! We look forward to next week when they will come once again to finish up the job!

So Long for Now!

We were so thankful to have Kyle Reinhard serve with us at HIS Ranch this summer! We are thankful for the hard work that he did! May the Lord bless him as he returns home to Indiana!

"And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled."

Revelation 6:11

From Rust to Beauty... the Real Story behind our Beautiful Trailer

Most people would not recognize this trailer. When it was first brought to HIS Ranch it looked like a bucket of rust! Some brave souls, however, took the challenge last summer of grinding away the rust to reveal the shiny metal underneath. The two most vital workers on this project were Jennifer & Amber Rassi. Their hard work was much appreciated. They will recall the wonderful feeling that occurs after one has been grinding away for multiple hours. It is a vibration that doesn't go away when you hit the power button on the grinders.

All of their hard work paid off! Below are some pictures of the finished project! A beautiful, new looking trailer! However new it looks, there are some who know the true story behind! So thanks again for all the hard work put in by our volunteers both last summer and this summer past. We appreciate all of you! God bless!

"He hath made every thing beautiful in his time:"

Ecclesiates 3:11a

White as snow!

Hooray! We got a filter for the fountain! As you can see above the water in the fountain pool became quite dirty over the last month or so. A couple weeks ago we got a sand filter and last week we hooked it up! As of right now we don't have enough pressure to make the fountain look pretty, but it is still nice!

As I am writing this post, I can't help but think of how dirty and unkept one can be with the multitudes of sin in their lives. Sometimes it is so overwhelming and seemingly hopeless! But just as our new sand filter cleaned out all of the dirt, rocks, and crud from the bottom of the pool, so Jesus can was us white as snow again. Just as a filter needs to be plugged into an electrical outlet to be productive and work, so we need to be plugged into the power of the Holy Spirit, God's Word, and our brothers and sisters in Christ! Only then can we truly be fruitful!

This is the last week for our full hours at HIS Ranch. Starting next week we will only be open in the afternoons. Not that we won't be working in the mornings!!! Thanks for all of your prayers!

"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."

Isaiah 1:18

Learning Goes Both Ways...

Despite the downpour yesterday, we were able to have Learning Opportunities come out and visit HIS Ranch. As you can see in some of the pictures, the riding arena was only about half dry, but we decided to go ahead and use the dry half to host this group. We are thankful for the opportunity to have served them! Their smiles were a great reminder to us of why we do what we do.

This week was very slow due to our arena being too much of a swampy mess, but we are thankful for the rain and the beautiful lightning and awesome thunder that came with it!

Fingerprints...

Over the summer months HIS Ranch has had a lot of different volunteers. Sadly, this week marks the last week for most of our summer volunteers. How quickly this summer has gone! So many children were touched by the loving and caring actions of the summer staff! Above you will see Jennifer & Amber Rassi (affectionately called "Jamber") along with Rebecca Bolliger as they spend some of their last moments at HIS Ranch painting the doors.

Every job that was completed was appreciated! Every single shovel of dirt, every drop of sweat, every drop of blood, every shingle nailed down, every stall cleaned was greatly appreciated!

We often discuss at HIS Ranch how amazing it would be if we could see the fingerprints on the ranch of everyone who has prayed for, sent funds to, or worked at HIS Ranch. Thanks so much for your fingerprint! It is humbling and overwhelming at times to see how the Lord has worked to inspire, grow, and provide for HIS Ranch. Praise the Lord for all that He has done!

Fresh Beginnings and Sentimental Endings

Above one would see more concrete being poured for part of the foundation of the Welcome Center Porch. What hard work has been poured into this project as our wonderful volunteers dug each trench and then filled with concrete! Thanks so much girls!
As the summer ebbs away, so do the children. Most schools start in a little over a week, consequently making this week some of the last lessons that we can spend with each child. Below is Kristi & Katie on their last day of lessons last week. They loved the time that they could spend with "their" horses Louie & Victor. It was a blessing to serve them! Thanks for coming out girls!

Kristi & Louie

Katie & Victor

Goodbye Maria!!!

Maria Lehman was such a blessing to HIS Ranch as well as the Taylor church as she spent two months volunteering at HIS Ranch. Much work was accomplished by her servant hands and many hearts were touched by her servant heart. Thank you, Maria! You may be far away in body, but you will be close to our hearts! We love you!

Sweet, Sweet Children!

Today we were blessed with the opportunity to host the Silver & Friends Day Camp

of Marion County today. We had a lot of fun painting Buck, riding Victor, and playing with some of the adorable puppies! What a blessing it was to see the kids enjoy the animals at HIS Ranch! They also had the opportunity to eat a little picnic lunch on hay bales! Nothing like good ol' ranch fun!!!

The Only True Firm Foundation...JESUS!

On Tuesday Taylor, MO was blessed with much rain to offer relief to the crops. We were so thankful for the rain and yet a little sad at the fact that we have had to cancel all of the lessons since the riding arena was a swampy mess. This, however, presented the opportunity to focus more on the Welcome Center Porch construction. The volunteers have been slaving away digging trenches to fill with concrete for the foundation. We also hope to finish the majority of the roofing this afternoon! Thanks for all your prayers for safety! We appreciate it!

Roofing Progress!

Last weekend HIS Ranch was blessed to have workers from a multitude of different places work on the roof and fireplace inside the Welcome Center. The majority of the workers were from the Evanston Bible Fellowship Church in Chicago. It was great to be able to see the progress being made on the Welcome Center roof! It is really shaping (no pun intended:) up into what we have dreamed it to be. The Lord also was so good in providing nice weather for the weekend to be able to work. Praise God! Randy Meyer once again blessed us with his masonry skills as he pieced together the corner behind the stove. The finished product definitely adds to the atmosphere of the Welcome Center. Thanks to all who helped, whether they are a regular volunteer or travelled many miles to help. You are greatly appreciated!

"Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted?

it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick;

and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men,

that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

Matthew 5:13-16

Rambunctious Rassis!!!

Last weekend the Norman Haerr family hosted the Rassi Reunion. About 20 or so Rassi descendents came early on Friday in order to have the opportunity to help with projects at HIS Ranch. The Rassis did a great job of planting flowers for the garden at the beginning of the drive as well as planting a few trees in the Healing Garden. The Rassi muscles were also used in baling hay for the horses. Throwing bales around may have been a little easier had they had the correct baling twine for the job, but they did a great job anyway! :) Thanks to everyone who helped out! God bless you all!

A time to be born...

This morning as we gathered around for devotions, Norman Haerr read Ecclesiastes 3. He shared how different things are done in different ways at different times. He gave the example of the baler his dad bought when he was younger. It was a huge contraption and not very practical. At the time, however, it was a great piece of machinery for their farm. Baling hay is much more productive now. We are so thankful!
During the morning of June 25, Java began to have her puppies. Although she didn't have 15 like we were predicting, she still did an amazing job! She is such a good mother, watching out for her 10 puppies. Above is a picture of the babies only one week old! How cute!
We would also like to welcome Caitleigh Rinkenberger and Emily Kieser to help at HIS Ranch for part of July. Jennifer & Amber Rassi are also welcomed to help for July & part of August. And last, but not least, Megan Kieser is welcomed to HIS Ranch to help for as long as God calls her here. Praise the Lord for willing hearts and able hands! We are thankful!

Jennifer, Caitleigh, Emily, and Amber work on prying away old caulking on barn.

Welcome to HIS Ranch!!!

Late last Saturday night Renae Baer & her mother Janna arrived with many flowers to plant on the HIS Ranch grounds. On Monday they both worked hard to finish the landscaping around the HIS Ranch Welcome sign. It looks great and much more inviting! Thanks so much! Renae will continue to work at HIS Ranch for a month this summer. We are thankful to have her!