Dear friends,
 
Ring, ring, ring…..can you hear the bell ringing? Listen closely, can you hear the horses neigh as they see the children coming down the driveway or across the pasture? Take a deep breath, can you smell the sweet aroma of the barn where laughter and sawdust mix together to give each parent a sense of peace and a brief moment to relax as their precious children enjoy the ranch. Oh dear friends, how I wish I had time to sit and have a cup of coffee with each of you and share all that the Lord is doing at the ranch. Maybe one day I can, but until then, sit back and relax and let me share one brief story with you….
 Jose (8) jumped out of the van and ran toward the porch where his therapist and equine specialist stood. He was all smiles and was eager to get started. Danny and Zacchaeus (two of our miniature horses) stood waiting for Jose in the indoor arena.  Jose ran to the indoor arena and found a Lowes shopping cart; which soon became his “play bedroom.” Jose turned the shopping cart upside down and climbed into the back of it and announced that Zacchaeus and Danny were his neighbors! 
    The therapist and I stood and watched Jose, Danny and Zacchaeus play as neighbors. As we watched, our hearts grew full as the laughter of Jose filled the arena.  Jose had recently lost his dad to a heart attack, so laughter was something hard to find or hear within his home. Jose was learning to play and laugh again as an 8 year old little boy. His young mind is busy trying to figure out and understand death and why his heart hurts so badly.  Zacchaeus and Danny were great neighbors to Jose. Both horses stayed close by to ensure Jose was safe; occasionally they would peep into his Lowes cart “bedroom” and lick his helmet; Jose would laugh and continue to play.
Proverbs 13:12 states “hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when dreams come true, there is life and joy.”  Life and joy can sometimes be found in a Lowes shopping cart with miniature horses as your neighbor. 
 We just completed another year in three of our programs. The Mane Event (after school program), Stable Care (parent program) and Hoof Prints of Hope (mobile unit program) have all finished until the fall season. The Lord touched and changed hundreds of lives within these three programs. Thank you for providing ways for Hope Remains to reach others for Christ. 
 
As we take a turn toward summer Hope Remains is “rounding up” as many cowboys and cowgirls as we can between the ages of 5-15 to start another fabulous year of Camp Hope Remains, our summer camp! Visit the link for camp registration forms! Camp Hope Remains Registration Form
 
In closing, Jose and all the other boys and girls and families served at Hope Remains say “thank you.” Thank you for caring and supporting the ranch and for providing a place where “joy and sorrow meet” and where hope can be found, only in Christ. 

In Christ,


Melanie Watt
Founder & CEO