Editor’s Note: It is always with great pride that we share letters from our graduates. Now more than 1000 strong, our alumni live throughout the United States, and scarcely a day goes by without our hearing from at least one of them. As any parent does, we try to stay involved with our children into their adulthoods, through their ups and downs, offering an ear in times of trouble and celebrating victories and joys whenever they report them.

To all our alumni – keep the visits, letters and photos coming – we love you all!

Below is a sampling of recent messages from Youth Ranchers around the country.

January 13, 2007

Hi,

Please add me to the newsletter mailing list. Please give Gary my e-mail address. I would love to hear from him and Angi.

All is well with family. Love to all at the Ranch.

Love,

Joyce Sandoval ‘79

April 27, 2007

Dear Gary,

As I sit here in the Charter School, waiting for a ride to go to the Big Springs barbecue, I am amazed once again that God has given you to us children as such a blessing. I know that sometimes when we are here, we don’t always act like it, but we do know it inside.

God has blessed my life with you and Mike Wood – my two dads. I couldn’t be prouder to call myself, and to be called, your daughter, and to even be a part of this wonderful place to grow up.

These children will know that later, just like I did, except I really knew before I left. You were heaven sent to me, the answer to my prayers. I love you more than you know.

Thank you for loving me.

Love always,

Stacy Walters-Garcia ‘97 (Kerrville, Texas)

May 5, 2007

Hello,

I wanted to take the time to thank Gary and his Village of Hope and Dreams for all they did for a guy, Joseph Young (me) from Mabee House and a girl, Rose Rickson from Stevens Lodge.

Gary married Rose and me at the Meadows Chapel on May 8, 1997, the year after we graduated. I was also part of the construction crew who built both the Meadows Fine Arts Center and the Doss Assessment Center. It’s been ten years since I lived at the Ranch, and life is doing good. I will never forget the things I did and learned while I was there.

Please give all the children the same chance Rose and I were given, because you never know how it will shape their lives.

Blessed Be,

Joseph Young ‘96 & Rose Rickson-Young ‘96 (New Brighton, Minnesota)

February 27, 2007

Hi,

I just visited the Youth Ranch Website, and I am amazed at the level of commitment that the Ranch still carries on today!

Carol Priour and I were good friends until I left the Ranch in 1997. I was involved with the Theater Program, and I hope that the program is still active today.

I’d love to volunteer my time there if I were ever in the area.

Keep up the great work!

Kristen Kolar-Baker ‘97 (Corpus Christi, Texas)

March 10, 2007

Good morning Carol,

I just wanted to say hello and see how you, Gary, the kids and the Ranch are doing. I hope this letter finds all of you healthy and happy. I think about the Ranch all the time.

Some of my happiest memories are of my time at the Ranch, and I know that most of the wounds I had when I moved to the Ranch have long since been healed, because of the Ranch. I long to come back home (the Ranch). I want to show my husband, my daughter, and my step-kids the beauty of the hill country and the Ranch.

I speak of my time on the Ranch daily, and it just makes me want to be right back there. Maybe this summer, I can bring my daughter up there. I want her to feel the greatness of the Ranch, see the beauty that one dream can start and what an army of earthbound angels can build each day with each sweet child. I want her to know the value of reaching out to help someone in need. I want her to see that kindness, love, and patience are worth more than any amount of money, and that one person can make a difference in this world. You only have to live with love in your heart, strive each day to be the best person you can be, and your stamp will be left with the people you touch for always.

I tell everyone Joei is my miracle baby and Carol, she really is. She is everything that makes my childhood, my past, my pain and my mistakes all worth it – if it meant ending up here with her in my arms. She is growing so much. The excitement in her eyes every time she discovers something new, the smile she gets when I walk into the room, and the giggles she lets out when she’s trying to get out of getting her diaper changed and she thinks I’m chasing her and it’s a game – all of this truly makes everything right with the world and I am engulfed by such amazing love and peace. She just turned nine months old. She can walk with the help of a stand up walker and no help from mommy. DaDa, MaMa, BaBa, and Bubba are her words these days. She claps, dances to music, gives five, waves hello and bye-bye, and tries really hard to snap. I know in my heart that God put me on this earth to be her mommy, and I’m so thankful every day for her.

I’m sending you and Gary a couple of recent pictures, so you can see how big Joei is getting. I hope you like them. I also want to know if you still have copies of the pictures you took of me while I was at the Ranch. I have lost some of them due to people liking them and taking them, and they were all such great, beautiful pictures. I think they were because you could see in my eyes that I was finally happy.

Thanks, Carol. You have always been a mother, friend, and a great example. You showed me the power of healing, and the worthiness of creating and nurturing a healthy and happy life. Thanks, again.

Love you,

Jennifer Johnston-Dees ‘94 (Bacliff, Texas)

May 17, 2007

Hey Gary,

I am so glad I can e-mail you and let you know how I am doing. Well, I am doing good, very good at that. I can’t wait until we have our 30-year reunion. Is it going to happen? I can’t wait to see the expansion of the Ranch I’ve read about. God, I am so curious.

Please give me an update on everything going on there, ok? Be sure to inform me on everything, ok?

How are all the kids doing? Tell Carol I said hello and I miss her dearly. I think of you and Carol a lot. Because of you, I am who I am today. Absorbing all the positive things I learned and did – thanks to the Youth Ranch having faith in me then and today. Here I am, sending you a picture of myself. I can’t wait till I see you and the rest of the gang after all these years.

My husband and I have a donation here for the Ranch, but I have not mailed it yet. I was planning on bringing it with me to give to you then. So rest assured, I have not forgotten. I told my husband about the Youth Ranch, and he feels that he would like to give this donation to you since it is for something positive and to help others as I was helped when I was there. He feels giving back to the people who have helped me is a blessing to me later.

As for my husband, he is a very good man. His name is Tommy Lee and one day I hope for you and Carol to both meet him.

Well, be good and take care. Tell the kids hello and tell Michael hello for me, also.

Remember one thing, Gary, and you too, Carol: I love y’all so much for everything you and the Ranch have done for me.

God bless you and your family,

Sylvia Hidalgo ‘89 (Houston, Texas) 

April 23, 2007

Hello, Angela,

This is Chris Meyer. How is everyone out there? Doing well, I hope. I’m doing great! I just celebrated 1 year on March 28^th since my kidney transplant. I hope to see you all real soon. Have a great day and God bless everyone out there.

Chris Meyer ‘89 (San Antonio, Texas)

April 18, 2007

Gary,

It’s me, Yolanda. I just wanted to say thank you very much for helping me out when I need it. I know so many residents from the past contact you and ask you for help, and I personally appreciate that you are there when I need you and for everyone else, too.

That’s why it is so hard for me to ask you for help, because I know you do so much for so many former residents.

Thank you for believing in me and supporting me in everything.

God bless and I miss y’all.

Love Always,

Yolanda Ayala ‘04 (San Antonio, Texas)

P. S. "This shows me that God always takes care of everyone and listens to prayers." Matthew 7:8-9

March 15, 2007

Hi, Gary,

Thank you for asking about my health . . . we are doing fine now. The last few months have been a bit of a roller coaster, though.

On January 30, after arriving home from the doctor’s office myself, with a troubling diagnosis, my 5-year-old son, Jesse, began having pain while urinating and then began passing blood. It was really scary. We spent a week in and out of doctors’ offices and hospitals while they attempted to find the cause. At the end of the week, everything minor had been ruled out, and they were looking for rare kidney disorders. We prayed for him at home, and had many in our church who were also praying for us.

Without any explanation, other than the healing power of God, the symptoms disappeared. Before I even believed he was healed, my sweet son announced that God had healed him. I went ahead and had a few more previously scheduled tests run, and once again – no explanation. It has been a month, and he has had no recurrence of symptoms! Yeah, Jesus!

I had my surgery on the 15^th of February. Unfortunately, it wasn’t something that could wait. I’m grateful for great physicians and a very understanding nursing school faculty who worked very hard with me to be sure that I wasn’t in any way penalized for having to drop a month into the semester.

I’m healing slowly, but perfectly, and am trying to be optimistic about my break from nursing school, knowing that I will return in the fall. Thank you for your support. I really appreciate all you continue to do for us. I hope that you and your family are doing well.

Sincerely,

Sarah Kirwin-Lawton ‘94 (Farmers Branch, Texas)

April 6, 2007

Hi, Gary,

I am hoping you will see this message on the website. I am doing really well. After some rough times, I have let God back in, and He is helping me.

I would love to come to the dedication or graduation and say something to the kids. You know me; I do have a story to tell. I just want to tell you thank you for all you did for me. It takes someone like me a long time to heal from their past, and I am doing better now.

I have hurt a lot of people and I am sorry for that. But, without God there to help me, I would be a lost sheep. I pray all the time and it helps me. Without God there to guide me, I would not be able to go on every day.

Now I am on my way again. I am going to school at SAC, and that is good.

Here are some things I could talk about to the kids:

~ abuse

~ Go with God

~ let people help you

~ give something back

~ love every chance you get

Love ya,

Sara Wallace ‘04 (San Antonio, Texas)

May 30, 2007

Hey Dad,

Nikia here – just a note to catch you up. I am working with a Fortune 500 Company called Essilor of America. The company makes eyeglass lenses and I place the orders to send them out. I have a beautiful new home and the girls are so wonderful. I enjoy teaching them and them teaching me.

Wanting to give something back, I wrote to CPS and offered to become a volunteer. That is how I started with a group of alumni who have aged out of Texas foster care. The alumni group helps to get laws passed that help the youth of today and the future. I am excited about "paying it forward". Meeting with the current youth in CPS was a full circle moment because I remember being in their shoes. They are all bright stars!

I have decided that I want to open a Residential Group Home myself. I have several individuals who are working with me. I really want to do this. I am praying always for continued faith and strength.

Thank you for all you do.

I love you,

Nikia King-Alexander ‘95 (DeSoto, Texas)

May 14, 2007

Carol,

I want to let you know that we are thinking of coming to the ranch with our boys for an overnight visit around July 16th. I can’t wait to see you guys, I hope that this is a good date for you, since it’s pretty much the only time I can fit it in while we are there!

Joe and I are discussing the option of moving back to TX with the boys this summer. Being closer to friends and family and building a personal support system are a much needed reality for me. I am looking into the programs at Schreiner, and the job and housing market there. I even dreamed of taking the training course you guys offer. I really miss it there and we both want to raise the boys "back home" and around family. It’s time to plant some roots. We’re going to do some more investigation while we are there, because Joe is even thinking of leaving Wal-mart if he can’t get the right opportunity. We are hoping that reality can meet our expectations and the boys and I can move home before the end of the summer.

Love always,

Katherine Kilgore-Andrews ‘95

December 3, 2007

Gary,

Tonight I read about the loss of Youth Ranch alum Javier Paredes ‘02, in Iraq. I remember, as I began reading the article, a mild expectation of the antiwar sentiment that has stormed into much of what is written about our soldiers and their mission. I was grateful (and somewhat ashamed of my lack of faith in you) to see that your commentary was absent of such denigrating words.

I don’t always take the opportunity to read every article in the Corral, but I feel compelled to say that your article was quite possibly the best you have ever done when putting pen to paper.

On behalf of all my brothers and sisters in arms (past, present and future), thank you. Thank you for your touching words. Thank you for your praise for this young man’s achievements. Thank you for the respect you showed to his fellow soldiers.

I am sorry that I doubted you, even if only for a moment. My apologies and gratitude are yours.

You have started something wonderful in Ingram, TX. You have nurtured it into something bordering on miraculous. I hope you feel the pride that God must have in you when he looks upon your life and your accomplishments.

May Javier Paredes enjoy eternity in the Kingdom of Heaven, forever basking in the warm love of all who knew him.

I believe that when the time is appropriate, you will see him there.

Until then he will wait patiently, and whisper in your ear from time to time.

God bless you, and yours. And keep smiling, ‘cause God has a special place for you.

With Love and Respect,

Robert Fogg ‘87