A publicly supported tax-exempt charitable and educational organizationVolume 42 Number 3

The Corral has been published bi-monthly

since 1977

June 2019

Hill Country Youth RanchP. O. Box 67Ingram, TX 78025-9990

Address Service Requested

For more information: Phone: 830-367-2131

Email: info@youth-ranch.orgWebsite: www.youth-ranch.org

A child care facility family

The Youth Ranch in brief• AchildcarefamilyestablishedofficiallyonMarch21,1977

• Mission: to provide a safe, loving, and life-enhancingChristianenvironmentforchildrenandyouthwithspecialemotionalanddevelopmentalneeds

• Threevillagesonthreeseparaterancheswithuniqueculturesto serve children and youth with varying needs

• Award-winningcharterschoolsonallthreecampuses

• Acompletearrayofprogramsfortraumatizedchildrenfrom5 to 18, in settings where healing and growth are individual-ized,plustransitionallivingforyoungadults,ages18-24

• Unparalleledrecreationalchoices,plusarts,agriculture,horseand animal care, vocational ed, outdoor adventure, and more

• Acommunityofveterancaregiverswithdeepresumes,expe-rience,andprovensuccessinthefield

• Need-based,age-appropriatehousingrangingfrompsychiat-ricassessmentcenters to family-stylehomes, toapartment-style housing for young adult graduates

• Adoptionservicesincludingtrainingandsupportoffamilies

• Homeandlifetimefamilytoover1900childrenin42years

• AlumniAssociationwith650memberswhomaintainposi-tiverelationshipswiththeirHCYRfamilyandoneanother

• Life-long support for alumniof all ages, includingcollege,transitionalliving,careerguidance,andhelpduringcrises

The Audacity of Belongingby Gary Priour, HCYR Director“Myname isCathyBrock-

ett,” said the 15-year-old girl who had determinedly entered myofficebackinSeptemberof1986.IlookeduptoseeCathyforthefirsttime,withherarmstretchedouttomakethetradi-tional introductoryhandshake.She had only been at the Ranch foraweek.

The circumstances under whichshewasmakingthisboldmove were dire in her case. The state of Texas had just announced that the 10-year-old foster care systemwas financially broke.The Savings and Loan debacle had left the state with tax short-falls, and county welfare boards couldnotevenaffordbasicsup-ply stipends for children. Wehad received word that all foster children would have to return to their counties of origin as no fur-thersupportcouldbeprovided.“ThisisthefirsttimeIhave

ever felt safe in my whole life,” continuedCathy. “I knew itfromthefirsttimeIputmyheadonapillowhere.Idon’twanttoleave.Iwillworkformykeep.I will clean houses, mow lawns, do whatever is assigned. But don’tmakemeleave.”Ofcourse,wedidn’t.Infact

we declared that all 32 children placedbyHarrisCounty(whereCathy was from) and, in ad-dition, all the children from throughout the state who had

receivedthesamenotification,could stay.Thatwasboldonourpart,as

itwaspotentiallybankrupting.Itwouldn’tbeeasytocarefor60children on just local donations.

But the real boldness was Cathy’s. Imagine: oneweekwith strangers, and you stepforward to take charge of asituation whose forces are be-yond your understanding. Her audaciousact,andtheresponseof the community to send in more donations than we had ever received to cover costs, confirmedthatwecanliveinaworld larger than ourselves and our circumstances, and count onothers to respond. Wecanbelong to something noble.

Through the years, I have wit-nessed the audacity of belonging over and over again in children who came to us beaten down, withdrawn, troubled. One girl whohadnotspokensincecom-ing to our psychiatric assess-ment center reached out one daytocareforanervouslizardthat seemed afraid. She made a friend that day, and then be-gantocommunicateandmakefriendswithchildrenandstaff.I’ve seen the audacity to

belong expressed in our veg-etable garden when children get involvedintheannualplantingand then want to be there for harvest.I’veseenitonmoun-tainsides in Colorado when they

helpedoneanotheronadifficultclimb and returned to the eve-ningcampfirewithnewbondsand a sense of team.

Sometimes the initial act is sosmall,andthepersondoesn’tthinkofitassignificant,butitchangesthecourseofthegroup.Audacious acts have led to ex-pandedprograms,newcampus-es,lifetimefamilymembershipceremonies,collegescholarshipfunds, and over 1900 alumni who declare themselves family.

For the community in which suchactstakeplace,it’samat-ter of valuing that courage over the misbehaviors of a defensive child, one whose history must beoverlookedduring the newopportunity.Thestoriesaretoonumerous to detail, but they all involve believing in something beyond the self, and taking achance–onethatinvolvesrisksonthepartofthechildandtheadults in charge as well.Belongingtoateam,agroup,

a family, or a community can be central to healing. But the timing and conditions that lead to belonging remain shrouded in mystery,deepinsidethehumanpsyche, and cannot be formu-lated in prescriptive program-ing.Theyhappenwhenweleastexpect them, and theyhappento individuals with unique bar-riers. A humble vigilance must be sustained if the audacity of belongingistofinditstime.

Largest graduating classes at Charter Schools

The Class of 2019 is the largest ever to graduate from our Charter Schools. Brune High School, above, are (L-R) Back Row: Dr. Carmen Boatright (Brune Principal), Shyann Hampton, Randall Clay Kinsey, Vincent Ibarra Parker, Ricky Gonzalez, Zoey McBeth, and Albert Hernandez (Charter School Superintendent); Middle Row: Jailee Cole, Grace Lane Lucas, Calista Garza, Eve Boyd; Front Row: Lacee Jones, Vanessa Alderson, Jayda Hurtado; not pictured: Angel Vela, Danyel Galvan and Daisy Prado. Najim High School, below, are Back Row: Albert Hernandez (Charter School Superintendent), Paten Sevey, Isaac Wright, Jenna-Garet Tatum, Juan Rios, Joseph Villa,and Kelly Bluemel (Najim Principal); Front Row: Brandon Herrera, Patrick Brown, Sadie Chavez, Abram Herrera, and Michelle Sebesta; not pictured: Sabrina Hermann.

Shyann is blazing trails and using her giftsby Albert Hernandez, Superintendent ofBrune, Cailloux and Najim Charter Schools

Shyann Hampton came to live at Big Springs Ranch for Children in 2011 as a ten-year-old girl who had plenty of reasons to be fearful and mistrustful. A victim of early childhood abuse, she had suffered from being moved around and separated from siblings. She arrived at the Ranch feeling alone and out of place.

As the saying goes, “When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade!” That is exactly what the Brune High School Senior did after coming to live at BSRC as a young girl. Shyann has written a fairy tale ending to her child-hood and high school career.

At an early age, Shyann found that participating in extra-curricular activities was one way to keep her busy and out of trouble. She began playing volleyball and basketball while in the sixth grade and expanded her interests to track, cheerleading, 4-H, and choir while in high school. As a high school freshman, Shyann was crowned the TCSAAL (Tex-as Charter School Academic and Athletic League) State Shot Put Champion for 2015-2016. She is the only Brune School female to qualify for state for four years in a row in shot put. She also qualified for state in discus for the last two years.

She is a member of the Brune District Champion Volleyball and Basketball teams and is also a member of the Grand Champion Varsity Cheerleading team for 2017-2018. Last year Shyann also won Grand Champion in rabbits at the Real County 4-H stock show.

These have all been great accomplish-ments, but one thing that Shyann is very proud of is her induction into the Brune High Chapter of the National Honor So-ciety. Academic excellence has played a big part in Shyann’s success. “My inspiration comes from always wanting to be better than my family was – I’ve always wanted to do something with my life and not end up in jail with my kids taken away from me.”

In the fall, Shyann will begin fresh-man classes at Texas State University in San Marcos. She has been awarded several scholarships to make that pos-sible. She plans to study to be a neonatal nurse and minor in theater.

Says Shyann of her experience of growing up at BSRC, “The Ranch taught me what it means to have a real family. This is my forever home.”

Shyann Hampton ‘19 has tak-en advantage of every oppor-tunity put in front of her during her eight years as a Ranch girl. She graduated from Brune High on May 31 with a 3.6 GPA. She is a member of the Brune Chapter of the National Honor Society. In April she accepted an offer from Texas State University to enter as a freshman this fall (go Bob-cats!). During her years at Big Springs Ranch, Shyann won state in shot put, was on the 2018 Grand Champion Brune High Cheer Squad, and won Grand Champion with her rabbit entry at the 2019 Real County Stock Show. Shyann says she loves her Ranch fam-ily and is glad she became a country girl along the way.

In Memory Of: JANE ABELL

Ruth SpradlingJOHN ANDERSON

Lincoln & Karen DavisJOHN ARMATTA

Curtis & Missy HowardMARY JUNE BABCOCK

Willie & Maxine NielsenBETTY BALES

Vivian RingoVERTA BERGMANN

Arlen LeederFRANCES MARIE BERNARD BERTAGNOLLIFrank Bertagnolli

WILLIAM BIXLER, JR.Dr. Sara Bixler

ROBIN BLAIRBill & Lynda Tolleson

DYMPLE BOYDPhyllis Shelton

BILL BRIZENDINEAlbert & Jeanette Pittman

ED BRUNEJohn & Pat BakkeTim & Josie CampbellWill & Liz FranklinHCYR AuxiliaryGlenna HeavinJay & Nancy KelleyHal PerkinsGary & Carol PriourMichael PriourHarold & Judy WilsonMike & Pam Wood

ALTON BRUNSEdgar & Margaret Priess, Jr.

CLIFTON CHRISMANPhyllis Chrisman

TUFFY COWDENNell King Dell Martin

JEFFERY ALAN CUMMINSDavid & Carolyn Cummins

DR. CLARENCE DONALDTerry Wallace

JOEY DRAPELABarbara Fisher

ELLIS ELLEBRACHTHCYR Auxiliary

DWADE ENGLEBobby & Nancy Kelley

RICK FRENCHScott & Sandy Hofmann

CULLEN FRIEDRICHRoyce & Karen Herbort

Evelyn KordzikWILLIAM FRUE

Willie & Maxine NielsenBRIAN FRYMAN

Leo & Maxine FrymanIRENE GILMORE

Claire NelmsHARLEY GOLD

Edgar & Margaret Priess, Jr.JOANN P. HALE

Carter HaleLES & EMMA HANSON

Roy & Karen CoplenJIMMY HARRELL

Doris Ivy & FamilyBRUCE T. HILTON

Patricia HiltonJAMES “JIM” HOLLAND

Rex & Shelia BrandRUSS HOLMER

Junell HolmerRAYMOND L. HUBER

Neva NicholsonKEITH ALLEN JACK

Lucille StremmelMERRELL JENKINS

Annie LoftinBetty Yancey

ROSEMARY JONESJerry & Kathy Boyle

PEGGY JORDANScott & Sandy Hofmann

KARLA JOY KERSTENCleve & Mary Hunter

RUTH W. KIRKCurtis & Missy Howard

CLARK KLEINSaul & Linda Cantu

CHRISTIAN KOONZStephanie Koonz

DENNIS DALE LANDJim & Linda Rotgé

WILL LAWRENCEKay McCorquodale

DIANE MARY LAYTONJames & Sherri Burdell

WANDA LEIBEEAllen H. Leibee

BUBBA LEONARDMelanie Clark

SUE LESTERRoy & Karen Coplen

RACHEL LUCASJoy Putnam

KENNETH & JERRY MANNINGLouis & Mary Kay Smith

DORIS MORRISSAnn Bracher Vaughan

LYNNE MUCCIGROSSOMichael Muccigrosso

MARY MURPHYAlbert & Jeanette Pittman

SANDRA NETHERLANDEdgar & Margaret Priess, Jr.

FRANKLIN NORWOODMichael Muccigrosso

JACK O’BARREdra BowdleRuth Hatch

ELLA FRANCES VAUGHNPARKERJudy HollingerCurtis & Missy Howard

BRIAN PAUL PARMERRod & Kaylan Garner

JUDAH MICHAEL PRIOURJim & Judy ArketRoberta BelangerThe Cailloux FoundationCheryl DanielNorman & Judy DugglebyEzekiel & Amanda DukeChuck & Dawn DykstraTony GallucciRoy & Andrea GentryJohn & Shirley GumertHCYR AuxiliaryGlenna HeavinEvelyn KingsberyLeroy LamprechtBob & Cynthia MoranAndrew MorseBill & Wanda NewGary & Kim OmlorMartha PollardDonald & Jane PriourGary & Carol PriourKyle & Judy PriourLuke & Mary PriourMaggie SteeleMeta SyfanMarc & Dalene TaylorTerry WallaceSandra B. WardAdele WendelHarold & Judy WilsonMichael & Pamela WoodJames & Judith Wright

ELIZABETH RAHEJerald & Vickie AhrensScott & Sandy Hofmann

FLOYD R. RIDGLEY, JR.Ann & Chase Farner

JOE ROWLANDCurtis & Missy Howard

WALTER B. SANERJames King

BARBARA SCHELLHASEDoris Ivy

CHARLES SELFRonnie & Rochelle Lumpkins

JOE SHEFFIELDRuth Hatch

EMMA CLAIRE SIGGINSDavid & Carolyn Cummins

J. T. SMITHScott & Sandy Hofmann

SCOTT & JULIA STEHLINGClaire NelmsGary& Carol PriourCarlton & Jeannine Wendel

DOROTHY STEWARTJoe & Mary Jane Morrison

TIA SUMMERVILLEBen & Stephanie Rich

FRANK TURNHAMHoward, Ruby & Carla Evans

BARBARA WEBBERJean Murray

BILL & IRENE WOMACKJason & Laurie Blewett

In Honor Of: MARGARET BARNHART

Clair NelmsTIM & JOSIE CAMPBELL

Wayne & Evelyn Ralston

HCYR Memorials & HonorsEach month HCYR receives memorial gifts honoring loved ones who have passed away and other gifts remembering special occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries,

etc. Because they are so important to the daily operation of the Ranch, and in keeping with their two-fold purpose, we gratefully acknowledge all such gifts both in the newsletter and in cards sent to family members. The following list includes loved ones honored by gifts from March 30 through June 7, 2019.

BRIDGET DALEHappy BirthdayWednesday Crew

FUSION PERFORMANCE COMPANYJust Being HumanStephanie Koonz

STUART W. HOWARDHappy BirthdayCurtis & Missy Howard

GORDON POFFHappy BirthdayAndy & Carol Poff

CAROL PRIOURJoan Phenix

JONAH & FAITH PRIOUR & FAMILY

Ezekiel & Amanda DukeHOWARD & ANITA RABY

Happy 70th AnniversaryAnnie LoftinBetty Yancey

MATTHIAS RAMSAYHappy BirthdayAugustine & Mary Estrada

SHAWNA, DEREK, JASON, JOSH, KYLE & BRANDI

Betty KneupperLINDA TREIBS

Happy BirthdayKermit & Laverne Boos

SUZEL R. VELAHappy BirthdayDominga Ramirez

Gifts-in-kind help provide quality environment

Remember us when you’re getting rid of items that are still usable.

With a big family like ours, material goods are in constant demand. Like every active family, we wear things out. So when we receive material gifts, we first fill needs at our campuses. We offer remain-ing items for sale at one of our Thrift Shops. Either way, our children reap the benefit.

We send a truck out into the Kerr County area each Thursday to pick up items from donors. Call us to schedule a pick-up at 367-

2131, or bring items to either campus from 8 to 5, Monday through Friday.

Our “most-needed” list: Furniture – any quality

items, including sofas, chairs, chests, dressers, tables, etc.

Housewares – glasses, dishes, pots, pans, silverware.

Linens – towels, sheets, pillows, blankets, comforters.

Vehicles – minivan or large van for transports, & a pickup.

Recreation – fishing gear, sports balls, saddles & tack, bicycles, helmets, games.

Tools – of all kindsAnything re-sellable

The 500 Club is our way of honoring donors who have given $500 or more to the Youth Ranch. We are pleased to an-nounce new members whose donations total over $500 by virtue of gifts made from March 30 to June 7, 2019.

Cash donations came from Andrew Morse, New York, NY; Shawn & Elizabeth Bartow, Sioux Falls, SD; Joe Robert & Paula Cotton, Boerne, TX; The Church in Your City, Boerne, TX; Wade & Raegan Lowry, Bulverde, TX; Jerald & Vickie Ahrens, Comfort, TX; James Sessions, Cypress, TX; Grant & Cynthia Hodgkins, Fort Worth, TX; Doug Fordyce, Houston, TX; Hill Country Caring Crafters, Ingram, TX; Wayne & Evelyn Ralston, Kerrville, TX; Benjamin & Stephanie Rich, Kerrville,

TX; Mark Bruch, Lockhart, TX; Koy & Sarah Grote, Mason, TX; Mark Saulsbury, Odessa, TX; Stephanie Koonz, Plano, TX; Greg & Leslie Kiesel, Rio Frio, TX; Todd & LaDonia Franke, San Antonio, TX.

We were also blessed with generous in-kind gifts: George & Dusty Ifflander, Center Point, TX, gave a sofa; St. Boniface Episcopal Church, Comfort, TX, gave new shoes; Tom Gordon, Kerrville, TX, gave a file cabinet; Donna Hendrickson & Holli Ann Ticknor, Kerrville, TX, gave a bed frame; Joyce Spence, Kerrville, TX, gave furniture; Diane Streiff, Mountain Home, TX, gave furniture & household items.

Thank you to these new members, and to all our 500 Club members, for your generous and enduring support.

500 Club Grows

From the HCYR Auxiliary in Kerr CountyOur luncheon on May 20 at HCYR had a record turnout. The Auxiliary Board

provided lunch, catered by Bridget Dale. After lunch the attendees toured the campus, which is always an anticipated event. The Auxiliary will resume its monthly meetings on August 26 at the Cailloux Activity Center at Schreiner University. The Board will continue to meet and work during the summer on our annual fundraiser “Healing Hearts Fiesta”. Mark your calendars for this popular gala on September 24, at the Hill Country Youth Event Center in Kerrville.

The HCYR Thrift Shop, located in Ingram, will soon have a new look. Work is now in progress to upgrade our entrance, re-pave the parking lot and make other improvements. Our dedicated army of volunteers continue to do what they do so well – making the HCYR Thrift Shop the best in the Hill Country.

We welcome anyone who has an interest to join the Auxiliary, help with the “Healing Hearts Fiesta”, or volunteer at the Thrift Shop. Contact Judy Wright, 830-864-5049, or email me at judy4984@ctesc.net, for more information.

Judy WrightPresident, Hill Country Youth Ranch Auxiliary

From the BSRC Auxiliary in Real CountySchool is out, graduation is over and Memorial Day is behind us. Summer is

here! God has blessed us with rain, the countryside is green and beautiful, and the river is running nicely. The Thrift Store is prepared for the influx of tourists who come to Float the Frio and forget their swimsuits, or towels, or some other essential item, or just want a place to browse in the heat of the day. Our dona-tions have been steady and sales are up. Life is good. We look forward to the July Jubilee, when we draw for the winner of our Quilt Raffle on July 6th. The quilt, donated by David & Suzanne Alimena, has a patriotic theme of red, white, and blue stars. Tickets are available at the Store or from Auxiliary members.

The Thrift Store is now on Facebook at “Big Springs Thrift Store”! We have featured drawings for gift baskets on selected holidays. You will also find advance notice of new items and special sales. Check us out!

Meetings are held September through May on the second Tuesday of the month at noon in the Methodist Fellowship Hall. Join us!

Johnnie HirstPresident, Big Springs Ranch Auxiliary

Auxiliary TwineA Mighty Oak is goneby Gary Priour, HCYR Founder and Executive Director

Another Mighty Oak is gone from our forest of friends. Ed Brune, who, along with his beloved wife Trudy, helped build the Big Springs Ranch for Children over the past 18 years and who was an ever-loyal partner and friend to me personally, to our ministry, and to our staff and children, passed away early Sunday morning, June 2, in Fredericksburg at age 86. He was surrounded by his wife and four children.

It is hard to describe the impact that meeting Ed and Trudy in 2001 would have on our ministry. Trudy had seen our Thrift Store in Ingram, and had stopped in to buy a purse. It was 4:05 p.m. and the store was closed but store manager Judy Wilson was still there and opened up for them. She had brochures and told them about the Ranch. The rest is history. Over the next 18 years, Ed and Trudy would become the largest single donors in Ranch history, investing almost $10,000,000 in the development of Big Springs Ranch for Children, taking it from a remote rural foster home with two houses to a 35-building educational village known throughout the state for its beautiful facilities and broad array of program opportunities.

Because of Ed and Trudy, children at Big Springs Ranch enjoy spacious family-style homes, an award-winning charter school system, and the finest recreational and worship facilities anywhere.

On top of all that, the children knew that Ed and Trudy loved them. Each year in April, the couple attended the annual picnic at Big Springs Ranch to help dedicate new buildings. Progress was always in the air. Ed often spoke to the children, tell-ing them of his own peaks and valleys, encouraging them to never give up. Trudy would write a poem for each occasion, and the two of them became part of the growing family at the state’s most beautiful children’s home. They were literally God-sent and integral to the success of the new endeavor.

Ed and Trudy would always respond to praise with the phrase “To God be the Glory!” In fact, that attribution became our motto at BSRC, and a sign announces it to all who drive through the gates.

Our prayers for Trudy and the family are continuous. Ed will never be gone from our hearts, and children for generations to come will learn of his stepping forward boldly to provide them with family-style homes and state-of-the-art school facilities.

When I think of Ed now, I think of the words in 2 Timothy 4:7-8. He fought the good fight. He finished his race. He kept the faith.

Looking for a way to help?Come see us at 3522 Junction Highway,

one mile west of Ingram, TexasYou can also call 830-367-2131 or email

info@youth-ranch.org for more information

Veterans with the Right Stuff anchor programEditor’s Note: Of the 54 persons work-ing in our 18 children’s houses to care for 108 children at a time, plus the eight supervisors who monitor and coach them every day, 36 of them have been here for more than two years, 16 for more than five years, and eight more than 10. If you know anything about attrition rates in Texas child care facilities, you know how amaz-ing those facts are. What we do at HCYR that works to increase tenure is grow our own – promote from within – so that all the administrative and program supervisors come from direct care staff and thus know what it’s like to walk in those difficult shoes.

by Karen Davis, Communications SpecialistA few days ago I was visiting with one

of the houseparents here at the Ranch and I remarked to her how calm she always seems. I raised three children, always had three or more teenagers in the house at any given time and I cannot remember ever being calm. They usually kept me on the edge of insanity. Yet here is a husband/wife team who maintain a house with seven or eight teenage girls and I have never seen her or her husband upset, frazzled, or at wits’ end. It made me wonder, what have these houseparents got that keeps them doing what they do? Something must be different! Clearly they have ‘the right stuff’. So I started talking to houseparents. We have some ‘lifers’ here at the Ranch, a name given to long time houseparents by other workers. What follows is the story of several such individuals who are in it for the long haul – and who are now working to help others do the same.

Amanda Amanda has been working at the Ranch

for nine years in various roles. She started out as a houseparent, the most important but most difficult of all Ranch jobs. I asked her what makes a young woman want to take on such a huge responsibility?

Amanda explained that she was work-ing in San Antonio in a high stress job in a legal office, and she knew that God wanted her to move out of San Antonio, so she prayed about it. She opened the paper one morning and saw a want ad for houseparents here at the Ranch. She answered it and became a houseparent.

“It isn’t easy,” she explained, “the chil-dren make you work for their trust. But the children also make you appreciate if you had a life with no trauma or abuse. They teach you your strengths and your weaknesses.”

Amanda shared a rewarding memory

about one child who would ask to spend time with her. She said it was amazing to see the children growing and learning to make the right decisions. She remem-bers crying when one of the children was adopted and left the Ranch. Amanda told me that a houseparent has to have a “thick skin and a heart that breaks” in order to go to the fragile places the children need to go. Spending time in those fragile places is the only way to develop a relationship with them.

She also said you cannot harbor ill will toward the children, no matter what they do or say. As they work through trust and anger issues, they can say and do things that a houseparent simply must not take personally. If you can just see beyond the anger and hurt driving those behaviors, a beautiful being will emerge, sooner or later.

Amanda says that houseparenting was the most rewarding job she has ever had or will ever have. She knows she was called. She is now the Ranch recruiter, looking for others with that same calling and sense of mission.

Amanda stays in touch with “her chil-dren”. I recently read a post on Facebook from one of ‘Amanda’s girls’ asking if anyone remembered Miss Amanda’s Monkey Bread – she was craving it. The responses were immediate and delightful! Everyone remembered! I asked Amanda about it, and she made some and brought it to the office. Word spread quickly that Amanda made Monkey Bread and it was gone in a flash. I had some and all I can say is if you are ever at the Ranch and there is Monkey Bread in the break room, be sure and grab some – it is a culinary delight you will never have tasted before – and will never forget!

DerikDerik has been at the Ranch for 13 years,

and he, too, started as a houseparent. De-rik told me that some people say being a houseparent is a calling, but he assured me that, for him, it was also a gift from God. Derik was trying to run a business, and he just wasn’t committed. He felt like he was wandering through life with no direction or purpose. He opened the paper and put his thumb on a want ad and immediately applied for the job at the Youth Ranch.

Derik says he has loved the job from the start, along with the people, who became family to him. He feels he is finally doing something he can measure, but he says it takes a lot of faith to do it. He says it is rewarding to put himself into the children’s lives and know that they finally have some-one who will always be honest and steady with them – someone they can trust.

He prides himself in showing them how a man is supposed to act, how he is sup-posed to love himself and others, and how a father is supposed to treat his children. Derik says it is a thrill to teach the children, and that his care for them is never condi-tional. If they respond negatively to his care, he doesn’t hold it over their heads.

Others noticed how effective Derik was with the children, and after two years of houseparenting, Derik was promoted to Program Coordinator – a position that com-bines crisis intervention with staff supervi-sion and training. He threw himself into every educational opportunity to improve his knowledge and skill set and was eventu-ally certified as an official Trainer of Trust Based Relationship Interventions (TBRI) at TCU. TBRI is now the gold standard of child care training in Texas, and it repre-sents the vision we have always had at HCYR of relationship-based healing and growth. Last year, Derik was promoted

to Program Director of the Residential Treatment program, caring for the most traumatized of our children.

Derik says there is never a dull day at HCYR – that it is crazy and amazing at the same time. He works hard to make sure ‘every day is a good day’. Derik told me he met his wife Adelfa here at the Ranch – she was a houseparent as well. While he thought she was amazing, she thought he was a “bull-headed jerk”. But Derik persisted, their love flourished and they were soon married. Derik finds great pride that he and his wife have taught the children by example what a relationship is supposed to be like. Most of the children at the Ranch have never been exposed to high-road courtship, followed by a loving, committed relationship. Derik and his wife Adelfa recently added to the Ranch family with the birth of their beautiful son.

In total I spoke with six long-term houseparents and I noticed a central theme when I asked them why they do what they do. “God directed me here.” Jesse, who has been with the Ranch for over 15 years and still prefers houseparenting to any other role, told me, “When you work here you become a family member and you get all the things you get in a family, good and bad. You continue on so the children will know they have a family.”

Mark, another lifer, told me, “I am here for what the children give me. I love the job and couldn’t imagine doing anything else.”

The houseparents at the Ranch are all alike in the way they show unconditional support of our children. They are all alike in their belief in God and that God guided them here to give wounded children a fresh start. The lifers will tell you they believe the job is more of a calling than an occupation. They seem to have bound-less patience – they have the Right Stuff.

L e f t , A m a n d a interviews applicant. Above, Derik training s t a f f a n d r i g h t , working with children.

First Events Christen New Arts Centerby Gary Priour, HCYR Founder and Executive Director

After two years of construction, the Perry and Ruby Stevens Fine Arts Cen-ter is finally operational, with finishing touches still being applied as we go to press with the June Corral.

This past March, even before comple-tion of other wings, HCYR’s Director of Fine Arts Carol Priour began moving in to her beloved costume rooms, hanging the hundreds of donated formal dresses, plus theatrical and period costumes in three rooms designed for them. She had everything ready for Prom Night on May 24, and Ranch girls came to be fitted during the week preceding. Other Ranch staff coordinated volunteer hair and makeup artists from the community, and the transformational evening took place, finally, in a single coordinated location, with the makeup and hair room located adjacent to the dressing and fitting rooms.

“It was amazing,” said Sara Skaines, HCYR Program Specialist, “to see our girls treated to such professional care and attention on their special night. Every-thing we needed to make all the adjust-ments was right there in the Arts Center.”

Then, with just a week remaining before May 30 graduation ceremonies, crews from various trades completed plumbing and electrical, hung curtains, theater lights, and house speakers so that the largest graduation class in the history of Najim Charter School at HCYR could have graduation in an appropriate facil-ity. And thank goodness we made it, as 220 people attended the ceremony, filling

the new theater to capacity.Building a $4 million facility for $2.5

million hasn’t been easy. It has taken volunteers, from architects to landscap-ers, from equipment operators to sound technicians, to pull this off. Many staff have volunteered during off hours in their areas of expertise and interest. Ashley Phillips, Development Associate, had a vision for the courtyard and spent eve-nings and weekends carving out a new look with flowers, statues, and walkways. This would simply not have been done if she hadn’t taken it on. That kind of ef-fort is going on throughout the building, from the recording room soldering and gear setup, to help with moving in and furnishing the offices and classrooms.

Our goal is to finish debugging and furnishing the new 22,000 sq. ft. Center this summer, and have a grand opening in the fall. With focus on a concert per-formance to showcase the new theater, we are currently searching for outstand-ing musical talent to take the stage for an opening performance in September or October. Let us know if you have a special connection with a great singer, pianist, or band. And stay tuned!

In the meantime, as with all building projects, there are items and funding for equipment that are still needed in the home stretch.

Please don’t hesitate to call me per-sonally (830-367-2131) or email me at gary@youth-ranch.org for more infor-mation. If you’d like, schedule a tour of the almost-complete facility so we can show you its wonders, and its potential.

The girls ‘green room’, located backstage at the Arts Center Theater, served for hair and makeup work on Prom Night, May 24. Below, just a week later, on May 30, the theater filled for the first time for graduation ceremonies for Najim High.

Hundreds of costumes, formal dresses and fun accessories adorn multiple costume rooms at the new Arts Center. A professional photo lab complete with a cyc wall allows for shooting portraits and scenes with backgrounds.to be added. An art gallery for showing the paintings and drawings of children is being readied for the first show.

When love comes full circle, it’s familyBy Carol Priour, HCYR Fine Arts Director

A few years back, at my 40-year high school reunion, an old friend asked me what it is that I do at the Youth Ranch. I told her I was teaching art, and then I be-gan to list some of my other duties here. Her question kept repeating itself in my mind. What exactly is it that I do here?

In this work, it is probably impossible to have an accurate job description for anyone because we all have to be ready to do anything that is needed. Still, I have concluded that our most important task is helping the children have a sense of be-longing to a family, find a road out of their pain, and to restore hope in their hearts.

And oh how I love the way the children, each in their own way, accept the love, and become family, as they slowly learn how to embrace the hope we offer.

For me, there has never been a clearer example of coming together as a family than I have recently experienced through-out the almost two-year journey of loving baby Judah, my grandson, our miracle gift from Heaven, who is now with Jesus.

In the weeks just before Judah was born, his mama, known to the Youth Ranch family as “Miss Faith”, and his daddy, my son, who is the Ranch chap-lain known as “Mr. Jonah”, had gotten word that something was terribly wrong and their tiny baby wasn’t growing prop-erly. They were even told that a live birth might not be possible.

The Ranch children began to pray for their unborn baby brother. They prayed hard. They prayed in chapel, they prayed together in their houses, and they told us of the countless prayers prayed when they were alone in their rooms at night. When Judah was born at just over three pounds, with serious liver, heart, lung, and skeletal difficulties, they drew pictures of him in God’s healing hands, made video messages, and wrote scores of encouraging letters that were taped to the walls to brighten his little cubicle in the NICU during his long stay at Meth-odist Hospital in San Antonio.

When Judah finally did get to come home with his parents, he had to have supplemental oxygen, and medication for his heart and lungs. One of the teen girls, Skylar, organized a ‘showing of unity’ with little Judah by purchasing and distributing oxygen cannulas to all the children who wanted to participate by wearing the cannulas for 24 hours straight. The children and staff even wore the uncomfortable cannulas to

church to show their support for Baby Judah and his struggle to breathe.

The Ranch children shared their toys and believed with all their might that Ju-dah could make it. They kept praying for the day when they could meet this young-est family member, even though the medi-cal team that was caring for Judah had announced that he most likely couldn’t last a week, especially considering the large size of the hole in his tiny heart.

But the children did get to meet Baby Judah. In fact, little Judah made it to 20 months, an astonishing age for someone with his diagnosis. An endless stream of love was poured into that little baby who learned to do so much more than was ever expected by the medical com-munity, and the Ranch children were a part of that victory.

When Judah’s mommy and daddy were exhausted and worn from lack of rest and Judah’s daily care, a team of Ranch kids went to their home and pulled weeds and thistles from the yard they had no time

left to care for. The prayers continued and the children sent encouraging notes and drawings. Some even saved up their allowances to buy special toys for their tiny brother. Like the children here, Judah had a fighting spirit.

Judah died at 20 months, covered in the love of his devoted parents. On the first day after his son’s death, Pastor Jonah called the Ranch children together after school at the chapel to tell them of Judah’s passing. Many took it hard and counselors and therapists were present. They comforted one another as well as Jonah. Together, these brave children came together as a family . . . together they reached a place where they could thank God that now, in Heaven, Baby Judah would be able to breathe freely without tubes and machines, and would be able to walk and run and play.

On the day of Judah’s life celebration service, many of the Ranch children were in attendance to offer love and support.

But there was something else that

struck me in the very deepest part of my heart . . . the number of Youth Ranch alumni who attended the service. These grown ‘Ranch Kids’ came from Austin, Houston, San Antonio, South Texas, North Texas . . . several traveled over five hours to honor this special little baby they had never met, except through so-cial media. As we all gathered together for breakfast the next morning, they came offering what they had to give. As one by one they put their beautiful babies into the arms of Papa Gary and Mama Carol, who had just lost our only biological grandchild, I was struck by something so beautiful that it was like a warm blanket on the coldest of winter nights . . . these beautiful human beings we had helped raise came to offer us a sense of belonging to a family, a road through our pain . . . and they came to restore hope in our hearts. They came to give back what they had received. They came to illustrate the Ranch motto, “Love One Another”.

Top, Ranch children form a prayer circle around Judah at a chapel service. Below, on “Stand with Judah” day, all the girls wore cannulas as a sign of unity.