Two Days left until #GivingTuesday2023!
Today we’d like to share a story from one of our dearest ranch kiddos, who isn’t a kiddo anymore. Taylor (TD) started coming to the ranch for sessions in 2013. She became a Jr. leader in our first discipleship group, called LEAD, just a few years later. TD’s family became like true family to us. We even got to live on the same farm with them for the 7 months of transition from the time we sold our house, in May of 2018, until we moved to the ranch’s permanent home in December of 2018. She helped build the ranch from day one and even became a session leader and co-leader with Mo for our new group of LEAD girls, before she took off for college in Washington. To say TD is precious to us is an understatement. Her tenacity, spunk, and tender heart have seen us through some dark seasons of the ranch’s journey, including the day we all had to say goodbye to our sweet boy, Jed.
With the ranch coming to the end of its thirteenth year, it’s mind-boggling to look back at all the little ones in those early days, who are now grown and off adulting. TD gave us a chance to share some photos of her journey with us, from a cute 13-year-old sprite to the beautiful woman she is today.
Taylor Dallas, we couldn’t love you more if you were our own daughter (and we love that everyone thinks you are, much to the dismay of your Mama! 😉) We are so, so proud of you, more than we can possibly express. To watch you grow in your love, devotion, and passion for Jesus inspires and blesses us to no end. Thank you for sharing your heart, and the heart of what the ranch is all about.
The Beauty in the Imperfections – by Taylor Hunt
I was turning 13 the first time I stepped foot on the ranch, realizing the opportunity I had been given I was determined to make the most of it.
Unlike some students in sessions, I had no desire to do anything but ride. It was three years of sessions before I painted for fun. Every opportunity I had to ride and learn and improve I took it. Sessions ended in tears multiple times when I felt that I hadn’t improved on a certain skill or didn’t accomplish enough in those 90 minutes. While I knew that my worth wasn’t in what I had accomplished, I didn’t truly believe that.
But this changed when God graciously brought Jedidiah to the ranch. A beautiful horse, with one blue eye and one brown, Jed changed my entire world.
Extremely abused for most of his life, Jed was absolutely terrified of everything, little children, people walking too fast at him, and loud noises just to name a few. After watching Jed at the ranch family dinner, my heart was softened, and I soon was spending all my time with him.
Through the next years of working with Jed, God taught me some of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned to date. God showed me that there is beauty in imperfections. Nobody is too broken for the grace of God.
I often saw myself in Jed, a broken human in need of a savior. A savior that I too often ran from because it was too scary to fully surrender and trust him with my entire life. But we serve a gracious God who is willing to teach us the same lesson over and over until we understand it. At the same time I was working with Jed, God was working with me, and softening my heart to his call.
When someone asks me what the ranch means to me, it means a place where walls are broken down, freedom is found, and the grace of God is shown in everyday situations.