Beauty!!

If you've been following our blog, or have been around Granny's House the last several years, you know that several of our "Spirit Riders" girls have participated in and event called the Extreme Mustang Makeover and have traveled to Texas, Tennessee and Illinois as a part of this challenge. This challenge requires youth from around the nation to train and "tame" a wild mustang for 90 days. At the end of this time, the youth get together and compete to show off their training skills, and see how well they did! Starr is one of our mustang trainers who has been participating in this event since the very beginning (3 years ago), and this year, was invited to participate in the challenge once again!

Starr and her trainers (Sue Crane and Riki Shipley) traveled to Mississippi a few weeks ago to pick up Starr's 3rd Mustang! Upon meeting her, Starr named her "Beauty" and INSTANTLY fell in love. Knowing that wild mustangs are often unpredictable, hesitant and avoid human contact out of fear, Starr was cautious as she approached Beauty. However, Starr must be a little "Mustang Whisperer" because the only time Beauty WAS happy...was when she was petting her!!

Starr has made AMAZING progress with her horse and on the second day back, she was already doing things that took her MONTHS with her other horses!

We are so proud of Starr and Beauty!

Back from camp!!!

We have been back from KAA for about 2 weeks, and have been going non-stop since! We had many adventures at camp this year, with some VERY hot weather, and a few "tough" situations, but for the most part it was a great time and we watched God move in a lot of ways!

This year we brought 37 children to camp, and all of the children had a great time (with very little homesickness...thanks for the prayers!). We also avoided the nurses office (last year we had 2 kids in the office overnight for several evenings), and had safe travels!

We have many stories to share that we will be posting several in the next few weeks. Until then...enjoy some pictures from our time at KAA! U-KNOW!!

KAA Kampers!

On July 20th, Granny's House staff, along with 38 youth, will travel 6 hours to Kids Across America for the 7th year! We are excited to watch God work in the lives of the Granny's House kids, and ask that you would join us in prayer for the campers and their experiences in Golden Missouri!

Cost Cutters' Fundraiser

Granny's House, along with several other local charities, is participating in Cost Cutters' Charity Fundraiser again this year. What a great opportunity!!

Congratulations Granny’s House Graduates!

Everyone knows that high school graduation is an important stepping-stone in life and, if missed, you may end up settling for “Plan B” or, perhaps, even “Plan C.” Our heart’s desire at Granny’s House is for every kid we meet to grab hold of “Plan A!”

What a thrill it was to attend Hickman High School’s Graduation Ceremony at Mizzou Arena last week to see Vernita Chapman and Arreal Nelson (“LuLu”) walk across the stage to receive their high school diplomas. These girls have pushed through obstacles, held fast to their dream of getting an education and have now received their prize: that coveted piece of paper that spells “S-U-C-C-E-S-S!” CONGRATULATIONS GIRLS!! We are soooooo proud of you!

Vernita Chapman is in the process of enlisting in the military

Arreal Nelson with Poppi, whom she affectionately calls “My Grandpa;” Arreal wants to work with young children.

The final cap toss!

P. S. Congratulations to Granny’s House Alumni Graduates!!

During Hickman High School’s graduation ceremony, I was amazed to hear names called that I recognized…recognized because they were “Granny’s House kids” during our early history in ‘01 and ‘02.

Ashley Brinker, Ja’haila Bradford and Jasmine Washington were in our very first Princess Academy graduating class of 2002. Kimonie Sutton, Dominique Prince, Samual Darty,* De’Andre Washington* and Na'Keetra Prince** were also among the little kids that we’d often see running across the front yard at Granny’s House back then.

How awesome to know that, though, they were no longer hanging out with us at Granny’s House, they stayed on track, finished their course work and graduated. We are awed by God’s faithfulness to all the kids who have crossed our threshold over the past nine years! -Granny Pam

*Rock Bridge High School Graduates
**Southern Boone County High School Graduate

Columbia Tribune Photo from Princess Academy Graduation 2002. Jasmine Washington, 11, Kiaren Houston, 10, Detricia Darty, 14, Rachel Foster, 12, Tabatha Yetman, 11, Kathran Haefling, 14, and Ashley Brinker, 10

Ja’haila Bradford with Gayla Miller, Princess Academy workshop leader

Ashley Brinker with Jane Williams, Princess Academy workshop leader

Ashley Brinker (second from right) with Dr. Debbye Turner at Princess Academy Graduation ‘02

Samuel Darty at Granny’s House Birthday Party, ‘02

Kimonie Sutton at Granny’s House

De’Andre Washington, far left hanging out with Granny Pam

Na'Keetra after her graduation ceremony at Southern Boone High School!

What would I do when I grow up...

Yesterday, as I was picking up Randy (one of our 11 year old young men) from home for his first day of golf camp, he insisted I come inside and read something he had written on his computer. This is what I saw...

What would I do when I Grow up (and more stuff)

I would help young children when they need it. I will teach them about the bible and how it first started. I will teach them everything I know. I WILL work at a Church for young kids. I will also be a man about my own mistakes and problems I will be helpful to one another and treat them the way I want to be treated. I will be a leader not a follower. I will be myself. I will not fear because I have Jesus in my heart I will study the bible if I’m confused. I will always remember what angie,marykate,granny pam,poppie,tyler,nick,scott, Demarco did for me thank you so much for everything I have so much respect for all of you thanks for everything.

Randy R. James

Randy is a member of our Son's of the King group, and is really becoming a leader among the Granny's House kids. He is an amazing young man and we can't wait to see what God has in store for him!

Fun in the Sun!

With only two more days of school until Summer Break...the kids are anxiously awaiting spending all day playing in the sun! Here are some pics of the kids this past week enjoying the hot weather!!

Back in the Saddle!

About 2 weeks ago, seven young ladies stepped back on the farm after our winter break from Spirit Riders! They were excited and ready to get back on their horses and jumped right in where they left off! We have one new rider this year and the "veteran" girls are being real leaders and have taught her a lot already. According to the Spirit Rider instructors...this is a great group of girls whose skills are growing immensely each week!

Son's of the King/Princess Academy Graduation!

On most days at Granny’s House, our 5th grade and older boys and girls can be found doing a variety of things; chasing each other around the yard, playing 4-square on the sidewalk, working on homework, hanging out with volunteers and (maybe the most popular) hanging out in the computer room laughing with each other.

For one night in the May however, 14 of these amazing young people tossed aside their tennis shoes, throwback jerseys and flip flops and traded them in for dresses, dress shirts and ties. Among family, friends, teachers and even school counselors, these young people shared what they had learned during Son’s of the King and Princess Academy, two Granny’s House programs for 5th-7th grade kids.

One by one, each young man and young lady stood up and told the audience what they learned during their specific program. The information shared was incredible! Scripture was shared, lesson’s from Paul in the bible were spoken about, practical ways to “live out your faith” were expressed, and most importantly each young lady and young man made their faith their own by speaking about what specifically impacted them throughout the year.

Here are some “excerpts” from some of the speeches:

Randy (5th grader in Son’s of the King):
“I learned this bible verse this year;
Blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers.”
*This is especially special for Randy since he is really becoming a leader among the young men in the group!

Michaela (6th grader in Princess Academy):
“I learned a lot of things in 1 Timothy, but the thing I think is most important is, until the day God gives me a spouse, I should learn to treat young men like brothers in Christ. I also learned that a lot of girls find their identity in how guys will respond to what they look like, instead, should find their identity in Christ.”

Consolee (5th grader in Princess Academy):
“It should be a lifelong goal of a believer to live a life that God can be pleased with, and when other people around us look at our life, they should see who our God truly is because we live lives that prove God lives within us. Christianity is not meant to be run alone...you won’t make it! We need other people to help us through the race.”

We were so proud of each of the participants and have really enjoyed watching these young men and women grow in their relationship with the Lord! They are becoming such leaders in their faith!