SkyMoms Fall 2021 Newsletter

I am convinced that everything tastes better at Family Camp! Maybe it is just that I am not having to cook or clean the dishes that makes all the food scrumptious! Here is one of my favorites...

We are so honored that you are entrusting us with your precious camper in a few short weeks! We know there is a lot to do to get prepared and we believe getting ready should be PART of the FUN – for you AND your camper!

You know it’s true. Just say a word you don’t want a 3-year-old saying, and you’ll hear him say it so fast your head spins.

My 6-year-old son and I just got home from an amazing Mother/Son weekend at Sky Ranch. 

Aside from my Christmas tree, my favorite thing about the Christmas season are the Christmas Carols.

A Hillsong Worship song entitled Seasons has been on repeat in our home for a few weeks now.

The weather is getting a little cooler and a hot soup sounds delicious. Enjoy!!!

This is one of everyones favorites! Perfect for breakfast, brunch or even dessert! Try it and let me know what you think.

Fall 2020 Newsletter

To all the mommas out there... I just had to share this with you from my sweet sister who is tackling virtual learning with the best attitude of finding hope through the hard days!

I’m not going to lie...at first I wasn’t sure if Griffin would make it through the week. He’d seen his three older siblings go to camp the last four years and have the best time and he’d even gone himself last year but he woke up Sunday morning already worried about being homesick while at camp and wasn’t really thrilled about being gone all week.

How many times have you made dinner since March?

I used to struggle about the whole Care Package and camp letter thing. I don’t anymore—struggle, that is. I want to share with you what I have started doing for my kids when they go to camp.

It’s hard to believe it was nine years ago when we first dropped our daughter off for her first overnight week of camp at Sky Ranch.

“Hello Muddah. Hello Faddah.
Here I am here at Camp Granada.
Camp is very entertaining.
And they say we will have fun if it stops raining...”
(Allan Sherman 1963) 

If you were to talk to me 6 weeks ago, I would have asked you, “When will this end?”. Around that time I was starting to feel like a maid.

Every time I sit down to write, no words come. None. No ideas. No wisdom. No encouragement. Nothing. Why? 

We'll always remember where we were the moment we realized life, as we know it, was shutting down due to Covid-19. Much like remembering where we were when we heard a plane crashed into the World Trade Center in NYC. Or catastrophic tornadoes hit. 

Sky Ranch SkyMom Special SHOUT OUT!

Amidst all that is going on in our world we reached out to our Sky Ranch families and asked them to share a little "happy" with our SkyMom community!

Please enjoy this special SHOUT OUT from Tasha Wrona of Carrollton, Texas. She would love to share these TikTok thoughts:

She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future. When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instruction with kindness.

It’s Friday (today). But Sunday’s Coming!

It's s so easy to think of all the things we can’t do, but let’s focus on some good.

Just a few weeks ago, it would’ve been strange to walk into a grocery store and see people wearing latex gloves as they push their carts and face masks as they traverse the aisles.

One week a year I get to spend uninterrupted time with my family at Sky Ranch Family Camp. This is my favorite week of the year.

I am really good at worrying—actually, I excel at it.

Well, we’re 3 months into 2020 and we’ve entered uncharted waters, at least for our generation. And during these unscripted times of life, it’s important for us, the parents to be confident.  

“Mom. Can we do this every year?”

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” -Galatians‬ ‭6:9‬

QUICHE FOR YOUR FAMILY
For one 9” pie plate
Bake at 350°

As a new mom I was completely discouraged at how often I’d hear, “That will only last a little while.”

A discipline that I practice often is praying Scripture.

When I have the opportunity to talk with moms of daughters, I gingerly tip toe around a thing I call THE MIRROR EFFECT.

Here is another famous Sky Ranch Recipe!

I have been made aware recently of many preteens/teens who struggle with depression and anxiety. I’m so thankful for summer for many reasons, but mostly so that our kids can relax and unwind. There is way too much pressure on them to overachieve and be better than the rest.

4 Ways to Know Your Child is Ready for Camp
Ok, really 5 ways, one of them is you

Hi SkyMoms!

Oh, yummy cinnamon rolls on a cold January morning sounds scrumptious!

I love reading stories in the Bible and seeing how God uses those same stories to show me how my life is not too different.

Christmas memories…they warm our hearts as we remember all the magical moments throughout the year

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91:1

Why is obedience so hard? From an early age, something within us seems to cry out, “I’m not doing it your way. I want it my way!” My precious four-year-old and two-year-old boys are evidence of this on the daily.

I had the incredible blessing of attending and serving alongside Sky Ranch staff and counselors this past weekend at Mother Son Weekend.

Cooking is not my thing. When I make a meal for my family, I am known to use every bowl and mixing spoon in my kitchen. 

When I was a child, I could probably count on one hand the number of times I got sick. I hardly ever missed school and my parents never had to take sick days. All in all we were a pretty healthy crew. 

Before I had Judah, when I wanted to have “me” time, I would give myself a manicure and pedicure. I would pull out my hat box that is filled with nail polish, cuticle treatments and spend around 2 hours just engrossed in thought and self-care.

Are you looking for a quick and easy meal to have on hand to cook on a busy weekday week? Well, let me give you a "Tori Tip"...this beef and broccoli from Trader Joes was fantastic!

As it generally does for moms with school aged children, summer ended like the last yards of swimming the English Channel, only for us to have to take a big giant breath and dive back in to do it all again. Impossible. It sometimes feels impossible.

What you are doing MATTERS
By Leah Spina
 
I don’t think you get it, Mom. I don’t think you get it at all.

I want to encourage the worried moms today.  Do you tend to lean toward being a worrier?

After 2 summers that were consumed with 4 surgeries on my arm and were beyond hard on me physically and mentally, we dedicated this summer to joy and new experiences.

The best part of Sky Ranch family camp is not the activities, mountains, food, or cabins, it’s always the counselors....

Caden and Cole had the awesome opportunity of attending Sky Ranch Launch Camp this week at a local church in our area.

The dust has settled and the experiences have set in from my two boys first time at summer camp - and I felt compelled to send you a heartfelt note to say thank you.

7th grade was my daughter Faith's first year in middle school, and it was a rough one.

It seems like there are two types of “Back to School Moms.” 

"And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ."
1 Corinthians 11:1

Community allows us to connect relationally, encourage one another, and share in common interests with each other.

Olive said this was the best week ever and I have to agree.

One of my favorite preachers of the gospel is a man by the name of Louie Giglio. I first heard him speak as the camp speaker while I was in high school.

Have you been looking for a fresh, light, a little tangy, filling, and flavorful salad?

Our family had a heavy year with several health scares which ultimately resulted in open heart surgery this Spring for my healthy barely 40 year old husband.

Family Camp "Kids Night" or better known as "Parents Night Out"...

We had an amazing week at Sky Ranch Ute Trail Family Camp.

This recipe was a hit at Sky Ranch Horn Creek Family Camp ~ Western Night! We all enjoyed this yummy side dish as we ate outside on picnic tables together enjoying the cooler Colorado summer temperature after a day FULL of activities.

I have always loved the quote, “Your life as a Christian should make a nonbeliever question their disbelief in God.”  

Thank you again Sky Ranch for creating a life changing environment where kids want to come have fun and hear the word of God.

A dear friend’s daughter recently got married. There is something surreal about watching someone you have prayed for since before they were born get married! As I looked at our daughter sitting next to my husband, it made my heart stop just a little bit. 

Do you ever go on a family summer vacation and dread the conversations that begin with…

Today marks the first of lasts for us. The last time we will drop McKinley off at Sky Ranch as a camper. I think I need to go ahead and buy stock in Kleenex for this upcoming year.

He went to camp for the first time last week at @skyranchcamps - and I cried like a baby when I hugged him after 6 nights away.

NO NEED TO MOM SO HARD!
You will receive the strength you need when you stay calm and trust in me. Isaiah 30:15

WOW, where do I began? Let’s start back in the Fall/Winter when I talked to Murphy Jo about going to camp!

I was grocery shopping yesterday and I saw a young mom with three children in tow. One in the baby seat of the basket, one sitting with groceries, and one walking along beside.

Our son, Bobby, had a truly amazing week at Sky Ranch Camp in Van this Summer. This will be his 5th year as a Sky Ranch camper.

Make the Summer of 2019 One to Remember!!!
 

So here’s a question for you to ponder…How many summers do you have left with your kiddos at home? I’ll give you a minute…

Jake is excited to get his Sky Ranch letter in the mail. 6 years ago I dreamed of my boys going to Sky Ranch summer camp. 

You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Psalm 139:5 (NLT)

Trunks work the best since they are living out of it for the week but make sure it’s the correct dimensions (not too tall, 32”x18”x14”).

Show your Sky Pride...by telling everyone on the road how excited your campers are to be coming to Sky Ranch for an incredible week of fun and faith.

Sky Ranch is far more than a super fun place to hang out. While  it is unbelievable how amazing the facilities are, I was so surprised to learn that isn’t the best part.

We have exciting plans for our SkyMoms Ministry this upcoming season and we would love for you to be a part of it! We are currently looking for SkyMoms to partner with us as hostesses for our luncheons throughout the metroplex.

Retailers have cleared the shelves of Easter related products. The white patent dress shoes that were shiny and new just a short time ago now have black scuff marks on the side and the soles.

I want to be a great wife and mom. But I often get caught up in other things, especially during the school year, and find myself overcommitted, stretched too thin, and always at a loss for time. By the end of the school year, I have nothing left to give. Sky Ranch Ute Trail Family Camp is always my light at the end of the tunnel.

Defeated. Moms, you know the feeling: The plan for a homecooked dinner that turns into another crazy, eat-on-the-run meal; the intentional family devotional time that turns into a sibling wrestling match; the unwanted comparison game that leaves you feeling discontent and unsatisfied; the heartbreak of a broken relationship you don’t know how to fix; the words and tones you wish you could unwind.

We all love to celebrate a good win. We celebrate birthdays, holidays, games and achievements. One of the things that my husband and I committed to do when our children were young was creating family traditions around our celebrations.

Sky Ranch takes your child’s well-being seriously. In addition to staffing Health Care Professionals at the Health Center in Van, TX during summer camp, Sky Ranch also provides Telemedicine!

As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. “Let’s get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us.”

Last year I was brainstorming for a new and creative way to celebrate Christ in Christmas.  Gifts seem to be a major component in the Christmas celebration, don’t they?

Let’s together, celebrate the reason for each season!  My prayer for your family is that every Christmas be filled with His presence and joy as you share the love of our Savior.

Hello! I’m Stacy. I’m excited to share with you a series of excerpts from the 2017 Sky Ranch Summer Devotional I’ve written called Boom Town, Sifting for Truth.

It’s the THANKFUL month! We normally think more about what we’re thankful for in November because, well, we’re supposed to.  But truly thanksgiving is a heart issue that we should practice year-round. 

Are you in community? It’s an IN word right now, isn’t it? It just rolls off your tongue...

Something a bit unusual happened to me today. I received an invitation to coffee from a new mom at our school. 

October is the beginning of the holiday season. Pumpkins, lattes, gatherings ‘round the fire…aaaahhhhhh. It seriously is MY FAVORITE TIME OF YEAR.

I often describe our children as characters from Winnie The Pooh. We have two Tiggers and one Eyore.

A mother's thoughts...

Two years ago, our family took a sabbatical from extra-curricular activities. Yes. You heard that right.

CONTENTMENT

noun

a state of happiness and satisfaction.

I’m often the last one to the party. I don’t know if it’s because my eyes are moving faster than my brain has the capacity to process. Or if I’m so overwhelmed with the pace of life that I’m hesitant to add new things to my plate.

School has been back in session for 36 hours. Although I was resistant to the return of structure and routine, I can already see how it will serve our family well.

I woke up this morning with butterflies in my stomach. Not the kind I used to get before performing on stage. For some strange reason, I enjoyed those.

Yesterday was Family Mission Day at our church. My husband and I took the day off so we could serve alongside our children at Bonton Farms

“No nickel tours of the upstairs of our house tonight,” I yelled from the landing at the top of the stairs down to the bottom of the stairs where my husband was fervently sweeping the entry way.

There’s a long stretch of straight and narrow highway between Dumas, Texas and the New Mexico border. We’ve driven it at least ten times as a family on our way to and from annual summer vacations in Colorado.

I remember our first road trip with picture-perfect clarity.

Three kids. Eight hours.

At the end of the day during his first week of kindergarten, Little Bit threw his arms around my thighs, burying his face in my belly. Through twinkling eyes and a beaming smile, he said, “I have a surprise for you!”

My sister recently had this conversation with her five-year-old:

“Mom, what's after college?”

“Life.”

“What's life?”

“When you work and maybe get married and have kids.”

“I have to get a job???!”

Now, I lay me down to sleep…

Bedtime. The time we set aside for chats, prayers and plans.

I don’t know about you, but dropping kids off at camp stirred up mixed emotions for me. Certainly, I was bursting with excitement. But I would be dishonest if I didn’t admit the twinge of anxiety I felt, kissing them goodbye and placing them in someone else’s care.

I remember it with picture-perfect detail. It was almost 13 years ago at 3:30 in the afternoon. I can see myself standing bare feet in our kitchen, hair amuck, pajamas still on. One hand resting on the bar, the other on my hip as I stared at the clock. I knew it was coming.

I’d been waiting for this day for a long time. The day after, Little Bit, our youngest son, completed kindergarten.

Confession. For much of my life, I’ve struggled with fears of rejection and failure. Whether these fears are part of my DNA or whether they rose from an unfortunate incident involving an unkind neighbor when I tried to sell him cookies in grade school, I’m not real sure.

What does it take to be a great parent?  This was the question that had my husband and me on the edge of our seats at Parent Night five years ago. I would have guessed a handful of things, but I never would have guessed this: “Know and embrace your child’s ‘now,’” our headmaster said.

My Facebook news feed is flooded with conversation about a controversial Netflix series, 13 Reasons Why. Until our Middle School Guidance Counselor wrote a blog post about it.

When we arrived at Family Camp in 2014, it took exactly three minutes for our kids to kick off their shoes.  They’re not much for footwear and would go bare-feet to church if allowed.

The time from Easter to the end of the school year is always a struggle for me. After Easter, I’m ready for school to be over and for summer to start.

It was one of those Saturdays. You know the kind where you try to fit 36 hours of activities into a 24-hour window? That’s the kind.

When you don’t know the answer, do you search for it online before you ask a person? You can get all kinds of answers online. Often they are right, but sometimes they are wrong or distorted.

Taking on the duties of another in kindness is a form of sacrifice. God sent Jesus to be a perfect sacrifice for your sins. Scripture says, “But our High Priest (Jesus) offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand.” Hebrews 10:12 NLT.

Sheep and people need a leader. We like to follow. Jesus is sent to lead you the right way and He leads by Shepherding. Read Psalm 23:1–6.

Have you ever had a conversation with your children about obedience? Hahaha Of course you have!!! Maybe DAILY??? We’re raising sinners!

God sent Jesus into the crowd of mankind and told us to watch for Him. God described Him as a prophet. A prophet speaks God’s message to the people of God.

The Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack was playing in the background as the menagerie of Christmas decorations was being marched down the stairs by the children.

Jesus is a special gift for you. God sent Jesus to redeem you by being a sacrifice to take away your sins and give you peace with God, the Father. Read 1 John 4:9–10. Scripture shares that God loves you!

Admit it, sometimes the commercials get you and there are a few tears! We are emotional and once the tears start, it can be hard to stop them. Or maybe you find yourself laughing out loud at one.

LET'S REMEMBER WHOSE BIRTHDAY WE'RE CELEBRATING! We have to be intentional to keep CHRIST in CHRISTmas or the worldly stuff finds it’s way into our homes.

Just like you listen to others and become wiser, as Jesus grew into a boy, He learned wisdom from others and grew in wisdom.

God always has a plan. God created mankind and He knows exactly what humanity will do. Mankind needs God, but is rebellious and won’t listen to Him.

You have a cup that you walk around with.  So do your friends.  I have a cup.  It’s an invisible cup that we hold out each day.  No one can see it and you don’t really know you are holding it out and walking around with it.

"Mom, what's HUMILITY? I keep hearing that word!" The best way for parents to teach humility is to model it.

The Bible explains God’s plan for a relationship with all people. God knows of Adam and Eve’s sin before they commit the act; God has a plan.

It’s going around and I guess if I have bumped into, you have as well.  It’s been around forever but it seems to be kind of an epidemic of sorts.  Perfect!

God’s relationship with Adam and Eve illustrates mankind’s struggle with sin. Rebelling against God is sin, and sin has consequences. In Genesis 3, Satan deceives Adam and Eve with his lies.

Hi friends, my name is Sydney Woychesin. I have gone to Sky Ranch summer camp for 6 years now, and have loved every second of it! Sky Ranch and I have a lot of history.

Have you ever heard these 4 words? If you were born in the 60s and went to college in the 80s, then chances are, you’ve heard the term.  If not, well…I could be your grandmother, I guess.

I remember finding one of our daughters crying in her room one day.  She wasn’t a crier so this was hard.

Is prayer your first line of defense or your afterthought? I would encourage you today, moms, to start making prayer a priority as you raise your children.

You receive gifts in your relationship with God. He loves you so much that He tells you the truth about the penalty of sin, and He provides a free way to escape the punishment of sin if you accept Him.

The relationship God has with the Israelites in the Old Testament illustrates the compassion of God. God listens.

Let me just start by making it very clear that I love our dog Starsky.  He brings so much joy and fun to our family.

Our children return from college for their spring break.  They enter home to sleep, be fed, and be heard.

If your children aren’t of dating age yet, they will be soon.  Do you have a plan? I guess that’s the main takeaway here.

The justice of God is another characteristic that defines Him. Justice, in these passages, means God’s fair judgment. God is a just judge.

Something that I wish I had started at a young age is to pay attention to Life Pillars! 

“Because I said so.”  Have you ever said these 4 words? Bet you have.  Me, too.  Guilty.

Another characteristic of God that does not change is His righteousness. God always does the right thing. God does not lie; He is always truthful.

This post focuses on the character of God. Certain words describe Him well and “holiness” is one of those words. The “Holiness of God” means that God is set apart.

Are you waiting on something right now for yourself or one of your children?  If so, take comfort and heart in this verse. 

Yep, it’s Valentine’s Day. The holiday created by Hallmark and Hershey’s designed to pressure people into spending too much money, in order to create a special and memorable Valentine’s date.

God is unique because He is omniscient, which means that God knows the past, present and future at the same time.

Have you ever had your world turned upside down?

Most people assume it’s virtually impossible to save money AND eat healthy.

As you journey through the topic of God’s uniqueness, notice how scripture shares that God is all-powerful or omnipotent. God is powerful.

Have you ever heard the saying, “Thoughts are things”? I heard it recently and I really thought about it, no pun intended.

This Christmas our family was blessed to spend some time at Sky Ranch Ute Trail in the beautiful snow covered mountains of Colorado.