Heifer Ranch

While visiting Arkansas we had the opportunity to visit Heifer Ranch.  "The mission of Heifer International is to work with communities to end hunger and poverty and care for the earth.  This ranch is over 1,200 acres and trains volunteers from all over the world to help educate others to pass on the gift.  By giving families a hand-up, not just a hand-out, Heifer empowers them to turn lives of hunger and poverty into self-reliance and hope."

We watched a video about several young people from different countries and how they live.  They were amazing stories of how one person can make a difference! 

One we are reading about now is Beatrice.

Bee's can provide a great source of income for families.

The farm tour....

Water Buffalo

A very friendly Camel...

Goats also provide for the families...

Different types of housing in the Global Villiage

The farm has several programs that provide participants a first-hand look at the challenges surrounding hunger and poverty.  There are many ways to get involved and help.  To learn more, visit Heifer International.

We are looking into the Read to Feed program and coming up with other ideas to be more aware and understanding of the needs of others. Not only those in other countries around the world, but also those in our own town. God has blessed us so much and I want us to be ever mindful of how we can give and serve others.

Petit Jean State Park (Part II)

The first day we took the Cedar Creek Falls Hike.

We made our own trail down to the creek to cool off. 

A great rock ledge for jumping into the water...

The next day we hiked on the other side of the falls to Turtle Rock and an old cave once used by the indians.

Turtle Rock

Rock House Cave

A lot of the rock is full of iron...

Trail to the overlook...

Petit Jean State Park, AR (PartI)

"Petit Jean Mountain is a special place – an unforgettable place – known for the legend of Petit Jean, the story of a French girl who disguised herself as a boy and secretly accompanied her sweetheart, an early explorer, to the New World and to this mountain."
  Read more about it here.

The view was beautiful!!  The mountain overlooks the Arkansas River. 

Stout's Point

Welcome to Arkansas

We crossed the Mississippi River into Arkansas last week, enjoyed several days visiting the Natural State, and discovered more of God's beautiful creation.

The state tree is the Pine Tree....

the back porch of our little rental house...a peaceful place to watch the sunrise over the lake...

The first morning H rushed to the dock to try out some Crappie fishing...

beautiful Cypress trees in the lake...

we found several new wildflowers...

I have a few posts for this trip....more to come!

Sunrise

I was surprised to find these wonderful pictures on my camera, taken by my son.  He is an early bird and loves to get up and go outside in the morning.  I think he's excited to wake up and see what each new day brings.  He is full of joy and expectation. The quiet time for him in the morning alone, gives him freedom to think, observe, and wonder at the world around him.

These are only a few of the pictures he took.  I was delighted to see what he noticed...something peaceful and still under the heavy dew of an early summer morning.