Deer Valley Ranch

The ranch is called Deer Valley because you can't go a day without seeing a few. One year a deer tried to come in our cabin. Crazy! 

There are no keys to the cabins, and we slept with our windows open and just a screen door. Zach and his cousins could go to "Tiny Town" (a child's ghost town) or really anywhere on the ranch by themselves. It's amazing! It's so wonderful not having to worry about anything. 

I hardly wore any makeup all week, and it was so nice. Ha! At the ranch you just go natural. ; )

We left bright and early last Saturday morning.

A deer greeted us at our cabin. I told you they were close!

Our home sweet home for the week

Zach and Abby at church Sunday morning

St. Elmo is a nearby old ghost town where there are lots of friendly chipmunks. They like sunflower seeds. ; )

Z didn't even flinch when this big one jumped right on him! Too funny.

Abby & Bo

Allie & Mary

Dad, Faber & Jason

Heading to the Wrangler's breakfast Monday morning!

The kids posing before the square dance that night. ; )

Yes, that's my dad. He's a mess!

It's always fun to do a little boot scootin'.

Allie was my little hiking buddy this year. She did a great job!

We did lots of fishing, too.

I'm so thankful my dad knows everything about fishing. He was always tinkering with the poles.

My mom made a friend! This pictures makes me laugh. ; ) This was at the Wednesday cookout. I would have been so scared if I had been standing with her. Horses are beautiful, but they kind of scare me.

That afternoon a mama deer with her baby came right up to my parents' cabin.

They really liked trail mix. The baby was really skittish, but it was so much fun feeding them.

Zach rode a horse for the first time! He loved riding Dolly. He just hopped right on. I have no idea why I was the one who led them around the ranch. Trust me, a wrangler was very close. ; )

It's become a tradition to go to the stables to take family pictures before the week is over. 

Love this.

Zach found a buddy. I think Z wants to be a wrangler when he grows up. Ha!

He also got kind of attached to Amelia. She was one of the kids' counselors. It was really sweet.

The last day Jason and I tagged along with Zach in one of his activities. We decorated ping pong balls and raced them in a creek. So fun!

The best thing about DVR is that it's a Christian dude ranch. The food is amazing and the atmosphere you just can't replicate. It's amazing to be surrounded by such beauty in GOD creation. I'm so blessed. 

We missed you, Mere, Garrett and David! Can't wait until we are all together!

When I was little I would cry and cry when we left. I still cry, just not as much. ; ) It's a very special place, and I want Zach and Colson to grow up going just like I did. This ranch gets in your blood, and I can't WAIT to go back.

The LORD your God has chosen you to be His own possession out of all the peoples on the face of the earth.

Deuteronomy 7:6