LETTERS AND COMMENTS

"We came to you when our hopes and dreams for our son had been almost extinguished. You opened your arms and welcomed us - not once making us feel that we had failed as parents. We were afraid for our son and you took our fears away. You gave us hope.

"You also gave us back our son. The son we felt we had almost lost. You gave him back the roots that he needs to be able to face life with courage and conviction. You gave him new wings - not to survive life - but to `Soar on Wings like an Eagle.'

"Since we've been home, we've had our trials but mostly we have triumphs. He is back in school at Pierce College and is currently working. He had the courage to drop his old friends and make new ones. He is loving and cheerful around the house and has the self-esteem of a person who knows his self-worth. For these changes we will be forever thankful."

JF & CF/Puyallup WA
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"We wanted to let you know how much we appreciate you all, and how much you helped our son. You all played a significant part and didn't give up on him even when it was really tough. Thank you for loving him even when he wasn't very lovable! He has strong resolve to stay away from negative influences. He is excited about his future, and he

"We all had a few emotional ups and downs, but it has been good. He really desires to communicate with us now. Thank you all once again for what you have done."

DP & CP/Salina KS
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"You've no doubt heard all this before, but probably never tire of hearing it again: Turn-About Ranch gave me my child back. His goal each day is not remotely related to marijuana or other drugs and alcohol. Where he admittedly planned each day around how he was going to get high, he now leaves for work at seven in the morning and spends the day helping build houses for our local chapter of Habitat for Humanity. He is working all day with adult men who are committed Christians and fabulous role models. Before Turn-About he wouldn't have volunteered one day to help build a house for some family he didn't know. He wouldn't have even gone with me to deliver lunches to the building site! Now he has his own leather carpenter's belt with his own hammer and measuring tape!

"He misses Black Jack(his horse at TAR)....and I know he misses the staff because he has actually written about six letters in the past three weeks. Until Turn-About he hadn't written six letters voluntarily in his entire life.

"You are saving lives....not just lives of the children, but the lives of their moms and dads and brothers and sisters. Our son is blessed to have had the wisdom, counsel, guidance, and friendship of the

SFG/Pikeville KY
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"Yesterday was the 7th anniversary of our son's graduation from TAR. There have been many success stories and failures during this period. But we think that he is still using information and tools that he was given at TAR to wrestle with this experience we call Life! He is a terrific person and his experience at TAR allowed him to see that person more clearly.

"Some of us may see TAR as the solution to the problems that have brought us to seek guidance here. Now seven years later, it's obvious that TAR is only the beginning. Your staff loves and teaches each one of these precious people while they are with you and then sends them out into the cruel world again. We all hold our breath while we wait to see if the tools you've given them were enough to get them through the rough spots. In the end, as parents, we have to let go of them and wish them well, always being supportive with love and understanding. The reward is a call, telling about a success, or a smile when there's happiness inside.

"Turn-About Ranch has touched our family with love and compassion. We think of you often and thank you for giving our son back to us. We will always support him in his life journey."

JC & KC/Olympia WA
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"I would like to take this opportunity to express our deepest gratitude to Turn-About Ranch and to share our story in hopes that it may be of help to another child and his or her family.

"For about 2 years our lives were like a living hell on earth with every waking moment full of worry for the life our son. He was headed for a life of despair for sure, and we were seriously afraid for his life. After hearing about TAR, we decided to give it a try. It was definitely the hardest decision we had to make but we had to do something.

"After just a few weeks, it seemed that we had made the right decision, we began to see that our son was making progress. There were many issues that not only our son had to deal with, but our whole family as well. TAR was able to help all of us begin to deal with those issues. The staff were readily available at all times and made our son begin to feel good about himself, something we hadn't seen in years. With the beautiful and natural surroundings our son learned to appreciate life. He gained respect and learned how to be thankful for all that there is in life.

"TAR is a very special place, one that we will always be forever grateful that we found. The program is truly a gift of life to everyone who becomes a part. Our son is home now and doing better than we ever could imagine. He takes pride in what he does as well as initiative in his responsibilities. He smiles and laughs and works hard. He even enjoys spending time with his family. As parents of four children, there aren't words to express the gratefulness we feel to TAR. May God bless each and everyone of you in all that you do. If ever we can be of help please don't hesitate to call on us."

AS & MS/Westmorland TN
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"How can parents express "thanks" to a group of people who may have helped save our son's life? With our son so confused, hurt and self- destructive, we didn't know where else to turn. Finally after desperation and prayer, we sent our son to Turn-About Ranch.

"In faith and prayer we hoped for a miracle. About 2 months later at Mid-Term, we saw the son we used to know and love - the "true" son. One clean of alcohol, drugs and rebellion. We laughed, we cried, and we enjoyed each other's company like we hadn't done in probably a year and a half.

"The word "thanks" just doesn't cut it for such a miracle. God bless you all."

RG & TG/Beckley WV
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"Two and a half years ago we were so afraid for our daughter until we found Turn-About Ranch. We sent her there with the hopes of getting our daughter back. We got more than we bargained for! She is doing wonderful. She goes to school in the morning and works in the afternoon. Ed and I don't have a curfew for her...she doesn't need one. She is the most responsible, fun-loving, caring individual you could ever want to know. She plans to go to college in the fall and she is on the Honor Roll at school. She is self-assured and knows who she is and what she wants. Her faith is important to her and the only thing that seems to matter is her family.

"She has good friends who are honest and caring. They care about Courtney and she cares about them. I remember the first year back at school when she came back from the Ranch was the hardest. Many times I would hold her at night while she cried and told me how lonely she was. She had no friends. I assured her she had me and she would find good friends...she did! Most of her friends are out of high school. She grew up quick, but has made some very good choices. She will forever remember Turn-About and the people who came to have such an impact in her life; and we will always remember and be grateful. I look at Courtney now and can hardly believe she was ever the person she was when we sent her to the Ranch. I'll find some pictures and send them.

"I just wanted to tell you how well she is doing. Thank you again from the bottom of our hearts."

ES&SS/ North Pole AK
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"I just wanted to write a little note to tell you all how very appreciative I am that there is a Turn-About and that you are all there. I can't even imagine what my life would be like if I hadn't been sent. Maybe I'll never be able to express fully to everyone exactly how much I feel for you, but thanks for everything. Thank you for giving me my life back!"

MG/Grand Rapids MI
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"At seventeen, our daughter, Christi, was a rebellious, argumentative, lying, stealing, sneaking, manipulative, disrespectful, and confused teenager who had turned to alcohol as a means to handle her corrupted life. The counselors were telling us we were doing everything right. We thought, if we are doing everything right, why is everything going so wrong? We realized we needed to find intense, round-the-clock therapy to help Christi turn her life around. We chose Turn-About Ranch.

"Christi stayed at Turn-About Ranch for eighty days. At first she felt (quote from Christi) 'massive amounts of aggression' for being sent to the ranch. As time went on she began to realize why she'd been sent to the Ranch, that because of her actions she had lost every privilege she ever had, and how much she had hurt her family. She developed a desire to get her life and relationships straightened out. The staff helped her work through all her issues, taught her how to handle situations constructively, and taught her leadership skills.

"Coming home was a hard adjustment for Christi, but as she met situations and people, the principles and skills she'd learned at the Ranch enabled her to make the right choices. The parenting classes we participated in helped us understand why she behaved as she did. They also helped us to begin the healing process of developing a new relationship with Christi, talking through the hurt and pain of her actions, and helping us understand what our responsibilities were as parents. It was a wonderful experience for the whole family.

"Today Christi is a happy, well-adjusted teenager who respects us as parents and understands that there are rules to follow. Without Turn- About Ranch she realizes that she was on a dead-end road. Now she looks forward to a bright future as she attends college and holds a full-time assistant manager position."

MW&DW/ Anoka MN
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