Update...

After a lot of praying, meditating on random rocks, and talking to numerous friends both on and off the ranch, I've decided NOT to stay at Lost Valley for the summer, and to move back to LA and see what God has in store for me there. When I finally made the decision, a huge sense of peace came over me... which worries me. Is it peace that comes with giving up in a struggle? Am I leaving too early? Or is it the peace that I hope it to be... the peace that comes with making the God-honoring choice? Ugh.

Either way, I'm leaving... and I am the type of person who likes knowing what to expect (for planning purposes), so having a date set for departure puts my mind at ease. The date is also a sort of deadline for initiating all the things I want to experience here at the ranch! I still want to hike all the trails and watch a horse giving birth (though they say it only happens at night... we have a few mares that are about ready to drop their loads... maybe I should camp out in the fields every night). I want to get better at riding and stay on a horse when jumping over a log (don't worry, I haven't fallen off yet). I want to catch a fish in the pond, and shoot trap in the field. I want to swim in the pool and play tennis on the courts. I want to sleep outside with no light pollution so I can see the stars all around me (it hasn't warmed up enough to do that). Hopefully, I can cram all of these into the few days off in the few weeks that I have left (last day is May 21st)!