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When my husband walked out on me and our 5 adopted children, I thought I could easily manage the changes we were being faced with. After a few months, I realized we were in a crisis and needed professional assistance. Our counselor suggested a weekend therapeutic retreat at Paradise in the Sky and I knew it would be beneficial. On site accommodations were provide for our counselor while the children and I stayed in a charming log cabin a short distance away. Our counselor was able to provide multiple intense family and individual sessions in a unique setting. Sessions that would have taken 8 weeks to complete were done in 2 days. From the equine activities to our family sessions roasting marsh mellows around the campfire, we were able to open up about our pain, grief and feelings of loss. We left feeling refreshed, stronger and having more confidence to face the days ahead. Paula, Rich and their staff at Paradise in the Sky were very supportive, knowledgeable and nurturing. They provided an environment where we could forget our hectic life at home and focus on our healing process while being guided by our counselor.
When we as staff bring the youth to Paradise some of them are scared, sad, or lonely; they have no idea what they are about to experience. All they know is they have been taken from where ever they came from. Their world is different, different faces, different rules, different everything. They get to come to Paradise to interact with horses, go fishing, take rides through the beautiful forest and just plain leave all the uncertainty behind and act like kids for the day. We see them connect and snuggle with horses that seem to know that these kids are hurting in some way or another and I see and hear them talking to the horses. The youth have told me that the horses know their secrets that they just can’t share right now but hope one day that they can share their deepest inner secret anguish and pain. Paradise is a freedom for those that never get to experience that joy of touching a horse’s nose as it nudges them with their warm breath, or cuddle a dog or cat. They get to experience bon fires with marshmallows and eventually learn to trust staff. Most of all, I’ve witnessed the excitement of inspirational talks from Paula and Rich which inspires and encourages them to move forward and be survivors. Paradise in the Sky is a peace for them as they navigate through a life of uncertainty. We witness children come to life and just be children here. You can’t help but notice how the youth come away with inspiration and courage.
This place makes me want to be good! “Paradise makes me happy way inside” “Paradise is a bunch of laughter” Paradise allows me to feel more connected” Paradise and Paula as a role model teaches me consistency and her role model encourages and gives me hope” Paradise has helped me blossom over the last year while allowing me to become stronger and more self confident” Paradise is always adventurous and it always feels like family here” “When I’m at Paradise the animals make me feel loved”
“What I got from the book as I can remember is your real mom was a great woman. Just like a lot of people these days, she did not see a way out and did not know how to deal with it. Then how could a person who just came into your lives hours ago treat you like that. That lady obviously had some serious brain malfunction. Does not matter if you met hours ago or not. Your whole lifetime you should never be treated like that. Was a relief when I was reading that you and your sisters were walking up the driveway and there were 3 different cars. Did not know what to think besides who knows where this path is going to lead, but it could not have been much worse than the one you were in. Never thought that a program of the government could have been so beneficial for you. Good to know there are people out there like Judith. HELL OF A LADY!! I like her. Must have been weird always picking up and going new places, I can relate though. I was always with my family but we constantly moved and that made me numb to the world. Then one day you got a place that could not have been better for you. When reading how Bonnie and Larry were with you, came an unbelievable amount of comfort. Don’t really have any other words for it than they were Perfect parents. With what I read, if all parents were like them we would have a wonderful world. Glad you and your sisters made it through”