Ranger Turns 15

By Jack Ranger, "This year for my birthday we made the plan to take a big group of guys out to Six Flags Over Texas for Fright Fest. The day we planned for ended up having really bad rain and thunderstorms so we decided to take everyone to Pin Stack instead. We rented a van and Scotty also drove a few people with like 15 - 20 in total.  We had two cookie cakes from Tom Thumb and dad also ordered a pizza that looked like it could feed a city. We had enough time to do pretty much all the activities. Hunter and I were also "competing" for the Rockwall record (I won of course). It was last minute, but we pulled it together and I had a fun time and I think everyone else did too."

I rented a big white van from Avis with a downtown pickup so I could haul the boys around. Nina took me to pick up the van on Friday afternoon and she also helped me return it Saturday morning. I think we had a 16 boys attend and every seat was taken! While I was sad we had to abort mission for Six Flags, we made the best of a super rainy night. 

Happy Birthday Jack Ranger! You are hard-working, diligent, opinionated, helpful, funny, smart, and we are so proud of you. You get the zoomies every night at about 9pm, you informed me this year that you are too old for snuggles but I still try to scratch your back when you will let me, you do not like having to be home by curfew (10:30pm at this point), you still fall asleep a lot during the day, and you are glad to finally have your own bathroom but wish you had your own room too. I hope 15 is a wonderful year for you! We love you so much.

HPUMC JR at Core Retreat

By Jack Ranger, "Recently, I started going to the HPUMC Youth Group or WOW. I was invited by Beau Stewart who I know through the XC team. I was the only freshman guy in my small group so I invited friends and now we have around 12-14 people. One of the youth pastors, Desi, talked to me about the Core Group Retreat in Broken Bow, Oklahoma. I went ahead and signed up even though none of my friends could go. It was super fun. There was around 50 kids, so I got to know a lot of new people. It was a very relaxing and laid back trip overall. There was plenty of free time and worship. My small group leader was named Esmond and is a junior at HP. On Saturday night, we got out there settled in and had a small lesson. On Sunday, we did a 3 mile Hike near a river, then went back and had lunch. There was a shopping center near where the girls cabin was so we walked over there. A few friends and I did an escape room and got ice cream. My favorite part was Saturday Night extended worship. We all went out to the dock of the guys cabin around 10:00pm and had a big worship time. The trip was really fun and I am excited to get more involved with HPUMC as time goes on."

Colton Mom Day - Great Wolf Lodge

By Colton, "I had no school on Friday or Thursday, so my mom decided to do my mom day. I had been wanting to go to great wolf lodge for many years.so we went there for my mom day. on the way we stopped at a McDonalds. once we got there, I got so excited because there was a big window in the entrance that faced the huge water park. we went straight from our room to the water park. the water park had 3 very large slides, our favorites were the tornado, which was like a big funnel, and the green slide that had a big toilet bowl. after about an hour at the water park they had a howl-o-ween event where we could trick or treat at the cabanas, and we could decorate wolf ears. after the water park we went straight to the Magiquest store where we could start our quest. after we went to the room to change, I went straight back out to do Magiquest I also met a kid named "little Timmy". we played until 10;00 then went to bed. I got up at 8;30 to meet little Timmy and play more Magiquest. after that I went to the water park, and we had a lot of fun we also did a VR dino experience. after the water park we went to build a bear then to the ropes cores. after that we went home and the mom day was over. my mom and I had an awesome time, and I hope I can go back there someday."

Daddy Adventure to Florida

By Colton Walsh

"Daddy adventure Florida. I got picked up early for school and we went straight to the airport. Once we were there we went straight to Disney to get our tickets for the October trip that I asked for for my birthday. Then we went to get dinner at Kobe Japanese grill. It was very good. The next day we drove 1 hour to go to Busch gardens. My favorite ride was the cheetah hunt. After that we went to Aquatica for the glow party but it was closed due to weather😞, but we still had fun watching the storm. The next day we went to universal epic universe it was so much fun we rode every ride and even got 6 free line passes because it was almost my birthday. My favorite ride was harry potter battle of the ministry. We got home last Sunday night and Dad let me sleep in until 10am on Monday and then DD took me to school. It really was one of the best trips."

Grant Walsh is pretty amazing when it comes to theme parks! I was appreciative that Grant spent time with Colton to make wonderful memories and that he secured our military rate tickets to Disney so we can start to prep for our trip in October. Thank you Grant!

Back to School

By Ranger Walsh, "The transition to high school has been very easy and people make it sound worse than it is. I am riding to school with Cadence. I am in cross country. It is noticeably harder than middle school but still not extremely difficult academically wise. This year I am in World Geography Honors, Geometry, English Honors, Biology, Spanish II, and Digital Sports Media. Cross country has been really enjoyable, but takes up way too much time. I don't get home until like 6 because of afterschool practice and don't have time for anything. The people on the team are great though and I have met a lot of new people."

This year we have a junior, freshman, and 6th grader. It is really helpful having two back in the same school and also that Colton feels comfortable at Zion. Colton is now in middle school at Zion and he has three great teachers. Juli Schkade is his homeroom teacher and also his English teacher. Kelly Tiffee is math and religion and Barbara Hinkle is science and math. Colton has his own locker this year. 

School started on Wed., Aug. 13 and I took the Monday before school started off work to be with the kids and make sure everyone had what they needed. The day was full of haircuts, shopping, and hanging out for the last few days of summer. We always try to do a back-to-school fun day and a few weeks earlier the kids and I had gone to Boulder in Grand Prairie and had a great time doing the ropes courses and slides. I did all 4 levels of the ropes course and was so sore the next day. 

I am so very proud of our kids. Here's to a great year!

Sky Ranch Session 11 - Redo

By Colton Walsh.

This week was so much fun, it started out with a 1 hour and 25 min drive to camp with my friend Thomas. and then we met our friend, Philipp at camp then we got our bed set up and went to dinner after dinner we had camp show , it was not very fun. the next morning was pretty standard and so was the rest of the day. all of the days were very normal but that does NOT mean they weren't fun. Also it was a lot more empty than usual because it was the last week of summer

my counselors names were Sam, Jay, and Jesse but they all had very silly nicknames, Mr. Dude, Mr. Girlfriend, and Mr. Mullet. 

also my mom picked me and Thomas up and we went to ham orchard for the first time.

Colton got the Courageous award which said, "Colton! It has been such a honor to have you in Tuskegee! You have been awarded the COURGAGEOUS Award! This week you showed ability to encounter anything life throws out to you without Fear and with firmness! Also super courageous of you to be baptized!! We are so beyond PROUD!! (Deuteronomy 31:6) - Jay, Jesse, Sam"

Colton Baptism - Praise God!

By Nicki Gullickson, 

"August 10,2025

What a glorious  day.

First, the Walsh and Gullickson families came together to witness the baptism of Colton Alexander Walsh at Highland Park Presbyterian Church in Dallas,Texas. The baptism was performed by Jay Lee, a pastor at HPPC and long time friend.
When Jay asked some questions of Colton concerning his faith, Colton spoke out confidently and clearly how God has been working in his life. He noted the miracle of being accepted at Zion Christian School. Because another family at Zion had moved away in the last weeks before school started AND  they had a 5th grade student , Colton was tested and accepted just in time to start the fall semester at Zion.
Praise God.

Second, the whole family was invited to Dawna and John Walsh’s house for lunch and a birthday celebration. There were 3 birthdays - Colton, Hannah and Dawna. The Walsh family is always celebrating and makes a special effort to include  friends and family.
Many thanks to John and Dawna."