Miracle Moments
Brought to you by: Community Partner Molly Maid of Birmingham, www.mollymaid.com/birmingham
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.” Psalm 32:8
I first learned about Big Oak Ranch in 2015 when I visited the Boys’ Ranch with Eastern Illinois University for an alternative spring break. I fell in love with the ministry and interned at the Girls’ Ranch in the summer of 2016.
In the spring of 2019, I felt that God was calling me to move to Alabama. After moving to Birmingham, I was able to get more involved with the Ranch. I was able to serve as a resource parent for the Ellison family. I had two to three girls stay with me each month. These girls and their family were such a blessing to me in my time of transitioning from Illinois. When I moved here, I had no family or friends in Alabama, so they became my family away from home.
My husband, Jess, and I served together as resource parents for Skyler. I met Skyler at the beginning of her freshman year in high school and she is now officially a graduate! We have loved getting to be a small part in her journey and seeing her growth over the past four years. She is such a sweet, outgoing girl and we know that God has great plans for her life. Our weekends are never boring with Skyler! We like to plan a lot of movie and game nights in addition to spending time crafting, baking, and hanging out with our friends and family.
Resource parenting has taught Jess and I so much about investing in others. We have had the honor and privilege of watching Skyler grow in her faith. The Lord has used this season in our lives to teach us how to be more patient and gracious, just as He has continuously been to us. We are so thankful that we get to be a part of Skyler’s life!
-Stephanie Nelson
