Miracle Moments
Brought to you by: Molly Maid of Birmingham, www.mollymaid.com/birmingham
“But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations.” Psalm 33:11
My dad was always in and out of prison. My stepmom ended up taking my brother and me, but she didn’t plan on keeping us. It wasn’t long until she learned about Big Oak Ranch.
It was summer and we were 11 years old. I could clearly see that our new home at Big Oak was safe and that I didn’t have to look over my shoulder anymore, and that was a huge relief. There were clothes for me at the Ranch, and I felt confident that I was going to get three meals a day. I could tell it had a completely different atmosphere than any place I had been. It was comfortable and positive. Upon meeting with John and Tee Croyle at Big Oak, they made me four promises: They would love me. They would never lie to me. They would stick with me until I was grown. And there would be boundaries.
The boys I lived with at the Ranch were my brothers, not just guys that lived with me. They knew I loved and cared for them. They were and still are my family. Through life, it has stayed constant. I carry all these things with me and implement it with my family. Responsibility, hard work, and learning to navigate life in a Christ-like manner. My wife, Katie, and I met through mutual friends, dated for two years and married in 2017. I’m thankful Christ brought her into my life. She is a committed Christian, caring, smart, responsible and has always been my greatest gift. We are blessed with three children: Monte (15), Harrison (5) and Emerson (1). I took Katie to the Ranch while we were dating as it was important that her and her family see how much my home means to me. My brother, Jim, and I have been able to take what the Ranch taught us and pour it into our families, careers and serving others. From owning our own companies to being in upper management positions with multi-million-dollar companies, we’ve worked hard to provide for our families and maintain successful careers. Both my brother and me, and our families, are still very involved with the Ranch. We both have a close relationship with John Croyle, and we each regularly share about life with him. The Ranch is my home and my family, and it always will be!
-Julian Meloni
