Miracle Moments
Brought to you by: Molly Maid of Birmingham, mollymaid.com/birmingham
I was born in Las Vegas and lived with my mother (who was a drug addict) and my older brother. I don’t remember much about those times, except that our home was unpredictable, with people coming and going. My mother got into legal trouble and began running from the law. We ended up in Idaho, where she was arrested, and I was placed in foster care. As soon as my grandparents heard, they drove from Spanish Fort, Ala. to get me, and I thrived with them. My grandparents were in their 70s and had put their retirement on hold to raise me.
Eventually, health concerns arose, and they had to move into assisted living. Mrs. Grace, a teacher at my school, encouraged them to look into Big Oak Ranch. I was unsure about another move in my life, yet my grandparents were unwavering. Grandpa said, “Please baby, this is the best option for you and for us.” Because I knew I could always trust him, I gave Big Oak a chance.
Getting settled in my new home was hard. It was a shock living with so many different personalities. I was angry and tired, but my houseparents, Tony and Rhona Osborne and my social worker, Lynn Hazard, were prepared for me and did everything in their power to help me thrive. My grandparents were unable to travel to the Ranch for visitation – so Mom and Dad Osborne took me to visit. Those moments transformed our relationship. My senior year, I drove to visit my grandparents by myself. Dad Osborne made sure my car was ready and checked all the details for the trip. They bought one of the earliest navigation systems, a TomTom, to make sure I knew exactly how to get there and exactly how to get back home. Gradually, I began to see that Big Oak would remain a constant for me. Summer activities, extracurriculars and family vacations all encouraged long-term bonds. Life became consistent, and trust slowly returned. Big Oak and my grandparents helped me learn to do life differently. While I was at the Ranch, my houseparents taught me how to forgive and let go of the bitterness from my early childhood that I had held onto. Becoming a mom of two has further allowed me to make peace with that part of my life, as I didn’t want my children to see or receive any of the anger and bitterness I carried. I have learned that life gets messy, it’s not always easy – but it is worth it.
-Kelsey Hunt
