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The following letter is from Ashley Wyatt, a Sunrise foster parent. She gave the letter to her son on the day of his adoption.
Dear Devan,
You have been my family since the moment I met you in the River Valley waiting area. You were our first call; I was hesitant at first, I won’t lie, but my gut told me you needed me and I needed you. You coming to live with us has been one of the greatest adventures of my life. We had some rough times in the beginning, that’s no doubt. There has been happiness, stress, tears, a lot of firsts. But it didn’t take me long to know that you were meant to be my son and I was meant to be your mom. Sometimes I feel like God made you for us from the very beginning. Heck, you even look like us. I don’t know why our journey to get to each other was filled with such heartache. I’ll never understand why you had to go through so much pain; if I could take it from you I would. But even if I don’t understand, I’m thankful to have what we have now. As one of my favorite songs says, “It’s not where you come from, it’s where you belong.” There is no doubt in my mind that you belong here. We have loved you for 997 days now; I’ve waited for this moment to make you officially my son for what feels like a lifetime and I’m so incredibly happy to be able to do so today! You’re such a sweet boy. You love us, you love people and care about others, you’re funny and smart, your laugh lights up my world, I love the goofy things you say and do. You are the best big brother; you are protective of your family. You are one of the strongest people I know. People tell me we changed your life, but really you changed ours! You made me a mom. My first baby, my son.
So today on your adoption day, I will promise you a few things. I promise to always love you, no matter what you do. I promise to never give up on you. I promise to always keep you safe. I promise to support your dreams, even if they aren’t what I think you should do. I promise to love you even when you make bad decisions or do something crazy, because I feel like we are going to have some of those moments. I just want you to know that no matter what the future holds, Momma is going to be right beside you.
I will forever be thankful that you were given to us. I love you infinity baby.
Love, Momma 💙
Sunrise Parents Welcome Two More to their Family
Jeff and Kathleen Grams are the proud parents of Harriet and Tobias Grams. Their adoption occurred on October 5th, 2021 in Hart County. Jeff and Kathleen are Sunrise foster parents with the Bowling Green foster care office.
In the picture above, Jeff and Kathleen are on the far left, with Tobias and Harriet on the far right.
After completing her second year of Sunrise’s independent living program and continuing her education at Bluegrass Community & Technical College (BCTC) – Danville Campus, Sara* has completed three housing applications for programs to assist with living upon her transition from independent living later this year. She has developed an online crafting business to aid in her income throughout the pandemic when she was working reduced hours at her place of employment.
Sara has actively participated in Kentucky’s Health Access Nurturing Developing Services, also known as HANDS, and Haven Care Pregnancy Resource Center since giving birth in 2019. She plans on continuing her education at BCTC in the summer of 2021 and graduating with an Associate’s degree. Sara successfully navigates being a first-time mom to a healthy 18-month-old girl, while going to school and working as a young mother.
Sara is on her own path to success after overcoming obstacles during her first years of independent living and previous years in foster care.
*Name has been changed to protect the identity of individual.
At the age of five, Madison* and her three sisters were living with a mother who deeply loved them, but was not able, because of her own drug and mental health issues, to take care of the children.
So social services stepped in and removed all four children, placing them in foster care. After Madison had turned six years old, she was placed back with her mother, along with her sisters. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the end of the movement from home to home.
When Madison was 10 years old, she was placed in a loving Sunrise foster home for a time due to the poor living conditions in her mother’s home, coupled with Madison’s continued deterioration of performance and behavior in school. Back and forth she moved from foster care, to mom, to foster care – but now it was with the same Sunrise home each time.
Even when Madison went home, her foster parents befriended her mother, helping to buy clothes and shoes and food. But by the time Madison was 12, she came to live with her foster parents and would never go home to live with her mother again.
Four years later, Madison is approaching her 16th birthday. Her foster parents have recently become her adopted parents, and Madison is doing better than ever. Her grades have improved at school. Her behavior is also improving at home and school with each passing month, and Madison is in the process of expanding her skill set by getting a job in her local community.
While Madison misses her mother and sisters, she is very grateful that her new parents have loved her unconditionally for the last six years, and will be her forever family for the rest of her life. Madison is truly blessed, and so are her parents! Another Sunrise adoption. Another life changed!
*Name has been changed to protect the identity of individual.
Sunrise values the partnership we have had with the Commonwealth of Kentucky for more than 40 years. Our goal is to ensure that Kentucky’s most vulnerable children receive the vital services and care they need, whether through Sunrise or through other agencies. We are still committed to working with the current administration in changing the lives of kids for the better.
The year 2020 was not at all what any of us thought it would be. But the uncertainty, heartache, and fear that many of us experienced during the past year are frankly what our Sunrise boys and girls have been facing most of their lives. Thanks be to God, and because of your generosity, not even COVID-19 could stop us from helping families mend their brokenness and find a path to hope and healing.
We took care of children every day. Some of our children developed COVID-19. For them we never stopped providing care, and they all pulled through. We are still here, doing the important work.
Even in the midst of a pandemic, Sunrise had much to be thankful for in 2020. During the year, we celebrated 59 adoptions. Since the beginning of our foster-to-adopt program in 2006, our total adoptions are now 582! Thank you for your part in bringing families together.
Your generous giving has also helped our kids find their eternal homes. During our last fiscal year, our ministry reported 3 rededications, 19 baptisms, and 27 professions of faith. God is doing miraculous things in the lives of our kids, in the hearts of our families, and through your faithful giving.
Have you ever thought that the children we are serving here at Sunrise are not here by coincidence? Could it be that the children we serve everyday have been placed here by God to be part of a more positive world? Let’s empower all of them to grow up to embrace that world we are handing over to them. Let’s empower them to be more confident, to be successful, to embrace the challenge of the day.
Through your support and prayers, we can be the ministry that prepares them to be change agents for a better society, to become good moms and dads, to become involved in their communities and to understand something bigger than them is driving this big ole ship. That something is a God that truly loves them.
Let’s inspire them all to heights they never could have imagined. So please pray for our country and leaders, and pray that Sunrise might have the wisdom to lead children in a way that enables them to embrace all that we hand over to them.
None of us know what 2021 will bring, but we believe that He has blessed this ministry in the past, He will continue to do so through 2021. Yes, the pandemic has brought countless challenges, but we have found a way, through God’s leading and your help, to continue providing care to our most vulnerable. Thank you for joining us on this incredible journey!
Because of you, the love of Christ has been shared with the broken hearted, and children and families have been given a fresh start. Your compassion is greatly appreciated this year and always. Your prayers and support will help us continue to change the lives of children and families in a constantly changing world.
With great hope,
Dale Suttles
President
On September 12, the second annual “Run for the Ranch” was held in Winchester to raise money for the Solid Rock Children’s Ranch. The 5K run/walk began and ended at Mt. Zion Christian Church, with 106 runners and walkers participating. Among those participants were four ladies calling themselves “Tina’s Tribe.” They walked in memory of their dear friend, Tina. This is their story:
“Our friendship began in 1996. We were all living in Columbus, Ohio with small children and similar life circumstances. We met at church and became fast friends. Laughing, crying, hours of talking and sharing, good times, and bad times. We bonded as sisters through the years. We started girls’ trips with weekend shopping when our children were small, life was busy, and there were gifts to buy. As time progressed and our children got older, we traded those shopping trips for destination trips where we continued our sisterly bond. We loved encouraging one another, laughing, crying, and eating together. We always felt renewed after these trips, and eagerly awaited and planned for the next one.
“Sadly, on February 11, 2020, we got the shocking call that our sister Tina had very unexpectedly, and instantly, passed away. The feeling of devastation is an understatement. We sisters could not imagine this terrible loss.
“During our mourning it was quickly decided that we needed a way to honor her memory. Tina had a love of races, and these were an important part of her life. She also had a deep love of children, whom she served for many years in our church. We decided that we would find a way that would incorporate both of those.
“One of us now lives in Kentucky and found a race that fit the bill. The first annual 5K for #Tinastribe began on Saturday, September 12 with four of us able to physically participate in Sunrise’s “Run for the Ranch” in Winchester, while Tina’s daughter ran in spirit with us from Reynoldsburg, Ohio. We will continue to participate in 5K’s as #Tinastribe until none of us are able to make the walk.”
– Submitted by “Tina’s Tribe”
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The entire Sunrise Somerset foster care team recently went on a “Foster Parent Appreciation Parade” to see their clients and show some Sunrise love to our families. While only able to physically be present with families during crisis or placement, the Sunrise team has truly missed spending time with the kids to laugh, hug, and just be together. The staff decided to take things “on the road” driving almost 200 miles throughout their region to share with their families how much they are loved. With horns blaring (sorry neighbors), signs waving, and staff hanging out of windows at times, Sunrise came in full force to announce YOU ARE LOVED!
“Families really loved the parade, and the kids were so excited to see us . . . even the teenagers,” said one Sunrise Somerset foster care team member.
Staff were sent messages from kids and families like, “That was pretty cool!” “They are crazy!” “It was nice.” One foster parent shared, “Thanks for loving our kids like you do, and for all the support you give us. We have been where we didn’t get any support before, and can’t imagine (still being in that situation) during this time.”
The day was made when one kiddo that is struggling shared, “That was nice; maybe they do care.”
Sunrise Vice President of Community Based Services Kenny Williams expressed, “We have a great team, and I am so thankful for all of them!”
