The first six years of my life were a nightmare. I was living in a home where an abusive mother chose her alcoholic and violent boyfriend over her children. I never felt safe or loved by the parents who were supposed to take care of me. That all changed for my twin sister and me the day we were picked up by our social worker, Mrs. Mary. She drove us to Big Oak Girls’ Ranch, to a house that sat on a little hill with a big tree out front. It looked like a real home. It felt safe. What I didn’t realize then was that we would be blessed with stable, loving, warm, and, most importantly, godly parents. That journey began when we walked inside and met our houseparents, our forever Mom and Dad.
Along with a forever mom and dad (Rhona and Tony Osborne), we also gained a brother and many, many sisters. We settled into life at Big Oak with our new family. I quickly became close with my new brother and sisters. I felt the love and godly wisdom that my parents poured into our lives. I soon realized that a home is not just a building; a home is made by the people in it. And oh boy, how lucky we were to be placed in my parents’ care. They gave us the “home” I could have never imagined.
I have never felt that my parents would leave or harm me and my siblings. Their love for us is so great. It’s something I cherish. Looking back, we were not easy to raise. My sisters and I had different backgrounds, different ages, and very different personalities. Thank you, Lord, for giving my parents so much patience!
Every once in a while, my parents obviously needed a break for a date weekend. When that happened, me and my siblings went on “resource weekends,” and I LOVED going because I already knew my resource parents, Connie and Dr. John Pirani. Knowing them in advance helped the process for both my parents and me. It gave us reassurance that I was being placed in the best care while I was away from the Ranch. I still felt that same sense of safety. The Piranis are another blessing God gave me through Big Oak. They went above and beyond getting to know me, loving me, and blending me into their family. They love me as their own, are a great example of godly parents and are still a part of my life.
The path that was set before me when I moved to the Ranch allowed me to meet so many amazing people and organizations, such as On River Time. If it weren’t for Mr. Steve (the founder of On River Time) partnering with Big Oak, I don’t think I would have had the courage to choose my next step in life after graduating from Westbrook Christian School.
On River Time opened my eyes to a whole new way of living. It showed me that I could leap out of my comfort zone while keeping Christ at the center of my life. I learned how to face challenges and, of course, how to fly fish.
Following graduation, I wanted to return to Idaho, but there was a goal I needed to achieve first: becoming a flight attendant. I had incredible support from my family, resource parents, and friends who were rooting for me to succeed throughout that process. They wanted to see me become a godly young woman living independently. If it weren’t for the Ranch and the people God placed in my life, I don’t think I would have thrived as a young adult.
When the COVID-19 pandemic devastated the airline industry, I decided it was best to leave my dream job. Sadly, I felt like I was losing the “successful life” I had built—one I was proud of. My family reminded me that success was ultimately about breaking the cycle that my biological parents had set before me.
With that in mind, my dad helped me move to Idaho in December 2020. Just a couple of months later, I met my sweet husband, Loren. We married in September 2024. My parents, twin sister, and resource mom came to Idaho for our wedding celebration. My in-laws are so sweet. They have gotten to know my Big Oak Ranch family and even opened their home for my parents to visit this past summer.
During my marriage to Loren, I have been able to teach him about God’s love for us. We have a small Bible study with one of his family members. It has been a joy to watch Loren grow and get to know Jesus. I am forever grateful to my prayer warriors who have prayed for this — Mom, Mrs. Connie, Mam (my grandmother), and Gan Gan (my late great-grandmother, who I know played a part in this too).
I am blessed to be living a life of generational change. The cycle has been broken because of my parents, my resource parents, On River Time, Big Oak Ranch, and, most importantly, Jesus Christ, who saved me and my twin sister. Without everything I went through, I would not be here today, living in Idaho with my husband, who loves me, protects me, and fly fishes as much as he can with me.
Thank you to everyone who gave me a chance, raised me, and rooted for me. I hope I am making you proud.