Author: adminsunrise

There are approximately 117,000 children in the U.S. currently waiting to be adopted. The need in Kentucky is also great, with more than 8,000 children in out-of-home care. It is fitting then, during National Adoption Month, that we highlight one of our former Sunrise foster parents who found great joy in adopting her two children.

Jen Potts, from Lexington, adopted Walker and Alonna in 2009. Back then, Sunrise was known as the Kentucky Baptist Homes for Children. At the time, Potts was a special ed teacher and Walker (known then as Geraldo) was her student. He was six, and his sister was five.

“I called several different agencies, and they (Sunrise) got back with me first, and I really liked the person that I talked to,” said Potts. “And I thought, ‘Okay!’ It was so convenient to do the classes and get going, and so I just started.”

There were special moments in her foster care and adoption journey that convinced her she made the right decision in pursuing her children. The first “God moment” came shortly before her father died. “His last words were to my son were, ‘I love you, Geraldo.’ It was just like a light beaming down there!” stated Potts.

The second moment also involved her son. As a child, Potts had picked out a name for her future son. The name was Walker Bennett. When she adopted her two children as an adult, she was told she could change Geraldo’s name if she wanted to because he seemed to have no connection to his current name. He was almost 10 years old, so Potts asked him what he wanted his name to be. He said Sky, for Luke Skywalker. “If you know my son, he is not a Sky. And so, I said, ‘What about Walker?’ And he said, ‘That is perfect!’” she shared. “The plan was to keep Geraldo as his middle name, but he wanted a family name. So, I said, ‘What about Bennett?’ which was my grandmother’s maiden name, and he said, ‘Yes!’ And I was like, how in the world did I get a child that was okay with a name I picked out as a kid?!’”

Potts said that there were many other moments like these that happened along the way that encouraged her on her decision to foster and eventually adopt. “It’s a sad story how they got here,” she shared. “But this is definitely where they’re supposed to be.”

And the journey was worth it. “It was hard, but by far, the best thing I’ve ever done in my life,” Potts said. “These are my kids! I cannot imagine life without them. They are the best things ever to happen to me.”

So how are her kids doing now? “Both of them are very successful in their lives. They are doing what they want to do,” Potts stated. “They are doing great, within their limitations of what they’ve been dealt. “

Potts can’t say enough about the support she received from Sunrise while she was a foster parent. “My worker was Kathy Castle. I could call (any of the workers) at any time, and they would get back to me. Even if it was after hours, they were always there,” she said. “I just feel like the support that is there (at Sunrise) is huge.”

Through her fostering and adoption experience, Potts has learned some important lessons that she would like to share with others. “My children still need that reassurance that they are wanted and loved even into their adulthood years,” she said. “(They need to know that) nothing’s going to change that.”

The second thing Potts want others to know is that fostering may not be easy, but the reward is great. “Basically, it’s hard. But if you can get through the hard, there is no doubt in my mind that it is worth it,” she stated. “You can’t gloss over how hard it is because you are dealing with kids with trauma. Even if they’ve come from the very best situation, they still have trauma. But if you continue to work with it, the good so much outweighs the bad.”

Jen Potts remains grateful for her family and the decision she made to choose fostering and adoption – and her decision to choose Sunrise. She encourages others to pursue Sunrise if they are considering foster care.

Today, Potts’ Sunrise worker Kathy Castle is now the foster care program director in Lexington, Elizabethtown, Mt. Washington, and Danville. If you are interested in fostering, and live in these areas, you can call Castle directly at 502-538-1039 or email her at kcastle@sunrise.org. All others can contact Sunrise at 502-538-1000 or email info@sunrise.org.

Approximately 50 people gathered outside Sunrise’s Spring Meadows Center in Mt. Washington, Kentucky on May 1 to dedicate a newly-constructed gazebo called “The Prayer Place.”

This new structure is designed for boys currently living at Spring Meadows, along with the staff and visitors, to enjoy a time of prayer and even worship, if they choose.

The gazebo was dedicated in memory of Mike Dixon, former religious life leader for Sunrise/Kentucky Baptist Homes for Children. Spring Meadows was located in Middletown, Kentucky, at the time Dixon was working at Sunrise.

Belinda Snider, current treasurer of the Spring Meadows Ladies Auxiliary, shared during the dedication program that Dixon dreamed a worship place would be constructed inside one of the buildings on Shelbyville Road in Middletown.

The Ladies Auxiliary began raising money at that time for this project. But in 2006, Spring Meadows moved to Mt. Washington, and in 2011, Dixon retired. The dream was put on hold – until just recently.

“Emmanuel Maize (current Spring Meadows program director) came up with the idea for an outdoor place for prayer,” said Snider. “We finally completed our longest-running project, being dedicated to the Lord and in memory of Mike Dixon.”

Unfortunately, Dixon would not see the completion of his dream, having passed in 2014. But his widow, Carla Dixon, attended the dedication and shared that Mike would be very thankful for an outside building that everyone could use. “Mike was an active, outside guy,” she said. “His heart was in Sunrise; he cried when he left. And he never cried!”

Fittingly, the dedication program for The Prayer Place began and ended with prayer led by Pastor Justin Walker of Salt and Light Baptist Church in LaGrange, Kentucky. “Amazing Grace” was led by worship leader Kirk Whitehouse, also from Salt and Light Baptist.

Ladies Auxiliary President Linda Bond welcomed guests to the dedication, and First Vice President Linda Morton performed the ribbon cutting, with Spring Meadows direct care counselors Latanya Germany and Stewart Haag assisting.

Maize concluded the proceedings with closing remarks. “Thanks to everyone who made this possible,” he said. “I know past auxiliary ladies are with Mike rejoicing in heaven today.”

Also in attendance were Mt. Washington Mayor Stuart Owen, Mt. Washington chief and assistant chief of the police department, Sunrise staff, and Sunrise supporters.

Special thanks to the Spring Meadows Ladies Auxiliary for raising money for this important project!

Written by Sunrise Director of Communications David Lyninger