Karlee's Journey

I had a rough childhood. My parents used and sold drugs for 10 years. Being the oldest daughter, I was responsible for taking care of my siblings. I didn’t grow up in church, but I always wanted things to be better. I had no idea it was God I had been searching for my whole life.

I started using drugs at 23 and fought my addition for 11 years.

I went to rehab for three months when my first son was a year and a half. That was the first time I started praying and began to have a relationship with God. Unfortunately, I still wanted to do things my way and eventually began using again. Things got progressively worse and I ended up losing my son for 8 months. I did what I had to in order to get him back but I was living a lie.

I got pregnant with my second son and knew things had to change but also knew I couldn’t do it on my own.

On May 26, 2018, I went to Sonshine Lighthouse and was welcomed with open arms and the love of Jesus. I then began the job-training program at Heartisans where I completed my ACT WorkKeys. The women helped me get into Buckner Pathways and helped prepare me for college. I’m currently enrolled in Kilgore College for Business Administrations!

Sonshine Lighthouse and Heartisans have taught me how to live again and how to be a godly mother to my children. They have given me hope and a future of the Christian woman I want to be and how to love myself again. I am so very grateful!

God is so good! He has blessed me abundantly and I am truly grateful!