ABOUT US
About Respite Ranch
Adoptive parenting and foster care are uniquely riddled with hidden pasts and uncertain futures. Issues may surface right away or many years later — child issues like adjustment, relationships, development, medical needs, and disabilities; marital and parental issues like weariness, finances, family dynamics, and stress; and external issues like working with private agencies, government departments, and biological parents.
We know. We’re adoptive and foster parents ourselves. We can relate to the issues you live with every day, and we’ve noticed something: many resources are provided for the children, but few specifically for the parents.
That’s where Respite Ranch comes in. We want to give you a place to retreat at no cost, allowing you time to rest and find renewal in order to care for your family best. We cannot walk this journey alone — we want to build a place that encourages you as we point you to Christ.
Services are held in North Texas, welcoming all adoptive and foster parents from any location.
Our Vision
Personalized ways to make your respite meaningful.
What’s respite to you? We’re pretty sure it involves time away from your usual routine. Whether you need to navigate a difficult season or maintain a healthy course, respite means stepping away, taking a breath, and seeking encouragement for your family’s sake.
Beyond that, respite doesn’t look the same for everybody. For some, it means a structured focus on particular issues. For others, more free time is devoted to unwinding. Today we’re imagining ways to make respite meaningful for you, however that looks — and all food and lodging are provided at no cost.
The Perfect Place to Get Away From It All
A Ranch House is the place where folks go to rest at the end of a long day — a haven of warmth and welcome, good food and friendly faces, wash cloths and soft beds.
That’s what we imagine for Respite Ranch: a refuge for weary people who are doing good work. We want to be a place where foster and adoptive parents can pull off their boots, make themselves at home, and put their labors into perspective.
Like you, we want a Ranch House to include plenty of space to breathe and unwind: acres of wide, open spaces; comfortable, well-equipped rooms with private baths; personalized hospitality; nourishing meals; a library of helpful materials; and just the right environment for a peaceful stay.
Board Members
Respite Ranch is led by foster and adoptive parents who know this journey firsthand. Meet the people behind the ranch:
Meg Sanks
Meg and her husband, Michael, are raising five children — four biological and one adopted through the foster system. Their heart for adoption began to grow shortly after their first was born in 2008. After getting licensed through an agency, they put things on hold when Meg became pregnant with their second child and continued being involved by providing respite care during her pregnancy. When the need arose for a permanent home for their son, they jumped right in with no hesitation. Through the process of placement and adoption, they realized how much care they needed for themselves, not just their son. This was hard! After meeting many others with this same care need, Meg felt the Lord leading her to serve these families. So, Respite Ranch began.
Sherry Branch
Sherry and her husband, Mike, are parents to four grown children — three of whom they fostered through a state agency then adopted. Sherry has dreamed of creating a place like Respite Ranch for many years, so was eager to join the board when Meg proposed the idea. Sherry works in an office four days a week, but still finds plenty of time for her favorite pastimes: cooking, sewing, and spending time with her 15 grandchildren.
Justin Bufkin
Justin and Meredith have felt led to grow their family through adoption — not once, but three times. Of their five children, two are biological, two are through international adoption, and they recently adopted their daughter through the foster system.
Come Find Rest
By enjoying a brief respite, parents can find rest and feel equipped to support their children well. Reach out to learn about upcoming retreats — or give today to help an adoptive or foster family find the support they need.
