2025 – A year of change

The month of January has flown by. The first week was difficult for me emotionally. It seemed like the world was celebrating and excited for what was to come. I was processing all of the changes I could see happening in the new year.

It started with TJ leaving for Ohio to serve at Rosedale International. He left on Sunday, January 19th. As hard as it is to have him gone, we know that this is where God wants him. All of the pieces that could have been difficult went into place easily before he left. He is enjoying the people, the environment, and thriving. What more can we ask for?

It was not lost on me (Angie), that it was exactly 30 years ago that I was leaving home and moving across the country on my own adventure. I never realized how difficult it must have been for my parents to leave me there on my own. I am so thankful for our strong family connection even though the separation hurts.

Now what?

Now that he is settling in there, we start focusing on Sarah. She turns 18 next month and will be heading to college this fall. She will be going to Grand Canyon University which is only 20 minutes away. I’m not sure how this mama heart would handle both of them being out of the state.

As for Jon, we don’t know what the next year holds. We pray that his progression will continue to be slow and he will be able to work. We have a 6 month appointment coming up mid February and look forward to hearing what the doctor’s thoughts are.

Me, I’m trying to figure out how to take care of myself and do things for myself. As a wife, mother, and caretaker, that has become difficult. When TJ was a toddler, I became depressed and anxious. I had lost my identity as an independent woman and motherhood of a toddler was not what I expected. To be honest, I am fighting the depression and anxiety again as my identity and expectations are changing again.

I am grateful that I have a stronger faith than I did then and am able to lean on the Lord for my strength. I can rely on my identity as His child and the knowledge that He sees me and knows what is ahead.

We would appreciate your prayers as we navigate through this year of changes.

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Lessons from this part of the journey

• God has a plan. We just need to trust Him.
• God loves our children more than we do.

I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will empower you with inner strength through His Spirit. Then Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Ephesians 3:16-20