2025-A Year of Preparing Fertile Ground

I entered 2025 with cautious anticipation for how my word of the year would pan out. As usual, I prayed for the intercession of the Holy Spirit and, using my favorite Catholic word generator, tapped the button for it to reveal my word for 2025: fertility. Oh my! It's important to note that I accept the fist word I receive. So with fertility as my word, I assumed I would be pregnant with triplets by the following month!

If you know me personally, you are aware that we did not have triplets last year. In fact, it wasn't until mid-December, with only two weeks left in the year, that we found out we were pregnant with our third child, due this upcoming August of 2026.

With all that being said, 2025 was indeed a fertile year. Many spiritual seeds were sown and ministries were cultivated! I was ready to hit pause on all things music ministry until the Lord reminded me that He is the Master Gardener, and my life of ministry needed His tending hand in which He was preparing fertile ground. His idea of ministry for me looked different than what I had in mind.

I did not anticipate my involvement in RISEN (Raising Intentional Saints to Evangelize the Nations) Ministry, a budding nonprofit that supports layperson-led ministries in the local area. I had the honor of assuming a Board Member position, which allows me to have a hands-on role in its development. Additionally, with the support of RISEN Ministry, we launched RISEN Worship, a music ministry with the intention of building a community of Catholic musicians. 

RISEN Worship made a real dream of mine come true! In November, we hosted Praise Jam, a praise and worship jam session, an idea that had been brewing in my heart and mind for months! We had the best time and are actively planning our second Praise Jam for the end of this month.  It has been so fun working with the Holy Spirit, to see these ministries unfold. 

Of course, I have to mention all of the new excitement at Catholic Country Chronicles. Hosting a podcast has been another dream for me, and 2025 was the year we hit the airwaves! It has definitely been a learning curve, but so rewarding and fun working with my sisters. Hannah and Leah just so awesome!

On a personal note, none of this would be possible without the loving support of my husband, Dylan. It is beautiful how "rock," his word for 2025, was foundational for our family. He is more than willing to tackle an extra solo bedtime shift with our girls and always offers a listening ear when I need to brainstorm ideas for anything RISEN-related. He is so clever with finding ways to entertain our girls while my sisters and I record the podcast, and automatically becomes my "groupie" anytime I have a music gig that requires more equipment than just my guitar. Dylan has the patience and desire to keep up with my crazy life of ministry but, more importantly, is unafraid to ask if I have taken on too much. I thank the Lord for giving me this loving and supportive man every single day!

2025 was a year of sowing seeds and cultivating ministries in fertile ground prepared by the Lord.  I am convinced 2026 will be a year where these ministries bloom and flourish.

Until next time, your sister in Christ,

Abby