The Maxwell family is changing once again in big ways that will probably surprise you!

The Lord brought Anna and Mary to Bible college this year (at our pastor’s recommendation) to become better equipped for ministry. It’s an exciting season for them as they have this opportunity to learn an incredible amount about the Bible and important tools for ministry/missions – where they want to end up. We miss them, but we love what they’re gaining!

The Lord has led Sarah to move into her own home (just this past Saturday), wanting to experience life and ministry in that environment. She also feels it is time to let go of the blog and running the business portion of Titus2. She works full-time for her brothers’ businesses and has become very involved in the life and ministry at our church. 

That means after almost 45 years, we are empty nesters – quite a change for us! 

All five of us are looking forward to what God has in store in these new seasons of our lives.

That also means that after almost 2900 blog posts over 15 years, it looks like things are changing on the blog. If you follow our blog much, you will have noticed fewer blog posts. 

We aren’t sure what that means, but with all our kids now out of the home, with some of our marrieds preferring private life to a more public blog life, and with our lack of family-type, blog-worthy substance, it seems like the blog will change or maybe even come to an end.

We aren’t fully sure what that will look like, but right now we are thinking if we do any blog posts they will be articles without comments.

We owe much to Sarah’s huge investment in our family blog (and Titus2) for all these years—thinking of blog ideas, writing content, taking photos, and putting the posts together. Those random life posts often took her hours as she combed through her photos for just the right ones for the post. We are so grateful for all she did for the blog. 

We have loved you, our blog readers and commenters (30,000 comments), through these blog years, and have come to know many of you personally. So often you have encouraged our hearts both through the sweet times and the difficult ones. We will miss you as the blog changes from the interactive forum it has been, but we know this is God’s timing. 

We plan to continue selling our books through Titus2. com and writing monthly Mom’s Corners and weekly Seriously Dads. Those articles can be subscribed to here: https://articles.titus2.com/

We serve an awesome, unchanging God. Change is a part of life, but our God does not. 

“O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.” Psalm 34:8

Steve and Teri

We have some good news from our most recent appointment with my oncologist: Based on all my most recent scans, lab work, etc., my oncologist now considers me to be in full remission!

I am tapering off some of my cancer-specific supplements and am only going to Kansas City twice a month now for Vitamin C IV’s. We’re still working with various supplements and dietary strategies to work on healing my gut/digestive issues, but overall I’m feeling quite good and noticing improvement as far as the bloating, etc. My blood levels are still low from chemo, but our doctor said that’s to be expected and it just takes time (he’s seen it be about three years before blood and energy levels are “back.”) I do still get tired, but I have the energy I need to care for my family and be involved in their lives – while recognizing this is a season of more restful activities, story reading, etc. We started back into school a couple weeks ago (annual first day of school “class photo” below)  and now have a good routine going. I truly love homeschooling, building relationships and lasting memories as we learn together about God in and through His creation!

Speaking of that, the past 18 months have definitely given me a new perspective on time and the gift of life. I’m so grateful for the years God has given me, and is giving me, with my family. I don’t know what His will is for my future, and whether or not the cancer will be back (while it can come back any time, we’ve been told that the first 2 years is the most likely time for recurrence if it is going to recur). I was looking back through hymns I shared with you along our journey and now want to share one more:

Father, I know that all my life
is portioned out for me;
the changes that are sure to come
I do not fear to see:
I ask thee for a present mind,
intent on pleasing thee.

I would not have the restless will
that hurries to and fro,
seeking for some great thing to do
or secret thing to know;
I would be treated as a child,
and guided where to go.

I ask thee for the daily strength,
to none that ask denied,
a mind to blend with outward life,
while keeping at thy side,
content to fill a little space,
if thou be glorified.

In service which thy will appoints
there are no bonds for me;
my secret heart is taught the truth
that makes thy children free;
a life of self-renouncing love
is one of liberty.
                            -Anna Waring, 1850

We are so grateful for you, our faithful prayer supporters who have held us up before the Throne and encouraged us along the way. Truly the Body of Christ is a beautiful thing and you all have been to us extensions of His grace. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you!

Love in Christ,
Anna Marie