By: Angie Bittner (Sunflower TEC)
Angie Bittner is the oldest daughter of Jodi and Greg Simon. She and her husband have five daughters (just like her mother, Jodi!), and she works for the Archdiocese of Kansas City in KS as the Rural Youth Ministry Outreach Coordinator. This article is a collaborative effort from all five of Jodi’s daughters – Angie, Jamie Stolz, Julie Peintner, Abby McKinley, and Kelsey Perez.
Ahh, the journey of motherhood. Surprise, gratefulness, wonder, awe, joy, uncertainty, heartbreak, hope, and unending love, and the cycle repeats itself over and over again. It’s our mom’s story several times over with us. Now it’s each of our stories as moms. Wasn’t it also Mary’s story in the greatest Mom story of all times?
This is the journey of TEC. We are so intimately invited into the Lord’s Paschal Mystery. We’re overwhelmed when we embrace the Lord’s story and realize He’s invited us into His story, THE story. We experience heartbreak when we learn of His true sacrifice for us. We brim with hope as we realize we can live and walk with Him daily. We’re flooded with His unending love.
On this Mother’s Day, we are grateful for our mom’s “yes” to TEC. To over and over again, facilitating an opportunity to encounter the one who gives all meaning to our lives. We remember how life changing her adult candidate TEC was. She has that same passion and excitement with every retreat weekend she serves on now. We admire her genuine love and care for the teens and adults who attend and serve, and we know that these relationships don’t end on after the retreat finishes on Monday evening.
TEC has given us roots, foundations, and lifelong friendships, and now, we get to watch Mom pray with, serve with, and invite our own children to meet Jesus and journey with Him forever. Mom doesn’t just tell young people to find some Jesus-- she takes them directly to Him!
We are so grateful to you, Lord, for the gift of motherhood, so that we can hold all of these complicated, beautiful, and messy stories in our hearts. Jesus and Mary, we’re so grateful to walk with you daily as you help us to untangle or embrace the knots of our lives. Thank you, loving Father, for the gift of our Mom, and especially for her “yes” to furthering your kingdom through TEC.
We love you, Mom!
Simon Family Picture: top Left to Right; Jamie (Stolz), Mom (Jodi Simon), Julie (Peintner), Dad (Greg Simon), Angie (Bittner) and bottom row Abby (McKinley), Kelsey (Perez).
