Today's episode is one that was two and a half years in the making. We are so excited to be sharing our conversation with Janelle Smith! Janelle and her family have been a part of Desert Springs for almost 20 years. The first 20 minutes are so sweet as Janelle shares about her life in California, detailing how she fell in love with a motorcycle mechanic named Rex and became a mom. Though there were challenges that came with being newlyweds and a blended family, Janelle embraced the changes. One of the things that Janelle highlights is how she and Rex established their faith and desired to bring their kids into Christian community. You will enjoy hearing the many stories shared in the first part of this conversation and will feel like you have a sense of who Janelle is (you'll want to be her friend!). Unknowingly in the background of all these stories, Rex was having some serious heart issues. He had his first heart attack at age 40, which was a very traumatic experience not only because he was so young but because he was home alone with their baby son when it happened. One year after the heart attack, Janelle, Rex and the kids moved to Arizona as Rex had gotten a new job. Unfortunately, the career change didn't work out and soon Janelle became the sole provider for the family. She worked two jobs (one being a paper route), cared for her kids and was the full-time caretaker for Rex. Around this time, Rex was also diagnosed with congestive heart failure and given 5 years to live. It is hard to sum up here what that time was like but also how God's faithfulness came through in so many ways. In 2009 after being on the transplant list for a very short time, Janelle + Rex got notified that there was a heart available. They felt like it was a miracle to receive a heart so quickly. Though this heart gave Rex 13 more years to live, life became very difficult afterwards. We appreciate Janelle's openness in how she shares about these years and what it was like to be a caretaker, provider, wife and mom. Janelle's testimony is real and raw and yet filled with hope through God's faithfulness. The fullness of her story and what God has done in her life cannot be summed up here - we encourage you to listen. 

Haley Smith's testimony (Janelle's daughter!), Episode 46 - https://open.spotify.com/episode/5RaxOHfxcxX5wFiL64K8Ti?si=d072e7b7369a406f
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