Angel. Lol My name is Angelica, but please call me, Angel.

Hey girl, hey! I am 30 years old and I’m from the most beautiful land in the world…. Memphis, Memphis. IYKYK. I have been in ministry, my entire life, someway somehow in whatever capacity you can think of. I did it. I am one of the churchy kids that got saved at 3, according to my mom and Godmother, Mother Hattie Stovall. A middle child of three girls with multiple bonus brothers. I am in social work, currently wrestling with finishing a degree in Business and Marketing Management Technology. Just to go back to and get a degree in Mass Media and Communications. In other words, I’m a creative that talks too much. More than I quite can understand. Quite honestly, I’m an introverted extrovert. I’ve always enjoyed being outside but when my social meter goes down, it goes LOW. Like “low battery” alert, low. I love people, just not some of the human-like characteristics. I’ll explain it sometime later, lol. Ministry has looked like a rollercoaster for me between 2022-2024. Here’s a HUGE snippet…

I was pregnant, not once but twice. I found out that I was pregnant while working in the school system and that’s a story in itself. I was quiet, I didn’t want to do anything. I didn’t work in my local, district or jurisdiction. I released every title and position that I had, willingly. I didn’t need anybody to tell me what I did, because I knew what I did so, I sat myself down. Thankfully, I had a village and leaders who covered me, willingly. God shielded me and protected my ear gates during that pregnancy. If it was negative, it didn’t come near nor did He allow it to harm me! Bishop publicly announced my pregnancy Sunday morning, Youth Sunday. Which was the biggest reason, I came “home”, I wanted to support our youth department. I felt like the prodigal son in a way but I was grateful to serve under such graceful leadership. Although, it was a breath of fresh air, I had a miscarriage with “Nugget”, December 11, 2022. The same day. That’s an entire testimony, because God really spared me. I carried a deceased fetus for an entire month before baby finally decided to pass through and I didn’t find out until I gave birth and the doctor measured the fetus. No infection or harm to my body like it COULD or SHOULD have been. I left the school system, I lost my baby and felt like I lost my place in ministry. I started another job a week after being on bedrest, mentally unstable and lost that job two weeks later. I didn’t work for 3-4 months and God literally had me learning ME all over again. It didn’t make sense then but it does now. (We’ll talk about it.) I learned God like Job did. I learned how Job felt when he said “The Lord gave and the Lord taketh away, blessed be the name of the Lord”! I learned what it meant to bless God in a low place, with absolutely nothing left. I learned how to sit still and listen to Him, even in complete frustration. Sis was mad, mane. I didn’t know how strong the strength of God really was, until that’s what I found holding me up. It was certainly not in my own will or might. If it was left up to me, I’m sure I would’ve been in a white two piece outfit with padded walls.

May 2023, I found out I was pregnant AGAIN. I thought I had FOOD POISONING! Apparently, my brother, Bruce and mommy had a feeling before I did because they threw SHADE when I said I didn’t feel good. They said it but I swore I was just sick coming from Nashville for a work trip. The very next day, my mom had a stroke. Whew, talk about getting my attention! THAT did it! It was overwhelming, because this was the THIRD one. Like nah, God. Not now. Not when I needed her after finding out. (Mommy is STILL in recovery and therapy, but doing so much better! We’ll talk more about that here too.) I’ve always known Him to be Rapha, because He’s done it before. But He’s BIG Rapha now, the God who is healing mommy! If I’ve never known Him to be peace, He’s been peace in the midst of a storm. He’s been a strong tower and a hiding place. I hid under His wings so many days and nights, especially while carrying again. Especially carrying a seed that I trusted God with. I didn’t tell my mom for months, not realizing that I was growing so fast! I remember struggling and deciding whether or not I was going to keep the little baby. I sat at work and cried to my coworkers, because I was thinking about abortion. Yes, I know what we say and our beliefs on it, but I had in my mind that y’all weren’t going to find out! I hid that pregnancy WELL! I set up my appointment and everything because the fear of another miscarriage had settled in. I talked to “baby daddy” and we both agreed, I was ready to take that little trip! Just being honest! But leading up to the day of my appointment, I had to use the money that I had saved up and didn’t know I was going to have to go TWICE. I had just started a new job and I couldn’t leave TWICE! Lol so I just sat still and it took Hollie to tell me not to do it. The shame and guilt of trying to explain to my leaders that I was carrying, AGAIN out of wedlock! It wasn’t so much of fear of people and their judgements, but it was ME vs. ME. While wrestling with the thought of thinking I failed God, once again. I found out what His Grace and Mercy felt like. So when I hear, “it is of the LORD’s mercies that we were not consumed”, I get happy because, YEAH! So, I later found out I was carrying my baby boy, my Christmas gift! He was due the day before Christmas and I just KNEW, He was going to be born ON Christmas, by choice or by force! Lol If you know me, then you know my heart’s desire is to be a BOY mom. I’m already a God-mother/GiGi to a beautiful little girl, Carrington Lela Rose. I’m a “Tete” to Brooklyn, Jaya, Blaire Karrington and Jessika along with our only boy, Jason. I needed a boy, my family needed another boy! It’s too many female humans mane! So I carried Andrix Micah Gladney for almost 5 months. I had just hit my halfway mark, 20 weeks! And that Saturday, I hosted one of my little sister’s baby shower. I was having contractions the ENTIRE day and they started to be unbearable immediately after I pulled in my driveway. I called Alexys and Welexi, and they called him. I gave birth to “Ace”, Sunday morning at 5:13a, August 13, 2023. His heartbeat was STILL so strong up until I pushed his little legs out. The nurse that was there with us the entire time, her name is listed as “Ace’s Angel” in my phone. I knew God was covering me. I was told while carrying that Ace was a carrier for “Spina Bifida”. I had NO clue what it was because from our knowledge, it wasn't from either side! But would you believe if I told you that when they ran tests after my pregnancy, they told me he was a perfectly healthy baby. I was healthy as well and they had NO explanation as to why my cervix dilated when it did. Talk about learning God in a new and unexplainable way! As sad as I was, God carried me through it. I was even asked what was wrong with me and why I couldn't keep a baby full term. THE VERY NEXT DAY. I should've kept my tail in the house like I was supposed to. Because, I’m not even going to hold you, “Angelica” raised up.. I literally felt God’s hand over my mouth. I can honestly say He really is near to the brokenhearted because God held me even CLOSER from that day on!

There’s not a day that passes by that I don’t imagine how life would be with our son. But I know the promise God made to me! I WILL carry full term and give birth to a completely healthy baby boy, and yes, I’ll be married. (For the people in the front!) I made a promise to God that if He kept my me + my mind and kept His word, I’ll forever keep my “yes”. It’s so much more to the story, but that’s why we’re here. THIS is apart of ME keeping my “yes”.

So, buckle up and enjoy the ride during the journey. I’m just here to help another girl get up, like I had to do. My biggest prayer is that you’ll see Jesus in and through me, in spite of me and my sufferings. I’ll go through, if it brings someone else closer to God.

If He kept + forgave ME, then He can keep + forgive YOU.

What are you waiting for? Let’s do life together, girl. I promise you’ll enjoy it.