Root for Fruit: Pressleys 2025
Let’s be clear: 2025 was NOT the easiest in the history of the Pressley clan. But I’m not mad at it. As I’ve considered what God wants us to take away from the year, it’s clear that it wasn’t a pruning year, but a year of working on the root system (probably not done). This passage captures it best:
There’s an old analogy about the relationship between the roots and fruit of a tree. Any tree that hopes to produce abundant, delicious fruit must have a strong root system to nourish that tree. If the root system is too shallow or too weak the tree will not bear the fruit expected.
Brian Kight
As the analogy goes, the same is true for people. If we are to bear worthy fruit in our lives we must establish a root system that nourishes us in a way that aligns with our expectations of production.
What do roots do for a tree? They give it strength, stability, and sustenance. If the tree is going to grow high, the roots have to grow deep. Roots need to supply sustenance to feed the tree’s growth and production. But the higher it grows the more exposed it becomes to threats. Roots need to be strong and stable for when the tree experiences storms and floods that threaten to tear it up and knock it down.
And now…the family updates!
We are SO PROUD of each of our younguns; they are developing into such beautiful humans with intelligent minds and compassionate hearts.
Here is a focus on our 2025 fruit, starting with the youngest:
Danielle
Can you believe Danielle ‘s already 15?! …tackling her freshman/sophomore year (if you homeschool, you understand)? This year has been full of growth and challenge and a little more growth. She could’ve started a travel blog with all the little trips this year. She and Stephanie were in Indiana in April, and New York City for 2 weeks in November.
Danielle completed her first year as a missionary for Christian Youth in Action through CEF (Child Evangelism Fellowship). She grew so much from the interviewing process, the 2 weeks of training, and teaching. She served 3 weeks of 5-Day Clubs, sharing the gospel with her team in different neighborhoods across the cities.
On July 4, she rolled to Indianapolis for the Alliance LIFE Youth Conference. What an amazing experience that added texture to the outline of her life vision!
It’s been a challenging year physically, battling for full health after discovering subtle viral and bacterial attacks on her system. We are so grateful for our family and friends who gave insight along this path; godly wisdom and a trusted medical team are priceless!
Danielle enjoyed time with her grandmother this summer between travel. She worked as a teen volunteer at the library, loving it so much she applied for the Teen Advisory for the county library system. They meet monthly and develop programming for kids and teens at the county branches. She’s also on a 4-H teen leadership team.
Danielle joined a friend playing basketball with a local private school. A few weeks before that call, she mentioned that she really missed playing on a team. She likes her teammates and time hanging with them and the exercise, but is still trying to figure out how to not ride the bus (again, probably a homeschool thing).
Danielle’s words probably sum up her year.
She gave a testimony at church on Christ the King Sunday, ending it with, “My prayers from earlier this summer are being answered. I know He heard me. The Holy Spirit is with me, and I know I am going to be okay.”
Yes, and amen.
Gideon
Gideon is in his collegiate era. The first half of 2025 was spent applying to colleges, visiting campuses, and completing his high school coursework through PSEO (post-secondary education option) at Crown College. He chose the rigorous track and graduated in May with his Associate of Arts degree. He was accepted to and visited Henry’s alma mater, RPI in Troy, NY, but decided to pursue an engineering degree right here in the Twin Cities at the University of Minnesota. His graduation open house was such a delight! A full-heart day, for sure!
Gideon’s summer was full! He worked as an intern in the IT department at Crown College. He also served as a team leader for CYIA training camp. Between those two commitments, he was filling his brain with good stuff that he used in July; he competed on our district’s team in Bible Quizzing Internationals competition. This was his second international appearance. He is so diligent in his studies, and it pays off!
And then it was time to go. He moved onto campus in August and said, “See you at Thanksgiving!” Even though he’s less than an hour from home, he dove in for the away-from-home college experience! It’s proving to be a good one; he’s found a church he likes and a rhythm to studying along with his extracurriculars, joining the motorsports club. It’s been good to have him home over the break. He was going to leave on the early end of things, but has accepted the opportunity to serve as a quizmaster in the upcoming quizzing invitational. He’ll be missed by all of us in spring semester.
Silas
Study, travel, work, repeat. Silas approaches life as the ultimate teammate, showing up in the clutch for family & friends: his sister’s basketball games, helping his dad with the car, movies or just talking sports with brothers.
Continuing his studies toward a degree in Sports Management, Si was extremely active on campus, founding a new club (you’ll have to ask him details). He also traveled to a few places representing Benedict College as a Strada Scholarship recipient. In April he worked the Master’s tournament at Augusta National. We couldn’t keep up, but I think MD, NC, TX, and DC were in the 2025 travel itinerary. This pic is from the trip for a financial literacy conference in the nation’s capital. He spoke from the stage in Texas, and always networks like a pro! Silas was a boon for J & A, especially flying up to support them in November.
While completing his last on-campus semester in Columbia this fall, he started interning remotely for Teamwork Online. He’s continuing that role this semester but living in MN, taking an online class and working an internship at a local sports training facility, TOCA. His most recent highlight was road-tripping from South Carolina back to Minnesota with Henry.
And as if he wasn’t balancing enough, he’s started submitting applications to master’s programs.
Jonathan & Atira
God is ever present. Where a rock falls in a pond creates many ripples. Everyone in our family experienced the ripple effect of Jonathan & Atira’s year. It is not mine to speak from the epicenter (see link for my ripple below). You can follow their socials or connect with them (link below).
Bottom line: there is much to rejoice about in the faithfulness of God, especially through suffering!
Atira keeps wife-ing and Jonathan keeps husband-ing, celebrating 3 years in June 2025. Atira balances her PhD studies with work as a communications specialist and probably 2 other titles I’m missing (I know one is a really cool nonprofit she’s affiliated with). Jonathan continues to write, learn patience with himself as he regains strength, and work on physical and professional goals. In August he was asked if he questioned why he’s had to walk this particular road to which he replied: “No. Not really. Why question what I’ve done when what I deserve is death.”
Our joy as parents is that they’ve not turned their backs on the Lord. Jonathan knows the Lord hasn’t forsaken him; hat else can you ask for?
We hope to see them 2026 at some family celebrations!
Timothy & Hannah
These two are the hardest to summarize…so busy and always doing so much! Hannah continues her master’s studies and working part-time on campus. They continue to live on campus.
Some of their 2025 highlights include a spring break trip to Illinois, splitting time between Timothy’s grandma and Hannah’s brother and his bride. They also zipped away to Branson for a getaway.
Timothy’s employment with Child Evangelism Fellowship continues as Twin Cities ministry coordinator. How fun for us to have 3 of our children participating in CYIA training camp: staff, team leader, and trainee!
Hannah’s family took a Menard extended family road trip to Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming.
T & H’s schedule is so full that we started connecting one Sunday per month for lunch or dinner and just hanging out; sometimes the hangout is here in Jordan. One week, Stephanie & Danielle helped with trunk or treat at their church; Hannah and Stephanie are making plans for fun 2026 activities!
Timothy and Hannah are so hospitable to offer sleepovers for Danielle to escape mom and dad once in a while (and hang with Jarvis, the Dog)! Hannah has been enjoying a ministry to teen girls in a local school district. She will graduate in May 2026 and we’ll see what else God has in her future!
Henry & Stephanie
We make a good team. When life gets life-y, that’s a great thing to know as we marked 27 years! It’s been nearly a year since Stephanie’s parent company filed for bankruptcy; Henry encouraged her to take some time to feel the feels. Definitely the right move!
Henry continues in his quality management role at Seagate. It’s been a challenging year on that front, but he enjoys the work and brings value to the team. The best parts of Henry are experienced by his family: dinner and date nights, weekly time set aside to connect with all 5 children, making a weekly Saturday breakfast spread (that Grandma still raves about), household and car maintenance, serving as an elder at church! He is the caulk that fills in all the cracks and crevices when Stephanie is away, fairly frequent in 2025!
Stephanie continues to homeschool…it started with one and we’ve come full circle with one left in the classroom. Her biggest challenge is learning a new modus operandi in the fresh space; new routines take time to shape. She took a couple trips in March and April to help relocate a family member.
May was all about graduations! June brought Grandma to visit and July was a chaperoning the youth conference trip to Indianapolis. Two weeks in July and another two in November were spent in NYC (total of 28 days!). Prayer, packing, and patience seemed to be the theme, emphasis on the prayer and patience.
Stephanie took an online lay leadership course a while back; at the youth conference, she met the instructor in person. Discussion and prayer combined to make her weekday schedule part teacher and part student when she was accepted into the lay preaching certificate program. She loves the reading, the challenge and the growth, more like an intense Bible study, which she loves! How will God use it? We’ll see. Just applying was a step out of the boat.
Stephanie’s also working on digital products, workshops for moms & women, and a coaching service. The biggest change that’s brought the most positive impact to every area is a simple workout system leading to Stephanie releasing almost 30 pounds. She can’t see it in her appearance, but feels it in the ability to manage life (especially walking in NYC). Praise God for health!
Pressley Gallery 2025
The descriptions by person don’t capture all the moments of the year! We were able to catch up with friends over coffee or touring Grand Central Terminal! We celebrated marriages and enjoyed picnics and apple picking. It’s not all here, but here’s a sampling of the year. January through March were sort of a blur, so…oh well! LOL!
April-May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
