A Moment With The Publisher - It's Been A Year

Well folks, it’s been a year. If you’re on social media, then you probably seen my video recapping my year and how blessed I am by the goodness of God. Truth is though at this time last year, I was really scared and trusting in God even though everything I felt and heard said “Dumb”.

I’m so grateful for this year but it has been traumatizing to say the least. It’s pushed me further physically, mentally, and spiritually then I ever thought possible. Learning to balance was something I had never known but this year I’ve had to start figuring it out.

I’m extreme, if I get into something, I become obsessed with it and go above and beyond. I’m a perfectionist and competitive because I’ve always strived to be the best and for whatever reason in my mind, anything less is not good enough. To a degree, I’m pretty sure that’s why most of my employers loved me and most of co-workers didn’t care for me. I’m honest, I know my flaws, I see them daily, and I just pray that God makes me better.

July 1, 2022 was on a Friday, I will always remember that day just like I will always know that December 24, 2014 was on Wednesday because God blessed with me Desi and April 3, 2007 was on a Tuesday because that’s when God blessed me with Larame. There’s more, not all good, like December 7, 2002, it was on a Saturday and it was the day that Dylan Reed left this Earth. There are moments and days that impact each of us, some good, some bad, and some days are both. July 1st was both, my dreams were coming true with one signature, years of praying, working, and believing was about to conclude with my ownership of my hometown paper, The Graceville News.

You may be wondering why I said it was a good and bad day. Well, that goes back to me and trusting in God. I was blessed that day my Father in Heaven had graciously bestowed upon me my earthly career dreams in just a few hours. The process of buying The Graceville News was quick, I had one chance, or it would of been gone forever and I had took it and made an offer for purchase. Mid-June I made the choice and asked. The day before July 1st I made an offer. I was not prepared for July 1st though, I thought I had time, time to prepare.

But July 1st, was like any normal Friday but as I was getting ready for my normal day, the owner, Mr. Cox, called and said let’s do this, let’s get it done today. Within minutes something I thought was going to happen in time with due process started happening with the blink of an eye. I had to call the bank, I had to pick up money, I had to contact the attorney, all within minutes.

That day was a whirlwind but with Desi by my side being my biggest cheerleader and most excited for this new transition we got everything done.

Then that afternoon in The Graceville News a signature changed everything. And while I had spent the entire day surrounded by people and going places, once that signature dried, that picture was taken, and the handshake made, everybody left, and I was alone. That loneliness and those small whispers of doubt that I allowed the enemy to put in my head and heart made one of the best days a bad day. However, the truth is, I allowed those moments to turn bad because, like Peter when he walked on the water to Jesus, I took my eyes off of my Father and allowed fear to creep in. Like Peter, though Jesus held my hand and helped me back on the boat.

The other employees were older than me and had already planned to retire with the sale but putting that first paper together by myself was the biggest push of faith I ever had. That first paper, I still shake my head at and several after, but I keep reminding myself, I did it and that’s what matters.

I’ve learned a lot this year especially about balance, understanding when to walk away, and realizing just how human I am. Hardest pills I’ve had to swallow, I’m not perfect and can’t create perfection, but I promise its not from a lack of trying. However, accepting that non-perfection is still okay has been one of the hardest and most rewarding. I’m still learning to balance every single day but I’m slowly learning I can’t be everything for everybody and it’s okay to say, “I can’t do it.” Lastly the thing I’m still working on is balance. Making sure that God, faith, and family come first even over my career and my business has been the hardest challenge, but I’m trying to be better every day, and my pastor says that’s what matters.

So, it’s been a year, folks and in this moment, I want to thank each and every one of you who have supported this newspaper and me. It’s been a year, a year of newspapers, a year of coverage, a year of mistakes, a year of accomplishments and a year of failures, but through it all, through this entire year, God‘s goodness and faithfulness has been abundant and we praise Him for that!

Samantha Angerbrandt

*Photo Courtesy of Shawna Powell*