Using Creativity to Navigate Grief with Angela & Tony Mendoza

"Lord, thank you for taking me through this journey. Grant me strength as I go through each day. Grant me a cheerful spirit and give me courage to do whatever needs to be done." - Angela Mendoza.

Tony Mendoza was a CFO. His wife, Angela, was an accountant. They were, by self definition, not "creative" people. Yet they created a beautiful life together by choosing to love each other through life's complicated curve balls, honoring the wild journey God had given them, and welcoming three compassionate children into the world. Tony took up the guitar at Angela's suggestion, but he didn't necessarily consider himself a creative person--and certainly not a musician!

Then Angela was diagnosed with cancer, and everything changed.

In this episode, Emmeline sits down with Tony Mendoza to talk about his and Angela's moving love story--from  the moment they met to how their love has changed in the wake of Angela's death. Tony shares how Angela's cheerful spirit, persistent grace, and unyielding determination inspired her to share her cancer journey with friends and family through CaringBridge. He also talks about how she survived three incredible years in spite of the doctors' predictions that cancer would take her in six months. He vulnerably explains how Angela's death has challenged him to step more deeply into his creative side, how Angela co-wrote a book with him from beyond, and how their story has become a beautiful song.

To learn more about Angela's journey, please check out her phenomenally touching book, Dear Friends and Family. To help Angela's legacy live on through the students she impacts, you can donate to the scholarship in her name here. 

For behind-the-scenes information and more about Journey of an Artist, visit the Journey of Series official webpage, or follow Emmeline on social media at @EmmelineMusic.