Meet Misty...
Misty and her husband, Todd, have been married for over 40 years, and have spent the majority of those years raising their five sons who now range in age from 24 and 40. With the toddler years far behind them, high school sports and college years completed, they are enjoying watching their children move forward in their own callings, as they have started businesses, joined ministries, and are starting families of their own. They can't go without mentioning the four beautiful daughters-in-law they are blessed with, along with the three cutest granddaughters on the face of the earth. Along with raising a family, the Cramer's have spent over 30 years in full-time youth, family, and church ministry. With a passion to introduce people to Jesus and disciple Christians, they also have a heart to create healthy marriages and families.
This past year, Misty and Todd have become co-pastors of Elevate Church-Sebewaing. Elevate is a new church start-up, and it has been an exciting part of their journey. Misty states, “we just never know what God is going to do in our lives. We certainly did not think that at age 59 and 60, He would place us in the position to be pastors of a new church. But, we are unbelievably excited and honored to be working alongside the Team and congregation He has provided for us. We are already seeing Him work in ways that are truly amazing—only things He could orchestrate. We can’t wait to see what else He has in store.”
Misty writes and speaks with the intent of sharing her life with others in order to bring glory and honor to her Savior, Jesus. Whether she's writing lighthearted stories of her childhood and her years of parenting, or sharing about challenging times such as her battle with cancer or her teenage pregnancy, Misty is vulnerable, honest, and open about how God works in the midst of our joy, as well as our heartache.
Meet The Family
Misty would love to introduce you to her family. She and Todd raised their boys in a rural area in the Thumb of Michigan, not far from the home where Misty was raised. They loved the small-town atmosphere and the sense of community, not to mention the bike rides on dirt roads, swimming in the pond, catching frogs in the ditches, and spending hours shooting baskets in the yard. Another bonus was that both sets of grandparents were only minutes away; the love of extended family became an intragyral part of their lives.
Misty calls the years when her boys were newborn, 20 months, and four, ten, and fifteen years old the "crazy years." For the next few years, the house was full of action and adventure, and the old blue ten-passenger van racked up a lot of miles. As the older boys played on basketball teams, the younger ones quickly got used to late-night games, where they became the most popular fans in the gym. After all, who could resist a group of little brothers cheering for their older siblings?
As the years went on, they all had their turn in the gym, as well as in a variety of other activities, including drama, music, soccer, and all sorts of church and Campus Life activities. Those days have long since passed, and new adventures have made their way into the story.
Now scattered around the state of Michigan, as well as in South Carolina, the boys are building beautiful lives of their own. Some are business owners. Some are in full-time ministry. Some are married. Some are parents. And as Misty says, “but, all are still my ‘little boys’, and when we get together, it sure is a full house!” Now, as a family of fourteen, they have many traditions that keep them coming together several times a year. Those traditions still include returning to the Thumb for bike rides, swimming, frog catching, and basketball—now with pickleball added to the mix.
Misty shares, “My greatest joy and the most honored role in my life, will always be that of raising my boys.”
