A Shared Vision: Annie and Evan’s Story
For Annie and Evan, building financial stability has also meant building stronger communication, greater intentionality, and a shared vision for their family.
When Annie and Evan Wathan first came to Birch Community Services, they knew there were areas of their finances they wanted to change. What they didn’t expect was how deeply the experience would shape the way they communicated with each other and made decisions as a family.
Both Annie and Evan are nurses, although Annie is currently staying home to homeschool their three children. They first heard about Birch through friends who encouraged them to explore the program.
At the time, managing their finances often felt more reactive than intentional. “Our budget was reactive, and now we’re way more proactive,” they shared. But as they became more involved at Birch, Annie and Evan began to realize that the changes they were making went beyond a budget.
More Than a Financial Conversation
One of the biggest areas of growth for Annie and Evan has been communication. Before Birch, they recognized that they didn’t always communicate well with each other. The challenge was bigger than finances alone. Money simply provided a practical place to begin having conversations they needed to have.
Through financial education, goal-setting, and conversations about their Family Vision, they began discussing not only what they wanted to do with their money, but why those choices mattered to them. That shift brought a new level of intentionality to their family.
Instead of responding to each financial decision as it came, Annie and Evan could step back and ask whether their choices aligned with the values and goals they had identified together.
At Birch, a Family Vision is designed to do exactly that: help families identify what matters most to them and use those priorities to guide everyday decisions. Rather than giving families a predetermined definition of success, the process helps them create their own values-driven direction for the future.
For Annie and Evan, those conversations helped them connect on a deeper level and bring their actions into greater alignment with what they value.
Encouragement and Accountability
Change rarely happens through information alone.
For Annie and Evan, encouragement and accountability have helped them continue moving toward the goals they set together. They’ve learned how to balance and support one another while staying focused on where they want their family to go.
That accountability is an important part of the Birch community. Financial education provides practical tools, but families also have opportunities to revisit their goals, measure progress, and continue learning along the way.
For Evan and Annie, that combination has been transformative.
“I wish I knew these things 10 years ago”
The financial literacy they’ve gained is knowledge they can continue using for years to come. But when they talk about the greatest blessings of their experience, communication stands out.
What began as an effort to become healthier financially has influenced their family as a whole.
Building a Legacy That Goes Beyond Money
With three children watching and learning from them, Annie and Evan also see the long-term value of what they’re learning.
Financial literacy doesn’t have to stop with one person or one generation.
The ability to budget proactively, talk openly about money, identify shared values, and make intentional decisions can be passed along. Annie and Evan now have tools they can share with their children and with others in their community for years to come.
That’s part of what legacy means at Birch.
Legacy isn’t simply about how much money a family accumulates. It’s about creating stability, building healthy patterns, and equipping the next generation with knowledge and values that can shape their future.
What began as a desire to handle their finances differently has helped Annie and Evan understand each other more deeply. With a shared vision for their family, they’re able to connect their everyday choices to what matters most and move forward knowing they’re building toward something together.
