New blog 7/27/09

It’s been so long since I wrote anything.  Mostly this is due to the fact that I’m a normally busy mom of three active children, but I was that before I lost touch! For those of you who ever feel like you never have it all together and might be a bit overwhelmed with life, know that you’re not alone! These days my husband has gotten ill with diabetic ulcers on the bottom of both feet, one of which is infected down to the bone! This week alone brings more probing by different specialists and an MRI to determine the cause and exactly what procedures should be done and when.  In the meantime, he’s to stay off his feet and rest. Which means? You got it! I’m doing everything else! Oh yeah, we’re also in the process of a major remodel at our house which has been prolonged due to this new development.  We’ve been able to secure an extension on our current lease to allow us the time to finish and for my hubby to heal some before we move.  Ultimately, we’ll be in great shape after we get settled but in the meantime, I’ve had to learn some new skills.  I’ve become very familiar with my drill, my hammer, and my reciprocating saw.  I now know how to hang sheetrock, patch holes, and texture walls.  Soon I’ll have mastered laying tile and laminate flooring and later, molding and base boards!  Most folks have been overwhelmed when I simply mention all that we’ve been doing—our busy-ness is often perplexing to others! But what I hope folks will understand is that while this is taxing to me and to my husband (who by now is going absolutely stir crazy sitting around all day!), I feel the presence of the Lord more fervently than ever before! I hear His voice when my body is tired and aching at the end of the long days.  Just today I read Matthew 28:20 “…and be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age." I was brought to tears at the reminder that my Lord is with me! On those days when it’s definitely not easy, I’m never alone!  I feel His peace and an underlying joy that sustains me through the hardest moments when my physical body feels that I’m going to drop any second, but my child needs my attention or my husband needs me to do “one more thing” before I can rest.  I keep up my health as best I can because I know I can’t afford to go down now.  So I faithfully take my vitamins and I’ve increased my exercise regimen to keep up the pace.  I have some good friends who hang out with my children so I can go work on the house while others come help me with the construction parts.  And still others in the wings who are constantly praying for my strength and my husband’s healing! What would I do without them?  What’s all this for? Why are we going through all this? Why does it feel like “when it rains, it pours?”  Well, I can’t answer that for you, but I know for me I can say that I’m learning more about myself and my Savior during this crunch time.  He’s developing some grit in me that I knew would be coming.  And more than that, he’s reminding me steadily of my mission.  I’m constantly being asked to expand my capacity and do more, learn more, be more…work harder, live stronger, have less fear!  And all this produces a greater desire to see men, women, and children be healed from their past hurts and step fully into the lives that God intends for them to live! While that doesn’t necessarily mean a life free of stress or hardship, it DOES mean a life knowing that you can do ANYTHING through Christ who strengthens you!  I know that Jesus will never waste my pain and others will be helped through my difficulties.  I know that no matter what happens I am LOVED!  I’ve learned to trust and lean on His guidance for the simplest things.  My children are learning too during all this! They are learning how to really pray and put others ahead of themselves.  To hear their small voices praying for me and their daddy is so sweet and precious!  Maybe right now you’re struggling through something difficult and finding it hard to get by.  If that’s you and you already have a relationship with Jesus Christ then I encourage you to dig in and get to know HIM...not for what He can do for you, but for who He IS!  If you don’t know Jesus in this way and would like to know more, feel free to write me at angie@angieewing.com.   As always if you need prayer, we’re here for you as well! Let us know! Til then, I pray you have many blessings….

ang