Here's an e-mail that I sent out to several of our friends and family today. It tells a lot about the change that is coming soon to our little family:
We have a prayer need for all of you to remember. I know that we have come to you many times for prayer needs; this is perhaps one of the most important prayer needs in our lives.
We are now in the process of returning to fulltime ministry (yes, this means that we eventually may be leaving the Bowling Green/Toledo area, possibly even Ohio, going to wherever God leads!). Russ and I both know our calling, received a long time ago from the Lord. We also know that He has had us in a different place for a few years, changing us, molding us, refining us. But now we can no longer resist the call. This does NOT mean that the move will happen tomorrow; then again, it might. Only He knows.
Russ had his initial interview to get his credentials back with the Assemblies of God Monday, and all is great. We have some hurdles to cross, due to the past, but they are nothing we can't handle with the Lord's help. Now we have possibly been offered a staff pastorate (outreach-missions) in the Toledo area. We'll see what happens!! We'll meet with our pastor, Pastor Allen, on Monday to talk and pray with him, and then we have set up meetings with other area pastors later next week. The support within the fellowship is terrific, and we are excited to see what God has in store.
We love each and every one of you, and hope that you'll remember the Ewings tonight in your prayers.
Quick update:
Isaac is enjoying day camp at his school for the next couple of weeks (they are being "superheroes" all summer. He is "Isaac the Incredible"!!!). He is beginning to talk like crazy, copying everything, saying his ABC's, counting, singing, doing gymnastics, swimming....he is such a miracle! he is doing EVERYTHING the doctors once said he would never be able to do!
Emma is wishing she was old enough for school already, because she misses her big brother/best buddy when he goes away in the morning on the bus! She is singing and dancing all the time, our little entertainer. She has a HUGE vocabulary, and is constantly surprising us with her sense of humor (as well as her sense of being a smart aleck at times. Now where would she get that?)
Ronnie is now 8 months old and weighs over 25 pounds, 30 inches tall....a big boy! He is crawling, sitting up on his own, and definitely trying to work on his leg muscles at any given chance! It won't be long now, and he'll be tearing up the place with his brother and sister. He is a handful, but a great big joy!! He is also a bit of a momma's boy, so he won't let me out of his sight very often!
Russ continues working at Cherry Street Mission (3rd shift -- rough shift in the inner city), and it is a hard ministry, yet one he enjoys. He now teaches classes and bible studies at the mission, and handles some chapel sessions. He is also completing a masters degree (Master of Divinity) at Liberty University. He switched from a counseling degree and is doing VERY well.
Momma here is fine. I'm just fighting the never ending war of getting this house of ours organized. Some of the battles are victories lately, so that gives me hope. But what do I expect with three little ones? I'm still singing as often as I can, and would love to look into recording a CD, but the funds are greatly lacking. I do some computer work for Russ' classes, and am now possibly considering a counseling degree myself! Who knows? I've also thought about getting my credentials in special ministries, either music or education or drama. We'll wait in the Lord, and see.
We also have a new, very special member of our family. his name is Tim McGovern. Tim is a resident at Cherry Street, a man whose life God has turned around completely. He is just five years older than me (so he's VERY young!!). I know he would not mind me telling you that he was a heroin addict for 19 years (as he says, "your basic mess"), and just this last year, through God's power, and Russ' ministry, Tim was delivered. Tim now lives with us 3-4 days a week. Eventually it will be more permanent. He is a huge help, the kids call him "Papi Tim", and we love him very much. He says the feeling is very mutual. Hopefully some or all of you can meet Tim soon...we know you will love him, too. Cherry Street is preparing to hire him on staff, because he has passed every course they have. Tim is an angel sent from above! It has been discussed, and if we go, he is going, too. He IS family now, and a very happy family we are!
Keep us in your thoughts!
More later...
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Another friend is gone...
This has been a very rough night...
Most of you who "tune in" to this blog know that my husband and I are very BIG pet people. Well, tonight, our longtime baby, our oldest cat, Sass, passed away. He's been sick for a while now, with some type of seizure disorder. His last seizure must have brought on a heart attack or something. When Russ came home tonight, he found Sass in the litter box (thank God, it was clean!), and he was curled up, like he was sleeping. But he was gone.
I felt like a heel. I was playing with the kids only six feet away from that room. I don't know what I could have done, but at least I could have comforted him and said goodbye. The kids are okay now. Emma called for Sass for about fifteen-twenty minutes after Russ and Tim took Sass away for burial. When I told Isaac what happened, he cried for a little while, and then he went and held his cat, Babe. That was his refuge, I guess. This is all made doubly hard by the fact that Sass' litter mate, Moe, ran away in May. He's been seen around our neighborhood, but we have yet to bring him home. The other three cats are walking around, like, "Geez, first Moe, now Sass? We better shape up!"
I'll miss you Sass. You made me work at being a member of this family when I first fell in love with your daddy. But you became a little love, and I'll miss feeling your purr against my legs at naptime. Tell everyone at Jesus' house that we said hello, and that we love them, too. I know that Little Bit, Snoopy, PeeWee, Grandma Pat, Grandpa Ron, and lots of others were there to meet you, holding cans of tuna & oil in their hands. I love you, sweetie.
I'm looking for a picture of Sass to publish. That's coming soon. He was eleven years old, and he was beautiful.
Most of you who "tune in" to this blog know that my husband and I are very BIG pet people. Well, tonight, our longtime baby, our oldest cat, Sass, passed away. He's been sick for a while now, with some type of seizure disorder. His last seizure must have brought on a heart attack or something. When Russ came home tonight, he found Sass in the litter box (thank God, it was clean!), and he was curled up, like he was sleeping. But he was gone.
I felt like a heel. I was playing with the kids only six feet away from that room. I don't know what I could have done, but at least I could have comforted him and said goodbye. The kids are okay now. Emma called for Sass for about fifteen-twenty minutes after Russ and Tim took Sass away for burial. When I told Isaac what happened, he cried for a little while, and then he went and held his cat, Babe. That was his refuge, I guess. This is all made doubly hard by the fact that Sass' litter mate, Moe, ran away in May. He's been seen around our neighborhood, but we have yet to bring him home. The other three cats are walking around, like, "Geez, first Moe, now Sass? We better shape up!"
I'll miss you Sass. You made me work at being a member of this family when I first fell in love with your daddy. But you became a little love, and I'll miss feeling your purr against my legs at naptime. Tell everyone at Jesus' house that we said hello, and that we love them, too. I know that Little Bit, Snoopy, PeeWee, Grandma Pat, Grandpa Ron, and lots of others were there to meet you, holding cans of tuna & oil in their hands. I love you, sweetie.
I'm looking for a picture of Sass to publish. That's coming soon. He was eleven years old, and he was beautiful.
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