Many months ago, when I was still a single mom and dating Ryan, I went through some very difficult times financially. I had just enough income to take care of bills but not enough to meet other needs as they came up. For example, my hot water heater went out and I needed some maintenance done to my vehicle before I could get it inspected. My boys also had no beds in their rooms and had been sleeping on air mattresses on the floor. I hated it. All of this was more than $1000 total and I didn’t have it. I began to struggle with the thoughts of quitting homeschool and getting a full time job so I could better support my boys. I also needed health insurance. I have had ongoing problems that were left untreated and that is finally catching up to me. Ryan struggled because he couldn’t support two full households but he felt he had to do something. Ryan fervently prayed, as did I, and God answered.
Ryan was in his car praying when he heard this song…
(please press PLAY)
When he called me and told me about it I wept. God never failed to have that song ringing in our ears. We heard it in the car, at the store, at church, and even on the TV! These words gave us hope and faith. This song became very special to us. Then we watched the hand of God take care of each of those needs I had and neither of us had to spend a dime. A check came for the hot water heater. The church had a vehicle maintenance day for single moms, widows, and military wives. My sister’s co-worker gave us bunk beds. Did I mention God went beyond that? We also received new bed sets for each bed complete with pillows and my car was washed and vacuumed. Not bad huh?
Since Ryan and I got married we haven’t really had any date nights or time alone. The boys’ dad has been very sick and in and out of the hospital. He has not been able to take them as often as he would like. We also lost our only sitter for the boys’ because she is now in college. Needless to say, we hardly ever get out together so this email on Friday night was a tremendous blessing.
I knew I needed to reply “yes” the second I received the offer. I had been having a horrible couple of days and needed some spiritual and emotional healing. I had gone to the Ears, Nose and Throat doctor early in the week to try to get some medical attention for my ongoing sinus problems. I have headaches every day. I have so much built up pressure in my face and ears that I thought it had effected my hearing. I thought that if my sinuses were healed that my hearing would be restored. I’ve been sick for so long that I don’t know what it is like to be well.
Apparently my hearing loss is genetic or the result of some small growth on a nerve.. not cancer or anything like that but it would require surgery. The only way to tell is to have an MRI done. The doctor’s report to me was that I my sinus passages are too swollen for the scope to take a look so he wants me to have a CAT scan. He says I have lacerations in my throat and my glands are swollen. This is most likely due to severe GERD and LPR, both forms of reflux. I also have dramatic hearing loss in my right ear and cannot decipher high pitched sounds with either ear. I could not hear the voice or screams of a child or woman with a high pitched voice in a crowd. This scares me.
I came home and shared the news with Ryan and then got a phone call from the doctor’s office stating that the cost of the tests would not be covered because it is pre-existing. I just didn’t want to hear it. Why God Why? When God When? How God How? Do you know the feeling?
Then, on Friday, Susan sent me an email saying that she had extra tickets to the Mercy Me concert and she asked if Ryan and I would like them. Of course I said YES!
I’ll write about the life changing events in the next post….
Susan, you are awesome!
