In the Details...

Every December as we come into Christmas and New Year's I always pause and just look back over the year.  Some years are quiet.  Some years there is great loss of those I loved.  And then there are years where I can just see God's fingerprints all over my life.  Those years are my most favorite to look back on.  2018 was one of those years.

So if it's ok with whoever is reading this, I'm going to take a few moments to walk through all the ups and downs of 2018 and take a moment to just praise God for each and every moment I had.

As you may remember, 2018 started out with excitement.  The Evoy's were building a house!  The very first time Chris and I had ever ventured down this path and it was overwhelming at times.  But God was in the details, literally.  Before the drywall was installed, scripture was written by my family on the bones of the house.  Chris and I never thought we would have the opportunity to even own a house again and then God blessed us with a home to build.  There was no way He was not going to be
written into the very core of this new home.  This new home is truly a gift.  Chris and I did nothing to earn it yet here we are living in it.  Oh how I love it.  We've been moved in since Feb. 1 and I still walk through the rooms and just smile.  I still pinch myself at times that this is our home.  And then I thank the Lord for His provision.  This, God willing, is the home Chris and I will grow old in together.

And then mid- February hit and I thought I was losing my best friend.  February had it's highs of moving into our new home followed just a few days later with the lowest low and fear I have ever felt.  Chris was rushed to the hospital.  I had no idea what was happening and we thought it was a heart attack.  Nope.  Chris had a pulmonary embolism in his lungs.  A blood clot from somewhere in his body had lodged itself in his lungs making it hard to breath, causing intense pain and killing off the good tissues in his lungs.  Fear took over.  I remember on the way to the hospital praying so hard, please God, please.  This can't be your plan.  And Chris, I would later find out, was praying, please Lord, take care of my family.  Two very different prayers, But God knew the outcome.  God put people in our lives who were able to walk alongside us through the entire emergency.  It took us until August for Chris to be cleared with
no additional blood clots and to be taken off all medications.  God healed him.  God was with us in the car on the way to the ER, at the hospital, with all the doctors and scans that were done.  God knew all of it.  And I praise God everyday that my husband was healed here, on earth.  I know he's saved and I know we'll see each other in heaven but I wasn't ready to say goodbye.

Let's flash forward to May.  May was exciting in our home.  In May I watched my son walk across the stage and graduate from High School.  Oh the thrill of the moment.  As a parent, it is bittersweet to watch your child grow up and earn his diploma.  With tears of joy in my eyes I cheered as his name was called across the microphone.  That's my boy!  He's been through a lot with all the moves we've put him through, But God was always with him.  God walked right alongside him through every school, every move, each new friend he made or lost and right across that stage as he received his diploma.  And it was after he was walking off the stage that I saw the happiness on his face.  The look of sheer joy and accomplishment that every mom wants to see.  He did it.  Oh the joy!  And then...

Then I remembered, he's going to college.  Oye Vay.  Ya know, I thought since Matthew was staying home for college it would be easier....um, nope.  Turns out, as a mom, you still have the emotions of a child leaving the nest.  Matthew was accepted to Middle Tennessee State University just 15 mins from our new home.  And while I was so excited that he would be a college freshman, I was also so freaked out that he was going to be a college freshman.  I remember on the weekend that all the freshman were moving into the dorms thinking, thank you Lord I'm NOT doing that!  And then within moments of having that thought, I walked into Matthew's room and he announces he wants to rearrange his room for college.  With tears swelling up in my eyes I said, OK.  Then I immediately left the room!  Being a mom to a college freshman is a roller coaster of emotions.  Excitement, fear, anxiety, fear, joy, fear, pride and a sprinkle of more fear.  Why fear?  Because you are finally at the moment in their lives where they are stepping out into young adulthood.  There are now moments that they have to navigate and that you can no longer protect them from.  This is the time that you have groomed them for and you pray you did your job right.  But God, once again, walked with Matthew through his first semester.  Ok, so there were some ups and downs.  Some changed majors.  Some missed assignments.  But God knew all of this and wasn't surprised and so I too kept my eyes on Him who has his hand on my boy.  So we changed majors, ok..not the end of the world and it was amazing to watch Matthew relax into the rhthyme of college.  He walked away with passing grades and is registered and confirmed for the spring semester.  Matthew even learned a few life lessons along the way.  But I truly have to thank God for never once ever forgetting about Matthew and for giving him opportunities to see God in the details of his life.

And then the diagnosis came.

Ya know, when Matthew came home after a few weeks of walking all over campus and said he's lost weight, I was excited for him.  But then he said the dreaded words that I had said before my diagnosis of diabetes..."Mom, I'm just so thirsty, I can't get enough to drink".  Those were my words to Chris and it woke both of us up quick!  I thank God for the way he alerted Chris and I to the situation at hand.  And I can't thank the people in our lives enough for their quick work in handling the situation that Matthew got the care he needed BEFORE he ended up in the hospital.  BUT GOD, was in and all over it ALL!  From the people around us to the doctors to the Holy Spirit alerting us....all God.  So it's been just over a month since Matthew was first tested and diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes.  It's been a month since he's begun insulin treatments.  It's been a month since his life was turned upside down.  But God has been with him through it all.  God has been with this momma through it all.  I know the fears I've had and still have with my own Type 2 diagnosis, I can only imagine Matthew's fears.  But God gave me this disease first.  I've had 3 years to walk this new life and because of that, I am able to be a support to Matthew.  Because of that, Matthew can ask me questions and I can help because I have firsthand knowledge of what life is like as a diabetic.  Okay so I'm not on insulin yet but when I get to that point, Matthew will be able to support me.  God is so good to His children.  And Matthew, he amazes me with the way he handles tough stuff.  He's a champ, a total rockstar.  He's working hard to make sure he does all he can to keep his blood sugars down, he's on top of his game.  This momma is so proud...that's my boy!

And through all of this, Chris and I were blessed to be a part of a new church here in Murfreesboro.  We have been able to walk alongside some amazing people as we helped launch People of Hope Church.  To God be the Glory!  I'll be honest, the Evoy's haven't been "part" of a church since we left Savannah, GA.  We've been searching and had not found a new "home", until we landed at a vision casting meeting in March for this new church.  At first it sounded overwhelming, BUT GOD was in it all.  God has worked out so many details for our church.  From our meeting location, to the core team, to the Pastor, to our launch in August, God has been in all of it.  And now we get to have our first Christmas EVER in the history of People of Hope Church next week!  It's exciting times!!  I urge you, if you are in Murfreesboro to come join us.  I love that we are a church of ordinary people who love Jesus.  God brought us to this new church and I am so proud to be a part of it.  Come join us!  We always have a seat saved just for you!

www.peopleofhope.church

And then, one of my most favorite people decided to fall and break her femur.  How does one do that by putting on her shoe??  Only my Gramma.  Gramma fell and ended up in the hospital for surgery for her broken leg and then it all went south.  I still am amazed at her determination and God's grace.  That crazy gal still has work to do on this earth.  We all thought we were losing her, But God knew better.  I mean honestly, you couldn't have written the many concerns we had...broken femur, UTI, staph infection, blocked artery, stints, pneumonia, MRSA, failing kidneys....the list went on and on But God healed her and she came home this week!  Home to her house!  Home for Christmas!  Blessed day it is!!!  That, my friends, is the goodness and grace our Father in Heaven gives His children.


And so that brings us to December.  I am still overwhelmed by the love my Father has for me.  And even more blown away in how God is in all the details of my life.  There isn't a moment that goes by that God isn't in it.  There isn't a moment that surprises God.  There isn't a moment where God makes me walk it alone.  But God (that phrase is so powerful) is in it all.  All of it.  ALL of it.  I find myself raising my hands in praise at church when we sing.  I have NEVER done that but his year I feel moved to raise my hands in thanksgiving for all my Father has done.  He is so good, and loving, and faithful and compassionate.  I don't deserve all He has done for me or my family and yet He loves me that much.

“Though your sins are like scarlet,

    they shall be as white as snow;"  Isaiah 1:18

My prayer is that this Christmas you will see the love that God has for you.  That you will take a moment to look back over your year and praise our Father for the goodness He has done.  I pray that if you don't yet know your Father that not one more moment will go by before you drop to your knees, outstretch your arms and say, "Here I am Lord".  He's right there, waiting.  I could not live my life without the love and mercy my Father provides me.  If not for Him, my husband would not have been healed, my son would not be successful, I would not have been able to have Matthew diagnosed as soon as we did and my Gramma would not be home for Christmas.  God is good my friends.  God is in all the details of your life.  Take a moment right now and just say Thank you Lord.  Thank you for being in all the details.  God has been in it all since the very moment Mary was visited by Gabriel and told of the virgin birth of Jesus, to today wherever you are.  Thank you Lord.