Illness

I have been kicked on my behind with sickness... seriously people, I have been knocked out and completely exhausted for the past two days. I sensed a sore throat, coughing, and general achiness beginning on Thursday but I kept moving at my normal pace. Yet, Sunday night I was up for two hours coughing and decided to take my amazing cough medicine from when I had bronchitis before Christmas. I was knocked out until noon on Monday, was up for an hour, then passed back out until after 3pm. I thought that if I took a shower, put a dress on, and headed out into town that I would feel better- unfortunately not and I missed an entire day yesterday of living because I slept almost the entire day.

I am coming out of the illness cloud of confusion and I am trying to get my energy up and my body moving again. I came to work today and have been coughing and trying not to choke when talking to people, the steady flow of Diet Coke has surely helped.

What I am thankful for in light of feeling poorly is that my health was protected during the days I needed most to be at my full speed. I had dinner with the friend I've been missing in my life on Friday, a reunion of sorts. Resolution came from the conflict we'd experienced, and my heart felt content in having him back in my life sitting across from me while enjoying what we referred the "unemployment salad bar" at Ruby Tuesday's. My heart needed that dinner, and my body held off the all consuming illness so that I could participate fully in that evening.

Moving into Saturday and Sunday I was able to spend quality time with friends that I miss so much in the distance. I had one of those 'you understand completely' conversations with my friend Julie on Sunday that I knew was completely planned and placed by the Lord. She has become one of those women in my life that I can be completley blunt with about where I am in my relationships with friends, and with Jesus. She is emphathetic and she is compassionate... most of all she gets it. That night I was able to spend some quality time with Kerri, and she too lent a listening ear, thoughtful encouragement and insight, and giggles too. Going to bed that night I felt encouraged well, I felt heard well, and I felt entirely wrapped up in the comfort of having such two fantastic women in my life to share this journey with.

Sharing this time of my life has been difficult, as I've had to work through all that I've thought, felt, and struggled with in articulation. I have been challenged in love, and I have been carried in prayer. I am thankful for Kerri and Julie, and I am thankful for the others that have remained still, solid, and sturdy. So despite feeling sad about being sick, I have been joyful in the quality of conversation I was able to partake in during the weekend. Life is good.