Monday, February 16, 2015

A Day of Rest

We've been out of school for two days now (our school shut down because 20% of the student population was sick with flu, strep, or mono), the weekend, and now today, President's Day. We woke up this morning to some snow and a lot of ice and sleet. This was a great surprise, as long as it lasts until tomorrow so we can have another day off of school;) The kids had slumber parties with their cousins last night (who just live two houses down the road) so the boys went to one house and the girls stayed here. They had a great time and now Cliff is out pulling them around on the 4-wheeler and sled. I am sitting here in the house by myself, eating Chicken Enchilada Soup and playing on the computer. I am feeling pretty good, considering I'm due for my infusion this week and having a lot of personal family issues. I am really excited about this video I found online, a video about using red lipstick to cover under eye circles. If you have a chronic illness, you know that you are always tired and I ALWAYS have a hard time covering up my dark under eye circles. So I decided to try this....
A Great Tip for Covering Up Dark Under Eye Circles
I should have taken a before picture, but I got so excited to try it that I just ran upstairs and got started. Here is my after picture:
Hard to believe that it works and that I don't look red or purple under my eyes. I'll have to see how this holds up today in the snow and ice, this should be a great testing day;) Today, it's a little thing that got me excited. Sometimes I believe that God encourages us through small moments and glimpses. I will admit that my life is very hard right now. Very hard and very lonely. Right before the winter storm came in, God gave us a beautiful day to get outside and enjoy the warmth. While sitting at the park letting the kids play the other day, I looked up at the sky and closed my eyes and just felt the warmth of the sun. It was just for a minute, but it gave me the feeling that I'm not alone, that God is here even if He's not answering me the way I want Him to. I hope that moment will help me get through the is next week. I am trying to find all of my happy moments each day, through my children and nature and my close family. Sometimes it's hard, but I'm trying to enjoy each day.

Thursday, February 12, 2015

Home


Well, it's almost Valentine's Day and my birthday...and God gave me a gift. Our school was called off for today and tomorrow due to 20% of our student population being sick with the flu, strep, and mono. Not that I"m glad that anyone is sick, that's not a gift, but the days of rest...that's the gift. I NEED rest. I've been so very exhausted lately. I can't seem to keep up with a normal pace in a normal life. But then, I guess I'm not normal. I am still in the midst of a very emotional time in my personal life. I'm sure that this lends itself to exhaustion, when you can't make life easy or normal or even calm. Why do we have to feel such deep emotions for the people we love? I wish sometimes the God would give me a break...a reprieve. Just for a bit. A long enough time to recoup and get ready for another battle. My mental exhaustion leads to my physical exhaustion. So is true of chronic illnesses, not just for me. I just wish I could climb inside of a bubble for a bit. A bubble filled with a warm, calm paradise that would rejuvenate me. Fiji, here I come. Not very realistic...but I am thinking about buying a heat lamp, a 50 lb bag of sand, and a case of Corona to make my own paradise in my backyard!
Until then...these are my little pieces of paradise. Here they are holding our little kittens;) Find your happy where you can, right? Thank you God for these little "happies". They make my life worth while.