day off

So we were supposed to take a TAKS benchmark today, where our daily schedule is completely different so the kids can have the longest possible uninterrupted time for the kids to take the test. My lesson plans for the week revolved around changing all sorts of stuff because of the test, but still trying to get everything done. But today it was icy, so the district canceled school!

I was awakened at 5:40 (20 min before my alarm would go off) by a phone call telling me school was canceled. I couldn't believe it! However, after calling the next person on the phone tree and having both her and the teacher across the hall call me back and talk to me (I was on the phone 5 times before 6:30 this morning), I realized it was true. So I curled up under the covers and proceeded to savor the warmth of my bed until after 9am! :-)

Now, I probably should be working on school stuff because I'm so behind, but I didn't bring most of it home... So, I decided to bask in the break and relax all day! Well, I'm also doing cleaning and painting projects I haven't made time for lately (but our couch cover and pillows smell and look so much nicer now), but I think it's a wonderful day! Now if I could just muster up the courage to put on real clothes, venture out into the cold, and buy some of the essential groceries I've been running out of lately.... nah!

what's next?!

So I've been recovering from mono rather nicely. I'm still more tired than I'd like, and of course, ridiculously behind on work, but I shouldn't complain. I know it normally takes people a couple weeks of almost total down time to recover, and I only missed one day of school (well, and I left early on our "workday").

However, I noticed that I have hives on Friday. I couldn't figure out anything new in my life that caused an allergic reaction, so I headed back to the doctor (I'm afraid of ending up in the hospital because I've ignored warning signs like I did last year) to get checked out. Luckily, my blood test showed that the hives were most likely the result of my body still fighting off the mono, so I'm not likely to keel over and die any time soon. The doctor said it might last another 4 or 5 days, so I just have to walk around a little splotchy and take medicine to avoid getting too itchy.

I am starting to fear what unexpected physical ailment will befall me next, however. My coworkers avoid getting too close to me, my students worriedly ask me if I'm ok, and my friends and family make fun of me (once they're sure I'm actually ok, of course). Fortunately, a strange childhood has taught me to appreciate the weird and ironic in life, so I'm finding the whole situation rather amusing. However, I feel like the girl in A Bad Case of the Stripes by David Shannon (it's a great kids' book that I think you should pick up and read sometime), and I would like to know when I get to be normal again!

Arming for the fight

So last night I was thinking instead of sleeping again...
I consider this life a battlefield between good and evil, but I realized that in the past year or so, I've pretty much just taken off my uniform and started wandering around aimlessly, not fighting for either side. So I've resolved to get my life back on track and start taking steps to rejoin the fight on the right side (it helps that I know who is going to win!). I'm sharing what I wrote down last night, because if other people know about it, I'm much more likely to actually do it. Here's what I wrote:

I know it will take time and the help of my fellow soldiers, but slowly...

• I will put my spiritual armor back on and start serving God on the front lines again.
• I will use all the weapons God provides to vanquish my demons.
• I will focus on saving others' lives, rather than being distracted by comparing myself to others.
• I will rely on God's strength, because I know that mine is insufficient for the task at hand, but His can do more than I could ever ask or imagine.
• I will listen carefully for God's direction, rather than determining my own battle plan, for I know he sees the bigger picture, while I only have a shortsighted and jumbled perspective.
• I will surround myself with others that I know are willing and able to fight by my side and help protect me from the enemies, not just those who are entertaining or popular.
• I will admit my weaknesses and failures to God and those fighting around me, so they can know where to guard against potential invasions from the enemy.
• I will humble myself before God, for I am small and helpless and will surely be lost without his strength and mercy.
• I will not count the cost of the battle, but count and re-count the victories God brings, whether big or small.
• I will rest when the battle becomes to great for me -- retreat back from the front lines to bask in God's healing and renewing presence until He sends me back, stronger than ever before.
  

Still got it...

Mono, that is. I've tried to be positive and tell myself it will all soon be over, but this morning I almost fainted 1/4 of the way into church. Luckily I made it to one of the couches and laid down until I felt better (and someone came and drove me home before the sermon even started). I guess I need to be a good "sick" person and just stay in bed all the time like I've been told. Boo! :-(

Friday night excitement

Well, it's 8:30 on a Friday night, and I'm home alone on my couch. I don't remember the last time I spent a weekend night completely alone. I keep telling myself that I should take more time for myself (which I usually do on Thursdays: I watch my favorite TV shows, grade papers, do laundry, and clean the kitchen - all of my favorite things!), but then I end up agreeing to hang out with people, or I get bored from being alone and seek out something to do. So this sickness could be good for me. It could help me remember how to relax alone! That, in turn, should help me get better about being able to have quiet time alone with God.
There are more than a couple negatives about having mono, but hopefully there can be some positives too!

Irony

So I found out I had mono today... Then when I had a fortune cookie for a snack, my fortune said "You will enjoy good health; that is your form of wealth."
I appreciate the humor and irony in that. And I also plan to take it literally and recover from my mono in a week or less... Yes, that's right, I plan to kick the crap out of my mono!