A cheerful heart is good medicine. It's Biblical AND practical advice. And, apparently, it works.
Ever since I ran the Disney race, I have been sick, sick, sick. First it was the flu - seven days of fevers, lethargy and coughing up everything except my internal organs. I think I still may have those.
I briefly recovered for about 3 days before my son brought home a snotty, cough-y, fever-y virus from school and we both crashed again. The lack of general wellness in our house has been ridiculous and I am over it. I grew very impatient toward the end of last week, as I was preparing to leave town for a very fun business trip opportunity with some friends in New York City. I prayed and prayed and prayed for God to heal me completely before I got on that big-city-bound plane. I wanted so badly to be better. I felt pretty good on Friday when we set out on our trip, but the cough lingered and the congestion hung heavy in my head as our trip began.
For the next few days, though, I spent every waking (and sleeping) moment with two amazing ladies. We worked really hard. We ate good food. We shared funny stories. We saw amazing sights. We laughed. And laughed. And laughed some more. We cried (a trip to the 9/11 memorial is a sure fire bet for tears if you're looking for one). And we laughed. We survived hairy, scary cab rides. We saw performances from the best (Broadway show) and worst (the aftermath of a Times Square crowd of people who had done a little too much partying at the St. Patrick's Day Parade) that New York City has to offer. And did I mention that we laughed?
So I sit here this Monday morning with almost zero congestion, no more cough, and an energy level that I haven't experienced in nearly a month. I feel like "ME" again, and I'm grateful that God saw fit to take a very special and funny pair of friends to cheer my heart. It was such good medicine all around.
(And, should all that contagious coughing I did get either of them sick, might I prescribe a "business trip" to the beach!?)
(For photos, click on the thumbnail pictures shown on the right hand side of my blog under "daily life")
Monday, March 18, 2013
Saturday, March 2, 2013
Are You Thinking What I'm Thinking?
"Are you thinking about what I'm thinking about?" my little one asks me, her voice sincere and hopeful.
"I don't know, Miss M" I respond. "What are you thinking about?"
Without a moment's hesitation her answer comes. "Princesses and Unicorns!" she responds, dreamily.
I'm caught a little off-guard. Let's be honest, the real world of laundry and homework and dishes and bills and bathroom toilets that need scrubbing don't send me to a place of fantasy and imagination very often. I am currently not thinking about princesses and unicorns.
But I lie. Because it feels right to in the moment. "Me, too Miss M. Me, too..."
Over the course of the next few days, she asks me the same question over and over. And because this little one of mine is a package of routine and consistency and order, I know now how to respond. "Unicorns and Princesses!" I say, much to her delight.
This morning, we are driving to preschool and she announces that when she grows up, she is going to be a mermaid. "How beautiful..." I say. Not all announcements are as easy for me to go along with. For instance, she has recently declared that she wanted her 4th birthday party to be at a "fancy hotel".
Um...
At three years old, she is completely enveloped in a world of beautiful daydreams. I can only guess that she has a starring role in these imaginations, and I would love just a momentary glimpse into her little mind.
When she says something, it's more like a proclamation to her loyal subjects. I have nearly come to expect trumpet fanfares before she speaks. Whether she's officially changing her favorite color, "My new favorite color is now (drum roll.....) PURPLE!" or renaming all her dolls and animals (for a time, everything was named Casey. Recently, the order has gone out proclaiming all boy dolls to be Joey and all girl dolls to be Kara) she presents her thoughts with confidence and gusto!
She already has a more natural inclination toward mothering than I do, reading stories to her baby dolls and tucking them snugly into bed for naps. And perhaps that's what all this imaginative play is for anyway.
She's living the life of her daydreams right now. And I pray that translates into the life of her dreams as she gets older. One where she grows up to be a woman who knows her royal status as a daughter of the King of Kings. One where she relishes all the beautiful colors and moods and moments of her life. One where she is able to pour her creative energy into the lives of her own little "Joey" or "Kara" someday.
And as I watch her grow, I'll be thanking God for the privilege of raising a daughter who has opened my eyes to the world of unicorns and princesses. It's certainly more fun than the world of scrubbing toilets.
"I don't know, Miss M" I respond. "What are you thinking about?"
Without a moment's hesitation her answer comes. "Princesses and Unicorns!" she responds, dreamily.
I'm caught a little off-guard. Let's be honest, the real world of laundry and homework and dishes and bills and bathroom toilets that need scrubbing don't send me to a place of fantasy and imagination very often. I am currently not thinking about princesses and unicorns.
But I lie. Because it feels right to in the moment. "Me, too Miss M. Me, too..."
Over the course of the next few days, she asks me the same question over and over. And because this little one of mine is a package of routine and consistency and order, I know now how to respond. "Unicorns and Princesses!" I say, much to her delight.
This morning, we are driving to preschool and she announces that when she grows up, she is going to be a mermaid. "How beautiful..." I say. Not all announcements are as easy for me to go along with. For instance, she has recently declared that she wanted her 4th birthday party to be at a "fancy hotel".
Um...
At three years old, she is completely enveloped in a world of beautiful daydreams. I can only guess that she has a starring role in these imaginations, and I would love just a momentary glimpse into her little mind.
When she says something, it's more like a proclamation to her loyal subjects. I have nearly come to expect trumpet fanfares before she speaks. Whether she's officially changing her favorite color, "My new favorite color is now (drum roll.....) PURPLE!" or renaming all her dolls and animals (for a time, everything was named Casey. Recently, the order has gone out proclaiming all boy dolls to be Joey and all girl dolls to be Kara) she presents her thoughts with confidence and gusto!
She already has a more natural inclination toward mothering than I do, reading stories to her baby dolls and tucking them snugly into bed for naps. And perhaps that's what all this imaginative play is for anyway.
She's living the life of her daydreams right now. And I pray that translates into the life of her dreams as she gets older. One where she grows up to be a woman who knows her royal status as a daughter of the King of Kings. One where she relishes all the beautiful colors and moods and moments of her life. One where she is able to pour her creative energy into the lives of her own little "Joey" or "Kara" someday.
And as I watch her grow, I'll be thanking God for the privilege of raising a daughter who has opened my eyes to the world of unicorns and princesses. It's certainly more fun than the world of scrubbing toilets.
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