Ugh. Remember how last week was super busy? Well, this week I'm paying for it. My body has shut down.
Usually my body temp hovers around 97.7 or so. On Sunday, when I woke up feeling extra sluggish and achy, I decided to check it out. Was 100.4. So back to bed I went. Got up to 101.3 that day. The next morning, it was lower (99.8), so decided to tough it out and go to work. Coughed all day. Should not have been out in public, spreading germs....but that is probably how I got sick in the first place. It's hard to admit when you are sick. Especially when there is work to be done. I even managed to convince myself that I was well enough to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal with the RA's (Steve is a champ, by the way, preparing that for them...for all of them, I think it was their first Thanksgiving...he will have to post pictures later).
Yesterday, woke up with a fever again. And achy. So slept all day. Steve woke me up at the end of the day and shared some Thanksgiving leftovers with me (ie: mashed potatoes, not only my fave, but also what I could get down after a day of only sleep). Slept until today.
Temp: 98.8....lowest it has been all week, but still high for me. Still a little achy. Still a little sniffly and pathetic. But I learned my lesson. I pushed too hard and was in denial all day on Monday...so for today, I will stay awake for the day...but I'm not ready to go out in public. I will work from home as much as I can, and work on cleaning (degerming) the apartment. Hopefully the fever is gone for good. It has been a really long time since I have been this sick. Knocked me completely out for 2 days.
So. For today, I am thankful for a wonderful husband who can manage to take care of me and be an outstanding RD. I am thankful that my body forced me to get some much needed rest (although I was too sick to fully appreciate it...now I am just weak-feeling and have no concept of what day it is...Wednesday already?), and I am thankful that even though tomorrow is Thanksgiving and we can't be home (once again), that there are people here to eat thanksgiving food with, and lots of things to be thankful for.
Hope you are well! I think the next blog post will have to be from Steve, about his RA thanksgiving. Was a great time!
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Saturday, November 21, 2009
busy, busy week.
Sorry we've been so quiet on the blog this week. It has been super busy!
Steve and the Res Life staff had their education week, and the theme was all about relationships. Every evening there was some event going on (movie night, panel discussion, conversations and coffee, debates) that had to do with relationships.
This week was also the week where students had to register for spring housing, so lots of paper work for me (but, I actually don't mind paperwork). Next week we will be figuring out who will need to stay in the dorm for any amount of time over winter break.
Thursday night we were asked if we would help brainstorm ideas with the Johnson's (friends who live in the other RD apartment), who were going to be hosting the Talent show, which was last night (Friday). Before we knew it, we were co-hosting! It was a very fun evening. The theme was "Broadway" so as co-hosts, and as Minnesotans, we decided to go the route of hosting as Minnesotans....borrowing ideas from the movie Waiting for Guffman, and a little from Fargo for our inspiration (the plot of Waiting for Guffman, and the accents from Fargo).
It was an exhausting week...and a good one...but we hope next week will be a little more quiet.
How was your week?
Steve and the Res Life staff had their education week, and the theme was all about relationships. Every evening there was some event going on (movie night, panel discussion, conversations and coffee, debates) that had to do with relationships.
This week was also the week where students had to register for spring housing, so lots of paper work for me (but, I actually don't mind paperwork). Next week we will be figuring out who will need to stay in the dorm for any amount of time over winter break.
Thursday night we were asked if we would help brainstorm ideas with the Johnson's (friends who live in the other RD apartment), who were going to be hosting the Talent show, which was last night (Friday). Before we knew it, we were co-hosting! It was a very fun evening. The theme was "Broadway" so as co-hosts, and as Minnesotans, we decided to go the route of hosting as Minnesotans....borrowing ideas from the movie Waiting for Guffman, and a little from Fargo for our inspiration (the plot of Waiting for Guffman, and the accents from Fargo).
It was an exhausting week...and a good one...but we hope next week will be a little more quiet.
How was your week?
Saturday, November 14, 2009
economy sized...and a language lesson
Most things that you can buy here are...practically packaged...for lack of a better term. There is not really any such thing as "Economy sized" or "family sized" at the grocery store. You only buy as much as you need/can carry home. Not too much is in excess. No Sam's club or anything here (for better or for worse!).
Anyway,
A month ago, we were super excited to find a box of ice cream that was 25oo ml (usually we can find either 1000 or 500). It just goes to show how much we've gotten used to things coming in smaller sizes, because 2500 ml is just a tad over half a gallon. We were super excited because we thought a half gallon was a lot of ice cream.
Anyway, recently at the store, I feel like we hit the jackpot. Usually you can buy chicken bouillon, but in very small doses. Like you could make soup maybe three times.
So you can imagine our joy when we came across this...a lifetime supply! (Or what must seem like a lifetime supply here...probably the "small" back home ;)
I put it next to the paper towels, to show the size. Gallina Blanca is the brand, Vistienos is Lithuanian, Vistas Latvian, and Kanalihaga Estonian...refers to chicken. But if you don't read any of those languages, certainly you can tell by the picture of the chicken on the front what the flavor is. Lithuanian and Latvian are apparently very different languages (according to those who speak them), but they are in the same family, and look similar to the unknowing eye. Estonian is completely different all-together. It is mutually intelligible with Finnish, and both Estonian and Finnish are in the same language family as Hungarian. Weird, huh?
Anyway, we are doing well. This past week was my birthday, and LCC is a really great place to have a birthday I've decided, as both years I've been made to feel super loved and appreciated! Birthdays are a big deal here...so it has been a great week.
It is nearly 2 in the morning, and I should be sleeping, so I will say good night. Hope all is well, and that you didn't get completely lost in this totally random post.
Anyway,
A month ago, we were super excited to find a box of ice cream that was 25oo ml (usually we can find either 1000 or 500). It just goes to show how much we've gotten used to things coming in smaller sizes, because 2500 ml is just a tad over half a gallon. We were super excited because we thought a half gallon was a lot of ice cream.
Anyway, recently at the store, I feel like we hit the jackpot. Usually you can buy chicken bouillon, but in very small doses. Like you could make soup maybe three times.
So you can imagine our joy when we came across this...a lifetime supply! (Or what must seem like a lifetime supply here...probably the "small" back home ;)
I put it next to the paper towels, to show the size. Gallina Blanca is the brand, Vistienos is Lithuanian, Vistas Latvian, and Kanalihaga Estonian...refers to chicken. But if you don't read any of those languages, certainly you can tell by the picture of the chicken on the front what the flavor is. Lithuanian and Latvian are apparently very different languages (according to those who speak them), but they are in the same family, and look similar to the unknowing eye. Estonian is completely different all-together. It is mutually intelligible with Finnish, and both Estonian and Finnish are in the same language family as Hungarian. Weird, huh?
Anyway, we are doing well. This past week was my birthday, and LCC is a really great place to have a birthday I've decided, as both years I've been made to feel super loved and appreciated! Birthdays are a big deal here...so it has been a great week.
It is nearly 2 in the morning, and I should be sleeping, so I will say good night. Hope all is well, and that you didn't get completely lost in this totally random post.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
A follow up on the information about donation receipts
Hi Everyone,
We recently were emailed this information:
Good news! Credit card donations can once again be made on our site! Please let your donors know. Also, receipts have been mailed for all donations received so far this year (August 1 – October 15).
We recently were emailed this information:
Good news! Credit card donations can once again be made on our site! Please let your donors know. Also, receipts have been mailed for all donations received so far this year (August 1 – October 15).
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Weekend
Hi All,
Thanks for the prayers and encouraging words this past week. It was much needed! I was also able to have some encouraging conversations this past week. Not all is solved, but better.
Yesterday (Friday) when classes were done, Steve had his RA retreat (I get to go along as benefits of being his wife:). So we loaded up a van and lots of food, and went out of town to a colleague's house for the evening (he has been super generous this year with letting people use his house for retreats).
It was just the thing we needed. We cooked our food over a fire, sauna'd, and just in general hung out. The house was heated by a wood stove, so Steve is a bit tired after trying to keep enough wood going, and making sure the house was warm through the night.
I on the other hand had the best night's sleep I've had in a long time. I woke up on my own (no alarm), and was ready to wake up (that never happens. I always want to sleep a little more). No one else was awake, so I took the camera and went for a walk. It was beautiful. I really connect with God via nature, and it was a gorgeous morning.
We got back here in the middle of the afternoon, and quickly cleaned up and then got ready for my leaders to come over for dinner (we were over scheduled this weekend, but it was such laid back quality time that it didn't seem so stressful). Yesterday before we left on the RA retreat I made a chicken stew of sorts (I was improvising, didn't know if it would turn out to be more of a thin soup or a thick stew...we were hoping for a stew, and it was a success!), so all we had to do when we got back today was heat it up, and then we made some rice to go with it. It was very tasty! I will definitely have to make it again.
Then after that we had our friends the Johnsons over for some 500 (cards). Their friendship has been such a huge blessing for us. They are definitely an answer to prayer -- so thank you for that!
Here are some pictures I took on my walk this morning, and Steve with his RAs. Thanks again for praying for us this week. It started out rough, but ended well.
The path up to the outdoor....hearth (what is the word?), where the guys cooked dinner (Šašlyk...basically seasoned/marinated meat on sticks...highly similar, I think, to shish kebabs).
Wintry trees on a small pond.
One of my favorite sounds is wind blowing through pine trees. I couldn't capture the sound, so here is a picture I took while I was listening to the wind while walking this morning.
Wide open nothingness. I was lucky to have such a blue sky. By this afternoon it was quite grey again.
A neat looking bridge.
Sun shining on the pine tree and the dirt road. Love it.
Steve and his RAs.
PS...happy Birthday to Hezekiah! We tried to call today, and will call again tomorrow too!
Thanks for the prayers and encouraging words this past week. It was much needed! I was also able to have some encouraging conversations this past week. Not all is solved, but better.
Yesterday (Friday) when classes were done, Steve had his RA retreat (I get to go along as benefits of being his wife:). So we loaded up a van and lots of food, and went out of town to a colleague's house for the evening (he has been super generous this year with letting people use his house for retreats).
It was just the thing we needed. We cooked our food over a fire, sauna'd, and just in general hung out. The house was heated by a wood stove, so Steve is a bit tired after trying to keep enough wood going, and making sure the house was warm through the night.
I on the other hand had the best night's sleep I've had in a long time. I woke up on my own (no alarm), and was ready to wake up (that never happens. I always want to sleep a little more). No one else was awake, so I took the camera and went for a walk. It was beautiful. I really connect with God via nature, and it was a gorgeous morning.
We got back here in the middle of the afternoon, and quickly cleaned up and then got ready for my leaders to come over for dinner (we were over scheduled this weekend, but it was such laid back quality time that it didn't seem so stressful). Yesterday before we left on the RA retreat I made a chicken stew of sorts (I was improvising, didn't know if it would turn out to be more of a thin soup or a thick stew...we were hoping for a stew, and it was a success!), so all we had to do when we got back today was heat it up, and then we made some rice to go with it. It was very tasty! I will definitely have to make it again.
Then after that we had our friends the Johnsons over for some 500 (cards). Their friendship has been such a huge blessing for us. They are definitely an answer to prayer -- so thank you for that!
Here are some pictures I took on my walk this morning, and Steve with his RAs. Thanks again for praying for us this week. It started out rough, but ended well.
The path up to the outdoor....hearth (what is the word?), where the guys cooked dinner (Šašlyk...basically seasoned/marinated meat on sticks...highly similar, I think, to shish kebabs).
Wintry trees on a small pond.
One of my favorite sounds is wind blowing through pine trees. I couldn't capture the sound, so here is a picture I took while I was listening to the wind while walking this morning.
Wide open nothingness. I was lucky to have such a blue sky. By this afternoon it was quite grey again.
A neat looking bridge.
Sun shining on the pine tree and the dirt road. Love it.
Steve and his RAs.
PS...happy Birthday to Hezekiah! We tried to call today, and will call again tomorrow too!
Monday, November 2, 2009
please pray for me
I am having a super discouraging day. If you want to know the details, I would rather talk about them via skype or email.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Information for supporters
We got this email today from LCC's new Director of Expatriate Recruitment, just thought we'd pass part of it on to you, for your information...thank you for all of your support (prayer, financial, moral, etc...we need it all)!
Here is the email:
US Fundraising Expats:
I have uncovered two issues with the US Charity that I need to pass on:
1.) The online credit card donation system on our site is currently not working. Donors are currently getting an error and are not able to complete their donation. Our support company is aware of the issue and they are working to resolve this as soon as possible.
2.) There is a backlog of receipts that have not gone out. US Donors who have given during this fiscal year (August 1 ff) have not received a receipt in the mail. The US Charity is aware of the problem and will be sending out receipts very soon.
Here is the email:
US Fundraising Expats:
I have uncovered two issues with the US Charity that I need to pass on:
1.) The online credit card donation system on our site is currently not working. Donors are currently getting an error and are not able to complete their donation. Our support company is aware of the issue and they are working to resolve this as soon as possible.
2.) There is a backlog of receipts that have not gone out. US Donors who have given during this fiscal year (August 1 ff) have not received a receipt in the mail. The US Charity is aware of the problem and will be sending out receipts very soon.
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