Sick stinks, 'specially single.

He didn't want to go, but Kevin had to fly to Kansas City for the week. As punishment he has being-gone-guilt and the knowledge that it is 65 degrees here. Not so in Kansas City. This being our sickest winter (though mildest in weather) ever, I decided to get Strep Throat at the same time Kevin was leaving. My first experience with the infection. After almost 3 days of excruciating, nerve-shrieking agony in my throat - reverberating through my brain and eardrums - I will forever be the most compassionate person on the planet to all persons afflicted. What I never knew was that you also get a jackhammer headache, high fever with chills and sweats, and skin so sensitive that changing clothes makes you cry. God taught me a quick and clear lesson however, that He is good and He takes care of me.

It was Saturday, Kevin was on an airplane and I was debating whether or not to take the kids with me to the hospital (having no doctor for myself yet) so I could get a diagnosis and some very strong drugs. I called three friends - all answered the phone - God knows people - and worked a minor miracle. Sarah is a nurse, listened to my list of symptoms, told me it sounded bad enough to search for drugs and offered to come get the kids. Liz called her friends and found a doctor that does house calls and speaks English! Thank YOU God. He came 10 minutes after I called his number and gave me the prescription I needed. And he was really nice. Lastly, my friend Heidi (who with her husband runs the pharmacy at the University Hospital, wouldn't you know) called and demanded that Eli be given to her for most of Sunday. And her husband answered my questions about the prescription and they gave other good healing advice. At noon Saturday I was so miserable I was close to tears and more than a little desperate. By 3pm prayers had been quickly answered and I was on the road to healing with prescription in hand. It's not a story about sickness, but about God and His provision in a personal, difficult time. I won't soon forget.

Sunday Walks: Eli had a tradional German Sunday walk with my friend's family today while I stayed home to heal and let Mary nap. Sunday walks in Germany (called Volksmarches when done officially) follow these rules. Walking on Sunday...

• Is required. For every German family. Unless there is a horrific storm or sub-zero temperatures. And there is nothing else to do anyway since you can't work outside your house or go shopping.
• Is a fairly serious hike through a forest, with hills. This is hilly, wooded country and there are kilometers upon kilometers of paths built expressly for this purpose. All residents of this country live within walking distance of public paths and a forest.
• Will include lunch and a beer. In the middle of forests and along the paths are shacks and restaurants ready to serve the steady stream of reliable, hungry customers.
• Is a 3-5 hour event (including lunch). Eli was gone for 5 hours today and nearly fell apart at the seams when he got home, he was so exhausted... but happy.
• May be missed if biking, roller blading, or horseback riding instead.

We've begun to observe this tradion ourselves in our own nearby woods and hills and the paths are busy with horses, bikes, people and strollers. A worthy competing activity to the "football game on TV and a nap" routine we favored in the States...