Wednesday, December 15, 2010

A Visitor in my Body

I was glad to be busy this past weekend, because I am beginning to get very antsy about going home.  The days just don't seem to go by fast enough.  And especially with the long week that I had last week. I don't think it could have been any slower.  Hopefully this week with go by much quicker!

Now, to catch you up on my crazy life over the past week.  It all started on Monday (well really I was feeling bad before that) when I was baking cookies with Laura for the Christmas Cookie Exchange Party.  We were have a really good time, listening to Christmas music and rolling the cookies into little balls when I realized that I was feeling horrible and needed to go lay down immediately.  I did, thinking I just needed to rest for a minute, and I didn't get up again until the next morning.  My whole body was incredibly weak and I had no energy to even get out of bed.  Tuesday morning, I came to school, but it was a struggle.  I went to the school doctor (with my principal so that she could translate for me) and found out quickly that I had a parasite.  If you'd like to know how I got it exactly you can ask me later! (It's gross)

Thank goodness, the doctor was able to give me a prescription (well he told me which medicine to buy at the pharmacy).  There aren't really prescriptions here, you can get whatever medicine you want right over the counter.  I was feeling incredibly ill, and apparently my principal could tell, so she had someone go right away and pick up my medicine. When he got back he took me home for the rest of the day. One of my good friends, who is the high school Chemistry teacher, and happens to have a good sense of humor covered my 11th grade class for me that day.  He told all of the students that I was really mad at them and was considering leaving Honduras because they had given me such a hard time.  Of course, when I got back on Wednesday, I had to settle a couple of students down who were quite upset about this!

I slept the whole day and had to miss out on the Cookie Exchange that night :-( I really wanted to go, but there was absolutely no way.  Jess stayed home with me though and helped take care of me.  And that she did.  I didn't want to eat anything, because the thought of food made me feel nauseous.  However, I was craving ice-cream (which we did not have), but Jess quickly came to the rescue.  She had made ice-cream with her 3rd graders as a science experiment earlier that day at school and whipped me and her up a bowl real quick.  It was the best (at least at the time) ice-cream I had ever had.  Makes me want some just thinking about it!

Still didn't feel great on Wednesday, but I went to school and made it through the day somehow.  It was a really long and draining day and when I got home I was completely wiped out. I tried talking to Jeremy on skype but was literally falling asleep during the conversation.  Finally, by Friday I was feeling pretty much back to normal.  However, it was not a fun week at all.  Having something inside you that takes all your energy is no fun. Trust me.

I was glad to be feeling better because Friday night I went to the elementary school Christmas Program and then Jess, Jen and I went to stay with the Crook girls at their hotel for the night.  We had so much fun with them.  We watched a movie, ate pizza and ice-cream, went bowling, did make-overs, had a tea party, played truth-or-dare, had tickle fights and just spent the weekend being girls.  It was the perfect ending to such a long, hard week!

Sunday morning, Laura and I were going to go catch a taxi to go to church, when we walked out of our front gate and saw 6 cows mulling about on our street.  Seriously, we just laughed and thought, "Only in Honduras!"

Sunday evening, we went over to Diana and Ben Camp's (a married couple who teach at IST) apartment to make Papusas.  It is one of my favorite dishes here in Honduras even though it is really from El Salvador.  Diana is from El Salvador and her mom visited recently and taught her how to make papusas, so she decided to share the wealth with the rest of us!  Papusas basically look like pancakes, but are filled with cheese (and you can add beans, meat or really anything).  They were really fun to make....and eat.  However, I don't think they were quite as good as the Papusa Lady's at Valle de Angeles.  I'm going to keep practicing though so that I can learn the technique, because they are so delicious!

I'm off to our last Bible study for this year! See you all in just a few day:)

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Beautiful Lady

I don't really like all of the cliche phrases that everyone always says when someone you love passes away.  Like "You don't know how much you love someone until they are gone." or "She's in a better place."  But I guess they became cliche because of the large amount of truth that they hold.

The thought that Nana is in heaven right now was what immediately brought me comfort after my mom told me the news over Skype.  However it wasn't until I was talking to Libby and she told me that Nana is not only with Jesus right now, but she's also with granddaddy again that I was able to smile about it.  (Thanks Lib!) 

It's been a rough few days being away from my family during this time, but I can't tell you all how much I appreciate all of the messages and emails saying that you are praying for me.  I honestly don't know how people without the Joy of the Lord can handle circumstances like this.  Especially being so far away from everyone that I love.  However, I know the Lord is teaching me to rely solely on him Him during this time.

Nana was such a beautiful lady.  Looking back and remembering how much she was a part of my life has been such a blessing.  I am pretty sure that most grandkids aren't so lucky to live just a quarter of a mile down the road from their grandparents and get to spend so much time with them.  However, growing up on "Pittman Road" allowed me to experience true family life to the fullest.  I remember staying with Nana and Granddaddy as a little girl every time my brothers had a basketball game because I "hated" basketball (go figure).  I'd take Mary Poppins and maybe some coloring books and would sit with Nana all evening. 

One of the best memories, and I'm sure you all remember as well, was our weekly Sunday afternoon lunches with Nana.  Not only did we have lunch every week, but Nana made sure that we had a GOOD lunch every week.  And without fail, because I loved them so much, Nana would always make mashed potatoes.  She would always tell me that she made them just for me!

Nana also always got all of her grandchildren candy and cards every holiday.  When I was younger, I loved Peppermint Patties! However, as I got older my love for them became less and less, I mean, I never disliked them, but they wouldn't have been my choice candy.  Nana never knew this, and even up until I left for Honduras, she would always get me Peppermint Patties as my special treat.  I still smile just thinking about it, and even though it wasn't my favorite, I loved that she thought it was and that is what made it so special.

 Nana was probably the most giving lady that I knew.  She continuously was the one who was cooking or cleaning and making sure that everyone else was comfortable.  I remember thinking, when I was younger, "I wish she would just sit down and enjoy this time with us instead of staying so busy." However, now I realize that that was her love language.  She showed us all love by serving us.  And what a servant she was.  I am so thankful to have had such an example to follow.

There are so many more memories I have shared with Nana, and so many of the events in my life include her.  Although I wasn't there when she passed away, I know that she still asked about me daily.  When I was home, she loved knowing about my life.  Where I was going (Honduras), who I was dating (Jeremy, who she liked), how my job was going (she always thought I stayed at the Schorsch's house way to late), and anything else that I did.  I wish I could have been there to tell her all about my many stories of teaching, and traveling in Honduras.  Still, I'm so thankful for the time I did have with her this summer, and throughout my entire life.

I love you, Nana.