in which everything goes wrong... at the worst possible time

It'll be fun they said, it's a tropical island they said, sandy beaches and palm trees... riiiight.

I wanted to call it a comedy of errors- but nobody gets married, and I couldn't call it a tragedy because no one dies. Really it's just a series of unfortunate events.
It all started with Lynn complaining, which at the age of three seems to be her 'thing' right now. We are working on it. Anyhow her complaints led to some viable concerns and eventually I discovered the one thing I had been dreading my entire life about being a parent. Lice. Here in the Philippines it is called Kuto. I sure didn't plan on learning that in my first 3 months. It definitely was NOT in the brochure.

A run to Wal-mart or Fred-Meyer was out. So what to do? research first, a trip to the local drugstore second, then a fruitless hunt for a fine-toothed nit comb, called a "suyod" here. In desperation, I tossed my pride aside and reached out to my local moms group, and PRAISE THE LORD, they did not freak out or shun me, they simply helped. Several women told me where to find the elusive suyod and a couple simply brought one to me. The women told me where to get the best shampoo and what kind to use. God bless them. So we then began the actual work. The bagging of all furry critters, the frequent washing of all bed linens, the shampooing and daily combing of Lynn and myself. David did not like the plan that involved being combed for an hour- every day- and chose the Mr. Clean look instead. It makes him cute, but he hopes it grows back quickly, because all the kids at school will not stop petting him. Poor guy. Then, just as I thought we were close to having it all managed, Jonathan's expected (but now poorly timed) trip to the good ol' USA arrived. My husband was leaving me with lice and 2 children. We survived the first night and were thankful to have help to do a final combing for me. We are now lice free and just giving the bagged critters a little more time... because its better to have the kids miss their critters than start that all over again.

That seems like enough, right?

Apparently not.

While all this was going on, World Vision was making announcement after announcement that had the Christian world thrown into some kind crazy hate-filled firestorm. The whole thing just made me sad, and worn out. I missed my mom- cause anyone who had once combed lice out of a 10 year old with butt length hair would have understood me right then. And I just didn't feel like like anyone else was in the boat with me.

Thursday night David told me he was sad, and just didn't know why. We all have days like that, momma said. I gave him a hug. He was hot- I mean we are all hot, it is 90 freaking degrees before I turn on the oven to make dinner- but he seemed hot to me. Turns out my thermometer used its battery to cross the ocean to get here. But I know he has a fever. I gave him some tylenol and sent him to bed. No vomiting, no pain just a bit of lethargy and that fever. All day Friday it is the same. How he does tomorrow will determine whether we go to the doctor or not.

My husband is a world away, his days are my nights and vice-versa and the thing about my husband is, I love him. When he is gone I miss him, and when he is here, he is REALLY helpful when things get sticky. I miss him and his helpfulness.

It's not unbearable, or life threatening, it's just a crazy series of "why now God? don't you like me at all?" So 2 more weeks of Jonathanlessness then I will be back in my tropical paradise wondering if there really is a beach.