Instamonth Day 2

God is our refuge and strength,
    an ever-present help in trouble.
 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
    and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam
    and the mountains quake with their surging.

Psalm 46:1-3

Taking a sick day from work

I saw it coming. I started feeling achy and restless. My throat started closing in and my breathing getting shorter. My head got to the point of constant sinus pain and pressure. And yet, all I wanted was to make it to the weekend. We have 3 days off work for carnival next week, and I just wanted to get through our first week of school being ok.

I absolutely hate missing work. I look down at people who ask for time off, specially working in a school. I've worked at places that gave us 14 weeks (not kidding, weeks) off work a year, and every so often, someone would ask to come in late for some medical exams, or for getting a passport made. All I could think was get your life together, and start planning ahead!

By late afternoon yesterday I had been running around and feeling all sticky and sweaty - yet another joy about working with preschoolers and kindergarten kids. I was feeling so gross I didn't realise that the weather had taken a toll for the worst and people around me were wearing sweaters.

On my ride home I could already feel the ache in my throat, the sinus pressure, and the knot of my stomach at the thought of missing work. How could they possibly survive a day without me?

By 5am I realised I could not possibly wake up and go to work. Not only was I feeling horrible, I wasn't about to spread whatever I had to my staff and children. The guilt went on.

By 10 I was considering taking a shower and dragging myself to work. I was not better, the fever raged on, but it just consumed me. The guilt.

When my fever went down around 2pm, I considered making the trip one last time. Until I felt God speak.

Rest. 

When I was truly able to rest, no wonder I got much better 

Ginger tea

I've had quite a few sore throats lately, and had my share of home made medicines to try to get better. From cinnamon milk to honey lemon drops, I went through a batch of  'must haves' that did me no good.

A couple of days ago I went to the doctor due to a severe sore throat, and he prescribed me antibiotics, anti inflammatory and pain killers, and told me I could have nothing else. Oh, the joy of western medicine.

The pharmacist agreed that I shouldn't add anything to the potent drugs I was getting, so she recommended me some ginger tea. I had heard about it before, but figured it would taste horrible. To my surprise, it is the best tea I ever had.

Source

Oh So Lovely Ginger Tea

Ingredients:

-chopped ginger- a handful will do for several cups
-sugar
-water
-a strainer

Put water, sugar and the ginger in a pot. Bring to a boil and let it simmer for about ten minutes. Pass through a strainer to serve.