I'm Baaaack!

Just a quick update. I will write the details later this week, but here are a few pics of the adventure that was this past week:
What a great week. I needed this trip more than I realized. Not just for the great rest (I sleep amazing in a ship stateroom with no daylight!) but for the rich food, fresh ocean air, and fun companionship.
About two days into my trip I felt better. The fatigue I've battled for some time now had subsided, my congestion went away, and my energy went through the roof. I went running again, as well as swimming. But mostly laid around, in the sun. It was glorious :)
I have known my BFF Bryn since college. We only see each other once or twice a year, so we had a lot of catching up to do. It was a blast! Great conversations and laughs.
The cruise took us to Key West and the Bahamas. So gorgeous.
It is hard coming back but I am excited of things coming up. Matt is visiting me next weekend for our one-year (!) anniversary. It is a new month. My baby brother turns 26 today. And, my sunburn is feeling better. Ahhh time to relax and enjoy my Sunday now. Have a good one, all!

Randoms

It's been a rough week. I got hit with another cold on top of my fatigue and I am so sick of being sick. I did not want to be a big complainer - but I really suffered in not getting to go home last weekend. It was hard to not see Matt, my family, and make those memories - they sustain me. Sniff.

Sometimes I need to take a mental vacation of sorts when I am at work. It has been an insane week so far with extra responsibilities recently added. So, I have this photo of St. Mary Lake in Glacier Park, Montana that I sometimes stare at. I spent three months living and working here the summer of 1998.
I can't wait to go back again someday soon. On another hand, I will be getting on a plane Friday night to take me to Florida where my best friend and this here ship awaits...
I can hardly wait to get on that boat. My first cruise!

I had to do a lot of research this week for some work projects and kept coming across new and interesting articles on global events that I thought were fascinating. I thought that a recent article I found on Uganda was noteworthy and worth passing along. If you want to understand the whole story on Uganda and the 23-year war that it has endured, this article from Newsweek is an excellent source of information.

Can I just come out and say that I am getting really sick of living in DC? I am sick of rushing all the time. I miss the west coast life where things are at a slower pace. I miss my family and Matt. Darn economy! Boo.

*Sigh* Well, I wanted to just update y'all. I'm alive but sort of buried right now - I am sorry if I can't get to your blogs, I am thinking about you though!

Happy Tuesday :)

Bridal Shower Fun

One of the Edison House girls is getting married on the Fourth of July. Katie is a total doll, such a great girl - I am so excited for her and Paul. Us housemates all managed to be able to be in the same place at the same time and attend her bridal shower this weekend.
One of my favorite moments was during one of the games. We played the Purse Game where you get in teams and whoever has the most points for items found in purses. 1 point was for chapstick, and 25 points was for mace. I died laughing when not one but TWO guns were produced, complete with permits. Only in Virginia!
I like attending bridal showers rather than hosting them. I just don't have that kind of touch that is needed. Nevertheless, we all had a great time.
I have to admit on the drive home I had a slight panic moment on the fleeting thought of ever having to register for gifts someday. I hate having stuff. I feel bogged down and life feels cluttered, along with no space on my counter tops. Am I a weirdo here? I'd rather if someone wanted to give me a wedding gift to make a donation or contribute to the honeymoon fund. I want a life of experiences, not things. Even useful things. So bizarre how strongly this hit me. I would also love to have a kind of wedding where the guests get gifts instead of having to give them. Just a dream...

This was a good weekend. I am feeling better, and looking forward to getting on a plane on Friday night for a week in the sunny south and Caribbean. I can hardly wait. I need this vacation more than ever.

Happy Monday, all!

Too Funny

My dear friend Renee sent me a birthday bear with a little rose plant. I love it! Pro Flowers got a little confused though...sure my birthday was on Mother's Day, but...I'm not a mom... I had such a good laugh with this delivery :) Thanks Renee!
I feel really loved. And, I am feeling stronger today. Off to see the doctor this morning though - I will be happy when the appointment is over so I can EAT. I am thinking about hightailing it to IHOP after all these blood draws...

It is almost Friday and that is FABULOUS. Whoop Whoop!

Have a great day, all :)

Sitting On the Back Porch

Lately, I've spent a lot of time in the shade of a big umbrella on the Edison House back porch. My feet are up, I have my journal in hand and a cup of coffee nearby. Next to the box of tissues, my cell phone (that is out of minutes), and jug of water.

I can't stay in bed forever. My mind is thinking of all the things that I would rather be doing than laying around trying to get better: organize my closet, scrub the floors, run on the Washington & Old Dominion trail. So, I pull myself together and slump into a lawn chair on the back patio instead.

In the journal I have been writing down things that stress me out - just to get them on paper and off of my mind. Apparently, it is this darn stress that caused me to get sick in the first place. I don't manage it as well as I thought I did. I... did not really think that I had stress, actually. Moms have stress. ER doctors do. I worry about things that are out of my control (the economy, water crisis in Zimbabwe, food shortages in Uganda, Matt's job, etc).

I think it is pretty amazing how God had to find a way to slow me down to process all that is going on in my life. I'm wondering about a lot of things right now. Potentially a lot of change. And, I am pretty freaked out. But, I feel peace about it all at the same time. That sounds weird when I write it, but it makes sense in my head.

SO. I am just getting back into the swing of things again, so please forgive me if it takes me a week to visit your blog (or to leave a comment!) but I am thinking of you all. I am getting better at the "take it easy" thing, moment by moment... and feeling a lot of gratitude in the meantime. :)

(A shout out to my mom - Happy Birthday to you! Big hugs!)

Happy Mother's Day! I'm 30!

Well- I had a surprise for everyone to see had I actually made it home this past weekend...I cut off my hair! Short, angled cut - a little windblown but fun. It is shorter in the back. Fun!
My dear friend Veronica sent me flowers and chocolate. SO hit the spot receiving these after having spent two hours at the doctors' office on Saturday morning. Got tested for swine flu...weird. Don't have it. Test results will come tomorrow so I will soon know what to do to get better.
My housemate, Steph, took me to church and out to lunch afterward. I really needed to leave the house. We had awesome middle eastern food. Gotta love hummus. So, when she snapped the top photo of me, I turned the camera on her. She is a beautiful woman - inside and out!
Just called mom to wish her a happy Mother's Day and she and my dad were waiting for Matt to arrive. SO unfair that they get to hang out without me :( Oh well. I am glad he made a trip over to see his family and mine, nonetheless.

All you mom's out there - you rock! Happy Mother's Day!

Put A Banana In Your Ear

When I told my family that I would not be coming home this weekend, my older brother encouragingly told me that when he is going through a "bummer" time, that this song always helps him through.

I thought he was making it up. Then I googled it, and it is a real song, and unfortunately, a real movie.

Gee Rue, you should'nt have. Really, you should not have.

Bah. My last day of being 29. Sick! Hopefully I will wake up tomorrow feeling ready to celebrate some. In the meantime, I may stick a banana in my ear.

Or maybe just my iPod. Stay tuned. This could get exciting. ;)

We're All In This Together - Teaser 2008

This is the cry of my heart. Many of the questions that I have been asking myself and God since I moved to DC are wrapped up in there somewhere. Thanks for the link, Emma!

It is stuff like this that serves as a reminder of how good I have it. I made the difficult decision to cancel my trip home today. I have strep-throat like symptoms that I don't want to pass on to anyone on the airplane or to my family. It is hard to get out of bed. So...super sad...but seriously, I will be ok.

Thank you for your prayers and encouragement, all. You rock.
Love,
Ruhiyyih

:(

I hate facing the ugly truth. I've been dealing with fatigue since Easter Weekend. Loss of appetite, night sweats, anemia, throat soreness...it is so not me. I am miss energy! I am happy! I like to eat a lot and run far! And I am annoyed to no end because I've always loved to brag on how rarely I ever get sick. Then, since Christmas I've been hit with bronchitis twice, major allergies and now this.

It's looking like I may have mono. I go back to the doctor next Thursday and will know more then what I will have to do. Only way to recover is to rest and drink lots of fluids.

I am beyond discouraged. Tomorrow evening I am supposed to board a flight HOME. I have had a lot of good days the past month of feeling well, so I am praying that this weekend I will feel strong enough to still have fun. Poor Matt! Mono is "the kissing disease" so he is doomed! We can't not kiss! Also, it is my 30th birthday on Sunday and I want to really enjoy it. I know that no matter what I still will if I can be with the people that I love and care about that day. (Just don't share my cup or spoon or straw or anything close with me!)

There was a thunder and lightning storm last night, and I was sitting up trying to get some fluids down, and just watched it all. What an amazing display of God's glory. I am trusting Him during this time, and I believe in miracles. If you are the praying kind, could you lift me up please?

Sorry to be a downer. I have so many fun things to share with you all - lots of fun surprises (and one that not even Matt knows about yet :) I'll try to update you if I can get a chance this weekend. On the bright side, a loss of appetite means less jiggle in the wiggle and junk in the trunk. Oh no wait...I'd like some junk in the trunk. I take it back :)

Fruit

I may not be a mom yet, but I have a lot of friends (and family!) having babies and was so excited to hear of this brilliant company. A stay-at-home mom started making the most adorable modern baby goods - handmade and homemade!
I was really impressed when I saw photos that were forwarded to me of some of the "fruit of her hands" - I had to buy a couple things. I loved the idea of the diaper clutch - for when a mom is on a quick outing and just needs a few diapers to go with her and baby.
So any mom's out there (or folks looking for especially unique items for a baby shower gift!)
I got my order the other day and was so impressed with her handiwork that I just had to share with you all. This business just started, and I would love to help her spread the word.

More information can be found at The Fruit Stand :)

Just Happy Things

Ok so I had to write about seeing lots of good things lately.

• I saw lots of people being polite on the metro this morning.


• Drivers were patient with me to let me cross the street before they turned.


• KFC is selling grilled chicken now and giving away a FREE coupon on Oprahs' website (get yours coupon here!)


• I had an appetite at JUST the right time yesterday - when our office had a fiesta and there was guacamole. Holler! I made some killer nachos....


• I will be home in 88 hours. Mothers' Day-birthday-weekend-extravaganza!


• The Bahamas are calling my name and thanks to my best friend, we are cruising the Caribbean the last week of May for our birthdays. Mine is the 10th, hers is the 28th!


• I found a pair of size 11 sandals at Ross yesterday. Whoop whoop!


• The *most amazing* provision story ever...and I can't wait to tell you about it... soon!

Happy Tuesday, all ;)

Trudat!

I got a couple emails this weekend asking if this particular Post Secret entry was mine.

My answer? No, but I wish it was! You see, I taught current slang, not outdated! It was hilarious getting my first graders to say, "Sup, foo!" and "yo' teach, that is whack!" and other fun ebonics phrases that one of my best friends, Hana, taught me. My absolute favorite was the heavily emphasized, "Shooooooot". *grin*

Thanks for your kind thoughts and encouragement regarding my sickness. I am going in for more blood work next week after my trip home. I will keep you posted. I feel good in the mornings (and have an appetite from about 10 to noon) but then it is shot from there. Doing lots of praying and staying positive!

It is a new month and a new week and wahooo an excuse to eat guacamole tomorrow. So, that is great! Happy Monday, all :)

TGIF

Ohhhh I need this weekend, so so much.

I'm sick again. The energy is gone, along with my appetite. I really would like both back, soon.

What is so frustrating about this mystery illness is that it is so random when it "strikes" - and that makes it hard to plan around. Out the window goes a planned long-run, that lunch with a friend, and oh yes: work. I slept for most of the day yesterday, and watched a movie. Oh "Steel Magnolias" was wonderful! First time I watched it the whole way through. Anyone who knows me knows that when I am at home, I rarely ever sit down to watch a movie - I am usually busy on a project, and don't like to sit that long. It was nice to just rest and relax, and oh yes, bawl my eyes out. I laughed so hard I cried too - so that balanced it out!

Anything stressful causes me to feel nauseated too - so I can't read the news, listen to a friend pour out their heart over recent struggles, etc. I really do not understand how come only now in my life I cannot seem to handle anxiety so well. I have always felt strong. Why only now so weak?

I'm back at work today, and if I can sneak a moment, I will try to get to your blogs! Have a great weekend, all!