Ups and downs

I didn't end June or begin July in a stellar fashion. Last week was plagued with migraines. Then on Friday I started to get a little cough, which by Sunday evening was pretty awful. I felt progressively worse until I went to the doc on Wednesday - where he pronounced me the lucky winner of double ear infections and a wicked sinus infection. No wonder I felt cruddy!

So I've spent the last 5 days or so lying on the couch and not doing much of anything, scrounging in the fridge for lunches since I haven't made it to the store, staring at the 2 baskets of clean laundry in my living room that I haven't had the energy to fold and put away. And the worst thing about this hacking cough is that it seems to give me a headache which, invariably, turns into a migraine. (My doc would say something about neural pathways and what my body knows. Oh well.)

But here's what I really want to say...

...sometimes when I take my migraine meds, it sort of eases its way along, and the pain gradually disappears. Other times, it kicks in with a wave of euphoria, a feeling that all is well in the world, a deep-down feeling of peace. It's kind of hard to describe - quite a reaction - something which I'm sure is a mixture of the chemical and emotional. Either way, it is a remarkable feeling.

This afternoon, that moment got me to thinking about other things that make me feel that way - things that make me want to sit at a window and journal, or call a sister and tell her something lovely, or squeeze my next door neighbor's baby. ;-)

I'd love to hear what things give you that deep-down feeling of joy, of peace; what things bring you satisfaction in the deepest part of your soul; what things make you smile no matter what else is going on in life. Write a comment and share - I'd love to know!

Here's some of my list:
rain on a summer afternoon
the beauty of the moon seen outside my tent
a field of wildflowers or a forest of fall leaves
hugs and laughter of nieces and nephews
a house full of guys eating something yummy I cooked
sunset at a baseball game - right when the lights come on
singing an old hymn at church
an early morning kiss from Tim
Kai's smile
Ruca greeting me early in the morning when I am watering my garden

That's a long enough list for now. :-)

Happy summer! :-D