Sunrise to Sunset

Happy, but also sad to say, I watched the sunrise this morning after an agonizingly miserable night of pain and no sleep.

The sore throat that began yesterday morning, turned into a raging fire as the evening and night went on. Then the fever came, as well as a blinding headache and body pain so deep I wondered what was really happening to me.

Thankfully a group of faithful prayer warriors stood by me through the night, some even awakened in the night who wrote to tell me of their prayers. I certainly needed them as it was one of the most painful nights of my life.

But morning came, as it always does, and Dave drove me to the clinic in a town 30 minutes from where we're staying.

Where to go wasn't obvious once we arrived, and it took many attempts before finding the right office.

But once we found the doctor and his nurse, they were quick and helpful.

"You definitely have an infection, though it doesn't look like strep. I'll give you our number one antibiotic in Croatia and you should feel better within 48 hours."

"Oh, and where did you say you're from? The US? Did you know our Croatian President is there right now? I met her just last week and shook her hand!"

Though I was having a hard time even standing, it was nice to be treated warmly in his office.

Dave paid the equivalent of $40 for the doctor visit, and the doctor gave me a prescription so we could head to the pharmacy.

While I waited in the car, still raging with pain in my throat and feeling feverish, Dave ran into the pharmacy to get what the doctor had prescribed.

When he got back in the car he handed this to me, which at first I thought was a sandwich. I couldn't figure out why he was giving that to me.

But it turned out to be the prescription. They wrapped it in paper, rather than putting it in a bag. I think that's a first for me.

I barely remember the drive home. Climbing into bed as soon we arrived (well, after taking the meds I was supposed to take), I slept hard for four and a half hours.

When I woke up, the pain was still raging in my throat, and when I looked at it, I saw no change. But remembering that the doctor told me to sleep, drink lots of fluid and wait, I went out onto the porch to soak in the last warmth of the afternoon.

Our son, Tyler, just happened to text me as I settled in, so for the next half hour I enjoyed pictures, texts and videos of his boys, Judah and Asher. That lifted my spirits!

The sunset was long and beautiful this afternoon, and nourished my soul as it went in for the finale.

Though I don't know what the next few days will hold, I'm thankful today brought medicine, sleep (eventually!) joy of grandchildren, and a gorgeous ending in the sky.