The word compromise generally has a negative connotation like if you engage in this activity you are selling out on what you really believe and so if you really believed it you would fight for it to the bitter end.  One of the most joyful aspects of my week is teaching my son and as we have studied American History - just turning the corner on the close of the 1700's and into the early 1800's the thing that has struck me so much about our history was that the men tasked with designing our government, while they had strongly held beliefs, also had the good of the country and their freedom 'for themselves and their posterity' in mind at the forefront of all discussion.  They were remarkable outside the box thinkers and brilliant in the ways they compromised on significant issues as things that we now take for granted but had never before existed came into being.  Things like a bicameral legislature based on popular representation as well as equal representation per state - things like a three branched government with a system of checks and balances.  And most importantly, when it came time to put the plan in place, the leaders who served stayed obedient to those documents and rules instead of superceding them as has happened so many times in so many other nations - where the good of the land is not considered primary. 

So what?  Well this week in our house, compromise has been the big thing.  Why?  Because at one point or another six of the seven of us have been hit with a bout of RSV virus which produces coughs, aches, low grade fever and *get this* runs its course in 5-7 days with nothing you can do to speed that up.  Yay. 

(By the way, only Chris did not get it - as always - he being the most immune to anything kid in the family.  Instead - he went out in the woods on our 80 degree Sunday afternoon and got poison ivy really bad.  I mean REALLY BAD - dude's eyeballs were nearly swollen shut this morning.  Apparently, with the warm weather the dreaded oil of the plant moves up through the branches which do not yet have leaves - so its a little difficutl to identify it.  Kind of a dirty trick if you ask me.  He is on the typical course of steroids to treat it.  Anyways, I have digressed)

With everyone sick and Maya and I both in class we had to compromise on who would go to class when and who would stay home?  Who would get up to clean up vomit for the third time in an hour and who would get to sleep?   When would those roles switch?  Etc.  I am actually thankful for the opportunity because it has helped us to try to be very clear with each other in communicating what we need, how we're frustrated, and coming to a compromise in the spirit of what is good for the family and for our collective educational endeavors.  Having said that - it appears that Joshua is the only one now that is ill and we are looking forward to a more normal schedule next week since 2 of the first three weeks of this term have been quite unroutine with all the trips to the doc and shuffling schedules.  So compromise is good when it is done with a servant heart for the good of others.  Praise God who teaches us something new each week.  Talk to you later.