Manic Monday

I had a great life growing up in the-middle-of-no-where-rural Pennsylvania. One of my favorite things were the summer rain storms. The humidity was always significant but we didn't mind simply because we didn't know any different.

The summer rain storms often were accompanied by lightening and thunder and brought a feeling of excitement to our little lives. We loved being in the house and would travel window to window under our favorite blankies (Jazzy butt do you remember this?). When we would get really brave we would race out the back door, down the stone path on the North side of our home in between the tall Birch trees and across the once stone filled alley to my Grandparents home. Mommom would always give us the dickens for venturing outside in the storm but again there was something so exciting and refreshing about it

After the storm our driveway which was always seemingly flat contained a series of familiar small warm puddles. They were always good for stomping or riding our bikes through (Huffies with big 'ol banana seats...I KNOW you remember these Jazzy!)

I loved the smell of the storm as it moved in and with my bedroom windows next to the greenhouse I could always hear the rhythm of the rain as it fell. I loved to leave the window open for this reason. We could always tell how hard it was raining by watching the drops fall into the pool.

We don't have many storms like this in the dry Utah heat. Even if we did I doubt it would elicit the same warm feelings and I doubt that I would take the opportunity to enjoy it as I once did. Forget about stopping to smell the roses. I think we all need to take time to enjoy the storm!

On the B Side: Heaven knows that there are many "storms" that wage in our grown up lives. These storms seem far less enjoyable and often feel like they may never pass. Despite the turbulance created there is always some good to be had even when it feels like the rainbow may never come. The concept of this kind of storm reminds me of a passage that I hang onto and remind myself of often, "When dark clouds of trouble hang o'er thee there is hope shining brightly".