My father loves it, too. When I was a child, my whole family would sit in our carport at Luke AFB and watch the rain. And then at some point, usually when it was raining the very hardest, we would climb up into our old orange station wagon and drive to Baskin Robbins. Where funnily enough, my dad always ordered vanilla.
I'm think I am learning to appreciate that about him.
Such a good memory. I'd almost forgotten how cool it was just to sit there, my sisters and my parents and me, in our lawn chairs in the garage... waiting. Anticipating the sweet reward that was waiting for us - just down the street.
Last night, I sat in the cabana for awhile and just watched it fall... listening to the thunder and breathing in the smell. It reminded me of that time made me ever so grateful for all the simple traditions I have been blessed to have and to share with my family and loved ones over the years.
Didn't quite make it to Baskin Robbins, although I am fairly certain there will be a next time.
10. Its raining here in the valley today and believe me when I tell you - there are few things better than the smell of the desert when its raining. Its almost like God is washing the place clean.
9. Frankie has only one final today, which means that she'll be home pretty soon. What with it being rainy and a teensy bit cold outside, I think our Tuesday afternoon will consist of cozying up on the couch with my little girl and watching a falalala lifetime movie or two.
8. I did not melt during my run today. I was afraid, you know - being made almost completely of sugar and all - that I might. But, no, I didn't and now I can check that 'can't' right off my list.
7. Not only did I not melt, but I didn't even get too muddy. There are a couple of reasons for this. One, because I was running around the puddles (which apparently I will need to stop doing if I'm going to be a successful trail runner/pacer extraordinaire says my very knowledgeable ratty running instructor) and two, because (insert sing-song voice) guess who got to be leader today? ;-)
6. When I was little and it rained, my dad would round the whole fam-damily up in the station wagon and take us to Baskin Robbins. I love BR to this day. Almost as much as I love the rain. But not nearly as much as I love my dad.
5. Speaking of my dad... He was playing golf once in the rain with a friend of his, Mr. Monahan. As Mr. Monahan got out of the cart to tee off, a bolt of lightening struck him and killed him dead. My dad never plays in the rain or the lightening anymore, for which I am extremely grateful.
4. You know that part toward the end of the movie Sweet Home Alabama where Melanie and Jake are on the beach and the rain is coming down in buckets and the lightening is striking fast and furious and she's wearing her wedding dress and he asks her why she wants to be married to him in the first place and she says, so I can kiss you anytime I want? I like that part. A lot.
3. When the monsoon rains hit last summer, we discovered we had a little leak in our bedroom ceiling. The first roofer I called wanted to charge us $1500 to fix the leak. Big J thought that was a little outrageous and so he ended up calling a local handy man that fixed it for about $100. Thank you, kudzu.
2. I used to think that when it rained, God was crying because He was sad. Lately, I've been rethinking this whole idea. Namely because I am a crier of the first degree and I don't always just cry when I'm sad. In fact, I probably cry less when I'm sad than I do when I'm happy. I cry an awful lot when I'm happy.
(proof)
So, since I believe that I was created, fearfully and wonderfully, in God's image, it only stands to reason that He must cry, too, when He is happy. And that gives me a whole new perspective on rain.
1. And when it rains on your parade, look up rather than down. Without the rain, there would be no rainbow. ~G.K. Chesterton
