Chuck! Come on. The weather station just said there is a tornado, and it is headed our way! From his slumber, he grumbled, “I already heard and checked. It is not headed our way. It is several miles away from us.” He grunted and went back to sleep. “Well, I don’t care. I am getting the girls together and getting them in the hall closet anyways,” I stated hurriedly. I quickly shook Eva and told her to come with me. Next, I scooped up a sleeping “Baby Charlotte” and put us all in the hall closet. While the girls were still waking up, I strapped helmets on their heads. Then secured mine and closed the door.
A few minutes later, I heard footsteps coming down the hall. The doorknob turned, and the door creaked open. Chuck peered inside. Charlotte was on my lap with her princess helmet snug on her head. Eva sat adjacent in the opposite corner with her helmet snug as well. Chuck stared, then said, “What are you doing?” I used my hand to navigate the coats blocking my view. I looked up from under my helmet and sheepishly replied, “I am taking shelter like you should be doing.” He paused, then calmly pronounced, “The tornado has already passed and missed us by 10 miles, Kristen.” I came back strong, “Well,” I said, “A person can never be too careful.” Chuck blinked a couple of times, turned, and stumbled back to bed without saying a word.
The day had not gone entirely wrong, but it wasn’t far from it. When I thought it might be turning a corner, a bird stopped overhead and pooped on my shoulder.
Aside from the massive amounts of rain, we received this winter; I was catching small glimpses of the sun, which kept me hopeful that spring would come and the birds would find another place to relieve themselves. But then, more rain would roll in, and gray clouds would pin themselves to the hem of the sky.
With this track on replay, everyone received new rainboots that did not have chew marks or holes from names that will be left unmentioned. We were going to enjoy being outdoors regardless of the weather. With little ones, this is sacrificial because mud always accompanies wet.
The dogs know our routine like an alarm clock knows when to ring. Five dogs begin to fidget during the afternoon hours, waiting for the joy of afternoon play in the front yard. Maximus (male German Shepherd) always stakes his claim at a distance where he can take keep watch. Samson (male Golden Retriever) heads straight for the creek, dives for the perfect rock, and then finds a nice place to relax. Lola (female German Shepherd) is a lot like Maximus, but she will dive for a rock like Samson, then for the next hour, she will take the rock and scoot it around the yard as if playing cat and mouse. Penny (female Golden Retriever), well, as I have stated, is just happy to be here. And then there is Peanut (Mr. P), the newest Golden Retriever addition. He sticks close to Eva and Charlotte, wondering what fun they will find for him as well, his tail incessantly wagging.
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The girls quickly found all the muddy puddles in the yard and began jumping in them until their faces were freckled with mud spots, and their clothes were unrecognizable. I had found the tree swing that rested by the creek in the front yard and was enjoying just sitting for a moment. I laughed, watching both Charlotte and Eva have a good time.
When it was time to go inside, the girl’s boots squished as they walked. It was like each boot had its own private lake inside.
Although sunshine would have been much appreciated, and the bird poop was irritating, I couldn’t help but stop and tell the girls something my folks remind me of often, “Girls, you won’t remember all the chores that must be done or all the bills that must be paid. You won’t remember all the events you didn’t get to go to or all the disappointments that broke your heart. But you will always remember the times you stopped to enjoy the rain.”
At the supper table, I like to ask, “What was your favorite part about today?” Everyone jumps on that one and quickly shares. But then I follow up with, “What didn’t go your way, and how did you improve it?”
In the book of Esther, her circumstances could not have gone more wrong. Queen Vashti rebelled against King Xerxes I when she refused to appear before him, and now she was being cast away. A new queen was to be sought after. Esther was a Jew living in Babylonian captivity who had no desire to be a candidate for queen. It meant she had to leave her home, her friends, and her traditions and culture. If that wasn’t enough she would have to hide her religion as well. She had to deny who she really was. What an isolated existence. It wasn’t until her uncle, Morticai, spoke prophetically over her, telling her, “Esther, perhaps you were born for such a time as this.”
After Esther met with her uncle, she began to put the pieces of the puzzle together. Esther realized palace walls would offer no escape from the coming annelation. To remain silent was an inevitable defeat, but speaking out gave her people a fighting chance. (you can find this entire story in the book of Esther)
Talking to my father, I asked, “So, who wins? The one who needs the rain to stop or the one begging God to water the crops?” He answered assuredly, “God decides. The same rain stopping your parade is ending someone else’s drought.” Esther learned to dance in the rain.
My girls didn’t care that I was frustrated with all the rain or that a bird pooped on my shoulder; their focus was on dancing in muddy puddles.
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