walking in the rain...

The rain definitely arrived last night.  I heard it coming down around 4 am, the steady rhythm beating on the chimney vent. Thankfully, it was only rain.  No high winds, hail or any of the other chaos that was predicted.  We need the rain, it's been so dry for several years now, I am definitely not complaining.  I just hate the fear and anxiety that the big storms create in Beau.  

Personally, I love a good thunder storm, the louder and brighter the better.  Beau, not so much.  And tornado weather will set him off like crazy. We don't need any of that chaos, just bring the rain. 

It's my first born's birthday today.  I am hoping we will be able to steal her and the family away for dinner tonight.  I so want an opportunity to celebrate her.  She is a busy gal though, raising her own babies and doing all the things.  So we will see. 

I always drift back to her arrival in my mind and heart today.  She came into the world ready to conquer it and I feel like she does that every day.  She is so incredibly strong and powerful.  I didn't have the slightest idea what I was doing as a young mom, but I am blessed every day by her presence in my life.  My aunt was terrified of me being a mom, I didn't handle her baby spitting up on me particularly well just a short few years before and when he started to wail I definitely passed him back.  I remember her telling me if it was too much for me that she'd take her and raise her until I was ready.  

It was a loving idea, but definitely not my idea. I grew up raising that strong willed little Blondie.  She shaped me in ways she will never know.  She taught me patience. She instilled in me resilience. She inspired faith.  And she often forced me to look outside of what was normal for me.  She and I are absolutely nothing alike in so many ways. And yet in even more ways we are the same.  It just depends on what level you are looking from. 

God blessed me so much with my girl.  The amount of joy and pride that I have in who she is and the strength that she steps boldly into life, really has no words.  Pure love doesn't need words.

I spent the first part of today spoiling the fur babies.  The rain stilled.  I debating just walking in the neighborhood.  Close enough to dash home if it started again.  But, honestly the neighborhood is so boring.  I mean you can only look at the same thing so many times.  Besides that your muscle memory kicks in when you do the same walk every day.  

So we took our chances.  We didn't go far, just down to the river.  Since we are under a flood warning, I was curious how much it had risen and if we would be able to follow the path we were planning.  Did I seriously just say we?  I guess I did ask them if that is the place they wanted to go, but in all fairness, I am not sure they had a say in the matter.  

I love watching the world wake up from it's winter slumber, even in the dreariness of the rain and darkened skies you can see the bright green popping out everywhere.  Along the path, the river raging just below flood stage you could see the vibrate shade of the new moss blanketing the ground beneath the trees. Still naked, some of them starting to form tiny colorless buds.  If you look closely you will see the daffodils, jonquil and henbit popping up all around provide the first signs of life on the sides of the path.  The honeysuckle is springing to life also.  Sadly, most of it around here is the invasive non-native kind, the bright green leaves are not really a welcome sign, as it signals our native plants are yet again going to fight for the precious spring rays that will bring life to them. 

The rain held for the entire 3 mile walk.  My sweet pups couldn't resist the call of the mud puddles.  Of course the white dog is the one with the greatest passion for a good mud puddle. I haven't been able to get a picture of the big goofy smile he always has while bouncing happily in the muck, although I do keep trying.  It definitely makes the extra bath worth it.  Belle always succumbs to the temptation, but Beau always leads the way!

Lifting them both into the car, realizing they were both soaking wet, I was definitely questioning the intelligence of my decision. The big goofy smiles and tails wagging assured me I'd made the right choice. 

The skies darkened deeper, the rain started falling.  Home we went. 

Pups are lounging asleep.  If I picture could have captured Beau's snoring, it would have been loud and deep.  Rainy days are for napping....

Well, I have things to do and chatting isn't getting them done.  

much love, 

b