Lovin' Where You're At

I have some thoughts rattling around in my head, and just wanted to get them out. 

We are in the midst of a fabulous Spring break.  It's been such a relaxing week so far.  Time with friends, time with each other...time feels to have sloooowed down this week, and that's just what I was needing.

Alex has been spending the week with a group from his high school youth group.  They are working around our own town, serving the homeless.  They've painted rooms at the Union Gospel Mission and worked at the Salvation Army and the local food bank.  He had lunch yesterday with a couple homeless men, heard some stories of lives changed and changing.  His eyes are opening to some great things.  His mind is expanding in some wonderful ways.  He's growing up.

And the girls have been soaking up some friend time and time with each other.  We've been shopping, swimming, movie-watching, hospital-visiting, and just hanging out together without having to do "something".  I love it.  We all are feeling refreshed.

Everywhere we've gone, I've heard grumbling about our weather.  And it's getting on my nerves.  Our joy, our contentment, our fun, does not have to depend on the sky outside!  There's plenty of fun to be had, even in the rain!  And, you know, that's true both physically and in our life's circumstances.  If we only allow ourselves joy, contentment and fun when everything is "sunny" in our lives, we are going to miss out on so much.  And be so shallow.

A couple years ago, I heard a gal say, speaking of her young children, "I feel so bad for them.  They stand at the door and cry because they want to go outside and play, but it's raining.  They are driving me crazy and I need the sun so they can go outside!!"  I couldn't resist suggesting to her that she put a coat on them and send them out in the rain!  How can you learn to jump in mud puddles without the rain?  How can you learn to build mud creations if you are not out in the mud?  Kids and their clothes come clean with a little washing.  And you don't get a cold from playing in the rain.  You get a cold from a virus.  Right?  Same with us.  Learn to love where you are at.  Even if it's in the rain...or in this case, in the hail!!