Another surreal day....

Saturday was just one of 'those days'. The kind of day that you wish you could somehow bottle up to be able to live all over again. The sights, sounds, smells...everything about it was...I have to say....comforting. Let me explain......

I am waking up to the sounds of little girl laughter....such a beautiful sound. The time is approximately 6:30 (which is great, compared to my 4:30), so I feel rested and ready to begin my day. They all climb into bed with me for some morning cuddles and then I leave to get breakfast going. It is a dark, gloomy, cool, cloudy day, and I wrap myself up in an old friend, my faithful, warm, fuzzy, brown sweater, that stays by my bedside year round waiting for those dark days when I will happily reach out for it, looking for some 'comfort'. I open the doors and windows and breathe in the crisp fall air and get a sudden look at God's stunning art display right outside my door...raindrops dripping off my enormous yellow sunflowers. I warm up the tea water, while listening to some music and then I have a remarkable cup of tea while making breakfast. Toasty clothes, a warm drink, dark skies and cool air is just about paralyzing to my senses. We eat and lay around for a few hours....the girls playing blocks and animals, while I catch up on some cleaning, when suddenly a colossal breeze blows in through the windows and when I look up I see a storm coming in. I call to the girls to quickly get their rain gear on and we head out into the gloom. Large puddles, looking into the sky to catch rain on our captivated faces, and red and yellow leaves gliding through the air all around us, as if they are attempting to escape this mighty storm that has come to say hello is what we encounter while we begin our walk.

The rain is here...pouring rain, but we run, jump, and dance in it. We make our way down to the forest to hear the rain play its mighty orchestra. The girls are astonished, and with no sound we meander our way through the path. They giggle and look all around at the different sounds the rain makes as it comes pouring through the canopy above. We take a nice long hike through the woods with me letting them lead the way...taking turns standing under pine trees and giving one another showers. We finally ascend only to find an extraordinary stream running down the road, perfectly made for 'leaf boats'. We find boats suitable and begin the race...down the stream we run, chasing the leaves, splashing in puddles along the way.

The wind finally picks up a bit more and we are aware that it is getting cold and with our now wet clothes we begin feeling a bit uncomfortable. Before heading back to the house Kevin pulls up from work (an early surprise). He joins Emma outside (who is still having fun) while Hannah, Nora and I go inside to get cuddled by big, soft blankets. After a change of clothes for everyone we enjoy a big cup of hot chocolate. While we drink we listen to music, along with the sound of the rain...I then begin to make an apple crisp, the ultimate comfort food. With the smells of the apples cooking, warm clothes on our bodies, the sound of the rain, and the gloomy skies, we cuddle in my bed and watch a movie, well the girls watch a movie, while Kevin and I doze off and take a little nap.

Wow....like I said at the beginning, if only I could bottle up the 'comforting' feeling a day like that brings, to be able to experience it over and over again on days that are not as gloomy outside as they are 'inside'.

Thank you Father for rain, and the reminder it brings of your grace, for the clean, cool air, for the smells of comfort foods, and the warmth of hot drinks, thank you for little girls filled with wonder for your amazing art, for imaginations, for quiet appreciations of music made by nature, for cuddles, for family, and for days that seem a bit surreal.