Rain, Rain, and More Rain

 It sure has rained a lot this summer.  I've heard many people say that they've never seen it rain so much in such a short period of time.  I don't know if that is a scientific observation, but I'd say they were pretty close to being correct.  We've lived here about 7 years and even the hurricanes that have passed our way didn't deliver this much flooding.  We are so saturated that even after several days of no rain, we still have standing water.  And the stench of rotting vegetation... phew!

We did not need to go outside to splash in the puddles, they came inside to seek us out!  Once I got the sump pump working, it didn't take long for the carpet to dry.  This has happened at least 5 times so we almost have the drying out process down to a tee.

1a, b, c... This is a panoramic view of sorts of our side yard, north of our house.  Our property line is just beyond the Mimosa trees in the background.  This latest downpour happened within a day of this area ridding itself of standing water from previous rain.

2...  The east side of our house.  Our entire parking area was under water, about 2 inches in places.
3... Across the road to the south. 
4...  Looking down on our parking area from the deck.  Even the pavers are under water.

 5... Most of the grass in this shallow ditch is rotting and sludge-like.  This was taken 4 days after the last round of rain.

6...  Again, 4 days after the last rain.  This is the same area as picture 1b above.

 7...  The happy moment in all of this rain?  I looked outside and saw that my Crape Myrtles are blooming!  My son gave these to me for Mother's Day this year and I wasn't expecting them to bloom because they were quite small.  As I've mentioned before, if shrubbery could represent my childhood it would be the Crape Myrtle.  I like to think that one day a young girl will find herself perched in this one's branches, entertaining herself with all the thoughts that she is able to imagine and singing at the top of her lungs. 

All this rain has caused us a few problems with a backed-up septic system, dead grass, stinky air, wet carpet, walking through water to our vehicles, day after day of dreary weather, and now, intense humidity and mutant-sized mosquitoes.  But these are just minor annoyances, really.  Nothing that can't be dealt with using a shop-vac, a few fans, time, and judicious use of water.

I try to never say "it could  be worse" because it minimizes the situation.  Both minimizing and exaggerating are dangerous to my state of mind.  They lead to dis-quiet of both mind and spirit.  The more I practice defining things "as is", with a reasonable degree of emotional detachment, the more able I am to access the grace and wisdom that I am promised because of my faith, despite the depth or height I am currently experiencing.  And I am blessed no matter what!  

A friend shared a quote a few days ago that is so appropriate for this rainy season...

"If God sends rain, then rain's my choice." -- Dan Crawford, missionary