Dusty days

I was suprised last week by the sky.
I have to admit it was very unsettling to witness the dirtiness and dinginess of the skyline.
Used to clean, clear blue skies occassionally filled with fluffy clouds.

When storms are brewing, the skies are shades of gray and dark and sometimes, yellow.
It is okay because much needed moisture is on the way.

The sky this day promised nothing of the kind.

It was shades of browns and only promised dryness, dirt and thirstyness.

I caught myself wondering if this is what the Great Plains looked like during the Dust Bowl.
Gritty eyes, and the feel of dust on my skin after just a short time outside.  A short time meaning, the short distance between my vehicle and the door a couple of times because I ran a few errands.
I looked out back and saw our poor Gus.  A beautiful black fur coat was now coated in brown.  Even he was unable to escape the air and wind around us.  I didn't have the energy to let him in.  He would only shake and roll and create more cleaning.  So out he stayed, though I think a child or two may have rescued him and put him in the garage for a while. 

Yet in my sleepless nights of late, I can't help but think how much our spiritual lives can be illustrated in this one day.  My life.  In my sheltered, 25 square mile, little circle of the world I get covered by the dust of this world and bring it home.  The every day sameness, busyness and sometimes monotonous life gets to me and before long my life seems dusty, brown and dirty.  I long for something more and my focus is no longer on what is before me, I neglect the housekeeping of my heart and it gets dusty.

The dust

It gets in my eyes and affects how I see everything around me.  Instead of gratitude for my home and I see chores that just won't take of themselves.. Instead of a home filled with God's blessings, I see messes and monotony.

It makes me sneeze.  It is uncomfortable and my body tries to get rid of it.  My mind tries to reject the negative attitudes, but there is just enough lingering to..... 

Stir up my allergies. I become sick and weak in my attempts with the Lord and the simple act of breathing becomes difficult and it is work to get my focus back. 

Sometimes I need the help of medicine, a good dose of Divine intervention, to get me back on track.
 
In the meantime, my life just looks dingy and dry and thirsty. 

It is missing the crisp colors of freshness and renewal. 

Even in the dark days of adversity, a dusty spiritual life misses the promise of renewal and a thirst that is quenched.

Oh, don't let it be so...........

Tornados and Girls

Modern technology allows for really advanced warning.  Such a blessing! 
We have known days in advance of the severe weather on its way. 
Along with the advance warning it is possible to secure survival stuff and belongings you want to protect as much as possible.
Nothing like when I was little.  The sirens would go off and you took cover.  No worries about the stuff in your life. 
This mom thinks about medicine, dog food, water, a cell phone, financial information.
With 45 minutes to spare before the storm hits, I realized I had a 15 year old daughter and a 10 year old daughter.  Clearly identifiable by their priorities 
The 15 year old daughter takes care of the basic of needs and then makes sure she secures her hair styling equipment and makeup. 
The 10 year old daughter grabs her pillows, stuffed animals, blankets and crocheting. 
The brothers.....  well 2 of them are asleep on the basement couches.  Hockey Player makes sure the flashlights are in working order. 

64 Degrees and it is Dec. 30 ! !

I am so loving the weather today.
With two sickies in bed with Strep. I have every window and door open today. The house smells of lysol, bleach and the ham in the oven.

I kicked the healthy children outside to play and they all have played out front for much of the afternoon. Street hockey is the theme for the day. When they need to rest they go straight for the legos. Gus is happy as well. He has been tormenting Hockey Player while he tries to play street hockey! He grabs the street hockey ball and goes running. All he needs is a pair of skates. Great defense.

I should have the camera out, but then they will just want to pose and the magic will be lost.

Anyone wanna play Iceball?

A Crazy Wednesday night usually involves about 100 kids and thier parents at church for AWANA.
Last night, it started before we got in the suburban.
On our way into the garage and small pieces of hail began to fall. Living in Kansas, this is not wholly unusual. Being fond of my suburban, I was in no hurry to venture out.
It proceeded to hail for 30 minutes or so. During that time there were loud thumps on our roof. Louder than the hammering of a roofer. More like kids jumping up and down on the upstairs floor when I am in the basement. But the hail continued to look small. Then, I realized what I was seeing was the busted up pieces of hail coming off the roof. Then it grew quiet. I waited to make sure the storm was done. We had, had a brief moment of 60 mph winds. Then it started again. Louder than before and a lot of more jumping on the roof sounds. But this time the big stones were landing in the yard as well. Softball size! I have never seen hail this large until last night.
All is good though, the dog was cooped up in the garage to shake and shiver and cry through the storm. Initially, he was outside in the rain and I wasn't going to feel sorry for him because he was also laying in the kiddie pool in the rain. Silly dog. But then the pea size hail came and I conceded to the children he could go to the garage. They were worried he wouldn't go into his dog house. I am every so grateful for those warning little peas. I am even more grateful for the hedge of protection God wrapped so many people up in during this storm. So many were out and on the roads. It all started around 5:45 in the evening. People going home, church, sporting events and such.
We have 4 holes in our roof. Down to the base plywood layer and it is cracked in some of those holes. We'll be getting a new roof. Maybe siding and some guttering.
Craters in our yard offer new landscaping interest. We could not have been so creative all on our own. :)
But my favorite of all pictures in on the www.kwch.com website. Pictures of the Auburn Hills Golf Course. Those are some pretty large golf balls. In my twisted, silly humourous way, I find myself wondering if God and his angels were busy with putting practice last night and a few of the balls went wild? I remember being told thunder was actually the angels bowling. Lightening meant they had gotten a strike.
Here are a couple of pictures from our yard. The garden house and swing to offer a bit of perspective.