Rain is a GOOD Thing!

When Luke Bryan released his song “Rain is a Good Thing”, J told B, “hey, there’s a song about your dad!” B listened to the lyrics…My daddy spent his life lookin' up at the sky. He'd cuss, kick the dust, sayin' son it's way too dry! She laughed and said….”NOPE….That’s my MOM!” (EVERYONE knows Tom is the steady one.) The weather definitely affects my outlook on life. Having gone through a drought where we didn’t receive ANY precipitation for well over 12 weeks, I am always edgy when hot, dry weather becomes the norm. (even when it's a relatively short period of time)

Last night we had over an inch-and-a-half of rain! Thank the Lord!


We had not had measurable rainfall in quite some time. Up until now, June had been dry, very dry. We were trying not to covet the rain that neighboring communities reported. We were trying not to take part in the ongoing talk concerning the lack of rain and the dire state of affairs if we didn’t get some SOON. We were trying not to mention the lack of precipitation to one another. We were trying NOT to worry. For despite Tom's outward calm, hot weather and the possibility of the "d" word (drought) gets to him, too.

You know it’s dry when the zucchini plants just sit there…no overnight growth, they were just surviving. The sheep were panting, the chickens were holding their wings out…hoping to get cooler. The lack of rain was almost unbearable when coupled with a string of ninety degree days. It was great haymaking weather, and we are glad for that. There’s a load of hay in the barn, and another we need to go and pick up.

Rain is completely out of our control and we accept that. Although, sometimes, it’s a little hard not to freak out when it’s either to wet or too dry. When it’s wet, we just have to wait it out. But, there are always other things to do. When it’s dry, we can irrigate. That helps, but there is nothing like rain from heaven above to make things grow. The rain makes US feel better too! It's as if we can finally breathe again...free from that worry over the crops that is always in the back of our minds.

Today the grass looked greener, the corn seemed measurably taller, and the sheep were WHITE again. It was a beautiful, damp morning. It felt good to do chores and see that things were growing once again.



“Yeah, where I come from, rain is a good thing!”