... and the thunder rolls

College girl came home from her job last night bubbling and talking non stop because it was her last night at the local grocery in Bentonville.   She was telling about saying bye to her friends and who all came through her line that evening.   She was also proud that she had gotten boxes for her other job because they needed them for a craft today.   In the back of my very weary mind I recalled the very slim chance of rain, thinking perhaps I should have her put the boxes in the garage.  *Yawn* She was on to something else and I was really tired.

About 4 a.m. I heard the crash of thunder and the flashes of lightening that jolted me to attention.   My first thought was great,  her boxes will be soaked!   Then I laid there thinking how thankful I was for the rain because my garden loves those long, natural drinks.  I worried about my greenhouse because I could hear the plastic. My mind quickly turned to my trees,  hoping they would make it through the storm.

Funny how all those things ran through my mind then an unusually loud clap of Thunder turned my groggy mind to my children.   Anna who has come full circle in our home,  sleeping again in the room upstairs;  I hear her breathe deeply,  perhaps I imagined it but I smiled quietly, feeling a tiny victory that my once frightened easily child just might be okay facing a storm in the not to distant future in her own place.   Wow,  talk about a crazy blessed realization!

The thunder and lightening continued and I felt sorry for myself.   Handsome sleeping soundly,  breathing deeply beside me and all three girls tucked safely in their beds sleeping through the storm.   I was actually missing them running in,  needing me to protect them from another storm.   Just then another huge thunder,  Handsome puts an arm reassuringly around me when I look up to see Jessica.   I threw the covers back and welcomed her,  I whispered words of love and reassurance in her ear; then I actually uttered a soft "thank you" because this old mom needed one more storm to make her feel needed and important.

A few more thunders later,  Melissa was joining our safe haven and I felt strangely at peace.   I laid there almost 2 hours listening to their steady breathing,  confident that mom and dad would keep them safe and I whispered prayers for all three of them that they grow up strong and confident and that the storms of life never get them down!  And that somehow they remember the feeling of safety they felt being sheltered from the storm nestled in my bed.