Rain & Sun

April 11, 2010 By Kelle

It’s not always sunny. It’s not always bright. And no, it’s not always perfect. There is a time for rain…moments where the bright clarity of sunshine is rinsed with the precipitation that comes now and then to drench the parched grounds and make them grow again.

It rained this weekend.

My first real trip away from my newest little brought me and my camera to the evening before a wedding on Friday night. I watched and snapped my camera from a distance as a beautiful woman practiced for her big day. She was small and blonde and pretty and I couldn’t help but think of my Lainey someday. And, walking beside her on the beach on this happy evening was her little sister, small and blonde and pretty too. I smiled watching them and their family as they bathed in happiness on this very special night. And when I climbed in my car, I cried. I cried again for what I thought I’d have. I cried because I want Nella to have this too. I cried because I forgot the sadness is still there sometimes. And then I cried because I was mad I was crying. I found a beach towel in the backseat and wiped my tears with it as I drove, cursing myself for not being able to control it and for the mascara that was now blotched all over the yellow terry cloth loops of my towel. I felt silly. But it felt good to admit the sadness exists there sometimes and to accept it. To let it fall like the rain and rinse the sunshine out but for a moment because growth always follows a good rain.

I called a friend who had me laughing in no time and, in five minutes, we were picturing together Lainey’s wedding someday…with both my beautiful girls. And music. And dancing. And happiness. The happiness? That never changes.

Rain is still beautiful though.

Thankfully, we had our sunshine too this weekend…in many forms, but our favorite being the rare, concentrated, exquisite form of family in from out of town.

We joined my cousin and her sweet girl for a day of kiddish wonder on Saturday beginning with a tea party in our woods…

Which, for the record, may I add that the cake platter, although looking perfectly quaint and beautiful, is not the most functional place to balance tea pots and such on uneven ground in the middle of the woods. Let’s just say the entire party slid into a heap of half-eaten crackers, puddles of milk and soggy cookies in poor Cousin’s lap and it’s a wonder if the poor child wants to attend a tea party at our house again. Go big or go home we say and, sadly, I think the “go home” option was lookin’ pretty sweet after our fiasco.

Not to worry. We recovered beautifully at our Botanical Gardens where the girls basked in their bathing suits among herbs and plants and flowery things and despite a small little almost-getting-run-over-by-a-motorized-wheelchair incident and one of those award winning mom moments when it’s my kid who blatantly breaks the rules (DON’T TOUCH THE SLOTH, she said) because the girl loves any furred creature that breathes…

…well, it was perfect.

The favorite event of the day (I think for all of us) was, by far, the tree house relay where both girls ran ferocious circles through bridges and wood-planked ramps, screeching to a halt as they rounded corners anything but gracefully which was just the way we liked it.

Overall, the gardens trip put the tipsy tea party to shame.

And every day of outdoor splendor must indeed be balanced with indoor wonder, a challenge we were happy to accept as we settled our sun-kissed girls inside for some painting and potato salad…

And, yes today it rained…literally…as we opened windows to welcome misty breezes kissed with the scent of spring and used a gray day as an opportunity to scour floors and catch up on laundry. It was quite wonderful, really…a cozy Sunday banished to the inner comforts of movies and coffee and snuggling with this sweet little beetle…

Which brings me, once again, to the comforts of home you have been sharing. A few more from you as this comes to a close…

From Rachel:

Our lively room is our master bedroom. It has seen some great nights and some terrible nights. It’s had its door slammed by squealing kids running to hide from imaginary dinosaurs, it’s where I spent countless nights nursing my babies, it’s full of great hide and seek spots, it’s a haven for toys, and my favorite room in the house.

From Sarah:

Life happens here in our toddler’s bedroom. Love has been literally stroked onto its walls, having been painted no less than three times over two days by a loving daddy, at the urging of an expectant mama, both determined to find the perfect shade of pink for the arrival of our firstborn. Currently it’s my favorite place to watch as our two daughters are united and we can just see love and friendship blooming in their hearts.… In this room sweet and silly books are read and giggled over by all before naptime and lingered over after naps. It’s here that bedtime tales have been shared nearly every night by adoring parents, who are still finding it a little difficult to believe that they could have possibly been this blessed.

And from Amy:

The Floor in our Family Room. It’s where we start our mornings, me with my coffee in hand, my daughter by pulling out all the toys that were put away the previous night or begging her Daddy for a sip of the foam off the top of his latte before he leaves for work. It’s our home base throughout the day as she toddles to far corners of the house to explore. It’s where we play together, or where I just watch in awe as she plays on her own and I feel the kicks of her baby sister, whom we are so eager to meet. It’s the perfect spot to try to see the world through her eyes. It’s where we gather when Daddy gets home so we can all play together and talk about our days and our dreams. Where Daddy and our Miss watch fishing shows on Sunday mornings, or he plays the guitar for her while I make dinner. Where we open Christmas and Birthday gifts and where an Easter basket was “hidden.” So much Life happens in this spot on the Floor.

As the wet, evening air of a good spring rain breathes through our bedroom, preparing it for a good night’s sleep, I am relishing again in the wonderful comforts of home. Of family. Of us.

Yes, rain is beautiful and purposeful.