Sunshine is for chumps.

It's been about two weeks since it's rained (August 22nd), and normally we go 4 months or so without rain in the summertime.




The storms usually aren't that bad. First is a dust storm. Then the clouds roll in. It gets a bit chilly or doesn't- this is the difference between a good storm and a 10 minute shower. Then lots of wind, then it starts lightning (usually dark by this stage), then the rain, and if you're lucky, hail. Sometimes they're worse.






In september of 2002 we had the worst (or best) storm we've ever experienced. There's a wash running through our property (it does not run normally, it isn't a stream!), it's about 3-4 feet deep and 5-6 feet wide at parts, and it was 4 inches from overflowing. Dime sized hail every which way. Our entire 3.5 acres had about 1 quarter of an inch of water on it (not counting puddles), running like a river into our wash and then into the street. It ran for hours and hours after it had stopped raining. Haven't had a storm that bad since. One came close in '03, but nothing that awesome.






Right now, we're in the middle of the Monsoon, which means this is the time of year we have a chance to get another vengeful (that is, vengeful against the dust) storm forged by God himself. One can only hope.




Truth be told, not too long ago, well, when I was 12, I would cry when a bad storm came around. (I also used to be addicted to the internet- more on that much later.) In fact, I used to hate storms. I also used to hate full moons, because a Werewolf was bound to break through that back door any minute now. We had a really weak back door; it might as well have been Styrofoam. OH WAIT IT WAS!


But I grew out of that, and now I've learned werewolves don't exist too much . Also, I grew out of my irrational fear of storms. Plus, we got a reinforced back door. And...storm windows.




Now I love storms. And it's true of all of us that we love standing on our porch in the middle of a storm. Watching the lightning display, and being chilled by the misty, cool winds. This is the first time this year, excluding January and some of Febuary, that we've stood on the porch because of how comfortable it is. Normally, when it rains at this time of year, right before summer ends (YAY!), it's too humid to go outside. You can throw rice onto the ground, and before it lands it's steamed to mush and waterlogged .




But yesterday was special, the conditions were just right. It was a cool day to begin with (about 85 or 90 degrees). Then, around 1 or 2 PM, the clouds came. Out of nowhere. They seemed to cool it down enough for rain. 90% of the sky had clouds, and they held until 7:30 PM. Then God said (don't quote me on this, I am paraphrasing quite a bit), "Well, it is the Monsoon, and these are some good conditions for rain. And Kev did want some rain...ah, he always wants rain, why not."






It was a good, mild storm. Not a horrific one, just a nice one. Just enough of one to let us know God loves us. The wind was blowing south, and if it was blowing north, east or west, the rain would have been hitting us. As it was, we could hear the rain, and feel the mist from the rain, but not be directly hit by the rain. Lightning every once and a while. Truly fantastic. Thank you for rain existing in this terrid climate, Lord! THANK YOU FOR THE RELIEF OF WINTER!




More on storms later, when we get the big one. Suckers.






No 'big one' yet as of August 23rd, 2007.