There are days when I really, really wish it hadn’t rained…but this was not one of them. A rainy Saturday might have been just what we needed today. No obligation to be outside working in the yard or planting flowers, no thoughts of washing cars or running a million errands, no place in particular to be by afternoon. This morning, after a little detour in my original plans for the day (and thanks to my selfless friend Becca, who came to the rescue:), I joined a room full of lovely ladies to celebrate another baby who will be making his or her way into the world very soon. The space was filled with expectant and new moms, and moms who have been practicing their skills far longer than the rest of us. Little feet toddled around, infants cooed and cozied up, advice flew and the camaraderie built all morning around brunch and presents and baby shower games. It’s easy to feel at home around other mommies and women who have all come together to share joy in new life and the changes it will bring!

Afterwards, and with no other obligations on the day, we made our way home. Between J and I, it didn’t take long to decide that we were content to hole up in the house for a bit. We ate lunch at our leisure, napped for a long while, paid attention to the pup and halfheartedly watched a t.v. movie. Tonight, we connected with friends over takeout Chinese, great conversation and laughter at their place, after far too long a season of not catching up on regular occasion. We did no laundry, no cooking, no cleaning. We just allowed ourselves to be and to rest and relax for the day. Part way through it, we recognized that it’s been a very, very long time since we’ve had a Saturday (or any day) quite like this one, and that it may be a long time before we have another again.

I’m so thankful that in this season of waiting, there is enough space at the end of it for us not to be rushing around trying to put last minute details together. With things packed and organized and painted and in lists, it’s much easier to let our hair down and just “be.” If it hadn’t rained, it’s entirely possible that we would have filled the day up with other things. But tomorrow will come, and nothing will be lost for having rested well. In fact, we’ll probably be better off and better able to face the week ahead.

It’s still drizzling and dripping outside, after an entire day of wet, wintry-like weather smack dab in the middle of April, when flowers are already blooming and things are beginning to green. And while I’m a warm, sunny, cloudless kind of weather girl myself, I’m considering it a little gift from mother nature that today has been so dreary and gray. There is so much sunshine ahead…in so many ways!

enjoying the puddles,

mm