Storms

This is part of a multi-part set of postings that I am going to be sharing about the trip to South Dakota that Phil & I were blessed to take.

Day 2 Cont.

"What are you expecting from this trip to South Dakota?"  I can not tell you how many times that question was asked of me before I left.

If you weren't one of the ones who asked that question and you really want to know my response, you are in luck!

I would reply, "I don't have any expectations."  Of course I would smile.  But I honestly, went on this journey with NO expectations what-so-ever.  Maybe that is why so many things up to this point (1/2 through day 2) really didn't throw me for a loop.  If you were with me on the trip you quickly learned my motto "Go With The Flow".  And quite honestly, I am so glad that we were able to adapt this attitude to truly allow God to do what he wanted while we were there.

With that said, while traveling to Rapid City Sunday morning.  I learned something new.  It doesn't matter how cool it is when you first wake up in the morning.  It gets warm VERY quickly.

I started my morning at 5:00am and 66 degrees.  In a few short hours we were at 88 and it only went up from there!  I also learned that while I absolutely LOVE warm (some would say hot) temperatures, 100 degrees consistently is really just HOT!  They don't have the humidity that we have here, so it was nothing but heat.  Not a lot of drenching sweat.  And I like that!

After a gorgeous drive we arrived at 

We couldn't have timed everything more perfectly.  As we were pulling into spot #31 to drop off our rental car Phil got the text that Kathy had landed.

After a rental car exchange and some hugs we were back on our way to Nebraska.  By the time we pulled into the cabin our entire gang for the week had arrived.  We were greeted by Kelly & Damian (who ventured the trip to South Dakota by driving from their home in Florida.)

Everyone got settled in for the week & we had a very relaxing afternoon.  

Later that evening we got into the van and made our first mini trip onto the Reservation.  Damian and I were the "newbies" so we both had a quick look at where we would be spending most of our time the next week.

And then, wouldn't you know it the sky went from this.

To this:

And all of this took place in a very short period of time.  We were thankful that our trip to the Reservation ended up being shorter than we originally planned and while we did have some pretty strong winds and rain that we drove through.  Within 10 minutes, our view from the cabin looked like this.

As I sat on the back porch looking out at the sky I was reminded of yet another life lesson that I had really been living for the past year or so.  And something I really watched someone people very near and dear to not only my heart, but also my entire family go through and learn.

Life is totally full of unknowns.  None of us are granted the next month, week, day, or even second.  We may think that we have things all planned out.  Life may look like that it is going to work out just as you have in your mind.  

But many times, just like the storms that roll through the plains of Nebraska and South Dakota at a moments notice.  Your life can take a drastic change from what it originally looked like.

It is during those times when our true character begins to show through and the real growing takes place.

I heard a statistic that said every 10 years you are going to be struck with some sort of unexpected emergency in your life.  What that emergency looks like can take many forms.  What I do know is that whether my emergency means that my house needs to be resided & reroofed from a hail storm or that a major healthy concern hits our family.  It is going to happen.  And when that storm blows through I have learned the following: 

• Live each and every moment to the absolute fullest that you can.  
• When faced with a storm that is blowing your way, know that it isn't going to be there forever.  Just like the storms that blew through our area.
• They come.
• Sometimes they are unexpected
• Most of the time very inconvenient.  
• However, just hang in there & soon enough it will have blown over.

How about you, have you had any storms blow through your life recently?  Have you had some moments just going about your every day life that God has taught you something?  

Share! Chances are someone can either relate with you or can really benefit knowing that they aren't the only one who is in the moment that they are.

~Misti~