Came a Rain.

Today it came a rain. Yeah-"came a rain"-thats how my Gran says it! When I was in DC it rained a couple of times but never those warm spring rains that make everything 15times greener than they were before. I kept saying"when I get home I hope we get a good warm rain". Well today we got it!
It was over by 5 and the ditches infront of my house were flowing...so I jumped out of J's truck & did something I hadn't done in years. I threw in a stick & watched it make its way down the "river". For the next 30 minutes I told Jeffrey how I was the Champion Ditch Floater when I was little & he stayed outside & laughed at me as I reveled in my childhood.
That's just another thing I'm thankful for-Spring rains & flowing ditches. Although that made my dirt muddy so I couldn't put my toes in it...but soon... I'll have a whole blog about that.
Thanks God for good warm rains-flowin ditches-and boyfriends who don't care that I'm a little bit tomboy!

70 miles...

My whole life I've lived 5 minutes from the Kentucky border. Usually I pay no attenion when I'd cross the border to get gas or visit my Aunt. But today I crossed Kentucky on the other side & I've never been happier.
Over my right shoulder is the big U of K & in front of me is Louisville. Then there's a stretch of road that makes me both happy & sad. The long road home...Let me tell you when I cross that state line- I might just cry.
Because I know that on the West side of the Lincoln memorial there is a name carved just above a roman column & it says Illinois.
It was the state that made Lincoln great & its the state I call home.

The End.

Today is April the 18th. Today is my last day in the District.
This morning I got up & went into the city one last time. I visited George & sat leaning up against him & remembered...
I remembered a young country girl visiting D.C. for the first time. I remembered how Megan Wurtele & I opened the windows of our hotel room so we could "hear the city". I remembered vowing from that last day that I would come back.
I remembered the rejection when I didn't get accepted the first time. I remembered watching snow fall & knowing that my God had planned the snowfall just for me. I remembered wanting to give up & come home,but persevering.
I remembered the sad day when I realized that I was coming back to IL soon.

This morning I sat at the foot of George & I sang those same words that Mrs.P sang to us 5 years ago on a boat in the Potomac-"My Country 'Tis of Thee, Sweet land of Liberty of Thee I sing..."

And I remembered, that no matter where I am. He is always there too. And no matter what happens He has my best interest in mind. And I will forever trust in Him. Because the grass will wither, the flowers will fade- & eventually George will crumble...But the Word of my Lord will stand forever!

George.

This is George.

He's the first think I see when I get into my city.
And he's my favorite.

I think because I can usually see him from anywhere.
Today I got to see him for one of the last times in the daylight.
And he was glorious.
But a gentle reminder that my weeks here in my city are coming to a close.
It's a sad day, but also a scary, happy and nervous one.

I'll be paying George one more visit on my last day.
Because you just can't leave without saying goodbye.

4 years ago I didn't say goodbye, I said "I'll be back someday"
And I did.
I came back.
So who knows, maybe Sunday will be more of a "See ya later"rather than a GoodBye.