Rain, Rain and More Rain

It has been pouring down like this again for the most part of today. Rain rain and more rain. We have had a constant stream of rain all year this year, we have gone from having a back yard that didn't have a blade of green grass in it, to an absolute jungle now. We have spent two full Saturdays in our yard in the last 5 weeks, and looking at it again today you cannot even tell. The grass is high, the weeds are even higher.
There are puddles everywhere
And all the plants and trees are covered with these rain drops. Whilst I am sick of the mud and slosh squigging between my toes, I still love seeing seeing the rain, and hearing it fall. I love the coziness of being indoors on a wet day.
What I am sick of though, is the great pile of dirty washing that is sitting around because of all the rain. This is the pile of towels we had after our visitors last week - when the cyclone was hanging around. Finally got them washed and on the line where they sat for a couple of days because before I could get them off dry, another shower would come along and wet them again.
The dryer is working overtime where our clothes are concerned.

I have managed to scrap a couple of layouts in the last couple of weeks. This first one was for an encouragement challenge at SofF, and I am pretty happy with the way it has turned out. I feel so blessed in my life and I never want to take it for granted. Doesn't mean to say that bad things don't happen, in fact they do all the time, but I want to look around and be thankful and grateful for the many blessings we do have in our lives.
This next one was about Chloe's Australia Day weekend away. They had a lot of fun tubing and knee boarding on Fairburn Dam, - just had to document this one. Double click on it to see th bigger version of it. I've been a really slack blogger this month - Life has been hectic, not with big things, but just the mundane, busy at work, busy at church, busy with visitors, busy with meetings, busy with girlie afternoons - good busy but just busy. We are also enjoying spending time with our adopted grandkids who are home in Rocky for 4 months. The time is going way too quickly and a part of me is sad that it won't be long before they head back to PNG and it will be another few years before we see them again. They are such great kids, totally unspoiled, such helpful kids, and just love being outdoors exploring - they are not kids to be stuck in front of a computer or a TV all day. Chloe spent the afternoon with them today helping them catch guppies out in the creeks. They all had such a ball. I had dinner with them on Thursday night and just had t snap them doing this.
There was no arguments, just happy chatter - just beautiful and I treasure these memories.

I did manage to wander around our garden this morning during a break from one of the showers and I managed to capture these photos. I love the wandering around the yard, it helps me to appreciate God's beauty in the little things that I often walk past in the busyness of life and don't appreciate. Be prepared for bulk photo share. You need to double click on these photos to see the rain drops and to appreciate the beauty.
This was flowering just outside my back door. Not only is it beautiful but the fragrance is just divine. Wish I could capture it too.
As I was photgraphing the rose, I noticed this old hook hanging on the tomato trellisses , just loved the rain drops on it and love how I also managed to capture the bit of cobweb too. Quite like these couple of shots.
Just love these pink frangapennies too which are flowering down the side of our house.
Love the photo of this toadstool we found growing in our front garden. Had to take these photos as well.
Just a few more peeping out from under the log.
Just a few more random shots of flowers in my garden - flowers I don't always notice cause they are just isolated amongst the greeny of other bushes, but when you get up close and personal with them you marvel at their beauty.
I love these exquistite flowers. They only flower once a year, usually around Febuary but they are a little late this year. They only last for about a week and then die off, but the colour and texture of this flower is just breathtaking and I look forward to seeing it every year.
We have a passionfruit vine which is just overloaded with these tasty fruits.
And lastly just a couple of random shots - looking down our street - it is so nice to see it all green, to see it looking so fresh. I need to get out with this camera more. I haven't played with it enough lately.

Things to be thankful for this week - where do I start:.......

1. For the rain - for the freshness it brings to the earth
2. the colour green - to see all the lovely green grass again.
3. Safety for Steve today as he robbed the bees - in overcast weather. Not the best weather to do it in.
4. For all the sweet honey he has bought home
5. My lovely husband who is always such a tower of strength and support and who has such a servant heart. Love you babe.
6. Cool breezes.
7.For the verse in 1 Thess 5: 17-18 " Give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus" May it always be a life verse for me.
8. For clean fluffy towels
9. Chicken Pie

And finally
10. For this gorgeous family and the opportunity we have to practice our grandparenting skills.
Love you guys.