As many of you know, I live in Arizona, about 70 miles (as the crow flies) from the fires that slashed through the hills here. We were desperate for rain and hadn’t had any precipitation for almost 4 months.

We’ve been getting small rains here and there that have softened the ground and started making things green again.

Yesterday, though, the skies broke open and let loose. We were pelted with rain that was hard and driving for nearly 2 hours. The electricity fluctuated in and out and lightening came so close you could feel the fizzle in the air.

I love storms like that. I feel incredibly energized when that happens.

The funny thing, though, is that a few of us jumped up to run to the windows to watch rain come down. Yep, you heard that right. We watched it rain. We were so overjoyed with it.

Flash floods and instant streams and lakes were formed. We had water that was pooling!!! To many of you, this may not seem like a big thang…but to those of us who have been suffering with dryness, it was AMAZING! :-)

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Our forests have been reopened. I’m not sure that I’m fond of this. I think they are still too dry to safely hold those people who smoke when they hike (what’s up with that????), who are stupid with campfires, and who just don’t care.

However, as someone who loves the forests, hiking, and camping, I’m thrilled to be able to go into them again.

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My nose was up in the air this morning as I left the house. Nah, I wasn’t being a snob. I was sniffing that fresh earth smell that comes after a good rain.

Isn’t it the best?