It was raining twenty-one years ago today. I remember because that was our wedding day. I had thought that rain on your wedding day was bad luck just like it was bad luck for the bride to see the groom on the day of the wedding. 

 It was just a rain shower that morning; nothing like the storm outside this morning. There's flooding throughout Texas this week. Videos of washed out highways and swept away cars flood Facebook. My phone has screamed flash flood alerts three times in the past twenty-four hours. 
Where am I going with this? Oh yes. 

Despite its unpredictable nature, I've grown to appreciate the rain. 

I'll never forget the sunroom in our house in Trinity whose tin roof amplified the rain. Its sound filled every room. 

When you think about it, rain is easier to love from indoors. 

I'd be happy if I could choose when it rains. I'd schedule thunderstorms on lazy days when I could sit and listen from the comfort of our living room or in the stillness of night where I'm under the covers in safety. I wouldn't schedule showers on my wedding day. I'd only step outdoors in the rain on warm days when melted hair wouldn't matter, when I had no place to go. I'd step outside but for a moment to get something from the car and then come back in and read a book with a blanket in my favorite chair (your chair). 

I've learned in the past twenty-one years of marriage that I don't schedule the rain. I have no control over how hard it falls, just as I have little control over what difficulties come our way. 

Rain intermingles with sun without consideration of our plans and dreams. Sometimes it's a soft pitter-patter, other times the waters are overwhelming. Trials come. 

I've found that love doesn't eliminate storms. Love weathers storms. 

 Sometimes we have shelter from the storm. Other times we shelter one another in it. 

It's the latter that has grown our marriage. Our love that has braved storms, has made us stronger. 

Your my favorite person to walk with in sunlight (which accounts for most of the days) and in storm. 

Happy 21st Anniversary.