{"id":17283,"date":"2025-08-21T14:01:05","date_gmt":"2025-08-21T19:01:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sandiherron.com\/blog\/?p=17283"},"modified":"2026-07-21T08:13:43","modified_gmt":"2026-07-21T13:13:43","slug":"after-the-rain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sandiherron.com\/blog\/after-the-rain\/","title":{"rendered":"After the Rain"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"2025<\/span><\/div>
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\"Contentment isn\u2019t found in sunshine or rain, but in the choice to see beauty in both.\" Sandi<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>

Early this morning, a friend challenged me to write a short story about my day. Each sentence in the story had to include a word that rhymed with a word in the previous sentence. I had 10 minutes to complete the challenge, so here it is. Since it started raining while I was taking my morning walk, I chose the word \"rain,\" and titled my story After the Rain.<\/span>

Welcome \"rain.\" I appreciate your help to \"rein\" me into that quiet place in my office where it is more or less \"sane\" until I completely \"drain\" my \"brain\" of the story that is running through my \"veins.\" I will not \"complain\" about the \"rain\" while it waters my gardens as I \"remain\" inside and tend to an injury that I had to \"explain\" to my husband more than once. The conversation became \"mundane\" after several attempts to recreate the scenario.<\/span>

Yesterday, while working in my new sunflower garden, I jumped off my tractor and injured my knee, which may have caused me to \"obtain\" a \"strain.\" However, I did \"maintain\" my composure as I hobbled to a bench to \"obtain\" a place to recuperate.<\/span>

As I sat on the bench, I noticed the \"romaine\" lettuce has sprouted that I thought I planted in \"vain\" due to the hot August temperature. As a matter of fact, I planted a lot of greens as I \"entertain\" the thought of having fresh, tasteful greens during the hottest time of the year. I could not \"refrain\" myself from laughing at my \"insane\" endeavors when it comes to gardening. <\/span><\/p>\n

While sitting on the bench, the sound of a honking horn got my attention, and I waved to my friend \"Wayne\" as he rambled down the road in his 1957 \"Fairlane.\" I wondered if the time my 85-year-old friend has invested in keeping his vehicle in pristine condition is what helps to \"sustain\" his mental and physical ability.<\/span>

The whistle of a freight \"train\" in the distance and the sound of gentle raindrops on my tin roof bring me back to the moment, a sweet place where there is no need to \"feign\" contentment. The rain may \"detain\" me for a while; I am happy and contented as I sit at my desk while my dog is gently snoring on a rug at my feet.<\/span>

That's it. The end. No more words that rhyme. <\/span><\/p>\n

And that, my friend, was a fun writing challenge. And it also served as a reminder to me to be content, whatever situation we are in. And that is a bigger challenge. <\/span><\/p>\n

Now the sun is shining, and I took photos of raindrops on a few plants and flowers in the gardens. Love rain, raindrops on flowers, and sunshine after the rain.<\/span><\/p>\n

Note: This was originally written in 2020.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

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Reflective Questions To Ask Ourselves<\/h2>\n