{"id":17283,"date":"2025-08-21T14:01:05","date_gmt":"2025-08-21T19:01:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sandiherron.com\/blog\/?p=17283"},"modified":"2025-11-20T19:16:51","modified_gmt":"2025-11-21T01:16:51","slug":"after-the-rain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sandiherron.com\/blog\/after-the-rain\/","title":{"rendered":"After the Rain"},"content":{"rendered":"\n[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.0″ custom_margin=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||6px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”0px|auto|0px|auto|false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||true|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/sandiherron.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/AFTER-THE-RAIN.-2.jpg” alt=”2025 Snow day.” title_text=”AFTER THE RAIN. 2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ header_2_font=”|600|||||||” header_3_font=”||on||||||” header_3_line_height=”1.6em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”]
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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>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]

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>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]

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