And The Thunder Rolls...

Eric and I were awoken last night by an unhappy Ian.  After dealing with his woes, I was awake enough to be listening to the thunder in the distance.  I became more awake the longer I laid there.

So I got up to watch the light show.  Turned out to be a good one!  The sky was lit up and the thunder was soon to follow.  I did not see many bolts as they were apparently behind us.  The rain was coming down hard, but came down even harder the longer I sat there.  A bolt shot down behind the building in front of me and thunder cracked immediately.  WOW!  I sure expected to have a few more members to this light show audience.  But (thankfully), they slept on.

The sky lit up, the rain came down

After about an hour, my dad came out and joined me.  We went walking the halls to see if we could get a better view.  Another 45 minutes later, we both headed back to bed when the rain had calmed (to just a steady rain) and the thunder became more background noise.

Birds taking shelter on the window railings

Waiohai pond overflowing its banks this morning

This morning, Mom and I went to an "area orientation" and won a two-for-one Na Pali Coastline boat trip.  Eric's answer to going?  "No way!"  Mom had already bowed out.  Dad?  Stefan?  Come on!  The waterfalls should be great...

The lightening/thunder lasted most of the day, so the pools were closed.  The boys played games and then we all went for a drive to check out the rivers and such (more later)!

Stefan sandwich!

Can't breathe, Daddy!

Daddy sandwich!!!

Thunderstruck

One of my fondest memories as a kid is thunderstorms. They were truly electrifying experiences; emotions delicately balanced between awe and wonder and sheer terror.
It made me feel so human and powerless to nature and it made God so BIG and powerful.

In that state of awe and fright, I would seek out my mom. We would go to the kitchen where the wall of plate glass windows allowed us to watch the night sky light up during God's miraculous fireworks display. I was comforted by watching the lightening (perhaps because thunder was then expected) and having my mom nearby - the ice-cream she dished up didn't hurt either...

The tables were turned tonight. I was the comforter. I am now "the mom".

We do not have the view I had as a kid. It hardly mattered, since the storm was right on us - much like having it in our living room.
We traded ice-cream for popcorn.

The scenery had changed, but not the circumstances. This time my kids were looking to Mom for strength and comfort.



Ian tucked his head into my neck, leaving a trailing hand in my popcorn bowl... Stefan snuggled in on my legs.



Dougie nestled in under the train table next to me.

They all eventually fell asleep as the thunder continued to roll in the distance.

It is good to be needed in this way. It gives one a certain feeling, much like the one felt during the storm. A mixed sense of awe and slight terror.



I believe I am thunderstruck...


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Location:１丁目,Yokosuka,Japan