A Complete Mess

Yesterday, it rained all day and many streets in town were flooded.  The road before our cul-de-sac dips down and then rises slightly up into the cul-de-sac.  Right at that part, there is a drain.  Yesterday, the drain couldn’t keep up and the road got completely flooded over for over 8 hours.  We went out for lunch after church and when we got to our cul-de-sac, we realized the water was too high to drive through (at least Jared didn’t want to risk it).  We sat in the van and discussed whether we should try to get to our house from behind it or if we should go to someone else’s house to wait it out.  I knew Haley needed a nap and possibly Blake, too, so I said we should try to get inside through the back.  We parked on the street behind our house and went through our neighbor’s back yard.  The problem with our yard is that it’s unfinished and when it rains, it turns into a giant mud pit.  Thankfully, Kiera and Blake had worn their rubber boots to church, so they were fine.  I followed and when I got to the ditch behind our house, I got completely stuck with my crutches.  Haley was crying and not walking, so Jared had to first come get her and carry her inside.  As I stood there, my foot completely covered in mud (I was wearing a dress shoe), not able to move, I hung my head in despair as the rain poured down on me.  Although I was incredibly unhappy and discouraged at that point, what was running through my head was a line from yesterday’s sermon: “God’s grace is completely sufficient in this.”  It was so sweet of the Holy Spirit to remind me of that in a situation that I was definitely not ok with.  Jared came back with some boards that he lay across the ditch so I could cross it and helped pull out my crutches.  Then, he cleaned my crutches once I got inside while I cleaned some of the mud that we had all tracked into the entrance.  I felt like that whole situation was a disaster, but was extra thankful for clean, dry clothes that we all changed into after.  Today, the water is gone and the sun came out!  Soon, my cast will come off and we will have grass, so I see the light at the end of the tunnel!  It has been so incredibly challenging taking care of my kids (especially when Haley escapes outside), cleaning, doing laundry, and shopping, just to name a few, while on crutches, but God has definitely shown me His grace in different ways and He has carried me through.