I woke up to the rain pelting my windows and thudding quietly, almost trance-like on my roof.  Padding downstairs–alone–I breathed in through my nose, letting it out in a satisfied sigh.  I was kid-free.  My house was clean.  And it was raining.  Could life get much better?! 

It’s not that I don’t love my kids–I do–but I love rainy days and time to myself, too. 

You see, every summer my parents come and take the girls off of our hands for 5 days or so.  It’s a wonderful reprieve from the daily grind of endless questions, meltdowns, sibling rivalry, and staying one step ahead of the gang.  It’s a time for me to catch my breath and recharge for the rest of the summer. 

I really can’t be any more blessed than to have a couple of extra-devoted grandparents to plan a fast-paced itenerary of “Camp PapaNana,” as the annual “event” has affectionately been referred to around here.  (Thanks, dad and Deb). 

Sure, I miss ’em a little bit.  But nothing compares to the solitude and sweet serentity I feel right now as I listen to David Lanz and his relaxing piano tunes.  As the Carpenter’s once sang, “rainy days and Monday’s always get me down…”  Well…not so for this gal, rainy days and time alone always lift me up! 

And that is what is in my brain today, Thurday June 8th 2011.