Rainy Day, But Make It Beautiful
From the Archives: March 31, 2022
This post is part of my archive series—migrated from my old blog and originally written on March 31, 2022. These are reflections from an earlier season, preserved here with love.
It had been over a month since I blogged—life simply got full. With the war in Ukraine heavy on our hearts and refugees staying with us for the past two weeks, my mind and energy were elsewhere. But today felt different.
I decided to take a rest day.
A day for my Bible, for photography, for inspiration, for quiet joy—maybe some coloring, reading, crochet, or a cozy vlog or two on YouTube. I didn’t do it all, but I did enough to feel restored. It’s 9:45pm now as I write, much later than I usually blog, but the words finally found me.
This morning started gently. I had coffee with Luboš—something that, oddly, felt rare lately. We sat down together at the table, just the two of us, cups in hand, catching up on life. It’s been intense around here, and our time together has been stretched thin. That small ritual of connection was just what I needed.
After he left for work, I picked up my camera.
Photographing with a hot cup of coffee in the morning always brings the best kind of inspiration. That soft, early light, the calm of the house—it’s always been my favorite time to create. With my current work schedule (Monday through Wednesday), I don’t get many quiet mornings like this, but I know another season will come. So I hold onto the ones I do get.
Midmorning, I felt like I needed something—something quiet and colorful to feed my creative spirit. So I decided to go out and find a new coloring book. As I stepped outside, it started to rain. It hadn’t rained for weeks—maybe not at all in March—so I welcomed it. The cool air, the gray skies, the soft drizzle. It was time to bundle up again, and honestly, I didn’t mind.
On my walk, I stopped by a couple of handmade shops and found two new rag rugs. I love rag rugs. They’re cozy, washable (a must when you live with a dog), and just add that handmade charm to a space. It was a simple but satisfying find.
Later in the afternoon, I prepared a small gift for my dear friend Petronela. She had been looking for colorful spoons—for tea and photography—and I had found some for her. I colored a little envelope to wrap them up. We spent the evening at her place, eating dinner and talking for hours. It had been too long since we sat down just the two of us, and our time together was full of laughter and good conversation. A simple, beautiful evening.
Now, as I’m winding down for the night, I’m grateful for a day like this. A day that reminded me how beauty doesn’t need to be loud. It can be quiet, rainy, soft, and still inspiring.
Looking back, this wasn’t just a rainy day. It was a day of restoration. Even when life feels uncertain, I believe God gently weaves these quiet moments into our story to remind us that beauty is always near. Sometimes in a new rug, a coloring book, or a warm catch-up with a friend. And sometimes, just in the rain.
