When it rains, it pours...indoors?

Southern California has been getting pounded by rain, hail, snow, and wind.  There have been flash flood warnings and even tornado/water spout warnings.  Mudslides have begun right alongside mudflows.  Several of our friends have been evacuated from their hillside homes and we're only half-way through the storm.  It's been flat-out crazy!

As for us, we have not been evacuated--but we have a leaky ceiling.  When the rains really started on Monday, our ceiling decided that it just didn't want to hold the water out anymore.  While sitting on the couch enjoying a movie, we heard a weird sound and looked over just in time to see a small chunk of plaster fall from the ceiling and begin raining on everything below it.  We jumped into action: moving furniture, getting plastic down, and putting large pots underneath to catch all the rain.  Within the hour, several other spots on our ceiling decided to spring leaks, too.

This has been going on this entire week with the downpour outside.  A repair guy has been working feverishly to patch the problem--but that's just it...they're temporary patches that hold for a few hours and then give way.  It's disconcerting that he looks surprised anytime his patch works, even for a bit.  Hm...

So, I've cleared my schedule for the week to be on storm watch--in our living room.  When a leak springs, I run to grab yet another receptacle to catch it.  It's definitely been keeping me on my toes.  Oh, what a fun week it's been...

Even amidst all of this, we're very thankful that we have a home and that it's only leaking in the living room.  We both know it could be worse.  With all this in mind, we will still be praising God in this (literal) storm.

 ²⁸ Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress.
 ²⁹ He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed.
 ³⁰ They were glad when it grew calm,and he guided them to their desired haven. (Psalm 107:28-30 NIV)