After the Rainstorm
- Debra Flaming
- Jun 28
- 2 min read
June 28, 2026
Friday was a stormy day here in Idaho's Treasure Valley.
Before turning in for the evening, I took one last walk through the garden and our dahlia fields. Everything looked peaceful, and I thought the rain had finally passed.
I was wrong.
Later that evening another thunderstorm rolled through, dropping nearly 1½ inches of rain in a very short time. The ground simply couldn't absorb it fast enough.
Across Caldwell, drainage systems were overwhelmed, streets filled with water, and many neighborhoods experienced serious flooding.
One of those affected was my dear friend, Brynda.
Many of you who have followed my blog may remember her. Brynda creates beautiful shadow boxes featuring dried flowers, and she graciously taught me how to preserve and arrange dried dahlias myself. Because she was willing to share her knowledge, I was able to create Christmas gifts for each of my daughters and daughters-in-law using dried blooms from Flaming Acres Dahlias.
When I saw the video she posted, my heart sank.
What had once been her backyard looked more like a river. Water rushed through her garden, leaving behind damage that may take years to restore.
I called to see how she was doing.
Her response immediately reminded me what truly matters.
"It's just stuff. I'm fine."
Then she added, "I'm so grateful it didn't come into the house. We are very blessed."
And because Brynda always finds a reason to smile, she laughed and said,
"Looking on the bright side... I don't have to irrigate for a few days!"
That perspective has stayed with me.
Here at Flaming Acres, we also received plenty of rain and experienced some flooding in our area. After walking through the fields yesterday, however, we found that our dahlias looked refreshed, and the young trees Dion recently planted seemed especially grateful for the deep soaking. Like Brynda, we'll be able to skip irrigation for a few days.
We are thankful for God's protective hand over our farm and our family.
Not everyone escaped the storm without loss, and our hearts go out to those facing the difficult work of cleaning up and rebuilding.
As Christians, we don't believe life will always go as planned. Storms come—to our gardens, our homes, and sometimes our hearts.
But we also know that God walks with us through every one of them.
His Word reminds us that "in all things God works for the good of those who love Him." Even when we cannot yet see how He will bring beauty from brokenness, we can trust that He is already at work.
Today, when you think of those whose lives have been turned upside down by these storms—or those walking through storms of another kind—would you take a moment to pray for them?
Ask God to strengthen them, encourage them, provide for their needs, and bring hope where there is discouragement.
Thank you, Lord, for Your faithfulness in every season.
Have a blessed Sunday.
Debra Flaming
