In a Vase on Monday: At the End of the Storm is a Golden Sky...

...and the sweet silver song of a lark
Walk on, through the wind
Walk on, through the rain
Though your dreams be tossed and blown
Walk on, walk on
With hope in your heart
And you'll never walk alone...

With all the storms we've been having in Texas recently, I can't help but sing the words of one of my favorite songs, "You'll Never Walk Alone" from Carousel.  For those not familiar with the song, here is my favorite arrangement and performance of the piece, sung by favorite musical organization - The Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps, which I was honored to part of back in 2005.

It reminds me how no matter how terrible the "storms" you are going through may be (literally or figuratively), there is hope that things will get better with the help of others, through strength found in God, and with your own grit and determination.

This week's vase demonstrates the beauty that comes after the storms.

This vase, inspired by Cathy's weekly meme over at Rambling in the Garden is filled with a light pink and magenta gladiola, that were knocked down during our recent strong winds.

There is one Mrs. B. R. Cant rose,

A couple of volunteer sunflowers, planted by the birds over the winter,

As well as a handful of zinnias to brighten up the bouquet.

The actual storms in Texas completely filled the retention pond in the park behind our house (normally does not have any water in it, but was filled within an hour or two last week).

As well as brought some funky cool mammatus clouds to the area after the severe storms, which reminded me of something out of a Dr. Seuss or other fantasy book

But those were only minor impacts of the area storms.  The real damage was done down in Hays County.  My husband and I dropped off some flood clean-up supplies in Wimberley, TX over the weekend, where I snapped a couple phone pictures in areas that weren't completely closed off to civilians.

Many trees were completely knocked down or up-rooted, including cypress trees that were centuries old.  Homes and buildings were swept off of their foundations and carried miles downstream (if not completely demolished).  The force of the flood waters was unreal, and the devastation was overwhelming.

I continue to think about all those impacted by the floods and I'm grateful for the volunteers that are helping to clean up the communities that were hit.  There is hope that things will get better.  Walk on and know that you'll never walk alone.