More flood

There was a headline in today's USA Today about how dry much of the U. S. is, see: http://www.usatoday.com/weather/drought/2009-03-10-drought_N.htm

Well, not here right now. Recent storms (our power was out for 2 hours on Sunday afternoon) have again swollen local rivers. Here is one of Kickapoo Creek (note the flooded power pole). The Illinois River is predicted to crest on Saturday at about the same very high level that it did last September (see old postings for pictures of that). Even though we are in a freezing cold snap again, the skies have cleared. Here are some flowers at Kris's piano teacher's house. I forget what they are called, but they even beat the crocuses!

Another random thing, here are the lyrics to an old Jars of Clay song called Worlds Apart (from their album "Flood" by the way). They are a bit heavy, but I really like the words...

I am the only one to blame for this

Somehow it all ends up the same

Soaring on the wings of selfish pride

I flew too high

And like Icarus I collide

With a world I try so hard to leave behind

To rid myself of all but love

To give and die

To turn away and not become

Another nail to pierce the skin of One who loves

More deeply than the oceans,

More abundant than the tears

Of a world embracing every heartache

Can I be the one to sacrifice

Or grip the spear and watch the blood and water flow?

To love you - take my world apart

To need you - I am on my knees

To love you - take my world apart

To need you - broken on my knees

All said and done I stand alone

Amongst remains of a life I should not own

It takes all I am to believe

In the mercy that covers me

Did you really have to die for me?

All I am for all you are

Because what I need and what I believe

Are worlds apart

[Additional lyrics:]

I look beyond the empty cross

forgetting what my life has cost

and wipe away the crimson stains

and dull the nails that still remain

More and more I need you now,

I owe you more each passing hour

the battle between grace and pride

I gave up not so long ago

So steal my heart and take the pain

and wash the feet and cleanse my pride

take the selfish, take the weak,

and all the things I cannot hide

take the beauty, take my tears

the sin-soaked heart and make it yours

take my world all apart

take it now, take it now

and serve the ones that I despise

speak the words I can't deny

watch the world I used to love

fall to dust and thrown away

I look beyond the empty cross

forgetting what my life has cost

so wipe away the crimson stains

and dull the nails that still remain

so steal my heart and take the pain

take the selfish, take the weak

and all the things I cannot hide

take the beauty, take my tears

take my world apart, take my world apart

I pray, I pray, I pray

take my world apart