Last month, I traveled to Las Vegas for a Stampin’ Up! Leadership event. My friend Missy and I spent a night on the strip before heading to the Red Rock Convention Center for our event. After a fun day of shopping and exploring we stopped outside the Bellagio Hotel to enjoy the fountain show.

We felt a few drops of rain just a few minutes before the show started. We didn’t think much of it; most of the people waiting for the show around us continued to stay and didn’t let a few drops of rain bother them.

Then the show started.

And so did the rain!

Out of nowhere the wind picked up and the rain started to come down. So much for recreating our “Oceans 11” moment. We knew we needed to get back to our hotel just one block away. But that didn’t happen. The rain was coming down in buckets and the wind was making it hard to see, so we dashed up an escalator across from our hotel. We were nervously laughing as we started looking for shelter with about 100 other people who were doing the same in that area.

The first thing I did was repack my shopping bag because the bottom of the paper bag I was carrying had totally disintegrated and I needed to secure my items. Missy helped me because the wind was really whipping through where we were standing nearly knocking us over!!!

After we got settled, we kind of sat there for a few minutes in disbelief of what was happening. To be honest, it was a little scary. Since we were still getting hit by the wind and rain and not really in a super secure shelter, we decided we were going to “go for it” and cross the street to our hotel. We headed down the escalator so we could get to the crosswalk, held onto each other, and ran!

The trip across the street was unreal. We were getting hit so hard by the rain we could barely see! When we walked into the hotel, we were completely soaked. It was no different than if we had both jumped into that fountain during the show!!! We looked at each other and thought, “What just happened”?? We also smiled and felt so RELIEVED that we were now inside our hotel. Before we made the long trip through the casino and back to our room, we took this photo to document the moment. Just look at the water on Missy’s glasses!

I am thankful that Missy and I were kept safe that night and that we can look back on the situation now and have a reason to be grateful. We didn’t let that situation steal our joy, instead, we learned to dance in the rain. That's the same thing I want to do no matter what storm in life I face.

I know that the storms of life can come out of nowhere.

They can make you feel fearful, scared, and helpless.

But I want to remind you today that you are not alone!

Psalm 46:1 says God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in time of need.

Facing storms in life is no fun but I’ve learned that because of my relationship with Jesus, I don’t have to face them alone. As he has helped me, he will help you too.

So if you are in the middle of a storm today, stay positive and hopeful, and don’t let anyone steal your joy. Learn to dance in the rain knowing that one day soon, the storm will pass, and after it does you will be a survivor who can use your story to help others. I hope that this encourages you today!

With love and blessings,

Cindy