Parks and (not so)Wildlife

Ready for my park journey!

WELL.  I decided I should blog again!  It's been quite awhile, hasn't it?  Not that I assume my "readership" has noticed, haha. :-)  It isn't that I haven't had anything to write about.  I always do.  I mean, I'm always thinking about something, so I figure there must be material.  But, there has been much on my heart over the last few months, and sometimes I wasn't so sure I wanted other people to be able to see into my inner being.  You see, I'm not very good at writing about things that aren't close to my heart.  (Maybe this is why my research papers and essays in college were always so horrible? If you deny this, you never read them or reviewed my grades.  So there you have it.)  Frequently I find myself writing paragraphs in blog form; I thought this might be a sign.

The best view in the park.

I went to the park today.  After sword fighting with evil bacteria for most of a week in Kansas City and then coming home only to succumb to the dreary ways of a cold-flu for another week, I needed fresh air.  Ahh, it was nice.  I swung on the swings that are supposedly meant for 5-12 year olds, figuring I don't weigh that different from when I was 12.  This was glorious and my heart sung praises to God for all His goodness to me.  After about five minutes my hips and thighs, which do not resemble a 12 year-old's, started to feel a little cramped due to the narrow swing.  I was super glad that I came when I did, as it wasn't long before the skate-boarders descended on the place.  It isn't that I don't enjoy the sounds of children playing gleefully, but sometimes I like to forget that I live in the suburbs and tiny wheels clashing with pavement is rarely peaceful.

As I walked along and finally arrived at my favorite perch atop a rocky place, I was completely amazed at the beauty that surrounded me.  Actually, I think I was awestruck that I recognized it as beautiful.  I mean, everything is dead.  And brown.  One might say gloomy.  Yet there was something glorious about it.  I was surprised at my thankfulness.  This spurred more thankfulness, for I realized that God must have done a work in my heart.  I struggle with winter and cold.  Not a fan...for very long.  Nearly always ready for summer!  Anyway, the fact that I could look around and say,  "I really have no idea what is going to happen and trusting can be hard...but, WOW.  Look how wonderful the world is!"  says something.  I think back to college days, when winter could actually be called winter.  There were times when my spirit was burdened or I was down about something--and that's all there was to it.  It didn't matter that winter, crystal encrusted trees and all, was indeed a lovely sight to behold.  It was shaded by my bleak view of the world at that moment.  Wow.  Now things are different.  Hallelujah!

So today, I am grateful.  Thanks, Jesus!



Probably seems like an abrupt ending....but I'm tired...sooooo.  And, hey, this isn't the end, anyway, right???!