Paul Dallgas-Frey's Blog, February 1, 2009

(photo - dawn over a corn field. It's really actually much nicer than the description. The caption read,

I need a nap. Really bad!

I have decided I consume entirely too much sugar (pancakes or waffles smothered in syrup and whipped cream almost every morning.... yum!), a forsty glass of ice cold Coke at least once a day... maybe twice... (it's scary when you see the mountain of empty cans!). The occasional stop at Dairy Queen for a small caramel sundae. Okay, maybe more like the semi-regular stop. It just can't be good!

So I am going off it cold turkey.

...and I think my brain is flat-lining.

So definitely, a nap is in order!

And then Dani and I plan on poping some popcorn and watching "Groundhog Day," since we missed the big celebration Monday.

Yes, we lead an exciting life!

But it is a gorgeous day. I see the sun shining absolutely brilliantly - almost blindingly so - out my work room window, and I'd love to go out and take some pictures. Except it is also really COLD out - as it was the other morning when I had the same idea.

Last summer I discovered a park preserve just a few blocks from our house. Who knew?! We have lived in this house since 1992, and I had no IDEA this little bit of heaven even existed! But one day I had parked on the edge of town to take some pictures of a stand of milkweed pods. They were growing along a dirt road that led off to who-knows-where. That's what I needed to find out!

At the end of the road I came to a narrow path that led to a hole in a clump of bushes and trees. When I ducked through the little hole, it opened up into this beautiful meadow preserve.

I felt a bit like Alice in Wonderland.

Well, it turns out there is a hiking/biking path that circles about 3 miles through the woods and around the preserve. It is truly wonderful, like being in another world, really.

So ANYWAY! It has become a favorite place to go - except, for the last couple of months when it was off limits... well, unless you didn't mind being shot at by nearsighted deer hunters (I figure the ones with decent eyesight would clearly see that deer don't normally carry cameras).

ANYWAY! (Part 2)

I have been anxious to get back there, finally, to get some winter shots. So early the other morning, the sun was just beginning to come up, the light was beautiful - I grabbed my camera, jumped in the car and drove over. It wasn't until I stepped out of the car, and an arctic wind slapped me in the face, that I discovered just how cold it was! So I ventured out a ways, snapped the picture above, and ran back to the car. I'm a wimp.

ANYWAY! (Part 3)

I have been thinking about this whole blessing thing.

I was praying for the kids this morning, asking God to bless them in the life that lays ahead of them... and then realized it's not so much that God needs to heap on MORE blessings, as it is that we come to see how much he has blessed us already.

Every moment of every day - every breath I take - is a blessing from God. When I stop, I mean really stop, and consider ALL God had to do to make even the simplest moment possible - that's when I begin to realize just how blessed I am, and even more, I come to see and know just how wonderful God is, and how much He truly loves us.

What do you think?