What a Wonderful World

I see trees of green

Red roses too

Squirrel!!!! 

opps...

I see them bloom 

For me and you 

I think to myself "what a wonderful world"

*listening to What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong while editing these photos

Can you see the forest through the trees?

When you look at the natural world what do you see? Beauty. Design. Complexity. Wonder. Strength. Or maybe it is just a bunch of trees and open sky?

Are you able to see all that is before your eyes? Or are you limited by the noise of the world? Every day we have the opportunity to see the natural world as a reflection of something greater, if we choose to do so. 

Take a moment today to stop your busy life and find joy in the natural world around you. You will find greater appreciation for the world we have been placed on and call home. There is so much to learn about the natural world, if only we knew where to look. 

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

Whose woods these are I think I know.   
His house is in the village though;   
He will not see me stopping here   
To watch his woods fill up with snow.   

My little horse must think it queer   
To stop without a farmhouse near   
Between the woods and frozen lake   
The darkest evening of the year.   

He gives his harness bells a shake   
To ask if there is some mistake.   
The only other sound’s the sweep   
Of easy wind and downy flake.   

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,   
But I have promises to keep,

   
And miles to go before I sleep,   

And miles to go before I sleep.

~Robert Frost 

Picture Perfect

The excitement on the bus heightened as we drove out of Glasgow on to the Scottish Highlands for a day trip. With fellow international students I toured around to see breathtaking landscapes, historic monuments, and film locations for Harry Potter and James Bond movies. The day was picture perfect as the sun was out and the scenery was magnificent. 

Loch Lomond 

Our first stop was the shore of Loch Lomond, a familiar place but none the less exciting! The early morning sun was perfect for photos and capturing the breadth of the loch (lake), the largest in Scotland. 

Glencoe

Passing through Glencoe was fascinating as you gaze up to the top of the highlands from the bottom of the Glenn (valley). My fascination lie not only in the beautiful scenery, but in the geology that forms the landscapes. Following the highland boundary fault many rock types, and geologic events, shape the landscapes and were highly visible along the roads. This made for a great opportunity to see and better understand some of Scotland's geology, including collecting samples. 

Fort William 

A quick stop for lunch in Fort William was just long enough to walk about the town center and appreciate the full day of sunshine! 

Glenfinnan Viaduct

The height of the trip was the Glenfinnan Viaduct, aka. the Harry Potter Bridge, with more picture perfect scenery. The views of the area and its wildlife were accompanied by a bit of trekking through some of the forests and wetlands to better appreciate the landscape (and search for rocks). 

The iconic bridge at the viaduct is just as you can imagine, huge. Here is a fun fact: it is up to 100 feet tall and 1248 feet long, with 21 arches. Most people know this bridge from the scenes where the Jacobite Steam Train, aka. Hogwarts Express, crosses the bridge in the Chamber of Secrets, among others in the series. 

Our return to Glasgow was beautiful as we traveled back through the highlands to yet again be blown away by the picture perfect scenery as the sun set behind the clouds, reminding me that everyday is a gift and should be treasured, even if it isn't picture perfect! 

All Things Made New

Spring is a beautiful time of year when new life arises and the beauty of the earth can be appreciated. I have had the privilege to capture some of that and would love to share it with you, along with a few texts for inspiration!  

One day tells a story to the next. 

One night shares knowledge with the next 

     without talking, 

     without words, 

     without their voices being heard.

Yet, their sound has gone out into the entire world, 

     their message to the ends of the earth.  (Psalms 19:2-4 GW)

What have we done to the world 

     Look what we've done

What about all the peace

     That you pledge your only son....

What about flowering fields 

     Is there a time

What about all the dreams 

     That you said were yours and mine....(Earth Song, Michael Jackson)

That's why we're waiting

Waiting on the world to change

We keep on waiting

Waiting on the world to change

It's not that we don't care

We just know that the fight ain't fair

So we keep on waiting

Waiting on the world to change (Waiting on the World to Change, John Mayer) 

I'd like to make myself believe

That planet Earth turns slowly

It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep

'Cause everything is never as it seems (Fireflies, Owl City) 

 

Gazing through the window at the world outside

     Wondering will Mother Earth survive

     Hoping that mankind will stop abusing her sometime

I'm just a dreamer 

     Who dreams of better days (Dreamer, Ozzy Osbourne)