It's amazing what you can see when you stop and really look

We have some property in Granger that we use for camping and dirt biking. It's about 7 acres of woods, surrounded by corn fields and has a small swampy pond on it. I used to go out there often to have my quiet time or do my exercise walk around the track, but I got out of the habit and kind of forgot about it.

Yesterday I had to be out of the house for a couple of hours so I loaded up the dog and some work and headed out to the property. When you first pull in it's nothing fabulous looking, but as I was walking around the track with the dog and just hanging out with God, all of a sudden my eyes were open - I slowed down and started really looking at things that were all around me and it was beautiful! I went and grabbed my camera and started looking and shooting - trying to capture all of the amazing things God was showing me are right under my nose all the time, but I'm so busy rushing around I don't take the time to see them.

He has placed the beauty and magnificence of creation ALL around us. It's His way of telling us that He's there - He sees us - He loves us. Scripture says that Jesus sings over us - for me one of His most beautiful melodies (and the one I'm able to hear the most) is this amazing earth and all of it's creation. What a beautiful song! I pray that I will continue to live with my eyes wide open and see all of the beauty that God has for us every day.

When I became still and just sat on the edge of the pond, the yucky muck pond turned into something fabulous! There were all kinds of wild life having a blast in that pond. I always saw it as a yucky old swamp, but it's so much more.

Here's a little dragon fly on a leaf boat getting a drink of water.

The pond is filled with frogs - I love frogs and always have so I had a great time looking for them. I think they're fascinating!

I had never been in a cornfield before and was amazed at how cool it was.

This is what it looks like inside a cornfield. I thought it was cool how all of the leaves bend and make a tunnel.

Here's another little dragon fly taking a rest on a leaf. This was the first time I've ever seen one without his wings moving - he must have been tired!