Beep. Beep. Beep. I rolled over in my bed [nearly falling face first onto the floor] and uncovered my alarm clock, which was stuck between my mattresses.
5:40 AM? Why I felt so alert at such an ungodly hour was beyond comprehension.

And then, I remembered!

At nearly 1:00 AM, I’d carefully prepared the ingredients to bake bread overnight. Timed appropriately alongside my coffee pot, I rose out of bed to an aroma filling my house, a blend of Verona coffee and freshly baked whole wheat bread.

Peering out onto my back porch, I quickly set out to watch the sunrise – one of the best mornings I can recall in a very long time!! A [cool?] summer breeze greeted me as I watched orange swirls fill the sky from the rising sun. Bursts of color sprung above the trees, clouds like the delicate strokes of a paintbrush.

Tweet. Tweet. Tweet. Morning birds covered the lawn. To my delight, a giant frog leapt near my feet. Curled up in an oversized chair, I sipped my coffee and thanked the Lord for the day.

I wish I had more mornings like this. It seems as if the mornings that I simply s t o p and take in the beauty around me, my outlook for the day is entirely different.

I appreciate things, liittle things. Like birds and frogs and cool breezes.
I feel more acutely aware of creation, and in turn, the Creator.

“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” – Psalm 16:11

My lover spoke and said to me,

“Arise, my darling,
       my beautiful one, and come with me.

 See! The winter is past; 
       the rains are over and gone.

 Flowers appear on the earth;
       the season of  singing has come,
       the cooing of doves 
       is heard in our land.

 The fig tree forms its early fruit; 
       the blossoming vines spread their fragrance.
       Arise, come, my darling;
       my beautiful one, come with me.”

Song of Solomon 2:10-13