A Look Back on 2010

Sunrise
November at Green Lake, WI

I must say, this year went by so fast! I can't remember every event that has happened throughout this year, but the one that really stuck out to me was the bp oil spill. It was the only time this past year that I was truly angry. How the government and the company handled the situation was terrible, the economy and the ecosystems of the Gulf Coast were devastated, and locals felt like nobody cared about them as the weeks went by. Despite how the situation was handled, I did forgive them once they plugged the hole (with a crappy design) and I have moved on. Hopefully, the wetlands of the Gulf Coast will recover from this ordeal. Also, 2010 was the 2nd warmest the planet has ever been since we started to keep records (as I'm currently writing this, the temperature for my town of Lombard, IL it is currently 51 degrees outside. But it's for one day only and then winter will return). A very warm spring jumpstarted many spring wildflowers to blooming a few weeks ahead of schedule, and a hot and wet summer made working outside difficult for me. Hopefully we'll get a break this coming year.
As for me, I did quite the bit of traveling. I went to North Carolina in March, Texas in June, and Washington state in August. In between I did my excursions throughout my homestate of Illinois and Wisconsin. So many cool birds and unique plant life were abound in these regions but I can write a book on everything I saw. I also worked at the Morton Arboretum for the summer. This living tree museum has many gardens within the park and I had to tend them for my internship. I had an awesome bird feeder setup in my college town of Platteville, WI, and I'll never forget all the birds that visited it during my last semester as a sophomore.
As for my hike with God, It was better then previous years. Sure I went through time of growth and dormancy like a tree through the seasons, but He is always there waiting for you to talk to Him and He will guide you through the good times and the bad times. What I love about God is that He will never change. Years come and go with their events, but God has stood through all of these and still has His love, judgement, and His gift to the earth. I pray that I can read His word more often and understand what He wants for me in 2011. he has shown me so many great things and has provided for me throughout the year, and I can't wait to see what He has in store for 2011!
I do want to thank my Platteville family for being there and being awesome friends, my friends at home, and my wonderful girlfriend. Thank you for making 2010 a great year!
Here are some of my favorite photos from 2010:

Bur Oak at the Morton Arboretum
January in Lisle, IL

Milkweed pods with frost
January in Platteville, WI

Beaver Damage
January in Platteville, WI

Highbush Cranberry Viburnum with frost
January in Platteville, WI

Downy Woodpecker
January in Platteville, WI

American Goldfinches
January in Platteville, WI

Glaucous Gull
February in Winthrop Harbor, IL

American Hazelnut flowers
March in Lombard, IL

Sunrise
March in Pisgah Forest, North Carolina

Eastern Fence Lizard
March in Pisgah Forest, North Carolina

Sharp-lobed Hepatica
March in Platteville, WI

White-throated Sparrow
April in Platteville, WI

Bloodroot
April in Platteville, WI

Bellwort
April in Belmont, WI

Jack-in-the-pulpit
April in Belmont, WI

Striped Coralroot Orchid at Cedar Campus
May near Cedarville, MI

Indian Paintbrush at Cedar Campus
May near Cedarville, MI
 

Black-footed Albatross
August 20 miles off the coast of Westport, WA

Sunset and Sooty Shearwaters
August in Westport, WA

American Chestnut leaves
September in Platteville, WI

 

                                                                                                         

The Gift that Keeps on Giving

Everyone you can think of anticipates this time of the year. Commercials and other forms of advertisement brainwash our minds on what to get our loved ones as gifts, and you become part of a rat race that sweeps malls and stores across the nation  like a devouring swarm of locusts... oh Christmastime.

White-breasted Nuthatch

Going out and shopping like this isn't bad at all. We get an extra boost to our economy (because we so desperately need it!), we actually have to be creative on what we get our friends and family... or just get them the new iphone to "Keep up with the Jones's," and you try to make someone happy with what you put your though into... or be lazy and get them a gift card (which there's nothing wrong with). Over the years, the commercialism of Christmas has become a huge deal in the United States and around the world. Companies plan on when to release some of their products for the holidays, and they advertise them with holiday jingles earlier and earlier each year. In fact, they make it seem like that Thanksgiving isn't a big deal! It scares me sometimes. However, there is one Christmas gift that you can give someone. It doesn't cost anything and it keeps giving for the rest of your life. Plus, it's the root word in Christmas.

Long ago (not in a galaxy far far away), God sent His son, Jesus Christ to earth. He didn't come dressed elegantly or power hungry for the latest and greatest, but came in the most humble way: a baby. He also was born in pretty much a dumpy place to house domestic animals, not a castle or palace. Yet, He would grow up with the people around him and teach those how to love their fellow brother and sister. In fact, He loves us so much that he gave his life for us. We are destined for eternity in Hell because of our sinful nature. But, Jesus saved all of humanity through His blood. All we have to do is know that He did this for us and accept Him as our Savior. Through this, He changes our hearts when we follow him so that we can love those around us... I guess you can say it's a gift that keeps on giving.

If you know someone you really care about who needs this gift more then any material thing, share them the real Christmas story and the real true meaning of Christmas. Because one day, we will lose all our possessions of earth, and what will you have then?

On that note, I wish all of you a Merry Christmas and safe travels to y'all!

American Bittersweet