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Evolution has been observed to occur quite rapidly -- surprisingly rapidly. I read an article recently about species of weeds that had adapted to an urban environment which favours quick germination in places like cracks in the pavement. In just several generations, these weeds' reproductive cycles had changed noticeably from those of their rural counterparts. Sceintists were puzzled by this.

If evolution occurs quite rapidly, then why did it take billions of years to happen?

Does adaption to ones environment mean we all evolved? Or does it just mean "adaption to ones environment" like a cat or dog grows a thicker coat in winter? Did the change that took place in the plants (adapting to their environment) consist of anything outside of the plant's already available information? Was there a change to say the plant was becoming something it wasn't? Or simply the information inside the plant already there adapting and emphasizing aspects of its' reproduction to suit the environment.....

This is to me, flexibility and versitility contained within the information inside every living creature (plants included). Whatever is required to be used more, becomes emphasised.
The muscles adapt to stress/exercise and respond accordingly. What you're saying here sounds wonderful to me, because I see how adaptable and flexible every living creature is, but this in no way gives evidence for one kind of creature becoming something entirely different, just because you throw billions of years on it or decide that it's "possible". Possible doesn't mean it's "fact". And we haven't seen it happen yet, so I guess articles like this are about all one can put across as 'evidence for evolution". That one creature can conceivably become something else, because of this? The dog perhaps could become a cat given the right environment for long enough, that it had to adapt itself with feline charateristics to survive.....changing from one creature to another.....One can only go so far with the information already existing, before fact becomes mere science fiction.

I think you can reach a stage where you can be awestruck or even wrapped up in the marvels of the universe, the mind, life itself and yet remain completely (willingly ignorant) blind to any idea of a creator that made this all possible for you and I to marvel at in the first place. The bible talks of this also and it's interesting to observe. People that talk about the marvels of life, but deny the power from whence it came and put man and intellectualism in place of the Creator.