Yes, indeed. It is cold outside.
I am reminded of a gift I received from my mother when she was near the end of her ten-year battle with Alzheimer's. Although her world had become very small, although she did not recognize any of her children - at least on the verbal level, she had the ability to appreciate the blue sky. She would say, "Look how blue the sky is today!" It is so easy to forget to appreciate what I have right in front of me because I am always thinking of other things. My mother gave me the gift to see more clearly - if I choose to do so.
This holiday season I would like to share some of the beauty of Wyoming. I recognize that I am truly blessed to be able to walk along a creek bank in the snow in complete silence. Watching the water make kaleidoscope patterns under the ice, watching the sun create a myriad diamonds on the snow's surface. I wish for you all the blessings that we take for granted - a meal with friends or family, a walk in the city or countryside, a moment of peace in this world.