Brrrr....

Wyoming. Just one word, seven little letters, yet for me it conjures up so much. Wyoming conjures up Cowboys and Indians, rodeos, horseback rides on the prairie, backpacking trips in the BigHorn mountains, and most of all family and friends. Wyoming also conjures up cold and snowy winters and that dreamed of "white Christmas".

Right now I'm experiencing that cold that I mentioned. Below zero temps with colder wind chills. It is C-O-L-D, COLD! But guess what!?! I'm LOVING IT!!!! That's right, the cold must have gone to my head because I'm loving this weather. I feel so alive when I go outside. Putting on my ear covering, gloves, winter coat, thick socks and running out to start the truck so I can run back inside while it warms up and I thaw from the 45 seconds I was just outside. Driving slowly to avoid doing cookies and playing demolition derby, it is all great!

Why is it so great? Because it is Winter (well in most of the US at least, it is still pre-midnight here). Winter for me is the best season because it is full of hope. Hope and rest. Hope for the Spring that always comes and brings new life. Hope in the Savior whose birth we celebrate, Hope in a new year. HOPE is such a precious word and even more precious feeling. Hope helps us survive and get through the hardest of times.

But Winter is also a time of rest. A time to recharge and hunker down. A time to take life a bit slower and prepare for the busy time. Most of our lives are busy right now, but Winter is still the season of rest for me and recharging my batteries. We all need to make the time and just rest, the blanket of snow on the ground reminds me of that.

Winter is also the time of snow here in Wyoming. Snow is just great! I can make snow cream, snow angels, snow men, snow balls, snow forts, SNOW, SNOW, SNOW!!! Such a magical, wonderful substance and I can't get enough!

So, yes even I will admit that it is COLD right now, but I love the cold because it is part of Wyoming and I love Wyoming. I don't live here anymore, and may never again, but it is still in my heart and will always be in my heart. It is a state that I love for many reasons, and one of them is the cold.

Have a good Sunday and stay Warm!

Paige