So this morning we got up to see snow everywhere. We have known it was coming for over a week but nothing the weather man could say would prepare us for how beautiful it was.  We were perfectly happy looking at the snow from the warmth of our house but horses had to be checked on and fed. Trysten, Hannah, Lucky and I all went out in the freezing wind to check on all 20 of our babies. I have never in my life experienced a cold like that. My face was stinging even through my face mask. We made it to the barn, all the horses were fine, cold, but fine. Maggie, Sabian, Brooke and all 17 of the others were looking at us as if they had been waiting for years. We filled up water, fed grain and put out hay. All was well.  We repeated all of this again this evening with the same nickering results.  Even though it was SO cold I could not help but be joyful. The weather enveloped me and I could not even think a sad thought if I wanted to. All day I kept feeling in my Spirit "White as snow".

Over the last few weeks I have been in the middle of a pity party. I have had a history of hip, knee and shoulder issues and 2 weeks ago I found out I may have to get a full hip replacement. It has gotten to the point where I cannot ride, hike up hills, train horses or do any other strenuous activity here on the ranch. What that means is all of the things I enjoy doing with the people that come here I can not do without great risk of extreme residual pain. I began to really question my purpose. Why would God bring me all this way just to take it all away?  Through prayer, conversations with my beautiful wife and a great man of God, the Lord began to speak a word in me. "White as snow".

Today as I walked on the beautiful snow and now as I set here and type these words God is telling me "Son my love for you is still the same, your passions are still the same, the one thing that has changed is the strength in which you accomplish your passions. I have washed all of the dirt from your life, cleaned all of the muck and the mire from your life, and made it white as snow. All making you stronger, not for you but for those that you love."So as I set here I am beginning to see that my desire to love has increased because God has had an opportunity to successfully give me more of his love. His love that made me white as snow. His love that has made me a light in a dark place.