If you've been reading this blog for a while, you know how much I enjoy the seasons we have here in southern Virginia. This includes winter. Snow I don't mind at all. The only element I avoid is ice because I don't like broken bones. Personally, I can't imagine living in a place where the weather is the same all year long. This includes, yes, Hawaii. Call this island boy crazy, but I love the variety and the changing landscapes. I am someone who likes to train all the time, including the winter months. These were today's steps:
Today was the first real snowfall we've had in 2025. I guess that's why the YMCA was completely empty when I got there this morning.
But I do want to give a huge shout out to VDOT. The roads today were in tip-top condition. Upon my return home I snapped a bunch of pics of the farm for nostalgia's sake. Bradford Hall never looked prettier.
Then it was time to fed the animals.
I tell you, having a warm wool coat must come in awfully handy in the snow.
A recurrent theme over the past 12 years of my life has been gratitude and giving thanks in all circumstances. In so doing, one gets perspective on all that is good in one's life. Conversely, gratitude minimizes feelings of negativity when things don't necessarily go the way we think they should go. Today I found gratitude in the simplest things of life. Life after Becky got a bit hard. And it still hurts. My goal in life is to find gratitude even when things feel hard, even very hard. Never underestimate the power of gratitude. My life is not perfect, but there are a gazillion things to be thankful for. When all is said and done, life with Christ is so satisfying. It shows me that in him, I am stronger than I think I am.