Awakening......I took Starbuck on a walk behind Beaver Lake to see the Crystal River. I haven't seen it in a long time due to our snow depths. However our temperatures have warmed and some of our 129 inches have melted down and frozen over again to make it easier to walk across the top without sinking down to above your knees. We were successful in crossing the bank to see our river flowing between snow fields. It was actually very warm with the 8000 ft sun shining over the top of White House (the mountain). The sun reflecting off the snow made it feel even warmer. So I took off my coat and sat on it in the snow. Starbuck was running willy nilly all around and finally came to sit by me. It was, with the February turn of the earth, a bright day with the sound of the river running and an occasional bird singing. I breathed in God with the crisp air......

It was then that I felt it. I felt the earth beginning to awaken from winter for a moment. It will not last for it is too early yet. But nevertheless it was there and I was part of it. I took off my sunglasses and kept my eyes closed against the brightness of the snow and lifted my face toward the sun. I lifted my heart to God. And just as I felt the earth awakening, I felt the vail of winter parting back allowing my soul to sing the songs of spring praise to my Lord and my God!

"What a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see. And He takes me by the hand and leads me to the promised land. What a day glorious day that will be." An old southern church hymn.

Living in a wild country........Yes I say living in a wild country because Marble in many ways is just that. You have heard of my adventures and mishaps with bears. You have heard of what it was like to be lost in the wilderness. But this country is always unpredictable and demands respect.

Today I took Starbuck on a walk and of course ran into many of the neighborhood dogs, a couple of which had actual people with them. It is always interesting as they decide which one is the alpha. But hey, it gives Starbuck a little extra exercise. But as I was walking, I heard heavy equipment on the Quarry Road (again let me remind you -- roads in Marble are not actually paved except for one). I looked over and saw that an avalanche had covered the road. One of our mountain men was walking along and said that, sure enough, at 5pm yesterday the avalanche came down. Thus the heavy equipment to clear it out. And that is not the first avalanche to hit the Quarry Road this winter.

Yesterday our mail lady stopped to talk with us as we were walking. She is actually sort of a neighbor in that she too lives year round in Marble. The day before, an avalanche came down behind her house. She said it was cool to watch but was glad it did not cross the river. Her house would have been in its path.

I came home with Starbuck to find Jon and a parishioner on the roof shoveling the snow!! It was well above their knees on the roof. First time shoveling off our roof.

This place is a place that demands respect. It is beautiful beyond belief and peaceful with its "songs of silence." But if you take it too casually, there are dangers all around. It is not a place of fear as some would define fear but a place to be taken on its own terms. This place moves me with its many wonders and even with the awareness of its dangers.

Our Maker woos us with His unfailing love and with beauty beyond belief! Yet let us not forget that we are reminded that His ways are not our ways and that fearful reverence should be part of our relationship with Him. He calls us to intimacy but within that intimacy, we know that He is God!

"Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the people of the world revere Him. For He spoke, and it came to be; He commanded and it stood firm." Psalm 33:8-9

So today I got myself into a mess.........We have been having a lot of snow! We returned from North Carolina to 2 ft of new snow. I started shoveling off the deck in the dark. Yesterday we had 8 more inches of snow and I spent all day shoveling to keep up with it as it built up. So as I had pushed more and more snow off the deck it had gotten to the point that I could no longer push the snow under the railing but had to heave it over the railing, making it a much more difficult chore. So another storm is predicted for tonight. I therefore decided that I should move some of the snow out of the way. (just me and a shovel)

When I stepped into the yard below the deck I sank to the very top of my thighs. Oh well..... I began to pull some of the snow away from the deck and down to my level shovel by shovel step by step thigh deep in snow! My boots wanted to come off with each step and imagine pulling your leg from one thigh deep step to the next! I was huffing and puffing at the labor of it all only to realize that I was burying my path back with the snow I was pulling down. What to do? It would be embarrassing to be stuck in the back yard until somebody came to help me out wouldn't it? Finally it dawned on me that the deck had raised flower beds just beneath it. So I pulled myself up by reaching out and grabbing the railing to be in only ankle deep snow because of my previous work pulling the snow down. Then I just shoveled my way back to the steps!

In life we often get ourselves in little messes. I am grateful that God teaches us to be persistent in prayer and to trust in Him step by step even if we are thigh deep in whatever situation! Then when He shows us the way out we must have the faith and discernment to grab onto the railing and pull up!!!!!

"Be very careful, then, how you live not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is." St. Paul to the Ephesians