In preparation for the winter blast of 2016

As everyone around us prepares for this strangest of winter storms, I must admit something.  I've always had a soft spot for the Ural Mountains:



 

Don't ask me why.  But something about the Russian winter landscape has always touched a nerve with me.  Perhaps it's because of this:

My favorite part of BalletMet's Nutcracker, a big part of our annual rituals

I don't know.  I think of friends of mine from my ministry days that were from the former Soviet Union: Larissa, Sasha and Luba, and Vladimir.  I wonder how they are doing.  Who knows.  Someday...