A Bittersweet Hike

A group of five families embarked on what will be my family's last hike in Arizona for a while (until we visit again), a post-Thanksgiving hike on the Lost Dog Wash Trail in the McDowell Mountain Preserve in Scottsdale.
It was a fun, easy, 6.8 mile hike in a gorgeous desert landscape along the rugged McDowell Mountains. The trail was well-defined and led us gradually up to an old jeep trail,


that ended at the spectacular summit with breathtaking views of the
valley.

It was a very poignant hike for my family and I. We feel as though we are on a path of obedience toward God's will as he leads us away from our home and beloved friends in Arizona to adventures unknown in middle Tennessee. We felt the first tugging about a year and a half ago and have been trying to follow God's leading, kind, then stern, tender and tough, faithfully firm, patiently urgent, eagerly tolerant, softly shouting, gently thundering. We may not understand His hand, but we can always trust His heart.

I always feel very excited about heading out to a new destination. The uncertainty, it's like opening a present. I always feel that way when I'm starting a new hike also. Sometimes I can't imagine the blessings as I'm toiling and rockhopping up the trail, but when I get to the part where I can see the amazing views, it makes it all worth it. I know from experience that when I follow God's leading, the blessings are unbelievable!

I was pondering at the summit as I looked over the valley and felt that even though the universe may seem huge and the rift between friends on opposite sides of the country may seem a great distance, I realized that all the mountains and valleys in the world cannot separate friends whose hearts are one.

Happy Trails,
Gwenn, Jerry, Tori and Alex

Peace Through Simplicity and Exercise

"The richness I achieve comes from nature, the source of my insipiration."

-Claude Monet

Sometimes a solution to overcoming stress can be as close as the nearest hiking path.

A recent study at the University of Colorado found that physical activity may prevent stress to the immune system, lowering your risk for bacterial and viral infections. (Who needs the H1N1 vaccine when you can exercise??)

After holiday dinners, I always feel as though I have been hit by a truck the next morning. I suppose it's all of the nitrates, gluten, MSG, free radicals, etc. etc. etc. zipping around in my system that make me groan and want to go back to sleep.

This year, I"m going to pull myself together and go for a hike. The thing is, once my feet hit the ground, I feel energized. Once I start hiking, my thoughts drift freely and gently, exploring new thoughts that enliven me or put me in a good mood. Being with good friends adds to the fun.

The simplicity of nature does give us that ispiration we need in order for us to move casually and peacefully through our daily lives.....especially during the holiday season.

Join us on Saturday, November 28, 2009 at the Lost Dog Wash trail at the end of 128th Street North of Via Linda in Scottsdale at 7:45 AM under the shelter just north of the parking lot.