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