My sister and I enjoyed a beautiful day taking a short hike in the mountains. The sky was clear and blue, the air was crisp and smelled like forest. There were actually quite a few people and dogs and bikes, also getting the most out of a warm, Fall day. Neither my sister nor I are in great shape, so we meandered more than anything, taking care to keep track of the time so we would have enough energy for the round trip. When we started off, we were in the warm sunshine. As we went further, the trail took us into the deep shadows of the tall hills surrounding us. The temperature dropped significantly. We came across a stream and followed it for a while. We watched as some people crossed on the wet rocks. A brave young girl walked across the log that bridged the 2 banks, using her walking poles to help balance. She did great. When we turned around to head back, we were looking forward to getting back into the warm sunshine. We figured it was at least 10° colder in the shade of the mountain. We had 2 different experiences – one with warmth and amazing colors, and the other in the darker cool along the stream. Both were beautiful. The long shadows did make for some stunning views as we descended. The fresh air, warm sunshine, sound of the brook, smell of the trees was just what we needed. I was grateful that my sister had the idea.

I Found God today enjoying a hike in the mountains.