Kanarraville Falls

7 came early this morning especially since I didn't get to be until after 2.  No matter, I slept enough and was excited to go hike Ashdown Gorge this morning.  The only challenge is that we didn't go to Ashdown Gorge.  Morgan had checked it out on a quick trip up the canyon and found that the land slide from last year had affected the area some and so we went to Kanarraville Falls instead.  This was not a big deal to me as I hadn't previously hiked Kanarra and had it on my list of hikes to do.  There were a few of us on the hike - Morgan Ellsworth, Ron Cardon, Matt Massy (was the starting center for the T-Birds for the last couple of years anyway, from Australia, fantastic guy), Jake and Chad.  I just met Matt, Jake and Chad this morning.  All nice guys. 

This was a great hike.  The start is a bit dry and goes straight up a hill but once you get in to the river bed it turns into some amazing scenery.  We were just about the first ones on the trail and had a great hike in.  We ended up going in just under 4 miles.  That took us up a couple of waterfalls and past a natural water slide, and through some amazing canyon walls.  I loved it and felt really good throughout the hike.  There were moments when my legs were feeling it a bit but all in all it was a great hike.  I think the kids would absolutely love it if I can get them up into the water.  I guess I should explain that the trail cuts back and forth through the river and then there are moments where it is straight up through the river.  There is a large log climb up the first waterfall and getting the kids up that might be a small challenge but I think they can handle it.  The bigger challenge would be the second waterfall climb with a much thinner log to climb.  I don't think they would be too upset if we didn't quite go that far in and they would still get to see the natural water slides.  I am sure they would want to do it.  Me, not so much.  That water was cold and though it wasn't a big deal after I could'nt feel my feet any longer I don't know that I want to submerge my entire self in it. 

I did enjoy getting to know Matt a bit.  We talked Australia some, we talked the game of Cricket, we talked Vegamite sandwiches.  I asked him what Australian sandwich would be good for The Little Brick House.  He didn't come up with one so I suggested the Vegamite.  He loves the stuff but neither of us were so sure it would be a good fit.  We laughed some because at 6'10" the water that got up to his knees was mid thigh for me.  All things balance out though because I didn't have to bend down near as far to get under low hanging tree branches.  After the hike Ron, Matt and I went in to the LBH for lunch.  It was the first time Matt had been and he loved it.  Even convinced him to have a Ginger Brew which he quite enjoyed as it reminded him of the Ginger Brew from Australia. 

Growing up I didn't find a lot of joy in hiking.  To me it just seemed like too much work.  I have grown to love hiking.  I love being out in nature and enjoying some of the amazing beauties of this earth.  I also quite enjoy the exercise part of it.  Running on the eliptical is only so exciting.  Getting out there on a trail, cutting through a river, climbing up a waterfall, you really can't mimic that on an eliptical.  We are looking at hitting the Narrows in Zion National Park in about three weeks.  I am excited about that one.  It has been about 15 years since I last went to the Narrows and we didn't hike back far enough for it to start getting narrow.  That is all river walking and it is quite a bit deeper then the water we were in today.  Fortunately it is also a bit warmer. 

So Kanarraville Falls - I give it two thumbs up. I am not an official hiking trail critic so take that for what it is worth. I suggest going early. There were quite a few people on the trail when we were on our way back out. Also, young kids. Where it isn't exactly kid unfriendly there may be a few spots that pose a challenge for younger kids.

Here are some pics from the hike.
  

Oh What a Night

There was a dinner and dance in St. George tonight so I planned my temple trip for tonight and combined the activities.  Also managed to squeeze Costco into the mix where I picked up some much needed chips.  It was quite the night.

I will just report quickly on the dance.  It was a great time.  I have to say that I love to dance.  I probably looked a fool out there but who cares.  There was a group that I danced with for the most part and then there was a cool people group next to our group, I drifted towards them a few times but never broke in to their circle of cool kid trust.  Of course they probably all thought this other group of  people were the cool kids... I did my best to represent.  I had a great time and even managed to dance a slow song or two.  Pretty crazy I know. 

As I mentioned it was my weekly trip to the Temple.  I did intiatory work tonight and had a wonderful experience there.  The spirit was strong and I was taught.  I am grateful for the experience tonight and for the blessings received through the Temple.  This is not so highly detailed, I understand that.  I am just going to leave it at that.

It is after 2 and I need to get to sleep because I am hiking in the morning and need to get some sleep before going.  Really though, had a fabulous night. 

Shy Guy

Why are people shy? I don't know that I ask that in all sincerity or really wanting to know the answer.  Perhaps I don't want to face myself and live with the answers to that particular question.  You see, I have always been shy.  If I don't have to say something I won't.  If I don't have to try and carry on a conversation with someone I won't.  Climbing out of my comfort zone to talk to someone is not something I am a fan of.  The weird thing is that at work I can flip a switch and talk to anyone and do so fairly comfortably.  Whether that was out selling air conditioners or helping people at The Little Brick House I seem to be able to pick it up without much of a problem.
So why so shy?  Is there a study out there?  Does it have something to do with confidence or the lack thereof?  Here's the thing about me.  I don't see myself as being very smart.  I have been known, well self aware anyway, to be engaged in a conversation about something I have no idea what the person is talking about.  I listen and I try to figure it out the best I can though sometimes it leaves me lost.  Oh well, I am shy, who really cares?  Of course once we get to know each other, once my wall has come down a bit, once I feel safe around someone then I am quite a bit more comfortable. 

I probably had some deeper thoughts on this matter earlier but I am falling asleep and can't think of anything at the moment.  I did got to the Singles institute class tonight and was in perfect loner form until a friend approached and started talking to me.  The nerve.  No, I was grateful for that nerve and for being forced out of my comfort zone. 

Duty

What does it mean to you to do your duty?  I reposted a comment on Facebook the other day that was a quote from Elder Holland discussing the last days and the battle between good and evil.  He talks about how we know through prophecy and revelation that good will win.  He then wonders why there are some who just can't seem to decide which team they are going to be on.  That was obviously my paraphrasing, you get the idea though. 

I marvel at myself when I look back in my life and see times when I was not as diligent in doing my duty as maybe I could have been.  There are areas of my life where I have learned my duty and I do it well.  There are areas that I need to better understand that responsibility and improve.  This I do know, when I go forward in faith and do my duty to the very best of my ability I am blessed. 

Through life experiences I have learned that it can be easy to get caught up in worldy pursuits.  It can be very easy to let temporal things take priority over spiritual matters.  I have been through that struggle.  I know what it means to have to struggle and wrestle with career ambition vs. spiritual, family and priesthood duty.  I've learned that the Lord really doesn't care if I was the top air conditioning salesman back in 2001 or if I won the franchise of the year back in 2006.  It is 2012 and those things don't amount to a hill of beans today.  They don't matter. 

What does matter?  Well, am I leading my family as the Patriarch in our home?  Am I teaching my children what is right?  Am I honoring my Priesthood?  Am I worthy to exercise that Priesthood if I were called to do so right now?  Am I fulfilling my duty to God?  Am I being valient in my testimony of Jesus Christ?  Am I worthy to carry a current Temple Recommend and do I use it?  Am I fullfilling my responsibilities as a home teacher?  Do I sustain my Church Leaders?  Have I felt to sing the song of redeeming love and do I feel so now?  I look at this quick list and know that I have a lot of work to do. 

I was out home teaching tonight and the lesson discussed sustaining our leaders.  It reminded me in a verse in the book of Ezra.  In chaper 7 verse 10 it says:  For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it...     Elder F. David Stanley was visiting the Cape Town Mission and taught us this principle.  I was serving in Port Elizabeth at the time.  Anyhow, he talked about raising your hand to the square, sustaining your leaders and then doing it, doing what we are asked to do.    Isn't that our duty? 

I fail everyday, I do.  We live in challenging times and we come up short.   Thankfully we have a Savior who loves us, who is patient and understanding.  He wants us to get up and try again.  He suffered for each of us so that we could.  I am grateful for that, for the atonement of Jesus Christ.  I hope that I will always strive to understand and do my duty to God. 

Cast My Vote

Today was a day for voting here in Utah and I went and cast my votes.  It is always a good feeling to go out and vote, to exercise that right.  I certainly look forward to doing so again in November. 

While preparing to go I pulled out my old voter registration card from Florida.  In 2008 I voted in the Oasis Community Church.  I always found it interesting that church's in Florida were so widely used for voting locations.  In 2006 I voted at a Baptist church down Clubhouse Road from where we lived.  Here in Cedar City I go to South Elementary School.  The school seems a more appropriate venue.  I don't know.

Anyhow, It was good to go and vote.  When I walked into the Library at South Elementary the workers asked me how things were at The Little Brick House this summer and then went on to talk about how much they love it.  Those kinds of comments are always nice to here.  People also talk about how happy they are to see us doing well.  We have some good moments and are trying to improve all the time. 

Apparently voting takes it out of you because I am completely exhausted right now and it isn't even 10 PM yet.  That is weird, wild stuff I know. 

Only 3

Between Church and dinner at the folks house last night I only managed to get three lady friend suggestions.  Wow, what a downer.  Actually I think that matches my previous top day.  It is such an interesting thing having someone approach you about having the perfect person for you.  Now look, I know that there are a lot of wonderful women out there, wonderful sisters in the church.  Just because someone is single and I am single it doesn't make us a perfect match.  Oh my goodness.  I seriously believe that going out with someone's "friend" is one of the hardest things to do.  It certainly creates an enormous amount of anxiety for me.  They already believe their friend and I are perfect for each other and that just kind of makes it weird.  I feel like a jerk if I tell someone I am not interested in going out with their friend or them.  It is just rude.  I try not to be rude and it leads to my own suffering.  Let me simplify with this:  Re-entering the dating scene after you have been married and have kids, well, I think it stinks - the dating that is. 

I have nothing more to say at this time. 

Morning Walk and Conversation

One thing about 1 O'clock church is that you have a few hours in the morning with not a lot to do.  I decided that a nice walk would be a good thing to do and there was a little paved trail I wanted to check out.  I took the opportunity to meditate and pray.  It was a good little walk and I was able to share some feelings and thoughts with my Heavenly Father. 

So here is one of my unflattering admissions, I am not the best when it comes to prayer.  I say prayers daily but the quality of those conversations is not always the best and I can be a bit inconsistent when it comes to my morning prayers in a formal setting.  I need to improve in this area. 

Anyhow, good walk, good conversation.  I pondered on my current state and discussed some of my inadequacies and failings.  I recognize my limitations within my home to provide for all of the needs of my children.  I don't know that I need to go any deeper or discuss the finer details of this except to say on my own I come up short and am found wanting.  I am sure there are many who can relate to these feelings of inadequacy.  No matter what our state is we find ourselves at the feet of the Savior.  He who is mighty to save.  Our deliverer.  Our all.  In him we have hope and can walk with the assurance that all will be made right as we do our very best. 

I don't know if any of this makes sense.  Suffice to say.  I need the Savior.  I am grateful for that which he has done for me.  I am grateful today for my morning walk and conversation.