Poconos Winter Wonderland

We have been having a great time in the Pocono mountains of Pennsylvania.  We got our timeshare here like many others, just kinda find something available and within striking distance.  But it's quite nice like the others and we had a very pretty hike yesterday.  We had quite the misadventure getting to the hike, for about an hour and a half, then on the way back got smarter and it was only about 10 minutes.  We had directions from the office but I am sure they did not check them and what they said.  It took us right past where we needed to be, down far past even where we went to church, then on to a toll road that we could not get off for some time, past where we wanted to be again, then ended right then and there on the toll freeway!  So we continued on, got off when we could, and backtracked around another way and found it.  It was quite the discussion about life as well.  Linking in all the analogies with God's plan for us, knowing our destination, listening to others voices, getting stuck with the consequences of our choices and having to work through them, knowing God's plan is the shortest distance back "home" etc.  It was fun while being frustrated.

When we were on the hike we saw the large bridge of the toll freeway as we hiked along.  It was really pretty to see the magnolia foliage all over the place.  We hiked to the falls, again getting lost on the way because this area has no clue how to make signs that tell you where you are going.  It took a .3 mile hike and made it into a 1.5 mile hike.  But it was way worth it.  As we found the falls we explored and found the main trail and where we "should have" veered off.  But without the extra we would not have seen the frozen river areas, and all that was beautiful with them.  

On the way back mom decided we should go on another trail.  Ty wanted to get to some other falls other hikers had said they went to, but when we passed a hunter and he smiled and said "bear season" mom was done right then and there.  Back we went!  It was a neat fall hike in the winter temperatures.

Church was fun at a small branch.  The lessons were all about being thankful for the circumstances we have.  To not find the negative but find the good in all we do.  We could have really been upset at the mis-adventure.  We could have whined about the cold.  But it was awesome.  We could have doubted our purpose instead of doubting the things that were distracting us form it, but we didn't, and it was all worth it. (Pres. Uchtdorf "doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith" came to my mind).

We will be in NYC Monday and Tuesday.  We hope to just have fun together.  And anything else is icing on the cake.  We will see Lissa and Trent and families and that will be really fun.  It's about 2 hour drive from here.

I loved Kieren and Gavin's letters this last week.  Totally fun to read and they got me laughing hard.  Your experiences are wonderful.  Keep sharing them.

Skjelse is taking care of the house and cat while we are gone and being so nice to do that.

Mom and I got invited by my boss to use company tickets to go to the UD season opener. It was a fun night and mom even used a sport analogy for her standards night talk!  Shocked us all. 

I got the best LOVE note in my lunch this week. I had to post it. It's me smile all day. 

Work your hardest in all you do.  And keep the right priorities which will bring you happiness.  Amidst the chaos of life, joy will be found when you center your life on the Savior.

Love you forever,

Dad

3 John 1:4