I have been told that I left everyone high and dry last year.  For that I apologize.  We (Lenora and I) had some medical issues last year and had to go off trail but none of the issues were life threatening or anything like that.  After numerous doctor visits, we really still are not clear about what is causing the issue with Lenora’s arms BUT we are going back on the trail this year.  I plan on starting the trail again, where I left of at Etna, on June 19th.  We will see how far we get.  I hope I find that I am the hiker of the first year rather than the hiker of last year.  Yes, Lenora had some issues, but even before that I was not at all happy with my performance.  So we try again.  We hope that by the grace of God, that this year will be better.  We know already that the snowfall this winter was at the 200% level and there is still 50 feet of snow on places I will be hiking.  Wow….. 50 feet of snow!!  So, for the first 2 weeks I will be hiking in places where the snow is not that deep and we will hope that by the time I get to the deep snow… it ain’t deep anymore.  We will see.  So if you are still paying attention, the journey will continue and we will try to share with you the experience.  It is just such a fantastic experience and we hope we can communicate that with our posts.  I encourage you to ask questions, to make comments, to make prayer requests. I am always praising our Lord and Savior while on trail and I would love to include your requests while I am asking the Lord for so much help that I need.   I mean there are only so many times I can be selfish and just ask for myself.  Even for me, that gets boring :).  So help me to tell the Lord what you are thankful for and what you NEED.  Ask and you shall receive.

Lenora’s Story:

I have to admit I am ready for the adventure to continue.  It is like running away for an unexpected vacation.  Don’t get me wrong, I love my life, both lives in fact; the one in Georgia on the farm and the one here with our friends and church family.  In spite of my content with our lives I am ready for the adventure.  No meetings, no chores, no errands to run or things to arrange or organize, no meals to think about and most of all endless hours of stitching.  I bring about 20 projects even though I know I will be lucky to finish a canvas a week.

I do intend to explore the towns we visit and enjoy new shops, new out of the way restaurants and attending mass in a series of never before seen churches.  The church part is important because after last year I am nervous about how each of us is going to handle the experience.  While Don is on the trail for 5 or 6 days each week I often explore nearby towns and always look out for the little churches in those towns.  Some are open to visit and pray and some are locked.  Some have beautiful gardens and some just a little plot of grass and a few flowers.  All are beautiful in the way that only a well loved home can be beautiful despite its age or sometimes need of repair.  I feel at home in each of these places.  It is a gift to me to help with the anxiety of having my husband on his own difficult journey.