The 2nd Annual Grace Church Campout. . .

. . .was this weekend. Some of us took a long hike up the canyon. I carried Ethan most of the way up (almost two hours).

Here's the view from the top (see behind Karen and Ethan).

The campout was fun because we had the opportunity to get to know people that we don't get to talk to very often. Our church just got a new pastor and he is really cool. He tells stories very well and has a good balance of humor and depth when he leads devotions, Bible studies, etc. I also like that he so easily shares from his own life experiences; it just makes him seem more real.

Here are some of the other people that joined us on the hike. Last year Karen and Colleen got lost on the way down from the hike. They took a wrong turn and went several miles out of their way. They weren't exactly "lost", but the trail they took would have taken them all the way down the mountain instead of to our campsite. They returned several hours later with tales of young, sweaty, shirtless guys "saving" them by giving them rides back up the trail on their dirt bikes. Karen and Colleen would never tell the story that way, but we like to tease them about the rescue.

Ethan just couldn't stay awake any longer. Hiking is a lot of work!