Thank you all for joining me on this trek.

It is funny, but I initially started this blog as a way of helping me think about all of the things that have happened to my family since we started our Trek Home. I never pondered if it would reach anyone else or even if it would be read by others. It really was just a way of gathering my thoughts and trying to understand everything that is going on. I never imagined that there would literally be hundreds of people out there who would read this words and respond to them the way that people have.

For those who don't know, I am an Author by trade. I have been putting pen to paper (First literally and later figuratively) for 34 years. I have had some modicum of success with several short stories published as well as literally 1000s of articles printed over the years. Recently I have published 4 books which have sold fairly well. Words are my living and how I frame the world I see around me. So when Paula and I first started our journey, I did what I always did and wrote about it. I don't think it ever occurred to me that my words might in some way touch others.

In the few short weeks since I began this journal, several hundred people have read the words within. They have read about my struggles and my revelations. They have watched as my faith and my hopes grew and strengthened. They have cried when I cried and cheered when I cheered. In a very real way, my readers have become a part of my Church's Extended Family even though they live all over the world.

That is right, all over the world. This blog now has readers in over a half dozen countries including England, France and incredibly enough China! People who might not even read or speak English log on every day and read about the latest chapter in this new life of mine. You cannot imagine how humbling that is.

I have spent most of my adult life on the outs with God and Religion. At times I was angry and at times I was disillusioned with life and “God.” More often than not, I felt much like Joseph Smith did so long ago. I wanted to believe. I needed to believe! I just didn't know how to believe. Like Smith, I pondered how what is supposedly one religion, Christianity could have so many different teachings and versions. I wondered how Christianity could have so many different versions of a Holy Text. After all, if the Bible was meant to be the true word of God, there really shouldn't be different versions of it.

Unlike Joseph Smith however, I had long since stopped asking questions. I had essentially given up. I figured I was doing alright so why worry about if there was a God and if He existed, who was right about him. I also figured with all the wrongs I had done in my life there was probably no hope of me ever being forgiven or redeemed.

It took an amazing woman and her family to reach out first to my wife and then later to me to show me that all was not lost. Stephanie Gisseman and her amazing family taught me that no matter how old I was or how far gone I thought I was, that there was always a chance to find my way back. Amazingly enough, they did this without preaching or proselytizing. They taught me the best way any one can be taught and that was through example and kindness. The sheer joy and love that her family gives out to anyone who needs it was more than enough to help me start along the path Home. If God can be said to have sent anyone to help anyone, He sent the Gissemans to help me when I really needed it.

Of course, as I have mentioned in previous blogs, the Elders that were sent to help us learn, grow prepare are just as amazing. They taught us with a incredible sense of joy and love. They went beyond the call of duty many times to find answers for the questions we had. Elder Brown spent God only knows how many answers diligently researching just one question my Wife had because she couldn't move forward in her studies until she knew the answer. The Elders showed us the way simply by being amazing people.

Course, credit wouldn't be complete if I didn't give a shout out to everyone in my Geezer Class (High Priests). The almost manic energy those older men have when we are discussing various aspects of Mormonism is contagious. Some of these Men have been Mormons for a long time, but their love of Faith and Energy of Testimony could sway the hardest heart. So again, thanks where thanks is deserved.

Tomorrow night, we will take the plunge (Literally in this case) and be Baptized. I don't see that as the “finish line” but just another step on my Trek. I know that I will be tested in the future and I know I will falter, but with the help and love of those around me, I also know I will make it. My original intent had just to do this blog up until my Baptism, but I now intend on keeping the blog going. It helps me think and it helps me meditate. I hope all of you will keep reading and even tell your friends about it. If my words and musings can help you in anyway, even if it is just to make you smile, please keep reading.

I say these things in Jesus Christ's name, Amen.