Today is Sunday. I had a great week last week. Last Saturday we drove out to Roosevelt for the Brighton family reunion. I had a good chat with Bart when I asked why he stopped going to church. He said he has always struggled with faith and he finally decided he couldn’t keep teaching his kids what he didn’t really believe himself.

I feel bad for his family. Michelle still believes and takes her children to church each week. Bart helps them all get ready, but he doesn’t go to church himself.

Sunday was my cousin Kevin Brighton’s homecoming talk. It was excellent. He spoke confidently with the Spirit and no notes. I was really impressed. We left the kids in Roosevelt and drove back home alone. It was weird eating a Sunday night dinner without kids. It was our 13th Anniversary.

We celebrated our anniversary on Monday. We spent the morning cleaning the house mostly. I had a doctor’s appointment in the afternoon. Everything looked good. No sign of any new tumors. I wasn’t worried there was, but it is always good to hear.

Rachel & I then went to dinner at Flemings. It is a very nice steak house in downtown Salt Lake. I’m pretty sure it is the most we have ever spent on a meal for two – just over $150. It was a very good meal though. After dinner we watched the new Star Trek movie and then stayed at Little America hotel. It was a very nice and much needed getaway. Tuesday we spend the day doing a little shopping and packing to prepare for trek.

Trek was Wednesday through Saturday. They gave us little journals to write about our experiences in. I used it to record the highlights of the trip. All it all it was an awesome experience. I loved our trek family. Unfortunately I herniated another disc. I was in so much pain Friday night that I could barely function. I asked Bishop Payne and President Andreoli for a priesthood blessing. We all crawled into my small tent and they gave me a priesthood blessing. I was able to sleep pretty good that night as someone also loaned me a cot.

Everyone pretty much decided for me that I wasn’t allowed to hike the last 3 miles to end the trek. The most moving moment for me was seeing them off on that final hike the youth all got together and sang for me, “God Be With You Til We Meet Again.” It brought me to tears. I love the youth in our ward.

Today in church most of us wore our pioneer clothing to church. Our trek captain, Sister Kruger spoke about trek and talked about how moving that farewell song was to her as well.

After church I had a temple recommend interview with the Bishop. I love our bishop. I really felt the spirit strongly as I was in that interview with him. I always tend to get a bit nervous when I do recommend interviews, but then I am calmed as my testimony is confirmed as I answer each of the questions and I feel confident and temple worthy. I feel the spirit now as I write about it. The Spirit is real. I have learned to recognize it. It is something I can’t deny and I hope I will never think of denying no matter the trial.

As for my back, Rachel took me to the Instacare yesterday afternoon. I was able to get some steroid drugs for the inflammation, pain killers, and muscle relaxers. I have been mostly pain free today. My biggest concern though is the nerve damage. Much of my left leg is numb like it is full of novocaine. I can’t feel the bottom of my foot, my three smaller toes, the outside of my calf and the outside of my thigh. It is a lot more numbness than last time I herniated a disc, and it took about 3 months for the numbness to fully go away.

Also today was father’s day. I’m a blessed man. My family loves me. The kids were so excited to give me their gifts they put together while in Roosevelt.