trail girl-badger mountain

 i spent saturday afternoon hiking around badger mountain.  it is more like a bump.  in fact, our family calls it just that.  it isn't much of a mountain, but it is high enough that you get a great panoramic view of the entire columbia basin valley.  you can hike up and over the top or you can take the small trails around the perimeter of the "bump."  i enjoy the small trails because you can take in each part of the valley a bit at a time, plus you can see more flowers and you walk on less rocks.  i am not a rock walker.  i enjoy dirt trails much more. this first picture is of the south side of the valley looking out over some vineyards and farms.

this is looking out over to the west side of the hill.  you can see candy mountain, red mountain and the city of west richland. 

 this is the south side looking out over towards the blues(in the very far distance, they even have snow).  you can see kennewick and finley out that way too.

  some pretty flowers i saw on the way.

i really enjoyed myself on the trail this afternoon.  i had on my trusty mormon channel as i walked.  i loved listening to uplifting conversation about gospel principles as i bombarded my senses with the beauty of god's creations.  i felt an overwhelming love for heavenly father and for all his children; that he truly values each one of us.  i love these moments of personal reflection when my faith and testimony are strengthened.  they give me a desire to do better and remind me of the covenants i have made at baptism and in the temple.  they inspire me to reach a little higher, be a little better and love a little more!!  it is amazing what insights you can discover walking on a "bump!!"