As we stand on the edge of 2010 and look towards a new year in 2011, I wanted to wish everyone a very Happy New Year!  May the new year bring you blessings of joy and happiness!

During our trip to Canada in 2008, we ventured to Jasper National Park to check out the beautiful Maligne Lake.  While there, we decided to go for a hike up the Bald Hills to get a better view of the surrounding area.  Unfortunately, the weather did not want to cooperate with us that day and Mother Nature decided that we needed a shower.  It sprinkled on us now and then, and we reached the top of the ridge and sat down for a nice lunch amongst the majestic vistas that surrounded us.  My brother headed on for a bit and stood at the lip of the ridge we were standing on and I snapped this shot of him against the Canadian Rockies and the incoming storm.  It was about then that the thunder started, so we quickly grabbed our stuff and looked for the shortest route down the mountain.  The last place you want to be in a thunderstorm it on the top of a mountain where you are the highest target.  It poured with rain all the way down the mountain, but we safely arrived at the car and dried off.  I would love to return to Maligne Lake some day when the weather is better to see its true beauty.