On Decembeard 9, Erica and I headed out to Ossining, New York for Christopher and Katie's Sending Ceremony from their Maryknoll Lay Ministry program. But first, as soon as got there Erica's work colleague Karen and her husband Ira took us for a hike up the West Mountain in Bear Mountain State Park. We had a great view of the Hudson River and Bear Mountain and got to hike along the Appalachian Trail for a good mile or so. And I'm super proud of Erica—the trail was quite a bit harder than we were expecting and despite her continuing knee problems she soldiered through the whole thing.