Gentle Trails journal

Because every great adventure start with one easy step

about

Hi, I’m melissa a Florida hiker and sailor who loves adventure, and simple outdoor activities, I have started this blog to help beginners feel confident exploring nature, one easy step at a time. you will find trail tips, snapshots and just fun times with me and a few wonderful friends and most of all my best friend yote, who happens to be a German shepherd.

Welcome to the World, Elijah!

January 19, 2026

Last night, the sky over the prairie turned into a canvas of gold and violet, almost as if it knew something big was about to happen. We didn’t have to wait long to find out what!

The Big Arrival, We are overjoyed to announce that Baby Elijah made his grand entrance into the world early this morning.Date: January 19, 2026 Time: 1:01 am Weight: A whopping 8.8 lbs!Mom and baby are both doing great and taking some much-needed time to rest and recover. Elijah is already proving to be a sturdy little guy, and we are so in love. While the new duo gets their sleep, we are preparing for the big introduction. Asher is officially a big brother!To make sure he’s ready for a calm first meeting, we’re planning a little detour on our way to the hospital. We’re going to stop off for a short hike to let Asher burn off some of that “big brother energy” and enjoy the fresh air before he meets his lifelong best friend.Stay tuned for photos of the two brothers together! We can’t wait for you all to meet Elijah soon.”Every good and perfect gift is from above…” — We are feeling very blessed today.