As some may know, I am moving from INI to XML. I want to get this right and use what most people on here use. I have written a "GetXMLValue" function and would like you all to evaluate it and see if it makes sense:

Code:
    'get xml value
    Public Function GetXMLValue(ByVal Node As String, ByVal [Default] As String) As String
        Dim RetVal As String
        Dim xmlDoc As New XmlDocument
        Dim xmlNode As XmlNode

        Try
            'load document
            xmlDoc.Load(Application.StartupPath & "\TShed.xml")
            'get node value
            xmlNode = xmlDoc.SelectSingleNode(Node)
            RetVal = xmlNode.Value
            'check return value
            If RetVal = "" Then
                RetVal = [Default]
            End If
        Catch ex As Exception
            Throw New Exception(ex.Message & " - GetXMLValue(string)")
        Finally
            xmlNode = Nothing
            xmlDoc = Nothing
        End Try

        Return RetVal
    End Function
You would pass in something like:
Version = GetXMLValue("/Myapp/Version","")