thoughts from the deep recesses

Life has been happening at such a breakneck pace here lately. I've wanted the time to sit and blog and barely am managing to get the bare necessities done... but this morning I woke up earlier than I'd planned to and figured it was a chance to enjoy some time for quiet reflection and a little blog action. Asia and I have been experiencing a fairly high level of stress... lots going on in the lives of the people we love - and it's weighing heavily on us. We have several friends whose marriages are at a crisis point. Family members who are struggling to make good choices. Potential lay-offs for Asia at work (not for him, but for employees on his team that he would have to let go.) Forced fulough days for Asia - reducing his income. It's felt like a lot. We're both pretty exhausted. And then, last Friday, a dear friend suffered a major heart attack. And we jumped into 'help' mode, doing everything we could to make sure her family was taken care of and they

We spent the weekend in Leavenworth... it was our (almost) annual trip to the Burke Cabin for Savannah's birthday... we're fortunate that her birthday is on Veteran's Day - so it's always a holiday. We've been blessed to be able to use our dear friends' cabin every year since 2005 to hang out for the long weekend. We decided to hike Icicle Ridge on Saturday... we love hiking and find it a great way to get out and move without spending money! It was a pretty rigorous hike - full of long switchbacks that led to a spectacular view of Leavenworth. Oh - how I love the Pacific Northwest... and this family. We discovered this little friend poking out of one of the trees at the top... isn't he creepy? 

Today I celebrate this lovely young lady. Miss Savannah Inez. She is truly more than I could have hoped for... ...kind ...helpful ...outgoing ...caring ...confident. She gives of herself in ways that are WAY beyond her years... noticing when someone needs help and stepping in without being asked. She brings me laughter every day and makes me so proud. The world is a better place with you in it, sweet girl. I love you.

Today is the official launch of Goins to Sierra Leone ... our blog about our trip. Come on over and read about what God did for us today!

Things seem to be settling down here a bit... Kyler is officially done competing for the year but continues to travel and train with the varsity runners who are headed to state this weekend... coach picked his top five JV runners to do this, since they will be running varsity next year. Last weekend they were in Wenatchee for regionals and this weekend they head to Tri-Cities for the state competition. Kyler finished the season with an amazing 17:28 5K finish at the All-City competition. He took 28 seconds off his previous PR for that distance... it was a great finish for him. It was crazy wet and gloomy that day... in fact, he slipped in the mud and fell at the finish line. He was covered in it - but he didn't seem to mind. Savannah has started volleyball. End one season - start another! Speaking of Savannah - last week in P.E. class, she managed to smash her thumb between a 12 pound medicine ball that had just been thrown to her and a concrete wall... her whole thumbnail is bl