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the triathletes

half of the crew displayed large scale courage and heart as they competed in both the Bluewater Sprint Triathlon and the Ironkid Triathlon this weekend.  Jeff decided to show up on race-day with very little training specific to the event.  that's how he rolls.  me, neverrrrrr......below, you're own "Where's Waldo", triathlon version....pure blogging fun, isn't it?? :)

Jeff was chipper and calm as he descended the stairs onto the beach where the athletes were gathered before the horn was sounded.  oh, and there he is!!!  look for the super buff guy....

Jeff did great, and finished in the top third for all participants and seventh in his age group.

the next day three of the kids entered the Ironkid race for the very first time. 

Hannah, Adam and Layla swam and biked and ran their way to the finish line with grit and determination that inspired me.  we were so proud of them! 

they went for it with gusto, and even though the climate was hot and muggy, much more uncomfortable than the day before when Jeff raced, they persevered and finished well. 

Layla finished second in her age group out of thirteen, Adam finished third out of nine, and Hannah finished sixth of nine.  so cool.....they were terrific and i'm going to be okay with just bragging a bit because i can~ it is my blog, after all!!

ahhh....cold water!!!!

Layla has written on her white board "Sadly, the triathlon is over"...Hannah snuck in and edited it to read "Gladly, the triathlon is over"....sort of sums up their thoughts about the day, although Hannah will admit that the satisfaction she feels is almost greater than the physical pain of the moment....

Hannah's thinkin'...."what did i just do?????"

Adam scooping up a ribbon!

If it looks like there are more pictures of Layla, there are!  This was due to the fact that Layla was competing in a shorter distance because of her age, and once she finished it got really crazy as Adam and Hannah transitioned to the run and more competitors and spectators surrounded the finish line. 
Hudson is anticipating a great day when he can participate next year, and Joelle and i are, well....we are...um, sort-of, i guess......undecided on our involvement next year......sigh....

from beautiful to painful with lots between

a double rainbow a few weeks ago..."Dear God, you are awesome~ in case i haven't told you that lately..."

a cute little expression from the wildlife near our home...a groundhog, perhaps?  yes, i had to google this.  pathetic, maybe....but at least i had it narrowed down to a gopher or a groundhog and PLUS, i never once called it a "mole" like Jeff  someone in my family did...pfftttt.....everyone knows that isn't a mole, right???  i mean really, does the animal above look anything like the animal below?  thank goodness noooo.....

 moles are creepy, very creepy...

our showboat Hudson loving the bag of Flamin' Hot Cheetos....they had some heat, but personally the new twist messed with a very good thing that never should be changed.  Hudson, as expected, loved them!  AJ looks on in wonder...

random shot, yes??  reminds me of those World magazines i got as a kid where i had to look at a very small part of a photo and identify the object that i was looking at...this, my friends, is the front interior view under the hood of our Honda.  why?  well, because those two pieces that are hanging freely should be connected, and my dear husband (who can't identify animal species) was able to easily see when a recent repair was not up to par.  thankfully, all is well now with our beloved van and we are back to smooth riding with no more strange puddles appearing on our garage floor...

Canada Day with three of Canada's finest young ladies...

ouch!  Hudson with a pretty nasty slash from a play set slide...i hope the ride down was worth it!

a dear little nephew and niece having some pool fun one evening....they are so adorable and we love having them come. 

the bigger cousins love having them here as well...

Grandpa, you are brave....and Hudson, you are a wild man!!

vanilla and chocolate, pure sweetness....

AJ's recent knee gash...poor fella is just feeling less tender there now....

and these are some summer shots....and now you are up to date...

yonas

remember Yonas?  the sweet boy we met over a year and a half ago in Addis Ababa?  he broke our hearts, like so many children did, and finally after many many emails we were able to arrange for his sponsorship.  but not just us...seven families in total have joined in to support this boy.  i'm in awe of their compassion for him and the way so many have offered their support towards his ongoing physical and emotional needs.  Yonas knows he is loved in Canada!  he has letters and pictures from his sponsors.  he knows many pray for him. 
well, recently friends went to Ethiopia and offered to personally deliver a care-package to Yonas.  it blew my mind that they would even suggest such a thing....yet i don't know why it surprised me as it was completely in line with their character...thanks K&S! :)
Eyob drove them to the neighbourhood where Yonas currently lives.  they saw him walking down the street and were able to get out, give him the package and communicate our love for him.  Eyob promised to have a social worker translate the many letters.  apparently Yonas was all smiles and pretty happy with the surprise delivery...wow, imagine being him and the delight of that moment.  wish we could arrange for such deliveries every month...

some current needs Yonas continues to have are....that his ARV meds will continue to effectively manage the HIV.  for his nutritional needs to be adequately met.  for his paperwork to be processed to still allow Yonas' dream for a family to be realized before he is considered "unadoptable" by age, or for a caring family there in Ethiopia to step up and love this child as their own.  for his current guardians to fairly and compassionately tend to his daily needs as he awaits a more permanent living solution.  for him to know the love of his Heavenly Father in endless ways that might fill the ache in his lonely heart. 
thanks for all who care to ask and pray and remember this boy....he's just one boy, i know.  but this one boy has a purpose.  he has potential.  he has a desire to belong.  to feel secure...for these reasons, he gets his own post today....

ahhh....summer

....what's not to love about this time of year???  soak it up people...soak it up. before we know it the crickets will be chirping, the corn will be high, the leaves will turn crisp and the air will hold that late evening chill that signifies the change of season on the horizon...for now, i love that backpacks are washed and tucked away, out of sight.  no looming tests, projects, or early morning drudgery of the constant routine.  less rushing and running from here to there.  no lunchbags being emptied and filled, emptied and filled, emptied and filled~ know what i mean?  more time to read and play games (and scrap :)) and soak up the weather.  time to hit the pool, the beach, (do chores :)) have friends over, and just be....enjoy and be safe!!!