Beyond Malibu- here they come!

Anna and Taylor are on their way to their hike with Beyond Malibu this next week, and we are so excited for what is in store for them! 

This has been a trip in the making for over three years. I tried to get Anna to go as a participant before her senior year and again after her senior year with her friend Sarah, but both trips got cancelled due to Covid. Then this year, I organized a group for Taylor and some of the other rising seniors. Through the spring, the leaders who were in place fell through, and then a few of the other kids dropped out. Over the last 6 weeks, another guy leader was recruited, and then I had a crazy brainstorm that Anna might be able to go as the women's leader. We were thrilled that the folks at Beyond Malibu said yes! So, the crew includes Taylor, Josiah, Halle, Kai, and John with Anna and Matthew as their leaders. They are pictured below with an amazing woman named Bonnie who volunteered a few days ago to be their driver. 

Bonnie, Halle, Josiah, Taylor, John, Kai, Matthew, and Anna 

After Beyond Malibu folks cleared Anna to be a leader, and after Anna got permission to take a week off her internship, our next step was to get her passport as it had expired. While we expedited her passport to arrive, we knew it would be down to the wire.  Anna had such a great attitude and knew that if she could not go that she would have a great time here in Seattle. Meanwhile,  I was the one trying to micromanage and figure out other options if needed (an enhanced drivers' license or a Nexus pass to get her into Canada), and woke up with this verse in mind on several mornings: "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?" 

Anyway, I called the National Passport Agency numerous times but had no luck to get an appointment in case we did not get her passport in time, but I tried one last time last week, and a woman named Miracle (I am not kidding) answered the phone and connected me with someone who got us an appointment for July 8th at 9 am in the Seattle office.  (Other times we had tried, we had been told no appointments across the country were available anywhere, and another time we were told that we'd have to go to El Paso or Honolulu!). So it was wonderful to have this appointment as our backup plan in case it did not arrive, but lo and behold, we were actually able to cancel that appointment because her passport arrived in the mail on Wednesday! 

On top of all this, all kids had to take Covid tests and were cleared to be able to go. Thankfully, the stars aligned with all the details that had to fall into place, and so far, it's been smooth sailing the whole way from what we've heard from their travels so far today into Canada. 

picture from Halle that she sent from the ferry in Canada early afternoon today! 

pictures from the Beyond Malibu Instagram site of base camp 

and of some of the gorgeous mountains they are going to get to see in the next week

"Blessed is the path on which you travel. Blessed is the body that carries you upon it. Blessed is your heart that has heard the call. Blessed is your mind that discerns the way. Blessed is the gift that you will receive by going. Truly blessed is the gift that you will become on the journey."

- Eric Williams, “Blessed is the Path”