Courageous Joy

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Falling in Love with Seattle, Again!

This was a LONG day and this post is destined to be long.

It began with a bus ride into downtown Seattle. Several gave us various options for stops and we ended up right where we needed to be. Thanks, Lauri, for the bus schedule.

Notice everyone leaning BACK....this was a steep decline (and of course later it was a STEEPER INCLINE!)

We stopped here at Ivar's for fish and chips....or rather *I* had fish and chips and the kids had chicken and chips. ::snort::

I thought the setting was idyllic....

until I noticed how aggressively this bird was watching my fish and chips.

Notice the bird has his french fry

After lunch we visited the Seattle Aquarium (military discount).

Just Keep Swimming....Just Keep Swimming...

FINALLY - we made it to the Seattle Passport Office. Did you know that it is "illegal" to take photos in a Federal Building. You should have seen the guards snap to. It was great that the lady at the window is the one who had helped us Monday. She called me right up and gave me the passports. Stacia is hugging them below.

We loved the tunnels for the trains and buses.

These were big buses! I can't recreate the entire story...but Zander held court on this bus....told our entire life story (or at least his) to everyone in the back of the bus. This resulted in a Goth escort when we got off the bus and lots of well wishes.

Jared and Arielle sat in the "accordion" part of the bus...two joined together....and they had quite a ride. They thought it funny to hear their name and look back to see everyone waving at them and calling them by name. ::snort::

We came back to the hotel and swam.

We walked to dinner. YES, it is still hot here...yes, we did walk all over downtown today. No, the AC doesn't work on the buses in the tunnels. Yes, it is MUCH cooler down on the waterfront.

Deja called tonight! Yahoo! We're going to watch a movie in our room and call it a day.

Did you catch that we have our passports? I was going to put them in the safe deposit box downstairs, but Jared mentioned that I might forget to take them if I do that. ::snort::

The plan is to fly on Friday.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

I'm so Precious

Zander: "Why can't we go to the ponds to feed the ducks?"

Jared: "It's getting dark and you don't want to be down there when it's dark."

Zander: "Why not?"

Jared: "Bad stuff down there after dark..."

Zander: "Oh, is it because someone will steal me because I'm so precious?"

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Exploring S Seattle

There are so MANY things within walking distance of our hotel.

This a.m. we walked to BK for "brunch". Walked to Office Depot for a power cord. Walked to Barnes and Nobel for...well... we DID have a suitcase of books stolen.

Then walked back to the hotel and swam. Did I mention it is 102* today?

This evening we walked to a Japanese Steakhouse! and had dinner with my 4 cousins, their children and grand children. What a treat! Our chef was full of helpful advice when we told him we were moving to Misawa. He said that this sort of food would be very expensive in Japan and to enjoy now. It wasn't terribly cheap here. ::snort:: He asked if we'd like to try Chicken Sushi. ::snort::

He said we could pick up the bowls and drink the soup?

The kids figured out the chopsticks fairly quickly.

I got tired of flinging salad around the table and working diligently for one grain of rice....and asked for some kiddy chopsticks. This was a source of great fun, but I was able to eat my meal with chopsticks. ::snort::

Zander was enthralled with the antics of the chef.

He shot a shrimp into Jared's mouth. ::snort::

My cousin Launnie kept Zander entertained with spinning coins.

After dinner we walked to Target for a few things. We bought bread to feed the ducks in the pond behind the hotel....but it was too dark to do that tonight. We'll try tomorrow.

The kids did get bored with the walking and staying in a hotel room. In fact, Jared, decided to ride the elevators up and down and listen to conversations. Hmmm....if he ever DOES run for President someone from today is sure to come forward with the story. ::snort::

I've decided rather than riding the bus alone to get our passports, we'll all go. I have a map and a bus schedule. I think I can get us downtown and to a few tourist spots. We'll stay away from bookstores...but there IS a great mystery bookstore that I spotted in Pioneer Square.

Walking back to the hotel from dinner, Arielle spotted Borders. Can you believe it? Three big bookstores within walking distance of the hotel. I didn't even PLAN it that way. ::snort::

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...

3 Ups

Deb, a dear friend on the PWOC Central Region board, likes to ask us for 3 ups and 3 (not sure what she calls them, not downs but things that could be improved) after various events.

Tonight I'm going to share 3 ups...

1. Misawa had discontinued the Space A flights due to budget cuts. As of Oct, they will have them back. This is HUGE - it means we can fly back to the states for $30 and then buy domestic tickets to wherever we need to get, instead of paying $12 - 18,000 to fly. This makes the distance from loved ones seem much closer.

2. Mike was given an old minivan by a chapel attendee. The idea is that this takes the pressure off having to buy something NOW and allows me to have input in the decision on the family purchase.

And a BIG one! I could have done it. I would have done it....but I don't have to do it!!!!

3. Some who read comments may have seen Kim comment. Kim's sister, Kathy, and I were roommates at college. Kim has been living in Japan for a long time (decades I think). She's married to Ryu, who told her to "go take care of them (us)." Kim informs me that her family will meet us when we come through customs. They will stay at the same hotel as us and will make sure we get on the shuttle to Haneda for our flight to Misawa. I am so humbled. I am grateful beyond measure. God has taken care of this so beautifully. I'm excited to meet Kim's family on THIS trip....She tells me they will take care of us Japanese style. I haven't a clue what that means but the idea that they would go this expense and bother to minister to me is surely above and beyond anything I expected. Maybe this sort of brotherly kindness is the Japanese style.

See? The joyful reaping is already starting.....

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Scenery, Passports & Farewell

Jared snapped this photo of the amazing scenery around here. It was like this from Olympia to FT Lewis....come to think of it, it was like this all the way from the Tacoma Dome to 2nd street too.... ::snort::

6:45 a.m. breakfast before we go into the fray...

I don't have a photo of saying goodbye to Krista....she is now home safe and sound in Eugene and reports that the van is going into its well-earned 3 year rest. LOL

We began exploring last night. We walked to dinner, then to Half Price Books and then...

On the way back to the hotel we found the pond you mentioned mom. We plan to buy some bread and go back.

I'm looking forward to walking everywhere we want to go....though the heat wave around here is making it a bit of a challenge. ::snort::

Goodbye to Bre

Bre came down to say goodbye Sunday a.m. We prayed. Then the hugs and tears began.

Zander surpised us all by picking Bre up!

Group Hug!

Last few days in Eugene

The round bldg behind the boys is the old girls dorm - it's now a co-ed type dorm...and to the right is the old student center which is now something else and a music center.