VA-K Synopsis

Yeah! It's VA-K!
Wow, I must say, as I'm sure you're all suspecting, Chad & I are cramming each and every day full! I was happy that we had to stop for a couple of hours this evening after supper to get some much needed laundry done. I did some catch-up journalling and a little snoozy too.

FLYING: was great! I loved it! It was soosoooooooo cool! I'll get into it later when I get back with our pics and stuff but wow it was great! Soooo much power! I was like a little girl just soaking everything up. Poor Chad these last few days he'll be trying to catch a nap and I'm over beside him poking him " Look at this! Look at this!" thus far he is still finding me "cute"...wonder how long that will last? I'm an old pro and ready to travel the world now (not that I always haven't been but anyway)

KELOWNA: absolultly beautiful! A gorgeous city nestled in between the mountains with a great big lake. I did look for their lake monster Ogopogo, actually thought it would be a great way to make some bucks, but alas, no luck. Unfortunatly on Tuesday I had a really sore throat and since then the sore throat has gone away but I'm suffering with terrible sinus congestion & clogged up ears, I don't know if it's allergies or a cold but it's miserable! I had one afternoon to myself when the boys were at buisness meeting and I totally ripped up downtown, taking in all the sights, Kasaugi Friendship Garden, Kelowna Museam, Art Ark Gallary, Ogopogo, Lake Okanogan etc. and of course Starbucks, before walking in true Heidi style all the way from downtown up to the mall--aprox.10k, nuts!

CONFERENCE: was challenging and great, but exhausting. We were given so much to chew on and try to shuffle through in our minds. I know the cry of our hearts is that it not only challenged us but will prove it changed us too!

THE BUS: Friday, Chad woke up with a horrible neck cramp, putting uncertain damper on our parade. He also was unable to lift ANYTHING and it was a travel day. ugh. we took the Grehound Bus from Kelowna to Vancouver. What a gorgeous ride! My ears popped far worse as we drove through the mountains than they did on the plane, but then again I am sporting a nasty sinus congestions/cold thing. But it was so beautiful as the mountains loomed ahead of us, behind us, around us. At times we were driving so close to a precipe that would end in certain death if we were in an accident, at other times there were warnings that the snow capped mountains could avalance. They were gorgeous!

VANCOUVER: Fun! Fun! Fun! I sooooooo love big cities, they get me super excited. I must admit it was a bit interesting trying to get all of our luggage off the bus up sets of stairs to the Vancouver sky cab, then off again, and down the hill to our hostle, but somehow we made it. Of course I was a tad frustrated, because Chad could lift nothing due to his neck so I was strapped down with his massive hiking backpack with all of our camping gear (which I had begged him to leave at home, but he insisted it wouldn't be that bad and he'd carry it) plus 2 suitcases, and a carryon, not mentioning the camera and my purse around my neck. It was cute!

THE HOSTEL: Wow, a hostel is one of those things you get used to. When I staggered up two flights of stairs with all of our luggage to open a door into a room with one set of bunkbeds, a window and a lawn chair and no room for two people to stand up at the same time, I wasn't overly happy. I'm still not thrilled but it's making Vancouver doable for us,a nd I'm excited about that. The bathrooms are clean! :)

LAST NIGHT: we did some poking around Gastown and say an acutal steam run clock, which was neat, walked all along the warf where the world trade center is etc. and had some yummy food. I was so excited just to be here!

TODAY: we had a slower morning which was necessary and then took the SEABUS, yes on the sea over to the Campilano Suspension Bridge (I think I've spelled that right) google it for some great images. It was cool, we did a treetop adventure and spent half the day there, it was great, I hope our pictures turned out well! Then we too the SEABUS back over downtown and another bus over to Graville Island Market. IT's an island with a public market and artisans etc. Pretty neat, we had supper there. Came back did laundry at the hostel and rested a bit (crazy idea!) before heading up to the 711 for a massive bottle of water (I've been soooo thirsty!) and a slurpie! yum! Now we're at the internet cafe getting caught up on all the happenings of the last week or so.

TOMORROW: we have church, somewhere yet undetermined and then we're going to go to the LOOKOUT and the revolving restaurant over Vancouver, and then to the Vancourver aquarium, and an authentic classy italian restuaurant for supper. I must say, spending time with your husband, is great, I highly recommend it. I didn't realize how little of htat we've had this past year, it has been such a busy and full year. Ahhhhhh......

well, I don't know if I'll get to email again this long on our trip, it's a long message I know, but I'm excited!

Please pray for some relief for my head and sinus congestion, it is putting a bit of a damper on things, and please pray for Chad's neck, he's dealt with a strain or pulled muscle or something since Friday morning and it's not good for him either.

we fly!

we'll we're off! we fly tomorrow at 4:45pm. WOOOOOPEEEEE! Vacation! You'll hear all about it when I'm back and if I get near a computer I'll ship off an update too.

In a few short hours we're off! I'm so extreemly excited I keep going back and forth between extreme excitement and happy tears. I can't believe another childhood dream is finally coming true for me! It's so weird to want something your whole life and finally be staring it in the face!

I'm going to be flying! Part of me will see that little girl with the big, seemingly impossible dreams, today as we get up in the air--and I'll see the Pacific! I dont' remember what # that was on the list of things to do but it was on there! I'll have to dig that list up this summer and see what's left to accomplish (he! He!)