Day Two in Vancouver...

Appointment at the US Consulate in Vancouver: 10.00 am. Don't be late!!! I was up super early, nervous that I would oversleep, and checked and double checked the documents to make sure I had everything before I headed off... With some reassuring words from Andrew on the phone, I headed off to brave the public transport system. Turns out they don't take notes... But! They are really friendly and I hitched a free ride into town!

When I got there, turns out I'm not the only one with a 10 o' clock appointment! Each half hour has about 15-20 people! You are also not allowed to take any bags into the building, so I had to pay $5 for a local storekeeper to hold it for me! He has made quite a business out of us unsuspecting customers!

Well, three hours later I emerge from the building. I was nearly speechless at how amazingly the Lord worked out all the details. Even in my narrow window of being here in Canada, my new F2 US visa will be ready for pick-up on Friday afternoon, and still leaves me enough time to get back to the US! Although the process was extremely slow to apply, they are quick to get the visas completed and I am able to pick it up again from the Consulate! Praise the Lord! A quick phone call to the hubby to share the good news and I was off to explore Downtown Vancouver! This is the area that I walked!


Modern office building

Reflections in the glass. And note all the trees in the city!

Vibrant fall colors!

Mmmm! Celebrations with a Tim Horton's Coffee and Doughnut!



Vancouver Law Courts


Holy Rosary Cathedral



Vancouver Public Library. In Second year of Architecture I actually studied this building as a precedent for a design project! Was really cool to see and experience the real thing!



More radiant leaves!


Residential skyscrapers




The whole city is on various levels and there are great views all over the place!

Public Park on Carrall Sreet


The Chinese Garden was magnificent!





Chinatown District of Vancouver


The International Village for the Olympics

International Village Shopping Center

An old, cobbled street in the Heritage District


I stopped in to browse Mr. Big & Tall for Andrew!




Then to the International Convention Center on the Burrard Inlet


Looking back at the Harbour Center



On my way back I saw the Library again

Then I got on the wrong bus and did a gigantic detour, but got to see more of the city!

Back on track, I took pictures from the Granville Street Bridge. Is it not the most beautiful city?!





There was a really cool park at the foot of the bridge too, there are just tons of really well groomed public areas...


the wiring for the electric buses. This city is known for it's "Greenness"!

The house where I was staying... Actually, there is an apartment in the basement that the lady rents, and that's where I was staying. Pics to follow!

After a long busy day I took myself down to the local coffee house to use the net, enjoy a caffeine intake and post pictures! The evening brought the most beautiful sunset, and I knew that I was most blessed!

Off to Vancouver!

This morning was bitter sweet. I was loathed to leave Andrew behind and fly off, not knowing whether I would be able to come back! But I do love to travel and had never been to Canada before... Let alone a beautiful city like Vancouver. I was looking forward to exploring, meeting new people and sorting out my visa; but just wished Andrew could have come along.

There are a few reasons he couldn't. Firstly, we could not afford two tickets, and secondly, he has a visa application in process too that means that he is not to leave the country until it is completed. So that meant I was on my own! I was so encouraged that there was someone who would meet me in Canada and would be looking out for me while I was there! These small mercies were all evidence of His hand in it all, and I definitely found peace with the whole trip.

I would jokingly say that if the Lord really wanted Andrew to be at seminary, that He would need to get me this visa otherwise he would be on the next plane to come and find me!

So early in the morning we went off to Burbank airport and said our goodbyes... It was harder than I thought! No pictures of that!

My stop over was Salt Lake City, and it was freezing there!!!




Then it was time for the last leg, and I was praying they would let me in on the other side of the border!!!


Mount Baker, Washington State



Coming in to land!!!

I can see the fall colored trees already!

Time to catch the sky train! This is cool!

The Sky train station where we climbed off and boarded the bus...

And "home!"
This is the wonderful lady/fellow saint that let me use her apartment for the few days. Unfortunately she was not going to be home at all, just came to settle me in and then headed off to her patient - she is private home assisted living nurse. She was so kind and stocked up her fridge for me, and really made me feel so welcome! She cooked us some lunch and then hurried off to catch the bus. And then I was on my own! Time to explore...

The town I stayed in was just 20 minutes from downtown and right on the Granville Bus Route! You can't get much better than that!


The magnificent fall colors!

The local Starbucks whose Wireless was not working... Sad times, no internet for me there! After a phone call to my love, it was time to settle in for the night and get ready for my appointment in the morning! I love Vancouver!

Our 6 month anniversary at Pyramid Lake!

We just love celebrating our anniversaries in places we have never been before, and today we decided to head off to the lake along the 5 freeway. First stop was the information building to get more info!


Such a beautiful afternoon out! Time to explore!


Driving into the park, you can see the water inlet. I have a feeling this is the water we drink at home!

With many picnic areas to choose from, we were ready to find a pretty spot to relax.

I think I've spotted the ideal place!

The scout...

Down the ramp...

And time to make home!

Aah... Just right!


Such beautiful surroundings...




A phone call from Amy Bird saying she was scheduled to be induced to have baby Jacob in 24 hours! Such exciting news, just wish I was going to be here to go and visit, but I'm off to Canada in the morning!




Shadow picture!




Andrew and I have never been apart for more than a few hours since we were married, so we were just enjoying our time together before I head off to Vancouver.

What a wonderful afternoon with the love of my life...

Congratulations Brandon and Janine!

Brandon and Andrew were best friends for many years, and met in University while studying Computer Science together. Brandon was Andrew's best man at our wedding and brought Janine down as his fabulous date! We really liked her and were just waiting for the announcement of their engagement!!! Congratulations you guys!!!

Seminary Blessings...

Today we received an anonymous money order in our postbox for $999. We cannot but marvel at the ways the Lord provides for us here at Seminary. We have heard many wondrous stories of other families that experience this sort of thing while here, but count ourselves as unworthy to be given such generous gifts from the Lord's hand. It is very humbling to realize that He is intimately involved with our journey here at TMS, yet we praise Him for giving us far more than we could ever have imagined, and blessing us with a church of brothers and sisters who care deeply for the men studying to take the Truth to the ends of the Earth! Thank-you to those people who may have been a part of this amazing evidence of God's bountiful provision for His own!