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Monday, August 21, 2006

Putting this out in prayer. (Getting close to moving again.)

Hi, everyone.

I hope everyone enjoyed the journey that I've experienced so far as a travel nurse. It's been a wonderful 2 1/2 months in Seattle, and I have less than 3 weeks to go. I've been told many times that I came to Seattle at the right time, and I have to agree. Seattlelites really know how to enjoy the summer, cuz it's the only time the sun comes out for 3 straight months. Yes, there has been occasional showers, but while I've been in Seattle I've been blessed with mostly sunny skies and temperate heat. I've seen a lot of Seattle as well (obviously). I have only one thing to see before I leave, and that's Bumbershoot (Seattle's last festival).

I'm moving soon, so all the stuff I unpacked in June need to fit back into my CRV, along with additional things I purchased. I think I need to repurge some stuff. Thank you, Raquel for helping me purge some of my stuff before returning to San Diego. It was easier to do this time around, compared to the first time before I moved to Seattle. Before Seattle, she had to pry some things out of my fingers to purge. ;-) (Her version of relaxing)

I've found how much of an important asset it is to have a small group, as well as a church, to go to while traveling on my own. While I was in San Diego, I've been going to Small Group at Karen Stevens' house, and I have learned so much from everyone there. Ladies (Karen and group), you have taught me about relationships and marriage, prepared me for whenever I marry, and to not lower my stardards for a husband. It's been wonderful to go to small group and listen to these ladies, rich with experience and love for the Lord, and great accountability partners, especially when we were involved in planning the Women's Retreat last year. That was the clencher of why I decided to go to your small group.


Pray for me that I can pack everything back in my car in record time, and that I don't lose my mind with the list of things I need to do and straighten out before leaving Seattle.

That's a lot I shared, huh? Thanks everyone. I'll write again soon,

Leona

PRAISE REPORT: I finally have confirmation that I'm now licensed in Colorado. Been waiting for it for over a month.

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Leo and Raquel's National Lampoon's Ferry Ride

Leona has shared photos with you.

Here's the photos of our ferry boat adventure.

- Leona

National Lampoon Ferry Ride
(1 album)
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Just Stand Over There Against the Wall...

There are 2 sides to every story right?

I have to agree with Leona. She is a space cadet. Too bad we werent headed for the moon!

After our 2 hour tour and landing in Victoria, I was excited to see the Canadian border for the first time. I had never gone through customs before either. I was truly going "international."

However, to my dismay, we werent going to see what Canada had to offer. Makes sense since Leona sold me on going to Friday Harbor!!!

The customs official did not know what to do with us, so she directed us to "stand over there against the wall." Only criminals have to stand against walls! I was a little nervous but she had mercy and let us wait outside as long as she could hold our California driver's licenses. I flagged a guy who was wearing traffic garb and he said, "Oh, are you the two ladies...the two FAMOUS ladies?" We humbly with a smile said yes and he said he'd talk to customs for us. We got our IDs and I needed to head to the gift shop. BAD.

In honor of my almost trip to Canada-I'd like to call it National Lampoon's Ferry Ride, Leo and I got matching Canadian Maple Leaf tattoos on our American ankles...

This trip was exceptional because I got to cause some havoc and laughs among those who enjoy the routine trips along the Puget Sound...so happy 27th to me!

Welcome to Seattle, Raquel

"Hello, my name is Leona, your guide with Space Cadet Tours, where you will experience a vigorous run to the wrong ferry boat minutes before it leaves, visit Victoria BC that you're unable to enter because of no proof of citizenship on us, a trip through the Canadian and US border crossing, and 4 glorious hours on a round trip boat ride. It's an experience you can laugh about eventually in your life time."

Yes, that's how we spent my bestfriend's (Raquel) birthday. She came to visit me for her birthday, and go to San Juan Islands for her birthday since she didn't bring her birth certificate to go to Victoria. We made it to the Ferry terminal in Anacortes just before 8:15am to see a ferry boat loading up. Being the space cadet that I am, I thought that was our ferry boat we needed to get on, and rushed Raquel to the ticket counter so we can buy our ticket and get on it before it left. We were the last 2 they were waiting on, and as the boat started sailing out I found out the boat was going to Victoria, BC, NOT to San Juan Islands. (Simple mistake, right?) The explanation is too long to say, but there is one. Anyways, I went to speak with the Purser in charge of the passengers, and told her we were on the wrong boat and have no passports or birth certificates on us to show proof of citizenship at customs. She radioed our situation in, then told us we were to disembark with her in Victoria, she'd walk us through both customs, and get us back on the return ride to Anacortes. By the time we got back on the boat heading back to Anacortes, we were dubbed "The Famous 2 Ladies" by the Ferry crew. We will wear that proudly. We have been able to laugh about it from the moment it happened, and made an album all about it. I'll send it to you soon.

"Hope you come back again for this unforgettable adventure" :-D

Love in Christ,
Leona

Sunday, August 13, 2006

Snoqualmie Falls and Mariners Game

Hello, everyone

Sorry it's been a while since I've written. I have exactly a month before I leave Seattle. Next stop, Denver. I haven't done much sightseeing until this week. I went to a Renaissance Fair last weekend, and I have to say that it was the first time I didn't enjoy something in Seattle. I guess it's not my scene, but I went with a friend that wanted to see the fair. I wasn't really into it, especially since I just got off work, and only had a couple hours of sleep before we left for the fair. As soon as I got back that afternoon, I slept all the way through the evening, and missed Seafair's Saturday night concert and fireworks. :-(

At least I had 5 days off, so I DID do something to make up for lost time. I went to Snoqualmie falls on Monday. The falls change every season. In the spring, the falls are HUGE, cascading down as the snow melts in the mountain, and gradually decrease in size throughout the summer. When the rain starts pouring down in the Fall, the falls begin to increase in size again. I saw some pix of the falls in the winter, and it looks too cold for me to visit then. So, these pix are good enough for me. It's summer, warm in the 80's, and I can enjoy some blue skies. I'd love to come back to Seattle every summer if this is their type of summer every year.

On Tuesday night, I went to a Mariners game. It was a nice baseball experience. Not as good as a Padres game, but it was an adequate substitute. They have no Closer, so we didn't have the Closer entrance like Trevor Hoffman's. (BTW, Does anyone know where I can download a video of that, so I can put it on my MySpace site?) They tied up in the 9th, and one of the Mariners hit a grand slam in the 10th. Unfortunately, I had to leave at the end of the 9th to catch my bus. Why couldn't he hit that Grand Slam in the 9th?!

The best thing about that night is how I got a ticket to the game. It's a blessing. I went to church on Sunday, and got there early. The church has a little coffee shop with tables to sit at, so I sat there reading before service. A guy (he's in his 60's, if any of you were "thinking") came up to sit at the table, while waiting for a couple. We started talking, and I told him I was leaving Seattle in a month, but I hope to go to a Mariners game before I left. Well, he had an extra ticket to the game for the following Tuesday, and invited me to come with his Small group to the game. Apparently, one of the members of the church works for the Mariners and donated a lot of tickets to the church, and this guy's small group was going to the Tuesday game. No cost. How awesome is that. Yea, God. Well, gotta go. My best friend Raquel is coming to visit this week for her birthday, so more pix to come.

Live from Seattle, this is Leona. Have a good day. ;-D

Lotsa love.

Thursday, August 03, 2006

I did find a church in Seattle

If any of you were wondering, yes I found a church here in Seattle. It's been difficult to find one that's in the inner city area of Seattle (or where I am in University District) that is solid in the Word. There are no Bible bookstores in the city limits, except on the outskirts of Seattle. Fortunately, Pastor Kyle from the Rock Church (my home church) told me of Mars Hill Church in Seattle. I went there on the second week of arriving in Seattle, and Pastor Mark is an amazing speaker. He's straight forward and brings the sermon down the their level like Pastor Miles, but in a different way. Like Pastor Miles, Pastor Mark has a gift for evangelism.

The church is growing like the Rock Church, and outgrowing their temporary church site, but the Lord has blessed this church to expand throughout Greater Seattle. Pastor Mark said that Seattle is considered a burial grave for new churches, and for Mars Hill Church to flourish as it has, the Lord is with them to succeed. They just acquired a couple of buildings, both churches. I don't know the details as to what happened to the congregations of these churches, but the leaders of these churches came to Mars Hill church and offered their buildings to help Mars Hill Church expand throughout the city. It's a rather long story to explain Mars Hill's situation, unable to move into a larger facility, but what I've seen I know the Lord is doing miracles left and right to reside throughout Seattle.

Before I left San Diego, I prayed that Father God would use me wherever He led me to. When I got here, the only thing Lord wanted me to do is pray for Seattle. Pray for them. Where the Lord has them planting churches are areas that need prayer the most for revival and an open heart to Jesus. Ballard, Wedgewood/University District, and West Seattle.

Thank you everyone for your replies to my posts. I miss everyone in San Diego. It's been hot up here, but from what I've heard it wasn't as bad compared to the heat wave in San Diego. I hope everyone survived the heat. Jo, how are you doing? You've been on my mind, and I've been praying for you especially with these last 2 weeks of heat.

When the Lord says I can go back home to San Diego, I'll be back in a flash.

Love you all in Christ,
Leona