Quick Trip to Seattle

Anna loves RC Sproul's hymns that he wrote with Jeff Lippencott.  She listens to them all the time and longed to hear them in concert like Russ and I were able to do in Orlando a couple years ago.  She knows all the lyrics and can point out with precision her favorite parts of songs.  So, I promised her if they ever arranged a concert nearby, I would take her.   When I found out Ligonier was organizing a concert in the Seattle area the evening before the West Coast Conference, I looked into taking the girls.  Unfortunately, I looked too late.  All the cheaper hotels were booked, and I couldn't find a room cheaper than $200 a night.   In a providential conversation with a widow lady from our church, Marita, she mentioned she would also love to go to the concert (I had given her a CD of Sproul's music when her husband was dying from cancer) and that she had a sister that lived in Seattle.  Marita said she would love to visit her sister and was sure she would welcome us into her home.   This sister and brother-in-law graciously hosted Anna, Lydia, Marita, and me for two nights and took us around the Seattle area on Thursday before the concert.   

Beautiful drive to Seattle!

Marita's sister lives just a 5 minute drive from Lake Washington.  It was such a beautiful evening to watch the osprey and eagles dive for food.

Edmonds Port on the Puget Sound.  We did a little browsing in Rick Steve's shop and another travel store before eating a lovely lunch.  

I needed to check out all the travel gadgets to see what would be helpful before we visit Caleb in Spain next fall!

 After lunch, we walked along the pier and marina and enjoyed watching the ferries come in and out.  You can see the Olympic Mountains from one side and Whidbey Island on the other.

We then drove about 20-30 minutes to the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks.  Watching the water move in and out to lower this boat to get past the dam was pretty cool.

Kayakers even utilize the locks!

The concert was well attended and beautifully done with a full choir and orchestra.  The music moved Anna to tears through most of the concert, so I kept her stocked in kleenex.  Totally worth the trip!!

View from Mary Hill museum on the Colombia River Gorge on the way home.

Lovely vineyard at the base of the museum.

We did not stay for the West Coast conference because we needed to get home in time for Lydia's viola concert!