Last August, my mom gave me a call and asked if I wanted to go to Washington, D.C. with her around Memorial Day. Anyone who knows me knows that I LOVE US history, and I LOVE American government. Needless to say, I was so excited I cried. Well, Memorial Day just passed, and we just got back from our trip (which my sister also decided to join us on).
Here are some of our adventures!
We caught a flight at 6:30 a.m. None of us really slept going into it because we were afraid we'd miss the plane.
But we made it and we were on our way for some grown-up-girl-bonding-time! My sister and I actually cuddled on the plane. This is a rare peaceful moment for my mother.
We arrived pretty late, ate some food, and then went to bed. We had an early morning to be ready for!
We ran in our first 5k, the 4th Annual Semper Fi 5k.
I was really impressed with myself because I actually ran/jogged the whole thing! I finished first, Genna second, and my mom third. Here's my rank:
Since we had a rental car, we went out to Mount Vernon, which was pretty cool.
We hung out with George, Martha, and their grandkids.
This is the tomb. We came just in time for a ceremony where they had a Boy Scout lead the Pledge of Allegiance...
...and then called a veteran up to place the wreath inside of the tomb. How cool is that for this guy?!
This was the memorial to the slave burial where over a hundred slaves are said to be buried.
After Mount Vernon, we went to old Alexandria, VA and did a ghost tour then ate some Italian food. No pictures...sorry!
The next day, we were so tired so we just took it easy. I went to church, Genna slept, and Mom went shopping.
But then Monday came around and it was time to go! We had some tours scheduled. First, we went to the Capitol.
In the top of that circle, they have George Washington portrayed as a god. I'm not sure he would've like that....
This is where John Quincy Adam's desk was and where he had a heart attack (or maybe it was a stroke?). He was carried into a room that we were not allowed to go into and died there shortly after.
After our tour, we walked around a little and found a little pizza place to eat at before our next tour. I LOVE the architecture.
The back of the Supreme Court...
Then we had a tour for the Library of Congress, which was seriously beautiful!
Apparently they have a whole genealogy room! I can't wait to go back someday!
After that, we decided to go to a session of the Senate. They were voting on a judge. It was pretty boring. They all said yes. They all just talked amongst each other. But afterward, I got this great shot of the Capitol.
Then we made our hour long trip back to the hotel, ate some food, and went to bed.
Stay tuned for the next post!
I've learned that doing yoga three to four times a week really boosts your mood. It's also easy to see progress when you go consistently, which boosts your confidence.
I've learned that sweating a lot not only releases toxins but makes your skin really soft.
I've learned that Charlie Horse's are truly truly awful.
I've learned that sometimes being alone is the best remedy....and sushi. Sushi is probably always the best remedy.
I've learned that friends really do come and go, and then sometimes they come back again when you really need them.
I've learned that things don't always happen how we thought they would or how we want them to, and then we just have to go with it.
I've learned that some friends need you to listen to them, other friends need to listen to you, and then there are those rare friends when you just listen to each other when you each need it.
I've learned that we have two choices when challenges come along: we can become angry and bitter, or we can accept them and try to learn from them. The second one may be harder, and of course you can do the first one for a little while, but in the long run, the second option will make you better and happier.
I've learned that if we just assume that everyone around us is doing their best, that they're a little better today than they were yesterday, it's easier to love them and be nice to them.
I've learned that there are lots of people in this world who genuinely care, and there are other people who just don't. And that's ok. Pick your friends and know them!
I've learned that people really like to talk about themselves, and if you ask them lots of questions, you'll learn some pretty interesting things about how other people have lived and how they think and why they are the way they are.
I've learned that most religions are the same at their core, and it all begins and ends with love.... love for yourself, for others, and for whatever Higher Being(s) you believe in.
I've learned that sometimes I just want to do everything at once, that I want to just hurry up and go, that I don't want to wait around. But sometimes, you have to move slow and take your time. I've learned that patience is really important. And I feel like I just keep learning this one over and over and over again. I'm really regretting praying for patience those few times four years ago.....
I've
learned that when we think God has forgotten us or given up on us, He
hasn't. He's still there with us, and He knows what we're going
through. He loves us so much. Each of us. No matter who we are, what religion we practice (or don't), what choices we make, what we look like, who we love or don't love, what career we choose, how many kids we have, what political party we belong to, how we think.... He still LOVES us, really REALLY loves us. And He always will.
I've learned that LOVE is the most important thing in the world. The two greatest commandments are to LOVE God and to LOVE your neighbor as yourself. It's almost three commandments....to LOVE yourself. That's what I wish for everybody....LOVE.
