More Washington DC Photos

The National Gallery of Art was one of the high points of the trip for me. It was a little surreal to see so many legendary works of art under one roof, art that I've previously only seen in books and movies. We were only there for a relaxing two hours, but I could've stayed all day.



I was taken by the gorgeous sky-lit West Garden Court. I asked the kiddos to sit so I could take a few shots.


Elizabeth couldn't resist hamming it up with Rodin's Thinker.



And Degas' Little Dancer Aged Fourteen.



We also paid a visit to the Washington National Cathedral. While we were there all activity stopped at a quarter to the hour so that everyone could pray for peace. I loved seeing Scripture engraved on the walls, on pillars, on chairs, everywhere.

Elizabeth said, "Mom, this church is too fancy. I like our church better." :-)

One of the cathedral's magnificent stained glass windows features a piece of moon rock brought back by the Apollo 11 crew. It's highlighted in the center of the red spiral.

The boys were enamored with the National Air & Space Museum, and especially the Virginia adjunct, the Udvar-Hazy Center. They were thrilled to see an SR-71.

The boys insisted on taking a photo with C3PO at the National Museum of American History.

...and witnessed greenbacks being printed at the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing. We weren't allowed to take photos inside the press area, just at the entrance and the foyer near the gift shop. For the amount of money being printed each day (over $500 million), I couldn't believe how antiquated the process was. The printing machines were old and rickety and the sheets were inspected by hand. While we were there a couple of the machines jammed and they had to destroy the misprinted money.

It was impossible not to gawk at the huge stacks of uncut currency. It reminded me of those old Richie Rich comics I used to read as a little girl.

We had a number of fantastic meals in DC and Virgnia. The restaurant with the most entertaining atmosphere had to have been Ben's Chili Bowl. Okay, calling it a restaurant is sheer flattery. Dive is more like it. The chili dogs were only okay--and you could almost feel your arteries clogging with every bite--but it was a fun place to people watch. Alan and Dad ate the Chili Half Smoke named after Bill Cosby, who is reported to be a regular.

Me, I'm just a Zippy's chili kind of gal.

..."charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy." 1 Timothy 6:17

Our Washington DC Trip

I meant to post our Washington DC photos sooner, but summer's been getting in the way: swimming lessons, VBS, writing gigs and carpal tunnel syndrome.

Flying into DC was quite the adventure. We were supposed to land around 9:00 pm. Due to a huge electrical storm, however, our plane was re-routed to Pittsburgh. We waited out the storm for a couple of hours and finally flew into Reagan National past midnight. After claiming our bags, we had the pleasure of standing in a cab queue with over 200+ other weary travelers. Thankfully, our hotel was just a couple of miles away. My head finally hit the pillow about 3:30 am the next morning.

The main goal of our trip was to connect with my cousin Scott and his new bride Allison, my cousin Daniel, his wife Ngoc and their two kids. We loved every minute spent with them, and especially enjoyed eating Ngoc's Vietnamese noodles at their cozy new home. Elizabeth devoured two servings!

We also enjoyed visiting our nation's capitol. It was the ultimate American History field trip!



Mom and Dad and the three munchkins are posing like tourists in front of the Reflecting Pool with the Washington Monument in the background. We missed the chance to go up to the top of the WM-- the online tickets were sold out, and no one wanted to get up early to stand in line for tickets. I'm consoled by the fact that we didn't have great viewing weather anyway.



The Lincoln Memorial was one of the highlights of our trip. I visited it years ago while I was at Merrill Lynch's stockbroker training, but seeing it through the eyes of my awestruck kids was a much more rewarding experience. Elizabeth got a kick of seeing the Gettysburg Address on one of the walls. She memorized a section of the Address last year as part of a history co-op class.





For some reason, the Iwo Jima memorial was one of Daniel's top three sites to visit. I think it has something to do with a Jonathan Park story.




Thanks to our congressman, we had the privilege of touring the White House. We saw the East Room, Blue Room, Green Room, Vermeil Room and the State Dining Room. It is truly a stately mansion. I embarked on the tour as a prayer walk for our President and for our nation.

No one was allowed to bring a camera inside because of security measures. We hoofed it to the front and took the usual touristy photos. The photo above was taken just seconds before a Secret Service agent armed with an Uzi walked by. Gulp...try to look innocent, guys.




Despite Agent Uzi, I stuck my zoom lens in between the fence posts and snapped this shot.



We caught the Metro nearly everywhere. Mass transit has its merits, but it's not for the faint-hearted. When you reach your destination, you have a very brief window to get out before the train shuts the door. Once, we were disembarking when I noticed Mom missing. I glanced and saw that she had nodded off in her seat. This was no time for a gentle and quiet spirit. I hollered, "MOM!" She jumped out and barely made it through the closing doors.

Another time, the exiting crowd was so thick that Alan couldn't get out fast enough. The edge of the shopping bag Alan was carrying got caught in the doors, and a piece was torn off as the train flew away. Thankfully, the goods were still safe.

In addition to visiting the impressive Capitol Building, we visited the National Archives, where the nation's Charters of Freedom are displayed: The Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.

It was very cool to view the original documents with the signatures of our Founding Fathers, but it was sad to see how faded the Declaration of Independence has become over time. It's even sadder to witness how our nation is wandering from its principles.

We must keep praying.

(Next installment of photos to come...)

"Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!" Psalm 33:12

Back From Vacation

We're back from vacationing with my parents. Guess where we've been? Here's a hint:



(More photos to come.)

"Blessed are the people to whom such blessings fall! Blessed are the people whose God is the Lord! " Psalm 144:15

My Favorite Shot

Well, since you're all begging for more photos of Alaska...

Okay, just two of you are begging and it's only because you're humoring me...

I'll share my favorite shot of the trip.

I was hoping to get a shot of a bald eagle and thus constantly searched the skies. I did spot one sitting on the top of a distant tree in Ketchikan but I didn't shoot quickly enough.

Instead, I ended up shooting a lot of seagulls.

This is the shot that made me forget about bald eagles.



When I see it I think of the Holy Spirit. I think of aiming for heaven. I think of freedom.

I think of the way they're all connected.

And it fills me with praise and thanksgiving.

This shot is a gift from God. Thank You, Lord!

"For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death." Romans 8:2

Alaska

Yes, we went to Alaska! We joined my parents on a 7-day cruise to the Inside Passage, visiting Glacier Bay and Tracy Arm as well as three ports: Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan.

We also spent a few days in Vancouver before and after the cruise.



Here is the magnificent ship we sailed on--Holland America's
Zuiderdam.

In the previous post, the first photo of my parents with the kids was taken in Glacier Bay in front of Marjorie Glacier.

Here are a few more shots of the glacier.


We witnessed the glacier calving (breaking off into the sea) a few
times, and it was spectacular to hear the roar, not to mention watch
the resulting swell of the sea.


Can you believe all this ice in August? It's Alaska!


A distant shot as we started sailing away.


This little bird hitching a ride on an iceberg made me smile.

On another day, we sailed through Tracy Arm...


and God treated us to a beautiful sunrise.


A little later, we had breakfast on the balcony to enjoy the view.

We also visited Skagway.


where we rode the famous train up 2,800 feet to the White Pass Summit.


We also visited a historic gold camp and did a little panning for gold.
We ended up with a few flakes. ;-)

Here's another photo of Alaska...

A Baked Alaska! Every night there was a different variation on the
dessert menu. Jonathan tried nearly all of them. :-)

There is nothing like seeing God's creation in all its splendor. Mere photos and words cannot do Alaska justice.

I'll post more vacation photos, but only if you beg. ;-)

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ..." Ephesians 1:3

We're Home

Guess where we spent our summer vacation?

Hints:
A Big Glacier


{with Grandpa and Grandma}

And Another Big Glacier



Black Bears Catching Salmon



A Huge Rain Forest



Spectacular Landscapes



It's a good thing I went digital. I took over 1000+ photos!

More to come. :-)

"Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all the depths; fire and hail, snow and clouds; stormy wind, fulfilling His word; mountains and all hills; fruitful trees and all cedars; beasts and all cattle; creeping things and flying fowl...let them praise the name of the Lord, for His name alone is exalted; His glory is above the earth and heaven." Psalm 148:7-10,13