I took most of my DC pictures on my phone.

Carrying my big camera ended up being more trouble than it was worth.

For some reason, I can't seem to find where all of the phone pictures downloaded into my computer's hard drive, so I think I'm going to have to download them again.

I wanted to say "good morning," though and share a few camera pics that I took before I stopped carrying it with me.

Notice Karrick in the background!  He was determined to photo bomb this picture, so I took about five in a row and thankfully he jumped right in when I clicked one time! 

Susan (my little teacher-desk friend) enjoyed the trip although she had a rough time.  I'll share more about her adventures in another post!  This is my friend Kristy posing with Susan on the bus as we drove around looking at some of the DC sights.

Lincoln's Memorial was Olivia's favorite part of the trip.  I think she recognized it from a lot of movies, so it was extra special to see it in "real life."

This may have been one of my favorite views as we walked around DC.  I love the reflection in the water.

I think it's good for all of us to be reminded of our country's beginnings no matter where we live.  Hearing the behind-the-scene stories of famous events in history makes the people involved seem so much more real.

My favorite story was about the night the British ambushed DC in the War of 1812.  As they came across the Potomac River in boats, President Madison and his wife, Dolly, were eating dinner.  They were alerted to the attack and had to run from the Presidential house and hide in another house in the town.  Dolly wouldn't leave without a painting of George Washington that hung in their home and without a little metal box of some sort.  Just hearing this story in such detail, reminded me that people really haven't changed through the years.  We all cling to things.

The story goes on to say that as the soldiers arrived on land, hungry, thirsty, and tired, they first burned down the capitol building and then moved on to attack the President's house.  However, when they saw the huge spread of food that the Madison's had left on the table when they had rushed out, they sat down and ate.  This ended up giving the Madison's plenty of time to hide safely.  Hunger changes everything, doesn't it?

Today, as I think of the clinging of Dolly to a couple of earthly things and as I think of the intense hunger and thirst of the British soldiers, I am reminded that I need to be sure I am clinging to the right things in this life and that I am hungering and thirsting for things that matter.

Summertime has swept over me with such a flurry of activities and such a long list of things I want to accomplish while on break that I have found myself finding it more and more difficult to simply sit and be still.

When I do sit down, I think of so many things I want to get done and I end up getting up and going at it again.

Last night, I went to the house of an elderly lady from our church to meet about the jail ministry.

She prepared hot tea for me and my friend, and we sat for nearly two hours visiting and listening to sweet stories from this lady's past.  It felt good to get to know her better, but I never would have had that experience had I not sat down and been still.

The same goes with my relationship with Jesus.

It takes time to know Him better.

Times of being still and listening.

Today, we have friends coming over for a Memorial Day cookout.  I have a list of things I need to do before they arrive.

But it feels good to just sit for a bit and read and pray and close my eyes and know that I do not walk through my list of "chores" alone.  He is with me.

He is with you too!

Happy Memorial Day.

Thank you to all of you who have served or are serving our country,