WASHINGTON D.C. VACATION

We just had a FABULOUS TRIP (in spite of the United States Government.)  We met my parents in Washington D.C. on Friday.  And we played hard until last night (when we returned home in time for the government to re-open.)

Here's a quick (yet photo heavy) review of our vacation:

Saturday we walked over 7 miles.  We saw ALL the monuments on the mall and the Union Station.

After looking at the Union Station, and the Library of Congress - we went to the Capitol.  It is an amazing building.  But the exciting thing?!  Glenn Beck was speaking out front.  We listened to him as he called for us to de-fund the GOP.  He talked about being good citizens and finding joy in serving our country.  We were super close to one of my mother and my favorite people!  And I even got a photo with Pat Grey, Glenn Beck's best friend and business partner.  Mom and I were sooooooooo excited!

After such an exciting morning we continued our trek around the Mall.  First we walked to Washington's Monument.  It was under construction so the pictures were not my favorite....

We had to break the law (civil disobedience) in order to get up to all of the different monuments and memorials.  It was exciting, a bit scary, and worth-while.  Here's proof of our civil disobedience:

Then we went to the Thomas Jefferson Monument.  There were two guards out front that would not allow us to enter, but we walked around the monument and took some pretty pics.

Then it was on to Franklin D. Roosevelt's monument.  I really don't think FDR was that great of a president.  He was probably sincere, but he had a lot of progressive quotes that I don't agree with.  And I really don't like the fact that he thought he was better than George Washington and served for 3 terms....  But his monument was striking and well created.

The quote above is an example of what "sounds" good but is not.  The fact is, we are not free from want or fear.  It is not a God-given right.  It is not in the constitution.  But it sounds nice.

After FDR, we saw Martin Luther King Jr.'s Monument.  Now he was a great man.  I don't like how the progressives are using his memory for their cause (I personally don't think he would like it either) but his monument was very inspirational.

The War Memorials were awesome (especially WWII and Vietnam.)  I am SOOOOOOOO grateful for the men and women who serve our country and are willing to sacrifice everything for our freedom.

The Lincoln Monument was by far the most sad to see.  It's hard to see this in the photo, but there is a line of policemen barricading us from going to the monument.  There was also TWO gates and mounted police.  There was a large protest outside the gates which we joined in.  My daughters were shocked at the anger and worried about the feelings of the police.  But the understood that we are given the right for free speech.  And the disagree with the way the President of the United States is handling conflict and the government shut-down.  Here are some interesting (and historical) pictures from our vacation:

Soooooooo.....

Sunday we went to Church.  Guess what?  Harry Reid was in our ward.  Mom was close enough to kick him, but she didn't.  (I would have.  I don't understand that  man and I don't like him at all.)

We also went to the Kennedy Center Sunday evening for a free concert.  It was a jazz/Spanish/Brazillian concert.  It was a lot of fun.  And the Kennedy Center is really cool.

Mom and I also found a 7-11 so we could get some coke icees!  YUM!!!!

Monday brought us to the Spy Museum where we all got new identities and had fun learning about espionage.  (I was Gretta Schmid, age 33 from Germany.  I was an astronomer in England on business for 4 days.)  We also got to see a James Bond exhibit.  Bond rocks!

Unfortunately, Ford's Theater was closed, but there was an interesting exhibit about Lincoln across the street.  This sculpture is made up of books about Lincoln.  It was very impressive and I loved the quote:

The rest of the exhibit definitely had an agenda and was rather disappointing.  There was a lot of propaganda and it was neat to show my daughters how much propaganda can be used to make one's image good or bad.  I was really rather disgusted by the progressives and their blatant indoctrination and use of Abraham Lincoln for their own purposes.

Tuesday was another beautiful day.  We decided to go to Arlington Cemetery.  It was fantastic.  And the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was almost spiritual.  It was neat.

And the view of DC from near Kennedy's eternal flame was gorgeous.  You could see the Washington Monument:

Then we journeyed to Mount Vernon.  It was incredible.  George Washington is my favorite president.  His property is beautiful and awe-inspiring.

Before we left for home on Tuesday, we made a quick trip to Maryland to see the temple.  It was sooooooooo worth it!

Was our trip worth it despite the government shutdown?  YES!  We had a fabulous time!  Thanks, Mil and Grandpa Mac!

SUNDY'S SEVEN SABBATH SENTIMENTS - EDITION 20

1.

Guess how we have spent most of our week?

SICK!
Key Lime Pie started it.  I took her to the doctor on Wednesday and discovered she had a wicked virus.  The doctor prescribed: lots of fluids, plenty of rest and Ibuprofin & cough syrup.
By Wednesday night, Kotten Kandy also had a sore throat.  Scott and I showed symptoms by Thursday morning.  (Thanks for sharing, Key Lime Pie.)  So Wednesday, Thursday and Friday we spent sleeping, drinking Icees (to soothe our sour throats, of course) and watching The Mentalist.  We didn't get much school work done because we all had head aches that caused our brains to quit working.  A good friend of mine says, "A sick family is a united family!"  We are pretty united right now!

2.

While we were sick... we watched season 5 of The Mentalist.  We enjoy that show.  We are all wondering who Red John is.  We all have our guesses.  Now we have to wait for season 6 to show up on DVD (or BEG Chris to let us watch two shows at his house?!)  Either way, we are all anxiously awaiting to watch more of Patrick Jane in action.

3.

We've had a lot of rain this week.  I'm not a huge fan of rain.  But I love the green that it creates outside.
One day (before we got sick) Kotten Kandy and Apple Pie decided to play in the rain.  They looked so happy spinning and singing!  I love these two kids!

4.

I made FHE treats.  I tried to make them healthy.  I thought they turned out pretty and they were yummy....

5.

I miss my sister and my mother.  I REALLY miss my sister and mother.  This week they have been at my little brother's house.  Since they don't have cell phones I haven't been able to talk to them daily - like usual.  (Yes, I talk to my sister and mom EVERY day.  Sometimes more than once a day.)  Anyway, they should be home now... so I can go back to my daily calls.  I've missed talking to them.  They are some of my bestest friends in the entire world.  I'm soooooooooooo grateful for phones.  It would be so hard to live in Kentucky while they were in Colorado without them.  I wish we lived closer and could do things together.  (At least I get to see my mom next week in D.C. - I'll blog about that in two weeks.)

6.

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!  Sweet Rolls!  Scott makes his family's famous sweet rolls every year during conference.  They are delicious.  And my good friend, Amy, made her sausage balls.  (Another Mmmmmmmm!)  And Kotten Kandy tried a new recipe (that she made up from the top of her head) of hash browns with cheese and onion and other stuff.  She did an excellent job.  I took small bites of everything.  I love the tastes at general conference.....

7.

IT'S GENERAL CONFERENCE!  This is one of our family's favorite holidays.  (Yes, we call it a holiday!)  We LOVE listening to our prophets' speak.  I asked my family what their favorite talks were.  They couldn't choose.  All the talks were inspirational and wonderful!  I'm so grateful my entire family LOVES general conference and pays attention to the important messages given to us.  I'm so grateful to be a member of this Church.  I'm so grateful for latter-day prophets.  I'm so grateful we get to feast upon their words - because they truly are the words of Christ.  I KNOW this to be true.  I LOVE General Conference!!!!!!!

SUNDY'S SEVEN SABBATH SENTIMENTS - EDITION 19 - CATCH UP EDITION

1.

Yesterday was Super Saturday for our ward.  We went to Robin Brown's home and crafted all afternoon.  Then we had a delicious dinner followed by listening to the Relief Society Broadcast.  It was a fabulous day: filled with fun, friends, food and inspiration.

I taught the women how to make scrabble tile jewelry.  I think they enjoyed it and loved the finished project.  The women also made rag wreaths, cards and star ornaments.  Dinner was a potato bar.  Yum!  with cakes for desert.

The highlight of the evening was the broadcast.  I loved listening to our new Relief Society presidency.  Sister Burton, the president, talked about covenants.  I loved the reminders she gave us to live our covenants at all times.  She said, "Covenant keeping is one way to express our love for the incomprehensible, infinite Atonement of our Savior and Redeemer and the perfect love of our Father in Heaven."  Sister Stephens talked about serving one another.  Her humble talk was incredibly inspirational to me.  I don't remember much of Sister Reeves talk (I will read it when I get the Ensign.)  President Monson also spoke to us.  He talked about how much God loves each of us individually and unconditionally.  He said that the love of God "...is there for you when you are said or happy, discouraged or hopeful.  It is simply always there."

2.

Kotten Kandy is learning to quilt.  She started this week (Thursday night) with a good friend: Joyce.  Joyce said Kotten Kandy is a natural.  And Kotten Kandy is THRILLED with what she is learning.  She came home excited and full of enthusiasm for learning a new skill.  I am sooooooooooo grateful Heavenly Father sent Joyce to us.  She is a great mentor to my daughter.  I'll get a picture soon.  Her quilt is a Personal Progress quilt with the values and colors.  It's really going to be pretty.

3.

Key Lime Pie and Kotten Kandy were privileged to go with the sister missionaries in our ward to teach a discussion to three youth in our ward.  They were so glad to help and participate.  The discussion was mostly in Spanish, but the girls were able to understand a lot of it because of their Portuguese training.  And they were both able to share their testimonies.  They came home on top of the world.  I am grateful for sister missionaries who are such great role models for my daughters.  I am grateful they invited my children to go with them.

4.

We have 3 frogs in our pond.  They are absolutely cute.  And they make me smile.  I always look for them when I walk out my front door.  Unfortunately they are shy and quickly jump into the water as soon as they see us walking by.  Key Lime Pie managed to take a picture of one - but it is a bit blurry.  They are cute.  They are small.  They are fun.

5.

After waiting for an entire year, I was excited to read Michael Vey 3:  Battle of the Ampere.  This is the third book in the Michael Vey series and it was fun.  Richard Paul Evans does a fantastic job at keeping both kids, teens and adults interested and engaged in all of the books.  At the end of Michael Vey 2, Michael Vey, his  mother and his friends are still in the jungles of Peru.  Michael and the Electroclan now have a new mission:  to sink the Ampere and destroy Hatch, who has become more powerful than anyone could have imagined.  I couldn't put the book down.  I recommend the series.

6.

I introduced my daughters to the musical, Blood Brothers, this week.  They love it.  I knew they would.  The show tells the tale of two brothers, separated at birth, who find serendipity drawing them back together in adulthood.  As they grow older, leading separate lives, they begin to gravitate back toward each other, until they eventually become friends.  However, the touching story of unconditional and instinctive brotherly love is tarnished forever by tragedy.  This musical (which I have never seen) is emotional, gripping and heart-touching.  I would love to see it... and now my daughters would too.

7.

Once Upon a Time premiered it's 3rd season tonight.  I loved it!  Thanks for sharing your house with us, Chris.  We love the stories!

SUNDY'S SEVEN SABBATH SENTIMENTS - EDITION 18

1.

Well, my time in the Young Women's organization has come to an end today.  I got a new calling.  I will miss my beautiful Laurels.  They are incredible girls and I have grown to love them soooooo much.  I have gained a testimony, in the past 6 months, of the YW organization.  It is truly inspired.  And I ADORE the Personal Progress program.  Although I won't be with "my girls" on a weekly basis anymore, I plan on encouraging them from the side lines to accomplish their goals.  I know the girls are in good hands.  I love you all!

2.

My new calling?  I am serving in the stake primary presidency as the 2nd counselor.  I am nervous.  I had a meeting and my responsibilities are more than I imagined.  (I have to certify as a Cub Scout leader this Saturday [which scares the heck out of me since I raise girls and not boys] and attend all ward primary programs and ward conferences.  We also are in charge of a stake activity in October.  - to name a few.)  I am excited to get to know the new presidency.  The stake primary president is Monica Tullis, the first counselor is Dina Smith and the secretary is Kim Shreeve.  They all seem really neat.  I feel a bit out of my league....

3.

Stake Conference was awesome, as usual.  We have amazing leaders in this stake.  Our stake presidency consists of three great men:  President Day, President Neal and President Blair.  These inspired men encouraged us, as families, to read Mosiah 1-6 prior to attending stake conference today.  Our family decided to take the challenge.  It was neat.  We learned a lot.  Instead of just reading the assignment, we discussed it after reading it (silently.)  The exercise was really enlightening.  We plan on studying our scriptures this way all the time from now on.

4.

Key Lime Pie and Kotten Kandy had a very eventful week.  They got to go to the temple on Thursday with the youth from our ward.  They LOVE participating in the saving ordinances at the temple.  And I'm glad that is where they choose to be.
Then, on Friday, they were invited to a teenage party at a friend's house.  They had a great time "hanging out" with their good friends and making new friends.  All the teens had high moral values and the party consisted of games, food and joking around.
I guess my kiddos are growing up....  Which is kinda sad, because I love my baby girls.  But they are turning into such beautiful, righteous, young women.  I am proud of them!

5.

Thinking about "free time" or "play time" this week.  Seems like the older you are the less "time" we have that is "free" or used for "play."  My eldest daughter is learning this when it comes to school work.  She is taking harder classes this year and has less "free time".  So Scott and I had a long talk with her about using our time wisely.  I am trying to use my time better as an example... but using our time wisely is a hard thing to learn.  Any suggestions or advice would be WONDERFUL!
Time is funny stuff.  I believe it is one of the reasons we are hear on this earth - we need to learn about time and how to use it.
When time is wisely used, it is a valuable thing.  "Time flies on wings of lightening; we cannot call it back" we sang recently at church.  It's true.  What time we have we must use wisely.  We must learn to prioritize our choices to match our goals or waste our precious gift of time.
A leader in our church once said, "A poor use of time is a close cousin of idleness."  We need to be sure that being busy also means being productive.  I am often busy (reading a blog post or catching up on FB) when I should be productive.
I guess I'm rambling now...  But I really do need to use my time better - devote my time to the things that matter most.  And the things that matter most are the things of God.

6.

I've been thinking about Writing Styles....  Both of my daughters are writing a paper for their English assignment this week.  They are comparing and contrasting two different fictional people.  Both papers are coming along great!  When they finish, I'll post them.  Key Lime Pie is very organized in her writing.  She also knows what she wants to say and says it concisely.  It's easy to read, and although she doesn't enjoy the writing process, she has talent.  I just wish she would believe in herself more.  Kotten Kandy LOVES writing.  Her paper has a lot of "voice" in it.  She makes reading it fun.  Her conclusions are also well thought out and communicated.  She tends to be a bit more wordy, but it's fun to read.  I have such talented daughters!  (But they could both use some help with their grammar.  We're working on it.)

7.

I've also been thinking about "tender mercies" a lot this week.  I am striving to notice them more throughout my life.  Heavenly Father has really been good to us.  I think I'll start a "tender mercies" journal of sorts.  The other day I had a SMALL dilemma while attending the temple.  I said a quick prayer thinking that it was so small that Heavenly Father would probably just ignore my petition.  But He mercifully answered my prayer.  It was definitely a "tender mercy" moment.  Heavenly Father really does want to bless all of us.

SUNDY'S SEVEN SABBATH SENTIMENTS - EDITION 17

1.

Sorry I missed posting last Sunday.  We were in Ohio for the Labor Day weekend.  We had a great time... but unfortunately I had misplaced my camera and wasn't able to take photos.  (I found it when I got back.)
We had a great time!  We got to spend time with Mom Thornton (Chris and Hammond's mother).  We went to the cheese factory for some tasting, we looked at beautiful nativities from the world and played lots of board games.  We BBQed with Nathaniel and his girlfriend and Scott went with Chris to a football game.  Of course, Ohio State won!  Can you see Chris and Scott in the stands?  They are the ones in red.  Isn't Scott sooooooo cute?!  :-)

2.

To celebrate Marmalade's 7th Birthday we took the kids to a water/splash park.  We had a picnic and played hard.  Even K2 got into the fun.  (Unfortunately I still didn't know where my camera was at the time.)  Marmalade was spoiled with bug collecting containers from us.  She LOVES bugs!  We LOVE her!

3.

Dragons, mermaids, unicorns - and other beasts too odd or terrifying to name - have been celebrated in art, song and storytelling for thousands of years.  We got to learn about some of them and how they were created this Friday as we made our way to the Frazier museum for a field trip.  We even created our own mythical creatures.  There was a funny, theatrical performance included with our "tour" which we all enjoyed immensely.  Key Lime Pie and Kotten Kandy decided that their favorite mythological beasts were:  European dragons (yes, they are way different than the Chinese dragons) and phoenixes.

4.

I taught YW today.  The lesson topic was:  How can I be in the world but not of the world?  I like to bring a treat for my young women and sometimes it even "goes with" the lesson.  I love what I came up with this week....  If you can't read it, it says:  Ignore the World's labels... You are a Daughter of God!  - of course the World's labels are the candy:  Dum Dums, Smarties, Nerd, Airhead, and Jolly Ranchers.

5.

We have a pet spider, a writing spider,  outside our house.  He's actually quite beautiful and harmless.  He's also quite big and freaks some people out.  But I kinda like him... as long as he doesn't decide to come indoors.  Kotten Kandy named him Kider.  :-)  Isn't he gorgeous?  This is him.

6.

Criminal Minds season 8 was released on DVD on Tuesday.  Since we don't have television we have to wait for the DVDs.  We were excited when the arrived on Saturday.  We (Scott and I) have already watched a couple of episodes.  It's great to be back with my friends from the FBI's BAU.  I've missed Reid, Hotchner, Morgan, Rossi and Garcia.  I'm excited for new (to me) episodes.  Bring on the bad guys, cuz my good guys will get 'em!

7.

Home school is back in full swing!  We are learning LOTS, and mostly using mornings to get our work done.  The girls are working on math, American Government/Documents, 10th grade English, and music lessons/classes with me in the morning.   In the evenings they do science and Portuguese with their father.  On Tuesdays we change the schedule by cleaning CPS bathrooms, attending a stake Book of Mormon class, participating (I'm directing) a small, girls, show choir.  (We are working on Christmas music.)  Our days are busy but fulfilling.