Day 140 (Oct 3) – DC (Memorials)

We hit it hard today.  Maybe too hard.  The rest of the DC days will be much lighter.

First – The US Bureau of Engraving.  Once again, glad to be “off-season.”  We walked up and walked right in (instead of having to get there at 6:30 AM to stand in-line for timed tickets.)  This was one of Brad and Audra’s favorite things today.  We got to see the process of printing money ($20s) from beginning to end.  The guys working there were trying to hand me a shrink-wrapped pack of $20s ($400,000), but I couldn’t grab it through the glass.

Second – Holocaust Memorial Museum.  This is a tough one.  It was not “neat” or “fun,” but deep and solemn.  I am so glad there is a place like this so that we will not forget.  It was sad to learn of America’s resistance to taking refugees.  It was encouraging to read Anne Frank’s words of believing in the good in all people.  The main exhibit is recommended for ages 11 and up, but as we had just studied about WWII last spring, I thought Carmen knew enough to handle it. She got a little emotional at the end.  We had several good talks about it throughout the day.

We grabbed a quick lunch at a round refreshment stand in front of the Mus. Of Nat. Hist.  (Cheaper than the cart vendors!)

Third – Washington Monument.  Just took pictures as it is currently closed for repairs.

Fourth – The White House.  We went to the south side and took pictures.  Then we went into the temporary VC, which was pretty pared down, but we sat in the AC and watched a great movie tour of the WH.  It was very interesting.  We couldn’t get tickets to go in because you have to ask for them 6 months out and we didn’t know when we would be here.

Fifth – WWII Memorial.  My grandpap was just brought here to see it about a month ago.  There is a privately funded program that is trying to get as many vets to it as possible.  They flew him up for the day and he got to go to several war memorials.  It was a very moving thing for him.  I thought the WWII mem. was beautiful and very nicely done.

Sixth – Lincoln Monument.  This was Audra’s other favorite and maybe Carmen’s too.  Once again, Audra didn’t realize that we would see it here in DC.  She just hadn’t thought about it.  We also found the spot where MLK, Jr stood and gave the I Have a Dream speech.

Seventh – Vietnam Memorial.  This one gets me every time.  Well, I’ve only been twice.  The first time was in college and I remember getting weepy.  Today I was on the verge and we passed a man kneeling with his hand on the wall, sobbing.  His wife was crying softly and patting him.  As we passed them, I joined in their sorrow.  War is a horrible thing.

Eighth – Jefferson Monument.  This was a really long walk from the other memorials, but it was the big one for Brad.  I’m not sure I had been there before.  Jefferson is so tall.  We love all things Jefferson, so of course, we loved this.  We had a slight scare as we started to leave, when Audra realized she no longer had her iPod touch.  We frantically retraced our steps.  (She had taken pics of Jefferson so we knew she had just had it.)  We notified security and they started to look too.  I ran back down to the gift shop thinking maybe she had laid it down to look at something and it was on the floor.  It had fallen out of her pocket.  She had left a piece of chocolate in her normal pocket she keeps it in (that zips shut) and it had melted, so she was putting it in a less secure pocket.  Our pulses slowed back to a normal rate as we walked on and photographed the monument across the water in the sunset.

Back at camp.  It is so hot and muggy.  Quite the change for us.  No AC because of dry camping.

DC Day 1 pics

Day 139 (Oct 2) – The Rainiest Day

I can say without a doubt that this has been the rainiest day we have experienced so far and can say with a good amount of confidence that this will be the rainiest day we will experience on the whole trip.  Muddy Creek was suddenly a rushing river.  Brad wore his metal detecting rain gear to hitch us up while we stayed dry in the camper.  There was about an inch or two of water all around us.  I was so thankful for waterproof hiking shoes.  It rained most of the way to MD.  We stopped at a Wal Mart and ran in through the downpour, but when we came out, it was finally finished.

 We were able to set up at our new campground (Greenbelt Park) in damp, but not soggy conditions.  It was late afternoon and we just stayed put.  Tomorrow: DC.

Day 138 (Oct 1) – A Great Day

This has been a great day – of joy and sorrow.

The day started at Shady Maple Smorgasbord for a yummy PA Dutch breakfast with corned beef hash and sweet potato pancakes (and much – too much -  more).  Then we went to Intercourse, PA (insert giggle here) for some shopping at Kitchen Kettle Village.  This is a quirky little shopping area with rows of stores of locally made goods (not Amish, just local), from jams and jellies to pottery to clothespin dolls.  They also had Kettle Korn, which made a nice light lunch after our heavy breakfast buffet.

(*Note about the Amish:  They mostly sell their goods from workshops at their homes, in their neighborhoods.  They don’t really sell at commercial markets.  Although we did see a few selling at the Reading Terminal Market in Philly.  I had thought about touring a farm, but that is all commercial too.  The tours aren’t done by the Amish.  So we chose to camp in their midst and enjoy the sights and sounds of their farms.)

Brad dropped us at camp after Kitchen Kettle so we could do laundry and school, and he went back to Adamstown for more antique shopping.  It was a beautiful day, the first sunny day we’ve had in a week.  The girls played together all afternoon (every second I didn’t have them doing school) on the playground and by Muddy Creek.  They haven’t played like that in a while.

Meanwhile, Diana Reed, a lovely lady from our church, is back in Nashville fighting for her life from a sudden illness that the doctors are having trouble identifying.  She is losing the battle, and when she goes, we will all lose an amazing woman of God.  Such sorrow.  This evening I received word that a young homeschooled acquaintance of ours is also in the hospital in critical condition struggling with a mysterious illness.  It’s terrifying and maddening.  I worry about other people’s children.  I worry about my own children.  God says not to worry.  That is so hard - hard to know that I have zero control - and sometimes hard to rest in the knowledge that He IS in control.  Is this a lifelong struggle?  Will I ever find peace amidst these things?  It feels like an endless circle and I am getting very dizzy.

I thought through all these things while we sat in the fresh air by the fire in our peaceful little campground, hearing the Amish buggies driving by in the dark.  I also thought about all the farmland we drove through today and how it made my heart happy.  I loved seeing the clothes out on the line; the children in their one room school houses; the big white barns and farmhouses; the horses, cows, chickens, goats, ponies and sheep; the fields of corn and lettuce; the farmer in a horse drawn wagon pulling his plow through the field; women walking along the road talking and laughing.  I realize these people are not without troubles and heartache.  During hard times, they turn to God and to community.  I am missing my community right now.  God is here, but I want Him closer.

Be with me, Lord

I cannot live without Thee.

I dare not try to take one step alone.

I cannot bear the loads of life unaided;

I need Thy strength to lean myself upon.

Be with me, Lord

And then if dangers threaten,

If storms of trial burst above my head,

If lashing seas leap everywhere about me,

They cannot harm, or make my heart afraid.

Be with me, Lord

No other gift or blessing

Thou could'st bestow could with this one compare.

A constant sense of Thy abiding presence,

Where'er I am, to feel that Thou art near.

Be with me, Lord

When loneliness o'ertakes me;

When I must weep amid the fires of pain;

And, when shall come the hour of my departure

For worlds unknown, Oh, Lord be with me then.

Amish Farms Pics

Day 137 (Sep 30) – Hershey, PA

We have much shorter travel days in the east because everything is closer together.  Today we only drove an hour and a half, so we took our time leaving because check-in wasn’t till 3:00.  We have been staying at Homestead Campground in Green Lane, PA.  They have been so nice and over-the-top helpful.  We first paid for two nights and when we decided to stay two more, she told us to stay as long as we wanted and we’d settle up at the end.  This morning Brad went to pay, but the office was closed.  He called her to tell her we were leaving and she said don’t worry about it – it’s on them.  Brad said he would slide money under the door and she said no, just have a great trip.  How generous is that?  I think campgrounds appreciate good campers as much as we appreciate good campgrounds.

We got to our next campground, Red Run CG in New Holland, PA, a little after 1:00, but they let us check in early.  This is a nice campground surrounded by Amish and Mennonite farms, a creek and covered bridges.  As much as I loved our last hostess, we were right by the road (our choice) and heard traffic 24/7.  Now I just hear crickets and the clip clop of Amish buggy horses.  It makes me smile.

Hershey Pics

Day 136 (Sep 29) – Hang Out Day

Brad hung out with Dennis and Christy – more metal detecting friends he knew virtually, but had not yet met.  They hunted on some Mennonite farmland in PA.  The girls and I hung out at camp.  Carmen has had a hard time lately – first a really bad cold, then a rash on her face that I connected with her cold, but turned out to be poison ivy, then side effects from Prednisone.  She has felt yucky and tired and has had pretty bad tummy trouble.  I didn’t even give her the last dose because it has made her feel so bad.  We were ready for a day of rest.