Those Teachable Moments

Prior to our trip to Washington D.C., I'd grin inside when I'd hear one of our boys declare, "No school for a week and a half!" Little did they know...

My husband had contacted our representative and arranged a Capitol tour through his office. Catching sight of the Capitol for the first time that beautiful autumn morning was a thrilling experience. In fact, daily we were face to face with famous structures and monuments that we'd seen on tv and in books all our lives. Seeing each one brought about that same sense of wonder and thanksgiving.

Walking the halls of the Capitol Building was truly awe-inspiring. Remembering the great leaders who had walked those same halls; reflecting on the monumental events that had taken place there; pondering God's extravagant grace thorughout our history...all these things gave cause for solemn respect and gratitude. The Rotunda itself was remarkable with its beautiful murals and paintings which convey the history of our nation. I thought of the Presidents who have died and laid in state there in the Rotunda. There truly are no words...

The entire tour was so compelling. But we received a blessing we hadn't anticipated. We were able to sit in on the House of Representatives and witness a couple of votes take place while we were there. What a thrill to see hundreds of representatives trickle, then flood, into the House Chamber. I was mindful of all that our boys were learning and experiencing firsthand. Oh, it's one thing to teach it, but here they were witnessing it for themselves!

Following our tour at the Capitol, we made our way to the Air & Space Museum. My personal favorite highlight here was the original Wright flyer. Just incredible! Due to the fact that the Museum of American History is currently closed for rennovations, a portion of their museum is on display in the Air & Space Museum. It did not disappoint! We marveled at Abraham Lincoln's hat, Lewis & Clark's compass, and Dorothy's ruby slippers. Oh, and who am I kidding? R2D2 and C3PO were pretty cool, too!

Obviously, the learning experiences were rich and plentiful. Our boys have talked frequently about the things they saw and heard and experienced...things that they will never forget. But don't tell them they learned anything on vacation, because as far as they're concerned, it was just a week and a half of fun!