Washington D.C. ~ The Last Two Days

I'm finally winding down my remembrances of Washington D.C...so if you've been bored by my entries over the past couple weeks, take heart! There's a new day coming!

Sunday, November 4



The Jefferson Memorial




The Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial

Our second son is a huge animal enthusiast, his favorite animal being the panda. We had told him all along that it was highly unlikely that we would get to the National Zoo this trip, but my husband and I finally had a change of heart. We realized that this was a rare opportunity to see our son's beloved pandas. Even as we rode the Metro to the zoo, we didn't let our son in on our secret. As we walked down the street, we didn't reveal to him our destination. But as we got closer and closer, he got this hopeful, knowing grin on his face. I'll forever cherish the memory of his face...how it lit up and how he tried to repress a smile as it dawned on him where we were actually going. We arrived at the zoo and went directly to the pandas. What a sweet moment as another of our son's dreams came true!



Monday, November 5

We were eager to take a tour of the Bureau of Engraving & Printing, and while we weren't permitted to take any "behind the scenes" pictures of the making of millions of dollars, it was truly amazing! Here's one of the few photos we were able to take in the gift shop area:

How tall are you in $100 notes?




The Library of Congress was truly impressive. We just stared in awe and wonder at the gorgeous architecture. We were further pleased to see a Gutenburg Bible on display.

Perhaps the memory most etched in my mind from our visit to this magnificent building was my tumble down the stairs. In fact, looking at these pictures now, I'm pretty sure it was the staircase pictured directly above! Anyhow, amidst the elegance, grandeur, and history of this building, I'll now always have a humble, klutzy, personal memory, as well!

On this final day of our vacation, we made our way over to Union Station. First we toured the National Postal Museum which was highly interactive and interesting. We then went into Union Station to watch all the various comings and goings. What a fascinating place!

And believe it or not, that is the condensed version of our Washington D.C. vacation. We are so thankful for the history that came alive to us during our stay. We enjoyed multiple opportunities to learn about our past and grow in our understanding of it. Our boys learned more about heroes...some from the distant past, some from the present...some from within their very own family. I'm so very thankful that God used this trip to make lifelong impressions on each one of us. I can say without reservation that we'll never be the same.