Pictures!

We left home on Sunday afternoon, May 25, heading to Fredericksburg VA so that Danny and RG could attend the Witherspoon School of Law and Public Policy, sponsored by Vision Forum.

Danny told me, "come on and go with us!" So I did! My dear mother heard me talking about it and said she had always wanted to go to Washington and never had the opportunity. So I said, "come on and go with us!" So she did! Then daugher Molly said she and her children wanted to go, too, and her husband would fly up and join us for the trip home. So we said, "come on and go with us!" And they did!



What a great (though exhausting) trip it has been. Of course, Danny and RG have been in classes the whole time, and we have met up only a couple times a day to sneak a hug. But they say it has been a tremendous event, impacting them greatly for the near and far future. This has been our prayer, and the Lord is answering it.



Meanwhile, we girls (with CJ and William) have been ridin' the rails (Metro) and hiking (or hobbling) around Washington big-time. Here are some random pictures (hopefully in chronological order!) of the trip so far. We will leave for home tomorrow afternoon, the Lord willing, after the "graduation" from the "school".



Faithful RG, Aunt Molly's substitute driver when she had to take care of Wills. I think he prefers driving anyway!
Granddaddy and RG walking the streets of Richmond, looking at Confederate monuments.

Sweet Grandmother Harris and sweet Molly in front of the battle flag at the Museum of the Confederacy in Richmond. What a wonderful place to get a little different perspective on history!

Everyone at the Museum of the Confederacy in Richmond. Even CJ and Margaret Anne were impressed by the history they learned.

Here we are waiting for the Metro. We got pretty good at playing "mole people" -- underground tunneling, with no hope of ever seeing the sun again! Reminded me of the old song about Charlie and the MTA -- "He never returned, no he never returned, and his fate is still unlearned. He may ride forever neath the streets of Boston, he's the man who never returned!" -- and all because of the lack of one more nickel! (Hang onto those day passes, children!)

William "The Scowler" Stricklen, disgruntled Metro rider. "Hey, get that camera away from me! I have been looking cute and smiling at strangers all day long, and I have had it!"

Always touching and impressive -- the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns

Everyone at the front of the Lee-Custis house at Arlington. The view is amazing. It looks out over Arlington Cemetary and across the Potomac to Washington. You can see most of the monuments from here (see the Washington Monument over Abby's shoulder.) R to L: Abby, Mary, Callie, CJ, Grandmother (me), Margaret Anne, Grandmother Harris, Molly holding little Wills.

The story of how the United States came to own the Arlington property is sad and enlightening. The property had been in the Lee-Custis family for generations when the War between the States began. The law at the time stated that property owners must appear in person to pay property taxes. Of course, Robert E. Lee was behind enemy lines at the time. His wife was crippled with arthritis and tried to send a proxy with approximately $90 to pay the taxes. The money was rejected, and by default the US government took possession.

Later, a bureaucrat, whose son fought and died on the Union side, was assigned the task of finding more burial space. He immediately remembered the Lee-Custis land, and his spite motivated him to assure that the Lees would never return. The sad story of its origin is fitting for the somber nature of the Arlington Cemetary. What a good place for reflection and respect!

Mother at the Iwo Jima Monument near Arlington. What an impressive memorial! As you can see from the size of people nearby, it is huge and imposing. It is a strong visual reminder of the place where my father received major injuries that sent him home from the war. The story, as he told it from his perspective, has always inspired our family. Tales of such sacrifice and honor must be passed on to each succeeding generation. How thankful we are that someone felt strongly enough to honor those who gave so much with this reminder. More coming . . .