Washington DC and Virginia

Hello loved ones!! Here is the adventures collection from DC and Virginia.




I have been amazed by how much is around DC. Just all within walking distance and free!! (some of it) Okay my feet were a little blistered by the time we made it to the Lincoln memorial, but it was awesome!!! The weather was perfect! I must have brought it along with me from Arizona. :) We first visited the White House (from the outside) apparently big wigs from G-8 were coming, cuz they ran us off, and had snipers on the roof. (cool huh?!) Then we walked to the Capital, where they are already preparing for the 2009 inauguration. We were a little too late to go inside, bummer. We then went through the library of congress. That was totally cool! The architecture was spectacular! and yes, I took a picture from the inside of the women's bathroom with my camera phone and sent it to Sheila. I knew she would appreciate it. From there we went by the Supreme Court. Padmini REALLY likes trains...choo-choo!! So we went to Union Station and had lunch and saw..........zero trains. Oh well... But, I did see a bunch of Amish people. That was cool for me. I wonder if I was the first Mormon they ever saw. We then split up, Merilee, Padmini and I. I went to the Museum of Natural History and saw a ton of dino bones, Roman, Greek and Egyptian artifacts (so stinkin' cool!!), and an exhibit on soil(hmmm, I was looking for the Hope Diamond, but didn't find it in the soil!). We then went to the National Archives for a peek at the Constitution and Declaration. However, they shut the line down as we got there. We may try again on Friday. Then for our last Hurrah, we walked to the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial. It was fantastically beautiful and simple and touching.

We then went to the DC temple. It was beautiful, comforting, and filled my soul with peace.

I am really having a great time with my friends. Today we went to church in Lynchburg, VA. I was touched by the amount of diversity in the ward and the feeling of how amazing it is to go to church anywhere in the world and feel accepted, and to know that the church is consistent in its principles and doctrines and running of the church, no matter where you go. A beautiful black woman spoke in church, and talked about her family telling her she couldn't be Mormon because "there were no black Mormons!" She said but I am one! She said she was in an all white ward and was loved and welcomed in more than anywhere else. Then she gave a beautiful talk on retention and the gospel of Jesus Christ and how it has filled in the gaps in her soul and filled her with understanding and happiness. It was a wonderful day!

Well, enough, huh! I will add as I go along this week. We have some fun places to visit! Love to you all!