Our Capital Adventure || Part 6

Who pushed the fast forward button on our vacation?! On Saturday the 7th, we pulled out of Cherry Hill Campground with a host of memories from our week in Washington, DC.

We headed to Ft. McHenry, which is where the notorious "Star Spangled Banner" was flown during the War of 1812 and inspired Francis Scott Key to write what we now know as our national anthem. There was an impressive visitors center and film and then we headed out to explore the grounds.

Kenan and Lily participated in helping to raise/lower the flag, which is done twice a day- once in the morning to put up the large flag such as the one flown during the epic battle (we had seen the original at the Smithsonian), and once in the evening to put back up the smaller one they fly overnight and in bad weather. Since Hurricane Matthew was scheduled to make its presence known later in the day with high winds, the large flag wasn't put up, but the kids got to help with a smaller one.

Then we headed to Philadelphia. It was starting to rain lightly, but we really didn't feel like we could complain since this was pretty much our first day of bad weather.  

 After attempting to parade a party of seven through crowded city streets while managing umbrellas, however, we did unfortunately do some complaining! Did you ever stop to consider that all the rain that the umbrella keeps from you runs off onto the person in front of you if you decide to tip your umbrella??! Or if you suddenly swing your umbrella around to miss a stranger passing by, you nearly decapitate any family member on the other side??! Needless to say, our nerves were getting a little short! This picture does NOT capture the crowded streets! My camera was not priority at that point.

a painting of William Penn

Ahh.... the Liberty Bell! After a long line and more security, we can now say we've seen the original...

Ben Franklin's print shop

Betsy Ross' house

This building is part of the complex known as Independence Hall, which is the main reason we came. The First Congressional meetings took place here as the dream of a group of united states began coming alive. The Declaration of Independence was introduced and signed here, as well as the Constitution. We (I) really wanted to get into that room!

But alas, it was not meant to be. There was just too many people and the tickets were sold out before we arrived. This is the only picture I got actually, which shows how flustered and frustrated we were. Oh well, every trip has to have at least one bomb, and this was our only one, so I think we did pretty good. 

The quaint red-brick colonial buildings were pretty even in the rain at least. 

Sunday we enjoyed fellowshipping with those at our church in Philadelphia. What a blessing! Afterwards we headed to Valley Forge, where Washington spent a long six months during the War - because of the difficulties endured here as well as the resolve that came forth, this has been preserved as an historic site. The sun came out in the afternoon just when we needed it too. It was windy and little chilly, but a lovely place to spend our last afternoon.

An additional blessing is that we met up with some old friends who spent the time with us as well! Years ago, I spent a week volunteering at the Galilean Children's Home in Kentucky with good friends. At the time we were there, there was a young lady also volunteering, there for a six month term. We easily became acquainted and spent a lot of our time there with her. Through the years, I've stayed in contact with her and her family through Christmas cards and an occasional email at birthdays (mine not hers...). I knew she and her family live very close to this area of Pennsylvania and in the relational spirit of my parents, couldn't pass up the chance of seeing if they would like to meet us at Valley Forge. They were willing to drive the 75 minute drive to do so and we had a great time meeting them and getting to know each of our families! It was delightful to see Denise after nearly twenty years and pick up where we had left off, this time with husbands and children in the mix. Their two children - Karina and Jarrell- were similar to Jared and Lily's ages and it didn't take long for Kenan and Lily to make two new friends (much to the credit of the Martin children :) )

inside Washington's headquarters

I wish I had the men in there, too.

After a few hours of hiking around the park, we drove to Bob Evans and spent another couple of hours eating supper there together. We hope to convince them to come visit us sometime! 

Invigorated by the crisp fall sunshine and air, with hearts and tummies full, we headed back to our hotel to pack up and get ready for the journey home early in the morning.  -Kara

(I am not the engaging writer that Faith is, I know, but with her gone to Mexico currently, the need to get this vacation posted before its November fell upon me. Let's get this done! )