Washington D.C.

Yes, 2009 will go down in Cope family history
as our most travelled year...thus far, anyway.
We kind of expected as much, since several of our
friends who have sojourned in the northeast
temporarily, told us they took mini trips as frequently
as they could to see and do as much as they could
that is unique to this part of the country. I'm
afraid we haven't even scratched the surface....

My brother Mike, who was recently hired on with
the Foreign Services, was scheduled to depart for his
first post in Guatemala City, Guatemala on Sept. 9th.
We couldn't let him go without a proper sending off,
so it seemed a good time to take the family for a trip
the the capitol city. It was a fast weekend, but we
managed to take in SOME of the sights. Pictured above
is the WWII memorial.

Kennedy, Macy and Max were all such troopers.

MOST of what we saw and did was really beyond

their ability to appreciate, but they DID appreciate

the time they got to spend with uncle Mike. Not

living near family does have ONE perk, I guess.

When you DO get to see them, it is such a NOVELTY!

Aunts, uncles, cousins, and Grandparents get celebrity

star status in my kids' eyes!

I really like this picture because

of the pre-eminence (as it appears)of the

flag next to the Washington memorial.

It serves as a reminder to me of what

all these memorials are really all about

anyway. The men and women represented,

honored, and remembered LOVED God, and

Country. I don't think we really honor

their memory and sacrifice as we should,

by living as we ought...(another post for

another day).

The Library of Congress. At my mother's

reccomendation, we visited this site.

My brother thought it would be a bore;

how little he knew about my love for all

things OLD. A really great thing about

Washington D.C. and the northeast is

the sense of history. As a country we are

so new, it is often difficult to really feel

that. The archictecture was classic and

beautiful. The messages and spirit inside

were inspiring and timeless. After visiting

a site like this, I can't help but see how

degenerate we are as a people compared with

the vision of what we could become that

propelled the founding fathers through their

darkest hours. It was a spiritual experience

to read their words and feel the energy behind

them.

Visiting D.C. heightened my sense of duty as

a citizen, and love of country as a patriot. It

is a singular experience and one I recommend

HIGHLY, but after an appropriate age has been

reached. Probably either high school aged, or

even older. When we were walking to the mall

one evening, I overheard a guy, early twenties,

talk about his first experience in D.C. having

been wasted on his youth. There is a lot to take

in, to ponder, to appreciate, and to comprehend.

Hope you get the chance to go, if you've never been!