DC and the Temple

Thursday morning we headed to the DC Temple open house. Wow, it felt amazing to be back at this very sacred place. The DC temple was our temple for 15 years so it holds a special place in our hearts. What a joy it was to walk inside, see all the changes, feel the Spirit, and share the experience with Savannah and Noah. And it couldn't have been a more beautiful day to grab pictures outside!

Waiting in the line outside. It was great to see how many people were there!

As we were walking back to the parking lot at the church next door, we came across a couple taking pictures in this little spot that we never would have discovered if we hadn't had to park so far away. This couple told us they had been married here years and years ago and this was one of the spots they found on their wedding day. So of course we had to grab a few pictures there as well. I love that it's a little known spot with a beautiful view of the temple.

After the temple we grabbed some lunch and then headed to Ford's Theater, something I have wanted to do for years and for some reason we never did while we lived in Maryland. However, when we went inside to get our tickets, to my huge disappointment the theater was closed for tours! Ugh! But the Petersen home was open so we walked across the street to tour the home where Lincoln died.

The parlor where Mary Lincoln spent most of the night waiting.

In this bedroom Stanton held meetings, interviewed witnesses, and ordered the pursuit of the assassins.

And this is the bedroom where our wonderful President Lincoln passed away.

We wandered through the wonderful exhibit, taking it all in. They had a replica of the train car that his coffin was carried in, printed news stories of the assassination, tassels and fringe from Lincoln's catafalque, keys and a map belonging to John Wilkes booth, and so much more.

A tower of all books written about Abraham Lincoln!

He is one of my heroes!

A view of Ford's Theater across the street.

We were supposed to meet up with Ashlyn at the mall (she was there with a school group) but because of the massive thunderstorms in the area and the pouring rain, we decided it was time to start our journey home. Oh, how I love these trees...

but I definitely don't miss the traffic!

We were supposed to stay in a hotel that night at the half way point but the kids were so insistent about getting home that we just went for it, pulling into our driveway a little after 1:00 in the morning. I am so grateful that we were able to get back to Maryland for this wonderful trip and hopefully we'll be able to do it again next year!

Visiting Mt. Vernon

Our time in Abingdon had come to an end. It was such a wonderful few days seeing familiar places and catching up with friends who are more like family. Oh, how I miss this city and all these beautiful trees!

It had been years since we had visited Mt. Vernon and Noah had never been so we decided to visit George Washington's beautiful home next to the Potomac. It was extremely hot and humid but not too crowded which was definitely a plus. The Visitor's Center was a new addition since our last visit.

Our first view of the home!

Checking out some of the gardens.

Grateful for a little shade as we wait to go inside.

Mt. Vernon is such a beautiful home and we enjoyed learning about the different rooms, furniture, paintings, items in the home, many which are original, and other artifacts from Washington's life. 

The New Room

The key to the Bastille, given to George Washington by Lafayette in 1790. "The key symbolized a 'token of victory by Liberty over Despotism,' since it unlocked the notorious political prison in France. Washington treasured this key."

The Dining Room - it sure is green!

The Blue Room - a bedchamber for visiting family and guests.

The Yellow Room

Washington's Bedchamber - this room was a sanctuary for Martha Washington. Here she planned her schedule and wrote letters to friends and family members. Washington died of a severe throat infection in this room on December 14, 1799. Upon his death, Martha closed the room and, for the remaining several years of her life, spent much of her time in a bedchamber on the third floor.

The Study - this room became Washington's retreat after his return to Mount Vernon after his presidency. Reportedly, no one was allowed in this room without his invitation. This is the room where he directed the management of his estate as well as bathed, dressed, and kept his clothes.

The chair he used as president.

Heading back outside...

and enjoying a little rest at the back of the house.

Taking in the view!

They were doing a lot of restoration work on the back of the house.

Wandering the grounds.

George Washington's tomb.

The Slave Memorial where both free and enslaved people were buried. Unfortunately there are no permanent identifying markers.

I loved the rocks!

Near the wharf...

and then walking the working farm.

We spent the remainder of our time there checking out the museum and the education center.

Washington's dentures.

After a full day of immersing ourselves in history, we headed to our hotel. Wow, the traffic! We had been planning on doing dinner somewhere in Alexanderia but we were all worn out and decided to just grab something closeby. That night I got one of the worse migraines I've ever had. Ugh! Despite the horrible ending, it was such a fun day!