Washington D.C: A Living Classroom

Hi friends! Thanks for stopping by. Here are the links to our previous Summer trip posts if this is your first time here: South Carolina & Virginia. Even as we faced a few hiccups on our way to the Northeast, we are piling up so many good memories than even the inconvenient gets categorized as an adventure once is conquered! More on that later, but for now let us highlight our stay at D.C, one of our favorite stops for sure!

For those tracking the places we lodged in for future reference, we stayed at Cherry Hill Campground. This has been the kid’s favorite campground so far. The place is huge! We highly recommend it. Very well maintained, staffed and family/kid friendly. There were local and out of state visitors coming just to spend time there, without even leaving the park! There were pools, mini-golf, daily events, tractor rides, etc. We enjoyed meeting & socializing with fellow campers during our walks and visits to the playground.

Once settled and ready to explore the city, we went first to visit the Museum of the Bible. This has been my absolute favorite stop so far. What a fantastic place to get inspired and to realize the impact the Bible has had in humanity. I loved the way the exhibits are organized. They have so many different perspectives to look, learn and appreciate the Bible from. Whether historically, from different disciplines, or diverse walks of lives, everybody could find a place to resonate and appreciate the instrumental role of the Bible. Even the non-Christian would enjoy visiting this museum. It really sheds insight and understanding on how the Bible has shaped the history of mankind.

For example, Michaela’s favorite exhibit was Gutenberg's printing press, it turns out the very first printed document was the Bible. This invention revolutionized humanity at the time, because it made information and knowledge more readily available to everybody, not to just the nobility. The printing and difusing of the Bible across socio-economical classes was an unprecedented driver for the increase of literacy and education. Garrick really enjoyed the exhibit about how the Bible has impacted United States and world’s history, even in ways that are almost unnoticed to the modern eye. For example, there were booths about the development of music throughout history, and it was very neat to see the influence of the Bible, providing rich ideas for composers and song writers throughout millennia. There are jingles that are unconsciously sung by people today that are rooted in scripture.

 

David-Elliot enjoyed their show about creation and God’s choosing of His people. It was a fascinating show on the origin of humanity in parallel with God’s redemption plan for humanity. So good. Evelyn, of course, loved the kid’s section. She got to catch a few fish from Noah’s ark. Ha! Dave enjoyed the exhibits of testimonies from common people. It was very refreshing to find places to resonate with the tangible ways God’s word has transformed lives, communities and empires. I enjoyed learning about the way God has protected the Bible through history. The story of how we obtained the Biblical cannon, and the role of Biblical translation was also fascinating! We totally recommend to visit this museum, check it out!

After filling our minds to our heart’s content here, we went for a stroll near the museum scouting for food. Most everything was closed because it was Sunday and later in the day. However, we found a dining joint were we ran into an old friend of mine from my nursing club when I first became a mom. What an unlikely, yet heartwarming encounter! It was like a nice ribbon to put on the gift of our day.

The second day of our stay we went to visit the Smithsonian Museum of American History. It was fantastic. Quite often people take multiple days to explore the richness of this place. We devoted just half of our day. We didn’t get to walk it all, but we covered a good portion of it. I’ll highlight the favorites again.

Garrick enjoyed the Spangled Banner exhibit. Seeing the original flag there and learning about its story was really neat. They featured the real flag in there! The one that saw the cannons blasting in the air! Quite an amazing sight. He also enjoyed all the ways American culture was described throughout the exhibits. He really grew in appreciation of the richness of it. David Elliot enjoyed an exhibit called “American on the Go”, which featured the story of transportation in America. We all enjoyed following the evolution of the engine and the the means of transportation in the States. From steam engines to rockets, we learned how this part of American history has been so influential in the creation of cities, industries and new ways of life.

Michaela’s favorite was the food exhibit. She loved to see the portrayed diversity..of course it made us so hungry! Dave’s favorite exhibit was “the Story of Democracy.” It highlighted the development of this type of government, the development of human rights, the conception and practice of voting and elections, along with all the issues our founding fathers had to struggle with at the inception of this new-to-the-world idea. All the world knew back then was monarchy, so democracy was quite revolutionary in terms of the establishment of a new country fully founded on the concept of being governed “By the people” and “for the people”. It was interesting to see the deep Christian roots of this new ideology and the main concern back then about the sustainability of such government by people that didn’t adhere to the Christian tenants. Democracy they thought, was only viable for a highly moral and religious people. Otherwise the deeply rooted human desire for money and power would bring it down as it has done to countless empires in the past.They also had an area devoted to the role of immigration in the story of America. It was special to share with my kids how some of the stories portrayed there resonated with my own story as an immigrant myself.

We also got to visit the National Mall on that day. The miles long walk around the monuments was great. However I have to confess that it was challenging to haul a toddler after a museum visit. I have to give much credit to Evelyn though. I think she walked double if not triple the mileage we did on that day. I would not be surprised if she grows up to be a marathoner! So proud of my girl!

The last day of our stay we mostly relaxed and enjoyed the campground. I took the morning to visit my dear friend from youth group Maralee. It was super heartwarming to reconnect with her after over a decade and see the fantastic adventure she’s up to these days. She started a one of a kind Non-for-profit called “Comunidad”, which empowers vulnerable communities in the D.C area. It was pretty neat to tour the facilities and see goals accomplished and get to know some of the staff and even some of the community residents. I was incredibly inspired and encouraged by seeing her faithfulness and vision bearing so much fruit. I also got to ride the City metro on my own..for the very first time in my life! (Dave stayed home with the kiddos letting them enjoy the park). It was quite daunting for this navigationally challenged Colombian-Floridian, but I did it! The little blessings people!

We wrapped up our visit and headed Northeast for our next adventure. Oh, well, and an adventure it was. So grateful we survived..because if you are in Christ you will never get lost, no matter what! That’s why I am here telling the story. Stay tuned!

Summer to Remember - Welcome to Virginia!

First week down friends! Here's our 2nd round of highlights, now from the land of VA! This time we stayed at Anvil Campground. We truly enjoyed this site. It’s well maintained, with wonderful amenities and close to the area we wanted to explore.

After setting up the camper we went to our first destination:  Colonial Williamsburg”. This is a preserved reenactment  town themed after the American Revolution era. It turns out that this place was the former capital of the state. We enjoyed every minute of it, even as we walked miles perusing the town. So much to see, smell, touch and learn!!

Picture going back 250 years in history. There were re-enactors everywhere, ready to tell us about their lifestyles & trades back in the day. Some of our favorites were having Garrick picked to be part of the justice league in a local mock trial. We were especially made aware of how people were so immersed in the political affairs of their localities. We were inspired to do the same. We can’t wait for Garrick to go to his second round of Teenpact!...I digress.

We also got to talk to “young George Washington and his wife”. So amusing! These re-enactors really get into character! Did you know that George Washington had obscure beginnings? He actually got ushered into the public arena by marrying up! Who would’ve thought? Well, God’s sovereignty works in so many ways! We also learned that his military experience in the French-Indian war of 1700’s was quite an agony for him. He battled dysentery among other ailments for almost 9 months and almost died. No wonder his character grew so strong! Let us not forget that there is not such thing as a wasted battle. (James 1:2-4). It turns out this war was much bigger than we knew. It was virtually the first Global war in history. Every single country and empire was at war at the time. It was interesting to hear him pointing to the same old fight for money and power as the real combustible behind it all.

And did you know that back then non-Anglican preachers were not allowed to preach with an open Bible? It was considered a threat to the English crown. They were able to proselytize and teach, but with strict restrictions. It does ring a bell, doesn’t it? Those who do not know history are bound to repeat it goes the old saying. Ok, enough of that. The kids also enjoyed playing old fashion games, were inspired by a play about about the roots of the emancipation, visited with the print master, the apothecary shop owner, and the blacksmith shop among others. Such a lovely visit.

The next day, while I stayed home working on homework for the next school year, Dave took the kids to “the Berkeley Plantation". This was a mansion built back in the 1600’s. What a fantastic day exploring its beautiful gardens and historical richness! 

This mansion was the original settlement of the community who hosted the true first “Thanksgiving” celebration before the Pilgrims’ arrival. Isn’t that interesting? You can read more about it here. The mansion has hosted over a dozen American presidents since its construction, even contemporary ones like George W. Bush.

Our kids also got to experience a pretty neat first time over there: Seeing the golden ripe wheat fields around it. They got to glean from them. Dave said he reminisced Jesus doing that with the disciples and got 2 big mouthfuls himself! Well, what can I say..a men’s heart is close to his belly, by God’s design! What a beautiful picture of discipleship right? I am truly enjoying seeing my husband operating on his God’s given gift. He’s such an amazing tour guide! He loves visiting interesting places and co-learning and teaching along with a group of people. Perhaps that’s one of the reasons he remembers Space Camp so fondly. I am so grateful we get to enjoy him in our very own party! Just let’s wait to see him in action when we get to D.C. That’s the next step people! It’s going to be great! We’ll come back to let you know.

Thanks for reading friends! Here’s the link to our first update if you didn’t get to read it. Or here to the next one: D.C. Peace in Christ!

Bush's Summer to Remember

After many years of absence we are making a soft come back to the Blogsphere friends! This will be an amateur attempt to journal a little of the first time taking our RV out of state. Though the blog doesn’t lend itself to post many pictures as Facebook, still we figure the blog format allows for a little more descriptive remarks of our memories. Let’s see how it goes! We are still figuring how to factor in down time on our trip for relaxing and recovering as we travel up the East coast. We are calling this trip a “Bush’s Summer to Remember”. We are on our way to Maine by the end of the June, and back to Florida by the end of July.

We left the Carolina’s yesterday and arrived to VA safely. While in the Carolina’s we stayed at “Givhans State Park” Such a beautiful park! The name makes one think of a short for “Give Thanks”..doesn’t it? We enjoyed the beautiful natural views and took several walks and bike rides around the Edisto River. A sight to remember were the plentiful cardinals flying and chirping throughout the park. We love cardinals in our family. We have a faithful couple of them living in our backyard. I guess they’re making us feel at home. Not only do they look pretty, but also their crimson plumage, swift flight and faithfulness to their lifelong partner makes me think of Jesus. Want to know why? Check this Bible verse out. So fun to see them along the East Coast! We also saw bunnies and fireflies. Michaela even caught one and it was so amazed by seeing them sparkle in the dark. Another noble creature that points to our awesome creator huh? 

The day after arriving to SC, Michaela was a tad under the weather. So the girls and I stayed at the campground to give her some rest and recover. We enjoyed a lovely time of praise and worship with God's creation as our sanctuary. So sweet! It was also wonderful to be able to connect with church and listen to the sermon online.

In the meanwhile Dave took the boys to town to explore the “Hunley museum”. This was a Confederate submarine commanded by Lieutenant Dixon in the Civil war. Dave says it was a fascinating visit. It turns out this submarine successfully carried its mission of sinking the Husatonic, an union ship blockading the Charleston harbour.  However, it sunk on its return for unknown reasons which are still a mystery to this day. The Hunley was found in the late 1990’s. Isn’t that wild!?

Another place we visited in Charleston, SC was the USS Yorktown aircraft carrier. This ship was built by the Navy and was an instrumental fighting vessel in the pacific theatre retaliating the Japanese Pearl Harbor attack in World War 2. This carrier is so huge & with such educational load on American history, aeronautics, engineering, etc! It took us 4 tours, all day and we still didn't cover it all. we learned a lot together and everybody had a blast. Also both Dave and Garrick got over their 10,000 steps in!

Downtown Charleston, SC was also a quaint and refreshing quick stop. Strolling through the colonial roads and pathways was quite relaxing. Most of the 18th century architecture has been preserved and updated in a very sensible way to keep the colonial feeling. There were beautiful flowers everywhere..ah, and the Hydrangeas! I wish I could take their flower baskets & gardens home with me!

After leaving SC we overnighted at a RV resort in North Carolina where we decided to stay put and recoup before heading to Virginia. That’s where we are now. More to come! So grateful to have this extended time to take this time away to make memories and build our family up. We normally don’t leave for such a long time, but Dave gets the perk of “adoption leave” this year, remember?!  Such a blessing! We are having such a blast. God is good friends. I hope your Summer is drenched with His blessing too! Jump here to the next journal entry if you wish: VA.

Gotta see this movie: The Phantom Tollbooth

Oh my goodness! Another highly recommended movie. I can't wait to dive into the study of this book with Garrick next year. In his own words with a grinning face-Garrick: "Mom, this movie is hurting my brain!"..But in my house 'we read the book first' you might say. Well, I do most of the time. But sometimes there's nothing wrong with tantalizing your senses first to get motivated. After all, motivation is the first step to open the door to learn..and we are gearing up to flex our brain muscles in a new way to help us get better at learning anything! So there we go 8th grade, we are coming. Let's learn together about argumentation & logic to understand the world! Let's join Milo in going through the Tollbooth to learn how the kingdoms of Dictionopolis & Digitopolis are a gift from the Lord to help us know the Giver of all things and all He has created. After all, knowledge is a gift from the Lord to point us back to Him. And eternal life is to get to know Him..that's right, eternally. (John 17:3)

You better check it out from the library soon. That may increase its circulation and give it more chances to stay there. Not sure how much longer though. They're clearing the shelves from the good stuff you all, and just filling it up with brain sleep aids. People out there don't want you to use your brain properly..Here some quotes from the book to amuse you:

"You can swim all day in the Sea of Knowledge and still come out completely dry."

“You must never feel badly about making mistakes ... as long as you take the trouble to learn from them. For you often learn more by being wrong for the right reasons than you do by being right for the wrong reasons.”

"Rescuing children [and adults] from boredom and the dark fate of the lazy mind."

“Whether or not you find your own way, you're bound to find some way. If you happen to find my way, please return it, as it was lost years ago. I imagine by now it's quite rusty.” 
― Norton Juster, The Phantom Tollbooth

Anne of Green Gables #1 - Review

What a delightful read. I had watched the movies, but had skipped the books.  I will definitely come back to this book just to enjoy the ride of reading through the sentences and getting my eyes refreshed to appreciate nature, and beauty and life with al that comes with it. I can’t wait to get to the second one in the series and to read it with my daughter.

I think this is a great character-building story in so, so many ways. One I’d like to highlight is the great illustration of “Beauty being on the eye of the beholder”. We all need a little more “Scope for imagination” to color our everyday realities and grow in contentment and gratefulness. I think this book is a good place to stir some of that scope. I totally recommend it for women of all ages. These are a couple of my favorites lines I wish not to forget:

 “Wouldn’t you just love to be rich, girls?”…”We are rich,” said Anne staunchly. “Why, we have 16 years to our credit, and we are happy as queens, and we’ve all got imaginations, more or less.  Look at the sea, girls -all silver and shadow and vision of things not seen.  We couldn’t enjoy its loveliness any more if we had millions of dollars and ropes and diamonds…”Well, I don’t want to be anyone but myself, even if I go uncomforted by diamonds all my life,” declared Anne.  “I’m quite content to be Anne of Green Gables, with my string of pearl beads.  I know Matthew gave me as much love with them as ever went with Madame the Pink Lady’s jewels.”

“Ever since I came to Green Gables, I’ve been making mistakes, and each mistake has helped to cure me of some great shortcoming.  The affair of the amethyst brooch cured me of meddling with things that didn’t belong to me.  The haunted wood mistake cured me of letting my imagination run away with me.  The liniment cake mistake cured me of carelessness in cooking.  Dyeing my hair cured me of vanity..and today’s mistake is going to cure me of being too romantic.”

Beloved Bride: The Letters of Stonewall Jackson to His wife - My book review:

Wow, what a nice surprise of a read. I picked this book just out of curiosity from the title thinking it was an inspirational book about marriage. How much more did I get! It definitely had plenty of word pictures of the dynamics of a Christian marriage and piles of wisdom about God’s intend for it as a portrait of the gospel to the world, however, I encountered far more than just that. I was introduced to the life of a hero and an American legend which I was not aware enough of.

One of the greatest insights I got from this book is God’s providence in placing a Christian leader like Jackson in the midst of the bloodiest war in American History. One of my favorite take-aways from this book, it’s Anna, Jackson’s wife’s recount of his campaigns: “Within forty days he had marched 400 miles, fought 4 pitched battles, defeated 4 separate armies, with numerous combats and skirmishes, sent to the rear 3,000, 500 prisoners, killed and wounded a still larger number of the enemy, and defeated or neutralized forces 3 times as numerous as his own upon his proper theater of war.” Further I like to take away his regard to this as he replies to Robert E. Lee’s remarks while Jackson laid of is death bed after a mortal wound: -Lee: “I should have chosen for the good of our country to have been disabled in your stead… I congratulate you upon the victory which is due to your skill and energy.”…To which Jackson replied: “General Lee is very kind, but he should give praise to God”.

There is actually an account of a revival in the midst of the civil war. I am grateful that God strategically used Jackson’s influential life along that of many others in his church during that time to bring the gospel to the hundreds of thousands of men facing death in the battlefields. These quotes from Jackson give a little glimpse on his heart for the advance of God’s kingdom in the middle of war. This he said after the ordered destruction of property to help neutralize the enemy: “-If the cost of the property may have been expended in disseminating the gospel of the prince of peace. How much greater good might have been expected.” And here’s Anna’s recount of the last service attended by Jackson: ” -In front of the tent, under the canopy of heaven, were spread out in dense masses the soldiers, sitting upon benches or standing. The preaching was earnest and edifying, the singing one grand volume of song, and the attention and good behavior of the assembly remarkable.”

I do really recommend this book and any other books on the subject of the life of Stonewall Jackson for your own personal enrichment and for the inspiration of children, specially boys in their endeavor to become men of character, valor and eternal perspective.

Here some more of my take-aways from this book to wet your appetite for wisdom. Stonewall Jackson’s large collection of maxims and quotes are highly regarded and sought after:

-“L.t. Jackson cast aside all his former reluctance and excuses and devoted his life to seeking the glory of God and obedience to biblical precepts."

-“How delightful it is to feel that we have such a friend, who changes not! The Christian recognition of God in all his works greatly enhances his enjoyment.”

-“You must not be discouraged at the slowness of recovery. Look up to him who giveth liberally for faith to be resigned to his divide will, and trust Him for that measure of health which will most glorify Him and advance to the greatest extend your own real happiness.”

-“See if you cannot spend a short time looking out your window into space, and meditating upon heaven, with all its joys unspeakable and full of glory and think of what the savior relinquished in glory when he came to earth.”

-“He showed that in Adam’s fall we had been raised from the position of servants to that of children of God. He represented man as redeemed being at the day of judgement, standing nearest to the throne, the angels being farther removed. And why? Because is sitting upon the throne he is a nearer relation to Christ than the angels. And his being the righteousness of God himself”.

-“Try to live near Jesus and secure that peace which flows like a river.”

-“Look, men, there is Jackson standing like a stone wall. Let us determine to die here, and we will conquer!”

-“I know that the first brigade was the first to meet and pass our retreating forces – to push on with no other aid than the smiles of God..”

-“Was not such a heavenly vision enough to make him forgetful of his sufferings? He beautifully and forcibly described the death of the righteous, and as forcibly that of the wicked”.

-“What I need is a more grateful heart to the “Giver of every good and perfect gift.”

-“Over the next 2 months Jackson would rewrite the military history books in an audacious and brilliant campaign that is still studied in the military schools around de world.”

-“Your sickness give me great concern, but so live that it, and all your trials, may be sanctified to you, remembering that our light afflictions which are but for a moment, work out for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”

-“There was something very striking in his prayers. He did not pray to men, but to God. His tones were deep, solemn, tremulous. He seemed to realize that he was speaking to Heaven’s King.”

-“Make our nation that people whose God is the Lord, is my earnest and oft-repeated prayer. While we attach so much importance to being free from temporal bondage, we must attach far more to being free from the bondage of sin.”

-“Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth: a stranger, and not thine own lips.”

-“We can sympathize with her, and I wish I could comfort her, but not human comfort can fully meet her case; only the Redeemer can, and I trust that she finds Jesus precious, most precious, in this her sad hour of trial.”

-“How kind is God to us! Oh that I were more grateful!”

-“How delightful will be our heavenly home, where everything is sanctified!”

-“He also rejoiced that the Sabbath days could now be kept regularly and deeply appreciated the preaching and prayer meetings of the army.”

-“Let us cross over the river, and rest under the shade of the trees.”

I'm enjoying going over this review again. Grateful for this book.

Persuasion by Jane Austen. My book review:

Well, this was the first time I read a Jane Austen’s book. I have to confess that "Romantic novels" are not my favorite genre, so I am not sure if this spoils my review. And I am not a book critic by any measure.

Ok. I will start with some the positives. For the most part, (With the exception of the extremely wordy descriptions placed mercilessly right on the tension points along the plot) I enjoyed the richness of the language. Sometimes even as you have to plough through really long sentences, the wording itself is quite interesting. I also liked very much the highlight on the importance of quality relationships over the empty exchange of aristocratic circles. What a great reminder to our present world which propelled in part by social media and crowded schedules frequently feels as spiraling downwards towards shallow relationships.

I also enjoyed the contrast in character between the female roles in the story. I think Jane Austeen, and I assume, many other 19th century female writers used their novel characters as voices to enlighten the culture of the time about the value of women, and their transcending role in society. I think this may have had a significant catalytic role in the civil rights movement, opening the door for a much-needed holistic appreciation of women. I enjoyed how Austen made Anne Elliot a truly “heroine” by embodying among many other things the tenderness required to engage and truly care for children, the respect and compassion required to appreciate the unfortunate, the wisdom and patience to highly regard the views and needs of the elderly, the curiosity and mental rigor to cultivate an educated mind, the sensibility to appreciate beauty, and the prudence and selflessness to care for the fate of others as much as her own.

With that said, I will point now to some of the things that I didn’t love as much. First, I think the plot was not as robust as I expected. I was frequently distracted by turns in the events that didn’t feel as natural. (I came to this novel, with the expectations of “Little women” which to me has a much stronger plot). Also, even as persuasion was a strong force applied to the decision making of the main characters, I was often frustrated on the over-reliance of perception and third-party opinions instead of plain open communication. I guess that it’s a malady that we all have to get over with. And I guess the older one gets the more aware of it. Thus, I call that a life lesson, and probably another plus instead.

I was also a little bothered by the frequent borderline “self-deprecating” assessments of Anne. I sure wouldn’t like my daughter to employ that self-talk pattern at all. However, I think it’s fair to say that we all struggle with that sometimes. Finally, I was not happy with the resolution of the story. Even as they end up together and living happily ever after, the turns of events that brought them together felt somewhat abrupt, rushed and unnatural. Also, I missed the fervent and sensible confessions of mutual affection which I truly enjoyed in “Great Expectations” or “Jane Eyre”. I think “Persuasion” was a good piece of literature, very timely for its era, with a significant entertainment value and a few good life lessons. However, it didn’t make it to the shelve of the books that I look up for inspiration and character building. Now will I read "Pride and Prejudice" even as I had already watched the movie? Many people say it's much better. So we'll see.