Into the second month!

We left Ft Fisher in Wilmington NC and headed to Strathmore Defense Supply Command near Richmond Va.  We met a family there that is just starting to full time and we were able to lend a hand with some things.  We had a great time getting to know them and the kids got to hang out for a while.  We hope to see them again on the East coast and maybe work together with Mission Builders/Youth With a Mission as they are also praying for opportunities to serve.  We traded stories and we passed along some of the things that we have learned, what we have needed, and how to maintain our sanity a bit.  Also while we were there, we were able to visit a few different National Battlefields there but we were in for a treat.  We were able to tour Tredegar; a warehouse turned Civil War cannon maker that produced over 50% of the canons that were shot during the Civil War and a place that Lincoln visited with his son 10 days before he was assassinated.  It is one of the only places that is a Civil War National Park that was not a place of battle.  We spent allot of time there and were able to do so much.  One of the most exciting things (after seeing all of the battlefields, cannons, and artifacts that we have seen in the last month) was to be able to be "placed" on a canon firing team and learn how the canons were fired.  We were the only ones on the floor and the kids had so many questions (so did we).  Needless to say, they earned more badges and because of their high level of involvement, were also awarded a few "special" awards that Mrs. Obama started a while back; they were proud.  Richmond was great; it is a beautiful city that is full of history and had so much to do with shaping this Country.  Although we started learning some Revolution history in Charleston, Richmond is where we really starting being able to do a great deal of learning about the Revolution and the War of 1812.  We ended up visiting about 4 National Battlefields while in Richmond. 

Getting some one on  one on manning a cannon.  Then we got to pretend and do it!

So proud of them for taking in so much history.



The fruits of their labor.

Where Lincoln visited with Tad just 10 days before he was assassinated. 

One of the battle fields in Virginia where the earthworks of the North and the South were just feet apart.

We left Richmond and headed to D.C.  We were nonstop at this place!  Some of the time was filled with history (and Jr Ranger badges!) involving the Civil War and the Revolution.  on the way into DC we stopped at a friend's house for a visit.  We haven't seen her since since we lived in Illinois and we had a great visit.  We made it to Andrews AFB and settled in.  Some of the time was filled with museums and zoos, Six Flags, and other time was filled with seeing old friends and meeting new ones.  We got here and it was nearly 100 degrees...and muggy!  We settled in, got set up, and stocked up for the week ahead.  We did about everything one may be able to do that was free in D.C.  One of the highlights was Ford's Theater; that place is amazing!  The story that started with the history  of his grandmother to the legacy that he left behind.  We also saw a few of the Smithosians, did "The Mall", Arlington and Gen Lee's mansion, a day at the zoo and got to have dinner, swim, and spend the evening with my old commander who had retired me, his wife and their daughter.  We also visited the Holocaust museum and kept it "safe" for the kids while teaching what we felt was appropriate for their ages.  spend some time around Andrews AFB at the library and the community center and we played ALLOT of ping pong, pool, and foosball at the RV park.  All in all this was a very busy stop and we had a great time.  The day before we left, a couple that we had camped with in Charleston pulled in and the kids invaded their space!  It was a treat to already have ran into someone that we had met somewhere else.  We traded some stories, they fed the kids a bag full of candy, Caleb told them all about the bugs and mushrooms that were around there, Kamryn "loved" all over their dogs and we departed the next day. 

The kids wrote a note to "Daniel" at the Holocaust museum.  They had amazing words to say to him. 

Daddy and the kids for a photo opp



Working on the Jr Ranger books at the WWII memorial. 

Awarded their badges at the Lincoln memorial.  So proud!

 

Starting at Ford's Theater

This was the boy's favorite part of the artifacts at Ford's theater.  Caleb couldn't get over that this was the boot that Booth wore!

A tragic ending to a man who left an amazing legacy.

You guessed it!  Jr Rangers!

Another badge as Rangers.  This one was neat as the man that swore them in was a Vietnam vet and told a gentle story of how he lost his arm. 

Such tourists sometimes!

A little one on one ranger time at Gen Lee's mansion

Respecting the lost and taking it all in on a VERY hot day. 

Getting to see the sun! 

Starting the Smithsonians!  We loved all of the ones we visited. 

The boys loved learning about space this day.  They chose their jobs when the are older and work for NASA like Mr. Keith!

After traveling and learning so much history about the flags of the US, we finally saw the Star Spangled Banner!

So cool...!
 

We have finally hit the 40's as far as the number of days go that we have been on the road.  It is so exciting and although it may seem like the same thing over and over and "too much being together" (we've heard this one quite often from others)...it's not.  We have continued to meet folks and get to know about them.  We have learned more history than we ever thought possible.  We have also figured some things out that have turned out to be such a blessing.  What have we learned?

We have learned quite a few things in the last month while living in 250ish sq ft.  A few of the finer points (in my mind) are as follows 1) Quickly learn to cook only as much food as will be consumed in one sitting as there is not enough room for leftovers in the fridge.  2) Just because you wear clothes for 1, 2 or maybe even 3 days does not make them dirty 3) You don't need a clock... 4) Conflict must be dealt with immediately or...well...you don't have a choice...deal with it immediately.  5) Realize that when you send your child to their room; if you go to the next room to avoid conflict; if you want to be alone...everyone is still only 5 ft away.  (refer to rule 4)  6) If it's hot outside, find something to do that is free and cool elsewhere because it is going to be hot inside your house (RV) also.  7) If you don't know how to take a Navy shower...learn quickly...the RV tanks aren't very large.  8)  Realize quickly that other people on the highway don't care that you're 50 ft long; that it takes you a LOT longer to stop; that if the blinker is on, that means I must come over; that you can't always see them; that you aren't a race car, and that there is no need to hurry (refer to rule 3) 9)  If something is sitting on the edge of the counter, whether it has something in it or not, someone is going to knock it off
10) Know and trust that God has a plan and when we trust him with that plan, He provides Great things and amazing people along with awesome "opportunities" 11) Realize that this much time with your family is one of the greatest blessings that anyone could ever experience and be able to see how absolutely amazing each one of them really are. 

We left DC and headed north.  That leads us to where we are now...more on that later...