VietNam Memorial Statues

I love these nurse statues, they were near the Viet Nam Memorial

Washington D.C.

We had a great time during our trip to Washington D.C. I will admit that we about walked our feet off. We didn't rent a car, just used the

metro and the bus system, but the people were so helpful. They would notice we looked lost and ask if they could help. Within a few days we were helping others. We saw all the sites, though we didn't spend nearly enough time at the Smithsonian Institutes. We went to Arlington cemetery, that place just takes my breath away.

Then we went to Mount Vernon - it is a great place to learn about George Washington. He was quite the planner, he was very smart, very aware of the environment. He said, "When I speak of a knowing farmer I mean one who understands the best course of crops, how to plough, to sow, to mow, to ditch, to hedge, and above all, Midas like, one can convert everything he touches to manure." I love that! Obviously, since I took a picture of it so I could remember it.

And the Library of Congress, what a fantastic place. I have to figure out how to put a slide show someplace and you can see all the cool things.

I couldn't understand the parents who took little kids, like to the Holocaust museum? I wouldn't take a child under the age of ten, but everyone needs to see it. What a moving experience.

I love the Thomas Jefferson memorial. We saw the D.C. temple - by the way, take bus four not five, it gets you a lot closer. Anyway, it was a great experience. And it was the first vacation we have ever taken without me being pregnant or having kids. That was really an unusual experience that we really would like to repeat. The clock picture was taken in the Congress building for a cute daughter who loves clocks!

Regrets, I have a few

I have been thinking about raising kids and some things I wish I had done.
I planned, before I ever had children, to take them on their 12th and 16th birthday to the temple and talk about modesty, chastity and temple marriage. But it is cold in January and February and then I didn't start it with the oldest and then got busy and then, and then, and then they all grew up and it was too late.
I wanted to teach my children how to clean, but I think, my request for perfect cleaning made them hate it. There must be a balance.
I was going to read Bible stories every Sunday to them, and do flannel boards and act out stories and learn new songs. We did, but rarely.
We read scriptures but we didn't discuss them. I think that would have been a good thing to do.
We had Family Home Evening, but rarely did we let the children teach the lessons.
We did garden, but not together, it was easier to send the boys out to weed while I did other things, and they were so little. I just think it would have been more fun for them to work with us, not alone.
And we should have sung more!
Sunrise sunset, sunrise sunset, swiftly fly the years, one season following another laden with happiness and tears.