Easter Sunday In Virginia.

I have to admit that some of my closest and dearest friends are those I've known for more than 20 years and live a faaaaarrrrrr distance from me. Sure I have met some great people here but overall time, contact, and genuine love are required for a true friendship to last. 

George Washington's Mount Vernon On President's Day.

There are pros and cons to going to Mount Vernon which is the most popular historic home in America on President's day. Pro...admission is free. Con...everyone, and I mean the entire D.C. area including people from out of the country come!! It is always crowded, parking is always hard to find (unless you get there at 7 in the morning), and don't even get me started with the traffic!

VIRGINIA TRIP RECAP.

Lately it seems as if our comfort zone is "home away from home." I think all the moving around we've done in the past has helped us adjust to any place, anywhere...especially when it comes to attending different wards in our church. We are so fortunate to have LDS churches all over the nation, and chances are there is always going to be one in the area where we happen to be traveling to. 

We love, love road trips and never grow weary from driving. I mean physically yes, but not mentally. Driving to Virginia to drop Lexie off to attend EFY was so nice. Although there can be some drama among Noah and Chelsea we always make the best of each trip. Best as in they bring "archaic" things to keep them occupied such as Noah's etch a sketch, and a book for Chelsea. Those are life savers. Sometimes we'll even play the license plate game, or I spy. There are times when Chelsea will sit in the back to prevent them from annoying each other, but overall road trips with the kids are fun, and they are good little travelers. 

What made this trip more meaningful was the fact that we included both temporal and spiritual things. We attended church for two Sundays, and were so spiritually edified. I pray that the spiritual high Lexie experienced will last for a long time, and that she will remember all the fun, and spiritual things she enjoyed and learned. Same with us! 

Playing around Maury lake, which we could have gone tubing in was nice, but we didn't have any swim suits let alone any gear! Next time we'll come prepared, and maybe even stay for the whole week! The kids had fun walking around, and skipping pebbles in the water. 

Now...let me talk about this collage that includes the places we went to in Lexington for a little bit. 

What a quaint town it was. There is so much history here about the civil war. We passed by Stonewall Jackson's home. I didn't know anything about him until i came here, and then read up on him. Apparently he was noted to be one of the most famous and revered heroes in the South. There were horses, and carriages giving tours of the quaint town of Lexington. We are definitely going to make time to do that next time we come.  

I can't even begin to tell you how many times we ate at Cookout. I seriously think I gained five pounds throughout the time we were there. We ate there like four times! The first time we experienced eating at Cookout was when we lived in North Carolina. It's too bad that they don't have any cookout restaurants this side of Jersey, because those hush puppies are crazy good!! Then again, maybe not such a good idea for this 43 year old body of mine that I'm trying to keep in good health!  I would probably want to eat there twice a week if it came to my neck of the woods! Especially since a burger basket with fries, and hush puppies---with a drink is only five bucks! 

We also ate at a pretty good mexican place called Mano Taqueria where the tacos were actually pretty good!! Never thought that any mexican food in the south, particularly Virginia would be so tasty, but this food is worth your $$$. I totally recommend trying it. 

The kid's found this bookstore which also had books and toys. Kind of reminded me of the store in Mystic, CT called Mystical Toys. I had to take a picture of the cute window display. I have this crazy idea, and dream of owning a bookstore one day when I'm like 50! I love books, especially children books, and how fun it would be to own a store like that someday. 

For a small town in Southern Virginia there are so many ways to make your own entertainment. Not like where I live in Jersey where you can easily be entertained by the city. The kids had so much fun being surrounded by nature, awesome playgrounds, flowing streams, and a river. The Shenandoah mountains as we drove home were captivating to see, and it's a shame we didn't have enough time on the drive back to explore. Jon said we can plan a camping trip, and go there next time. 

It was so peaceful, yet fun being in unfamiliar territory again. I love the fact that we desire to get away to unfamiliar territory to meet more of our brothers and sisters at church. I love that Lexie is so outgoing, and fearless that she can venture out to a camp where she's never been before, and without any familiar friends to guide her. I love that she is herself, and different and not afraid to approach someone whom she's never met.

 I love that she is my daughter, and like me, she is not afraid to be different. 

When we picked her up she was so happy to see us, but at the same didn't want to leave any of her friends she met in her company, as well as those who were in different companies. Here we were eating breakfast with other parents while our kids were congregating laughing, and hugging having a grand time. Everyone was so unified, and it was so good to see the cohesiveness among the youth. 

Even among the adults!

When we got home Lexie received a text from her counselor Bailey reminding her to read her scriptures! Now that's an awesome counselor! 


Yep...she will definitely be back next year and we hope to plan our vacation here a little longer! 

Happy Wednesday everyone! 

A POWERFUL ORDINANCE.

One of our many adventures when we travel, and don't laugh, is attending other wards. Same church, but in a different city or state. Reason why I wrote "don't laugh" is because for most people that may not be an adventurous outing, but it is to us. Ever since the girls were little we decided to not only attend a temple while we are on vacation, but to find an LDS chapel to attend if we stay until the weekend. Since our daughter participated in EFY for a whole week we decided to stay over the weekends to attend the past two Sundays at Rockbridge ward in Virginia. 

And it was refreshing! 

Refreshing because knowing that no matter what area of the church we attend the gospel never changes. The doctrine is the same, and most of the time I end up making new friends. That's a bonus! 

We were lucky enough to have been present this past Sunday when the stake president spoke on the sacrament, and why we partook of it at the end of the meeting. 

I was wondering why we were waiting to take sacrament at the end, but after listening to both talks as to why it all made sense. 

First, this wonderful sister gave an excellent talk on sacrifice, and President Jones talked about preparing ourselves before taking the sacrament, and how vital it is to prepare ourselves not five minutes before we step into the building on a Sunday to sit down for church, but to prepare the week before. Maybe even two, or three days before. In other words...always be prepared to take the sacrament ahead, and with a great desire. 

He mentioned how partaking of the sacrament every Sunday isn't ritual. It happens regularly, but it isn't ritual. It is the closest thing that we have to the ordinances of the temple of Solomon. The closest thing we have to the ordinance and anticipation of the sacrifice of Christ. He continued on with the story of when Jesus met with all his apostles for the last supper (the passover), and taught them the doctrine, and procedure of the sacrament as explained in Luke 22-15. 

I personally never want to think of taking the sacrament every week as ritual, but a "powerful ordinance." I don't want to rush coming to church, winded trying to find a place to sit with my kids while in my head saying, "we made it." It was nice to not have not been in a rush for the past two Sundays, and to have arrived to church five minutes before it began. It was nice to have felt a sincere desire as to why we chose to come to church when, in all honesty, we didn't have to. We could have slept in, and played hooky. But we went. 

As I was listening to the words of President Jones all I can think about was the crucifixiton of God, and how He knew what was going to happen to him, and yet He desired it. And when I think about what He sacrificed for me, and my family gives me a stronger desire to come on Sunday prepared to participate in the emblems of His sacrifice, and to be spiritually renewed by His atonement willed by his father. And to recommit myself to be more like him by that "powerful ordinance." I know I'll never achieve that goal in this lifetime, but I'll certainly do my best every day of my life to be a kind human being. To follow along in prayer, and take the ordinance of the sacrament seriously, so that in the process I can be cleansed. 

I am so grateful to have been a part of this ward, even if it was just for two Sundays, and to have participated in taking the sacrament at the end. It truly made it a more holy, and sanctifying experience...without any distractions!! 

Having it done this way reminded me of all that I was taught when I first became a member of the church. I was reminded of the story of Jesus, and how going to church shouldn't be "casual, and ritual" but a sincere commitment because the main purpose why we are there is to take the sacrament so that we can be spiritually renewed. 

President Jones ended with saying how partaking of the sacrament should be the central focus of our sabbath worship, and our week. That is so true. That should be our main purpose, and having him reminding me of that gives me a greater desire to keep God's commandments throughout the week in hopes that by coming every Sunday prepared that the cleansing that I long for will come, and that I will always have the Savior in my life. 

I want for my husband and I to be good examples to our kids so that they can understand that church is a place where we come to worship, and remember the Lord's sacrifice. That church is a place where they will learn all about Heavenly Father, and his son Jesus. That church is a place where they can feel safe, and know that they are loved by Heavenly Father as well as their brothers, and sisters. To teach them that no matter where we go...the Church is perfect, and true. 

It was so nice seeing our children happy, and comfortable in Rockbridge ward. We really had a nice time in Virginia, and you better believe we'll be coming back to visit this ward next time we are in town! 

Happy Monday!