D.C. - Day 2!

Knowing that Monday would be a "free day" in which Daddy and I didn't  have any meetings to go to, I was looking forward to a day in D.C. with my family to do whatever we wanted! We had heard that Georgetown was a really neat area so we decided we would  head that way. We were planning on taking the metro to the nearest station and then walk into Georgetown but to my surpirse, my mom said she wanted to take a big red double decker bus instead! She usually doesn't like the very "touristy" things so I was caught off guard but knew it would be fun. :)

On top of the double decker bus! We saw a few sights and made a couple of stops before we headed over to Georgetown...

The Capitol

 Jefferson Memorial

 Washington Monument

 Julia Child's kitchen! (American History Museum)

 Michelle Obama's Inaugural dress!

 Dorothy's Slippers!

 Waiting for our bus to come back!

 Location of Reagan's Assassination

 Washington Cathedral (6th largest cathedral inr the world!)

 British Embassy

 Seeing the embassies of all the different countries marked the end of our double decker bus trip! It was actually so much fun to see the sights of Washington from atop because the weather was perfect and there was a wonderful breeze! One of our family friends Landon drove up from Richmond and met us in Ge.orgetown It was so funny because we saw him before he saw us so we had to opportunity to make ourselves look like the tourists we were and yell his name from the top of the bus as he stood embarrassed on the side of street. haha. As soon as I got off the bus I had to find a clothing store (thankfully there were plenty) because my outfit had conveniently ripped on who knows what! After buying a new outfit we made our way over to Georgetown Cupcakes  (known as D.C. Cupcakes on the TLC show) hoping the line wouldn't be too long. Unfortunately the line was too long to wait but I peeked in the windows and there were PINK cupcake boxes everywhere! Instead of a cupcake we posed for a picture and made our way to another delicious cupcakery called "Sprinkles." Their cupcakes were amazing but unfortunately we weren't able to get a picture because both cameras died!  I got Red Velvet, again, as well as a sticker for my collection!

In front of Georgetown Cupcakes!

After walking around in Georgetown for a while, it was already time to start heading back to our hotel, charge up the cameras, and head to dinner. The plan was to take the Metro but it was exactly five o'clock and the overwhelming amounts of business men and women anxiously trying to make their ways home called for a taxi ride instead. Once we made it back to the hotel we turned right back around to hop on the metro and head to dinner. I was so excited because my discipleship leader (who I have mentioned several times in past blogs :) is interning in D.C. this summer and we were able to meet her for dinner! We ate at a really neat place called Matchbox. It was so great to be able to catch up with Grace and especially to be able to introduce her to my parents because of the impact she has had on my life. :) 

Grace, me, and Landon at Matchbox.

After our bellies were full, Landon headed back to Richmond and Grace, my family, and I walked some of our dinner off. Grace, Kateleigh, and I did a little bit of shopping at H & M. Maybe it's just me, but I feel like their stores in D.C  have much cuter things than the one in Raleigh! After a little shopping  it was back to walking but this time to get some frozen yogurt at TangySweet. I really didn't need another sweet treat after a cupcake and dinner earlier but I just couldn't pass down some frozen yogurt!

Unfortunately it was time to say good-bye to Grace so we walked her to her metro stop and then headed back to the hotel. It was sad having to say good-bye after only getting to hang out with her sweet self for just a couple hours but I definitely hope to visit her again soon!

After hanging out in the room for a while it was time for bed because Tuesday would be a full day on Capitol Hill!

D.C. - Day 1!

My family and I spent a couple of days in Washington D.C. this past week. This was my first trip to the capitol and I definitely hope it's not the last because I fell in love with D.C.!

We drove up on Sunday afternoon thinking there wouldn't be much traffic. Boy were we surprised with all the people taking Sunday afternoon "joy-rides" down 95 that turned our 4.5-5 hour car ride into a 7 hour one. I am usually very impatient with car rides lasting over three hours long so I was thankful to have my dad's ipad, some good snacks, and my hilarious sister to keep me entertained. Once we arrived in D.C. around 5:30, we ate dinner, cupcakes, and did some sight seeing.

 First cupcake shop we tried! Red Velvet is my favorite flavored cupcake in the whole wide world and I always get this flavor any time I have the chance to eat a cupcake so I was very excited. I also got a sticker here to add to my collection of cupcake shop stickers!

Looking out the top of the Washington Monument towards the capitol.

    WWII Memorial

 After the fall. She recovered so gracefully! :)

As beautiful as the monuments are during the day, they were even more beautiful in the moonlight! I remember how much fun this night was because there was a perfect breeze, couples were out dancing, there were lightning bugs everywhere, peole were out jogging, and I was with my family! The first picture was taken looking out the west side of the Washington Monument. We were so fortunate because usually you have to go stand in line for tickets at 10 in the morning but the park ranger saw us standing around the monument and asked us if we wanted to go up and said not to worry about tickets! This was so neat because we got to see all of Washington lit up in the night! The WWII Memorial was also very beautiful. I will never forget the three young boys who were standing with their hands up against the wall to pay respects to those who died for our freedom. It was priceless! The only thing that would have made the night better would have been if the reflecting pool (from my FAVORITE scene in Forest Gump when Jenny and Forest are running towards each other) had of even existed! The whole thing was dug up for renovation so instead of a beautiful pool of water, all I saw was muddy dirt! (Just an excuse to go back, right?) Oh and I have to mention, my beautiful sister fell up the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. I am not telling this to embarrass her but to remind myself how funny it was once we realized she was okay...bless her heart..it was almost as funny as this picture of my dad.

Oh and this one...

Forgive him...it had been a long day. 

Did I mention I love him? :)

Everything my soul searches for is in Christ

Over the course of the past few months, God has really been showing me the things I find fulfillment in when I should be completely satisfied with him. One of the biggest things I have come to realize by his grace is that I value material possessions far more than He ever designed me too. Through this process of Him showing me how my love for material things has prevented me from having a more intimate relationship with him, I have become less content with "buying that new pair of shoes." Even though I know that it will take some time (probably a very long time) for me to allow God to tear down my obsession with material things He has shown me along the way that He is the only source of true fulfillment.

The sermon that was given at the church I go to at school this past Sunday hit very hard on this topic. After listening to it, I feel that it is one of the most influential sermons I have ever heard and I invite you to check it out! http://vimeo.com/24695941  

^"I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. "
--Philippians 4:11-13

There has to be more...

 As I have been trying to finish up Crazy Love over the past couple of days, something I have been told and aware of for most of my Christian life has sort of "sunk" in and become very real and convicting to me.  I  feel like I have been so consumed with showing kindness to others  and staying away from worldly habits for so long in order to look like a "good christian" (whatever that is) that I have missed out on how God wants me to value others no matter what they may or may not have to offer me. Because I have always tried to look like the "good Christian girl" by just being friendly, Francis Chan's words were something I really needed to hear.

" I think sometimes we assume that if we are nice, people will know we are Christians and want to know more about Jesus. But it really doesn't work that way.  I know a lot of people who didn't know Christ and are really nice people. ....There has to be more to our faith than friendliness, politeness, and even kindness. "

He then went on to share some verses in Luke Chapter 6, some which include "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. ³³ And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that." From my experience, I know it is often too easy for me to be overly nice to someone who I know will for example "return the kindness." Quite contrary, I know even more than that I am not motivated to love those and reach out to those who will not give me anything in return. I am so convicted by this because I know that this is the kind of love that the Lord has graciously bestowed upon me. God sent His only son and Jesus died for no reason other than the fact that he loved me. He knew that I couldn't give Him anything in return, still He chose to die the most terrible death imaginable because He loved unconditionally, something that is radical by the world's standards and expected by Jesus. Realizing that I fail over and over again to show this love to others, I am more grateful than ever that Jesus freely offered me this love. This has caused me look forward to the time I spend learning from the perfect teacher more than ever before. I pray that I could continue to grow more dependent on His word each day!

I apologize if this post was hard to follow, I just learn even so much more about my Savior when I try to write out the things He is showing me in my life!