Two Days in Philadelphia

On Tuesday & Wednesday of this week, my friend, Cheri, and I ventured into Philadelphia. Cheri's daughter, Courtney, is a student at Philadelphia University, so we invited ourselves to spend the night with her and this allowed us to spend lots of time sightseeing.

WARNING: This is a long posting 'cause there was SO much to see. So, grab a cup of coffee, an alcoholic beverage, or some water and kick back and enjoy.

Philadelphia is a city of "firsts." So many of our country's historical firsts are found here:

first planned city
first public library
first volunteer fire department
first hospital
first university
first mint
first municipal water system
first art museum
first zoo
first Thanksgiving Day parade


Cheri and I both enjoy walking tours and there was one called "The Constitutional Walking Tour of Philadelphia" and it promised to be a good, long walk so it was decided to leave that for Wednesday when we would have more time. We got started later in the morning on Tuesday and after checking out the Visitors' Center, we decided to start with Independence Hall.

Independence Hall was built in 1732 and originally known as the Pennsylvania State House. But, as our guide suggested, folks coming from all over the country, and out of it, too, don't want to see a "state house" so it was appropriately renamed, since this is where our independence was written. It was here that the Second Continental Congress met in 1775 and the Declaration of Independence was adopted in 1776. This building is also where the Constitutional Convention met to draft and sign our United States Constitution in 1787.

Have you ever seen the movie, "1776"? If you have, you will recognize the room in Independence Hall in which the Declaration of Independence was signed. The movie did a great job of recreating the room. As soon as I walked into it, I knew what it was. And who says we can't learn anything from the movies???

The only original piece of furniture in the building is the chair in which George Washington sat to preside over the Congress meetings. A rising sun is etched into the top of the chair and it is said that Benjamin Franklin is the one that decided it was a rising sun and not a setting one - because they were witnesses to the rising of a new nation.

The buildings on either side of Independence Hall hold historical significance as well. Congress Hall was built between 1787 & 1789 as as the Philadelphia County Court House, but served as the US Capitol, the meeting place of the US Congress from 1790 to 1800, when Philadelphia was the capital of the United States. The inaugurations of George Washington (his second) and John Adams occurred in this building. Old City Hall held the Supreme Court from 1791 until 1800 when the capital moved to Washington, DC.

These historical buildings are located in Independence Square. Standing watch over the square is a monument to Commodore John Barry, known as the Father of the United States Navy.

Once we had toured Independence Hall, it was lunchtime and we were encouraged to go to Jim's Steakhouse located a few blocks south of Independence Hall. We were promised we'd get the best cheesesteaks in town - and that was by a National Park Ranger - so we figured we had better go. Well, I don't know if they were the best ones in town, but they were pretty darn good, and huge!! I knew we needed to do some walking to settle that sandwich down.

On our walk to and from lunch, we passed so many beautiful historic homes and buildings. It is amazing how well maintained so many of them are. It's also sad to see the ones that are no longer loved and taken care of. One of the buildings was the Philadelphia Contributorship. It is the oldest fire insurance company in America. It was founded in 1752 by, who else? Benjamin Franklin and friends.

One of the homes we saw was once owned by Dr. Philip Syng Physick, known as the Father of American Surgery, because of the techniques and instruments he introduced to the medical world. This house was built in 1786 and is one of just a few homes built during that time still standing. A couple of Dr. Physick's more famous patients were Dolley Madison and Andrew Jackson.

President James Madison's home is located on a very "normal" residential street. It is a townhouse and was built in 1796. The funniest thing was that it is currently for sale. I just found that amusing for some reason.

Another first in Philadelphia was the first commodities exchange, housed in the Philadelphia Bourse Building. This building was completed in 1895 and was one of the first steel-framed buildings constructed. It is now home to businesses, retail stores, and a food court.

Our next to last stop for the day was Christ Church Burial Ground, best known as the burial place of Benjamin Franklin. It has been in continuous use since 1719 and is "home" to four other signers of the Declaration of Independence. There is a list of Benjamin Franklin's accomplishments etched in the brick wall that surrounds the cemetery. Goodness, it was about as tall as me!! It is amazing to read all the Mr. Franklin contributed to our country.

One other person, not so well known, who is buried at Christ Church Burial Ground is David Salisbury Franks. Major Franks was the aide-de-camp to Benedict Arnold during the Revolutionary War. It was at first thought that Major Franks was involved in Arnold's treason, but he was ultimately exonerated. The reason it is interesting that Major Franks is buried at Christ Church is that he was Jewish. Major Franks was a victim of a yellow fever outbreak and was buried at the church by a Christian neighbor.

Across the street from Christ Church Burial Ground is the United States Mint. It was closed by the time we got there, but we found that we couldn't go in anyway. No cameras, phones, etc., are allowed in the Mint. So, I just got a picture of it. And then it was time to head for Courtney's apartment.

Wednesday found us heading back downtown quite a bit earlier and we were excited to start our walking tour. You could have a guide or do it yourself - we chose to do it ourselves, so we could linger where we wanted and skip those sites we were not so interested in.

Our first stop on the tour was The Constitution Center. Well, since the Constitution is not housed there and they wanted $12 bucks for us to look at exhibits I couldn't take pictures of, we chose not to tour this facility. Call me cheap, but there it is.

We moved onto The Liberty Bell Center. The Liberty Bell was originally called the Pennsylvania State Bell as it was the official bell of the Pennsylvania State House. The name "Liberty Bell" was first coined by a group trying to outlaw slavery. The abolitionists remembered the inscription on the bell (Leviticus 25:10) and adopted the bell as a symbol of their cause. The bell was cast in London in 1751 but cracked soon after its arrival in Philadelphia. Local craftsmen, Pass & Stow, cast a new bell in 1753 using the metal from the original bell. That's why their names are on the bell. By 1846 a thin crack affected the sound of the bell. It was repaired that same year and was rung for George Washington's birthday, but it cracked again. It has been silent ever since. And no one knows why it ever cracked.

Washington Square is one of five public parks designed by William Penn. It is home to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier that was erected in 1954 honoring George Washington and an unknown soldier from the Revolutionary War.

Library Hall, as it stands now, is a 1950s reproduction of the original building and it stands on the original site. The Hall was home to the Library Company of Philadelphia that was founded by Benjamin Franklin in 1731. The Library Company served as the Library of Congress from 1774 to 1800. The current building houses some of the American Philosophical Society's collections and still functions as a prominent research facility.

The Merchants' Exchange, ca 1831, is the oldest stock exchange building in the United States. It is a gorgeous building.

The First Bank of the United States was chartered by Congress and President Washington in 1791 and the building was completed in 1797.

Carpenters' Hall was built in 1770; the First Continental Congress met here in 1774 to draw up the Declaration of Rights and Grievances and an appeal to King George III in response to the colonies' anger over the punishment Massachusetts received for the Boston Tea Party. And it was during the First Continental Congress here at Carpenters' Hall that Patrick Henry stated that distinctions between the states was to be no more. He said, "I am not a Virginian, but an American."

The B. Free Franklin Post Office & Museum is the only Colonial-theme post office run by the USPS. It does not fly the American flag because there was no flag in 1775 when Mr. Franklin was appointed Postmaster General. The postmark "B. Free Franklin" is still used to cancel stamps.

One of the very coolest things on this tour was Elfreth's Alley. It consists of 33 townhouses and is the oldest continuous residential street in the United States. One of the houses had a historical marker of 1703,but the history says that it has been lived in since 1713. There are several posters citing the more recent history of this wonderful street - late 1800s and early 1900s.

The Betsy Ross house was built in 1740 and has been restored to circa 1777, this being the year in which Betsy was commissioned by George Washington to create the first American flag. Betsy Ross had a rather tragic life. She was disowned by the Quakers; survived the death of three husbands and two infant daughters. But she persevered and maintained a business during this time. A side note - her pew at Christ Church was next to George Washington's.

Our last stop of the day was Declaration House - a reconstruction of the site where Thomas Jefferson lived while he wrote the Declaration of Independence.

I know this was a LOT to read, but I hope you enjoyed it and maybe even found something out about our country that you didn't know before. In any event, I truly enjoyed my walk around Philadelphia. I certainly learned many, many things I had not known prior to my visit. As always, there are more pictures to be found at our Webshots site: http://community.webshots.com/user/guiler85/0 .

The next few weeks are going to be crazy busy. We will celebrate Lindsay's birthday, Reagan's birthday, and Lindsay & Jason's 6th wedding anniversary. I am going to New Hampshire with my mom next week for five days so she and her sister, Helen, can see each other for the first time in a great many years. Then, Randy & I are trying to get together with friends before we hit the road on October 1.

So, keep in touch. We love hearing from you. Take care of each other. Until the next time . . .

Historic Downtown Lancaster, PA

I know it's been awhile since I've posted anything. Sorry 'bout that. We've just been doing regular stuff - hanging with family, babysitting (I love it!!), and staying out of the heat. But, yesterday, my friend, Cheri & I went to Lancaster, PA.

Most times when people think of Lancaster, PA (if they think of it at all), they think of the outlet shopping and the Amish Country. Well, Cheri and I had been to both numerous times, so we decided to explore downtown Lancaster. After having a good lunch at the Central Market, which is Lancaster's Farmer's Market, we went to the Visitor's Center and signed up for a walking tour. I just love walking tours!!

Our guide was not the best I've ever had, but he was a nice older gentleman. We started with a short slide show that gave us an overview of the city. Did you know that Lancaster was once the capital of the United States? I certainly didn't. And it was for a very short time, but still . . . Lancaster is also the city in which the Woolworth's stores started. President Buchanan made his home in Lancaster. And the force behind the 17th Amendment which abolished slavery, Thaddeus Stevens, lived here, too. Stevens was also the "father" of our public education system.

During the tour we saw many beautifully restored homes from the late 1700s to the mid 1800s. There are several historic churches in the city, too. One of the churches was originally built as a children's church for Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. Apparently, the founders of Holy Trinity were German speaking and as children were born here and grew up, the children were English speaking. The older generation did not want to change having their services conducted in German so they built a whole other church for the kids to go to and have their services in English! Gosh, guess they never heard of having two services!

Holy Trinity is still active today. I loved the title of the message for this past Sunday: "He Who Must Be Named." If you're not a Harry Potter fan, you won't get the joke. But, it is funny, I promise you. And it shows how much our spiritual life can be influenced by the media!

Another person everyone knows, Milton Hershey, grew up in Lancaster. One of his first businesses, a caramel factory, is still standing. It is now a senior citizens home. The building is in the midst of the historic district.

On the side of one of the historic homes is a fire department plaque. Apparently, if your home did not display this plaque and a fire broke out in your home, the fire department would just pass you right by. This plaque was only obtained by paying a tax of some kind. Amazing.

DeMuth Tobacco, located in the city, is the oldest tobacco shop under continual family ownership in the United States. It was started in 1770 and has been handed down ever since. One of the DeMuth sons is a well-known painter - not to me, but to those in the art world, I guess.

Cheri and I had a good time exploring Lancaster. I know there is much we missed, but you can only do so much at one time. The great thing is to be able to share it with a good friend.

September is shaping up to be rather busy. Not sure how much of it will be of interest to you, but I'll try. I will be going on a trip to New Hampshire with my mom. We'll be visiting my mom's sister, Aunt Helen. Randy & I saw Aunt Helen and my cousin, Wanda and her husband, Bob, last fall when we traveled to Maine. My mom hasn't seen Aunt Helen in years and wants to do so before age and/or ill health keeps them doing so. Randy & I will also try to get in as much time with friends and family before leaving October 1st for our trip south.

Take care of one another. Keep in touch. Until the next time . . .

Proud of our Soldier

Yes, I know - this is supposed to be a blog of our travels. Well, since it's my blog, I figure I can deviate is I want to. And I want to brag on our son.

Kevin is currently stationed in South Korea. We are grateful that, for now at least, he is not in a combat zone. He is constantly training in order to become a skilled soldier. So I just wanted to share a couple of pictures of him "at work" and let everyone know how proud we are of him and his willingness to serve our country.

Reuniting with Family

What a great week we've had! Last Tuesday we went down to my folks' house to visit for a few days, culminating in the visit with my cousin, Mary and her family on Friday.

Lindsay & Reagan came down on Wednesday. Boy, do I love spending time with them! That little girl brings so much joy to my life - I have a hard time not smiling when I'm with her. She is such a happy little one and finds such delight in everything she sees and does. It helps me to do so, too. It's kind of amazing how something I've been doing all my life, such as swimming, takes on a whole new thrill when I do it with Reagan. Her excitement in doing new things (or even the same thing over and over . . . and over again) gets me excited, too. For those of you who have not had the pleasure of grandchildren yet, just wait - you'll see what I'm talking about! And to watch my daughter mothering her daughter is overwhelming. Lindsay is a great mom and I am so proud of her!

Anyway, my folks sure enjoyed having Lindsay & Reagan there, too. They don't get enough time with them, either. I'm just so darn grateful that my granddaughter is able to get to know her great grandparents. Isn't that cool?!?!!

Thursday evening Paula & Lou came in so they could be there for Mary's visit. They had taken a few days off to recoup from the wedding and to celebrate their ninth anniversary.

Friday afternoon, Mary and family, including her mom, Ann, arrived. Mary is married to Tim and they have two children, Robert (20) and Anna (16). I have not seen them in 14 years!! They live in Wales (Tim's British) and the last time they were in the United States I was not able to see them.

Mary and I were great buddies when we were kids. Technically, she is my second cousin, I think. We had a discussion about that, it's so confusing!! She is my mom's cousin's daughter. Anyway, she and I were the only cousins our age; everyone else was older and didn't have anything to do with us. We spent lots of time at each other's houses and just had a great time together growing up. We lost touch as we got older and our lives took different turns, especially when she went to college and I got married. But, when she married Tim, Randy & I had the privilege of participating in their wedding. I just couldn't believe that Mary was going to leave the country and live that far away! Shoot, she'd hardly ever left Washington, DC where she'd lived all her life. I liked Tim right away, though, and it seems he has continued to make her happy for the last 22 years.

We had such a great time reminiscing and laughing. Boy, did we laugh. Mary & I seemed to just pick up where we left off. It was fun telling a few stories to Mary's kids about their mom. Mary's kids are just great. She and Tim have done a great job with them. Robert is at college (university, they call it) and Anna just graduated from high school. Tim is a chef with a caterer and Mary works part-time in the local grocery store.

The day went so fast, it was hard to say good-bye. But, Randy & I decided we are going to visit them in a couple of years. Yes, we're gonna do it. It's crazy not to travel overseas when you've got family waiting for you and a free place to stay!

Once again, God has reminded me of the many blessings He has given me. To have extended family that means so much and to be able to spend time with them is very special. I need to take more time to show my gratitude for these blessings.

Enjoy the pictures. We've got a pretty quiet week this week, but I'll have some fun stuff to share next week. I'm going to see "Menopause: The Musical" with a girlfriend and then we've got Randy's 40th high school reunion coming up. I'm sure I can find something to share with you all about this stuff! :)

Take care. Be sure to tell one another how much you love each other. Until the next time . . .

A Wedding in the Family

What a great way to end the month! Our niece, LuAnn, was married on Saturday to a wonderful young man, Eric. The wedding was held at Lou & Paula's home in the afternoon. Yes, it was a little warm, but that was soon forgotten in the joy of watching these two pledging their love and commitment to one another.

We had not met Eric before this weekend, but Lou and Paula had told us how much they have come to love him. To quote Paula, "He fits in our family just great!" And let me tell you, there's not a finer compliment, in my humble opinion, to be had! :)

Randy & I had gone over on Friday to help set up for the wedding and we got to meet Eric's family. What fun we had! Lots of hard work, but when you mix it with so much laughter, who cares how hard you're working! And when the end result is such a lovely wedding and reception, all that work was well worth it.

Paula and I are so blessed to have great kids who have chosen well in their spouses and boyfriend. I was watching our kids during the reception and it was such a pleasure! Our kids love each other and laugh and tease each with such abandon - what a thrill it is to see. And now our grandchildren are carrying on the tradition. I could sit and just bask in that feeling all day.

Sorry, got a little mushy there, but you know, I'm allowed - it's my blog!! :) I hope each of you have the opportunity to feel even just a small percentage of that each day of your lives. It's a terrific thing!

We leave tomorrow to go to my folks' for the week. I'm getting excited to see my cousin. It's been a long time since we last saw one another and her kids are all grown up! Lindsay & Reagan are going to come down, too, and my cousin has never seen Reagan, so that's going to be fun. I'll have lots to share next week, I'm sure.

Take care of one another! Until the next time . . .

Retirement is tough . . .

Whew! Life in the slow lane is rough! Having to get up each day and decide whether to sit out on the porch and read or sew, or watch a movie, or take a drive can really take a toll on a person! :)

We have had a very relaxing couple of weeks, finally. We've had the pleasure of catching up with some friends by having dinner together and spending lots of time with our precious granddaughter, Reagan.

While I was walking yesterday morning, I was thanking God for the many, many blessings in my life. He has given us so much more than we need and our family is doing well. I was overcome by His grace and mercy. It is truly an awesome thing to be able to say that you are at peace with your life. And at this moment in time, I am. I hope that each of you have that, too.

Well, I just wanted to check in since I hadn't posted anything for awhile. We have a quiet week coming up, but then this Saturday our niece is getting married. And then next week, my cousin who lives in England is coming to the U.S. and we're meeting up at my folks' house. I'm really looking forward to seeing her - it's been several years since we've been together. I can't even remember when it was, that's how long ago it's been! So, I'll have some pictures to share, I'm sure.

Hope everyone is enjoying their summer. Keep in touch. Until the next time . . .

Spending time with Family & Friends

We started this month with a family gathering at Jason & Lindsay's house on July 1st. Since the 4th of July fell on a Wednesday, we decided to have our picnic early! It was a beautiful day, weather-wise; great breeze and not too hot - perfect!! This was Jason & Lindsay's first family party at their new home. It was fun seeing how much everyone loved the new house. Jason & Lindsay have done a wonderful job of decorating and making it a home already.

On July 2nd, we got to celebrate Kelly's 9th birthday. Amita & James had family in for cake and ice cream and presents, of course. Randy hadn't seen the girls since Christmas, although I had seen them in April when I had come home for a week. It's so hard to believe that Kelly is 9 already. Seems like just yesterday she was sitting beside my desk in her infant carrier! We loved being able to share in her birthday celebration.

The weekend was a little busier. On Friday, Randy finally got his satellite TV!! Yes, we have entered the 21st century of TV. He can watch SciFi anytime he wants now. I didn't realize how many original shows there are on cable now. Good grief, there's not enough time in the day to watch all the TV that's out there!!

Saturday evening we went to an outdoor concert at a local winery. Our close friends, Lee & Cheri, invited us to join a group of their friends at Nissley Winery. This is a great venue - it's only $14/person to get in and you can take a picnic dinner. It was lots of fun. Good friends, good food & good music - what more can a person ask for!!

Sunday was spent at Paula & Lou's. Our nephew, Joe, was in town for a friend's wedding and so the family gathered together to spend time with him. As always when our family is together, there were lots of laughs, food and loud talking. Joe looks so good.

Unfortunately, Jason & Lindsay were unable to be with us on Sunday because they had a prior commitment. But, Paula, Joe, Lisa & kids came to Lindsay's today so they could see them and the new house. Reagan wasn't very sure about Uncle Joe. He's soooooo tall and has a very deep voice. She finally warmed up to him about the time he had to leave. But, she had a great time with Jimmy, Kylie & Kelsey!

July seems to be shaping up to be a much quieter month than June, which is not a bad thing at all! :) We'll be spending lots of time with Reagan and just enjoying being close to family and friends again. Please keep in touch.

Until the next time . . .

Another Good-bye

I am so tired of good-byes!! Another marathon week for us. We got back yesterday afternoon from our trip to take Kevin to Atlanta to catch his flight to Korea. If we don't get back into the truck for another FIVE months, that will be fine with me!!! UGH! I am also so very tired of riding/driving.

We left Sunday afternoon to go to my folks' as they graciously lent us their car for the trip to Atlanta (much better on fuel mileage and more comfortable.) Bright and early Monday morning we left Berlin, MD for the trip to Atlanta. It was a decent trip, just very looooooooooonnnngggg.

We got to Randy's sister, Missy's, house around 9:15 that night. Missy lives about 45 minutes north of the airport and wanted us to stay with her and the kids. Since Kevin hadn't seen them for quite a while, this was a great invitation. We no sooner got into the house, when Kevin and our niece, Tara, were back out the door to go to a party with Tara's friends. Needless to say, all Randy & I did was flop on the couch. Of course, Kevin had slept off and on all the way down, so he was ready to rock and roll! :)

Tuesday was spent with the family and seeing their new house they'll be moving into next week. Kevin & Tara went out again that night. We cautioned him that we had to be up at 3:30 am - yes, AM - in order to be at the airport by 5:00am. He said he wasn't planning to sleep anyway. And actually, I didn't get much sleep, either. Kev had gotten in around 1am and I ended up snuggling with him and watching TV until 3:30 when we needed to get ready to go. I knew I was gonna be tired later, but it was well worth it. I got uninterrupted time with my baby boy. It was very special; reminded me of when he was little and he would lay with me while we watched TV. He'll always be my baby.

We got to the airport in plenty of time to check his bags for his 7:48am flight to San Francisco. Well, it was SUPPOSED to be 7:48 - it was delayed until 10:20!! Not a problem. There were at least 10 other young soldiers there already, so Kev had lots of company.

We said good-bye and hugged very tightly and left him at 5:40am. No tears - really - no tears. Kevin told me on the way to airport that I wasn't allowed to cry; there was no reason, he said. And he was so excited, it was hard to be sad.

We got back to my folks' house around 7pm Wednesday night. What a frantic three days. We were exhausted. It was beginning to sink into my brain that my son was halfway around the world!! So far away . . .

Thursday morning Sara called and let us know Kevin had called her that morning to let her know he was doing great. He was in a hotel room overlooking Seoul and it was beautiful. Since then, we've gotten a couple of e-mails and in every one of them he is so upbeat. Tells us we all need to go to Korea before we die.

We're hoping that life will settle down now that Kevin-mania is over. It'll probably be a little too quiet at first, but I think we'll get used to it quickly. It's a wonderful feeling to know that your wayward child is growing up and becoming the person you prayed he would be.

That's it for now. I'll probably only be posting about once a week or so now. As you think of Kevin, please pray for his continued safety as well as that of all of our Armed Forces. Thanks for your friendship and love. Please keep in touch.

Until the next time . . .

A Welcome Home

We had a wonderful welcome home party for Kevin yesterday. My sister and bro-in-law were gracious and allowed us to have it at their home. They have a fantastic yard - tailor made for cook-outs. Many friends came to celebrate Kevin's homecoming as well as his successful graduation from Basic and Advanced Training.

Kevin's home until June 25 when we travel back to the south - Atlanta - for him to catch a plane to Korea on June 27. He'll be able to see his cousins and aunt there before having to leave. That's neat 'cause he hasn't seen them for a couple of years.

Please keep Kevin in prayer as he begins his career as an Army infantryman. He will be in Korea for at least a year. Of course, there's no guarantee that he won't ever go to Iraq, but for right now, we are thanking God for the assignment to Korea.

Here are some pictures from the party. Enjoy!

An Update - At Last!

I know that everyone has been pining away at their computers just waiting for an update from the Guilers!! :) Well, you can finally step away from your computer, get something to eat and drink and then come back to read the fascinating events of the past week!

Last Tuesday morning (a week ago yesterday, we met up with my folks at Lindsay's house and seven of us (my folks; Kev's girlfriend, Sara; Lindsay; Reagan and us) got into two vehicles and hit the road around 9:30 am. We planned to take two days to get to Fort Benning, which is just outside of Columbus, GA. We had no idea how Reagan would travel, but we couldn't wait to get there! (Turns out Reagan is a fantastic traveler - all grins and giggles! YAY!!)

God granted us safe travel and we arrived at Fort Benning's campground, Uchee Creek, around 6:00 pm on Wednesday evening. All of us were exhausted and ready to flop, so we did. Lindsay, Sara & Reagan were in one cabin and Randy, my folks and I were in another. We needed to get a good night's rest so that we could enjoy the next couple of days.

Thursday's ceremony was Turning Blue. This is where the infantrymen are awarded their blue cords for their uniforms. The cord is blue because it distinguishes the infantrymen from other troops. This was done very early in the history of the infantry because there were many different colored uniforms and it was decided there needed to be one constant in those uniforms, thus the blue cord.

We had attended a briefing before the ceremony during which the company's Drill Sergeants were introduced to us and we watched a couple of videos that showed us what our sons had been doing these past few months. Of course, all any of us wanted to do was see our sons!! Finally, it was time to gather outside and wait for the Soldiers to assemble.

What a feeling when those platoons first appeared around the corner!! Oh my gosh - we heard them first and then four platoons appeared in disciplined formation and moving as one unit. How impressive - I'm tearing up just remembering how it felt to see them for the first time. After an introduction of the company, the national anthem, and the Soldiers singing the Army songs, it was time for them to "turn blue." The families were invited up to place the cord on their soldier's uniform. Well, I didn't need a second invitation!! :) However, Kevin had told us he wanted his favorite drill sergeant, DS Hansen, to put his cord on. And I was thrilled with that - that told me that Kevin felt ultimate respect for this man and that he wanted to honor the DS with this act. I was so proud of him. After the Soldiers had turned, it was time for a couple of pictures and then they were released to us for the rest of the day! Needless to say, Kevin couldn't wait to be reunited with Sara - three and a half months is a long time!

After the Turning Blue ceremony, we met Kevin's best buddy, Ted & his family at Red Lobster for a celebratory lunch. There were 14 of us! We even had another Soldier with us, Shane Lucas, because he had no family with him. (As you think of it, please pray for Shane - he is headed to Iraq at the end of the month.) We had a wonderful time just reveling in having our sons with us. After lunch, we went back to the campground to just relax and listen to Kevin's stories. For those of you who know Kev, you know he had some to tell! :) All too soon it was time to take Kevin back to the barracks one last time.

Friday morning we had to be in the cars at 7:30 am in order to get to the graduation! That is no easy feat when you're trying to get seven people moving, but we did it! We were at the field in plenty of time to get a good parking space and peruse the many souvenirs available for purchase. Promptly at 9 am, it is the Army after all, the ceremony started with the base band playing several patriotic songs. Then we had a demonstration of what our sons had learned during training - complete with gun fire, tanks and smoke bombs. Pretty cool. But then, what we all had been waiting for - our Soldiers marched onto the field in their combat uniforms (because we are at war, instead of dress uniforms). Just as impressive as the day before, maybe a little more so because this was IT!! As they recited the Infantryman's Creed, I realized that my son was now a man and one who has become someone who I can depend upon. I cannot describe to you what I was feeling, "proud" just doesn't cut it.

It was hard to believe that at the end of graduation we could actually take Kevin home with us!! We hadn't known how long a leave Kev would get and I was praying for 11 days - that would mean he would have to be in Atlanta to catch a plane on June 18. But, God always surpasses our greatest desires - He gave us almost THREE weeks! Kevin is with us until June 27!! We couldn't believe it. He has to be on a plane out of Atlanta at 7:48 am on June 27. What a gift.

After a two day trip back home, we arrived at Lindsay's around 6pm last Saturday. Needless to say, Lindsay & Reagan were very excited to see Jason. It was fun to watch - Jason was in the driveway when we pulled up and Reagan let out a squeal that would have had dogs running!! :)

Kevin & Sara stayed with us in the RV for a couple of days, then we hit Hershey Park on Monday. We took them down to Columbia Monday evening and then they left this morning to spend a couple of days in Ocean City. Sara has to go back to work next Monday, so they are spending as much time together as possible. We have enjoyed watching their relationship. We like Sara very much. She seems to be really good for Kevin. It was fun to get to know her better on the trip. What a courageous young woman - traveling with her boyfriend's family!!

Saturday we will celebrate Kevin's homecoming with a party at my sister's. We wish everyone who loves Kevin could be there, but we know your prayers will be with him. Look forward to pictures of the party!

Hitting the ground running in PA

We arrived in York, PA in the early afternoon last Friday. After we set up the rig, we headed over to Jason and Lindsay's - I couldn't wait to get my hands on Reagan! And I wanted to see Randy's face when he saw her for the first time in FIVE months.

When we pulled up to the house, Lindsay & Reagan were outside waiting for us! I was so excited! As we got out of the truck, I called for Reagan to come to see us and that little booger giggled, turned and ran the other way! Well, needless to say, I took off after her. I chased her into the house and grabbed her up and smothered her in kisses. She was laughing the whole time. What a personality that little one has!

We had a wonderful evening of getting reacquainted with Reagan as well as catching up with what Jason and Lindsay have been up to since their move to PA. Lindsay made a great dinner to celebrate Randy's birthday and then we took a drive around town so they could show us places they've found. Randy & I are so very pleased to see how happy Jason & Lindsay are with their move here. They have begun to meet neighbors and Lindsay is getting involved with play groups so she and Reagan can meet other moms and kids. It is a great feeling to know your kids are settled and content.

Saturday we headed down to Megan's to celebrate her 25th birthday. Her birthday is not until June 7, but since we'll be in Georgia attending Kev's graduation, we celebrated early. It's hard to believe Megan is 25; seems like just yesterday she was in a high chair smearing spaghetti all over herself and everything she touched! :) It was a good day of being with family, something we had missed over the last several months. Lots of laughing - not surprised at that, huh?

Yesterday was a day at home, and we needed it. We finished getting the RV set up; putting up pictures, putting items away, etc. It was a quiet, rainy day. Kinda nice, actually.

Tomorrow we head for Fort Benning, GA to celebrate Kevin's graduation from Basic & Advanced Training. We are SO excited. After seeing him in April and finding him to be so much more focused and mature, I can't wait to see how the last six weeks have changed him. And we'll be able to bring him home for several days!

Take care of each other. More to come. Until the next time . . .

Yorktown Battlefield and Colonial Parkway

It was interesting to drive the Yorktown Battlefield area. Having driven through Gettysburg and its many battlefields, I expected much the same in Yorktown. In Gettysburg there are many monuments and historical markers and other structures noting significant battles and events. Not so in Yorktown.

This battle was fought in what was pretty much an open field. Therefore, there wasn't much to take pictures of. I did take a picture of a marker that depicts the battle site and explains the positioning of troops. I hope you can see it clearly. If not, click on the picture and it will enlarge, if you are interested. We did see the home of Augustine Moore where officers from both sides met to negotiate the surrender of the British. Can you imagine General Washington walking up to your house and asking to use it for a surrender?!!?!! I mean, Mr. Moore had a very ordinary house. But, he did have an awesome view of the York River! This battle was only 13 days from the time the Allied troops constructed the first siege line to the day Cornwallis' army surrendered its arms. And it was the last major battle of the Revolution which basically assured our independence.

Right at the Visitor's Center in Yorktown there was a Civil War reenactment this weekend. I sure wouldn't have wanted to be those reenactors in this heat! UGH! I took a few pictures, though.


While on our battlefield drive, we found Yorktown National Cemetery, a Civil War cemetery. There are over 2000 grave sites and each one was decorated with an American flag. It was quite an impressive site. Sadly, though, less than 800 of those graves are identified.

We finished our drive along Colonial Parkway after our battlefield tour. There were a lot of folks enjoying the hot weather by setting up on the beaches of the York River and the several creeks that run along the parkway. We saw historical markers for a couple of plantations that used to sit in what is now the York River. I guess erosion, man and weather has widened the river through the years.

This has been a great week. We've been busy - we went exploring every day! For those of you who know us, you know that's unusual. We've learned more about our country and its hard fight for freedom and independence. Seems we continue that fight today. Let's remember those who have paid the ultimate price so that we can enjoy the life we are able to live.

We leave Tuesday morning for a visit with my folks in Ocean City, Maryland. I was able to see them for a couple of days back in early April when I was home, but it's going to be good to hang out with them next week. We also get to celebrate Randy's birthday! :)

Hope you all have had a great weekend. Take care of each other. Until the next time . . .

Jamestown Settlement & Colonial Parkway

We took the morning and went back to Jamestown to visit the settlement. Jamestown Settlement and Historic Jamestowne differ in that the Settlement is a living history museum of life during the early 1600s. There is a Powhatan Indian Village, a recreation of James Fort, and the three ships which brought the first settlers from England. Each of these exhibitions have costumed historical interpreters who chat with you and talk about their way of life.

In the Powhatan Village we had the opportunity to speak with an Indian maiden. She was stripping yucca leaves for making rope. She shared with us that the village is active year round, they plant and harvest crops and attempt to recreate life as it was in the 1600s. I was surprised that the settlement operated year 'round and that they actually harvest the crops of beans, tobacco and corn.

Down at the river were the three ships which brought the first settlers from England. They are the Susan Constant, the Discovery and the Godspeed. The Susan Constant is the largest of the three ships. Again, there were several interpreters who share their expertise with all who are interested. We spoke with a fellow who was knowledgeable in sea navigation. He showed us the instruments that were used back then and explained how they could gauge their speed and direction. He said much of what was used back then is still in use today, just fancier. :)

Since there were no drawings or pictures, they used the writings that have been found to recreate the buildings and size of James Fort. Just outside of the fort were interpreters sharing the crops that were grown, canoe making, and boat building. All of the building, including the building of the fort, is done as it would have been in the early 1600s. We watched a canoe being made. They burn out the inside of the wood to make the sitting area of the canoe. It was quite interesting. The major money crop was tobacco, but that wasn't found until 1614, seven years after the colony was settled. Apparently, it took awhile to find a money making commodity.

From the settlement, we drove along part of the Colonial Parkway back to Williamsburg. It also goes from Williamsburg to Yorktown. This is a lovely, scenic drive that goes along the James and York Rivers. All along the way there are pull-offs on the sides of the parkway that indicate significant events that happened in the area or just historical information. We learned that a group of Spanish Jesuits came in 1570 in an attempt to settle along what is now College Creek. Unfortunately within a year they were victims of a massacre.

We plan to drive the other half of the parkway tomorrow. We'll also drive the Yorktown Battlefield tour tomorrow. More to come . . .

Williamsburg

Williamsburg never gets old - no pun intended! It seems no matter how often we come here, we always find things to do and see that we've never done before. And this time is no exception.

We started out at the Governor's Palace, which was home to five royal lieutenant governors, two royal governors, and the first two governors of the Commonwealth of Virginia - Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson. The current building is a reconstruction of the original building that was built in 1722 and destroyed in 1781 by a fire. It was rebuilt on the original foundation. It is furnished as it would have been during the time of the last royal governor, Lord Dunmoore. When you enter the palace, you come into an impressive foyer that is decorated with 540 weapons along the walls. The rest of the rooms are equally impressive as are the the gardens.

Upon leaving the Governor's Palace, we walked along Duke of Gloucester Street, the main drag of Colonial Williamsburg, just enjoying the gorgeous weather and the ambiance of being there. We stopped in Bruton Parish Church, which has been in "continuous service to the Lord" since 1715 (isn't that amazing!!), the magazine and guardhouse and the blacksmith shop. We found an excavation site of a coffeehouse that was active in 1755. I didn't realize that there was excavation still being done in Williamsburg, but apparently there is.

Our next tour was of the Capitol Building. Another impressive building. This was the seat of government for 75 years. It was here that Patrick Henry made his famous "give me liberty or give me death" speech denouncing the Stamp Act. Of course most of the men in control of the legislature were handpicked by the reigning monarch, but the House of Burgesses was comprised of 12 men elected by the people. Some of those men were George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and of course, Patrick Henry.

After the tour of the Capitol, it was time for lunch! We ate at the King's Arms Tavern. It was a little sentimental because Randy & I had visited Williamsburg over 22 years ago (one of our first trips together!) and had a very romantic dinner at this restaurant. So, it was nice to go back. Of course, it was a little different at lunchtime AND we're not so romantic anymore!! :)

Our last stop for the day was part of the performance "Revolutionary City." This is a series of vignettes in which different events of the American Revolution are portrayed. The one we watched was the reading of the Declaration of Independence on July 25, 1776, to the citizens of Williamsburg. It was rather moving to hear our Declaration read with such conviction and emotion. Glad we got to see that.

We had a great day. You can see more pictures at our Webshots site at http://community.webshots.com/user/guiler85/0. There's never enough time to do and see all there is here. Tomorrow we're going to drive part of the Colonial Parkway, to Jamestown. There are several pull-offs at the sites of historical events. We may stop in at the Jamestown settlement, too. Just depends on how many other people have the same idea!

Hope all of you have a safe and fun holiday weekend. Please remember to honor our fallen service personnel with a moment of silence or prayer as well as remembering our active military. This has become very personal to us. Until the next time . . .