Our Trip- Part 4...Wednesday

Wednesday proved to be another day full of fun and blessings from our Lord. Our next destination was Pennsylvania.

Exciting!!! You see, it has been a goal of mine to visit every one of our 50 states of America. So to enter yet into another one was a thrill.

                                          We were so close to New Jersey. Across this river. Though I knew we wouldn't be able to go to New Jersey, it was neat to see it.

                              We were headed to Philladelphia. It was a cold, rainy day, yet it was beautiful for each day our God creates, rain or shine, is lovely.

                                        
                                                               Crossing over the bridge into Philly.

                                       

I always thought Philadelphia would be dirty and ugly with rude people. Never had the desire to go there, but it was a pretty city, and each person we talked to was friendly. The Lord convicted me of judging this city and the people. These pictures don't do it justice because of how cloudy and rainy it was.

                                          
      I don't know if you can tell, but the picture above it had started to snow. We all were so very excited! We don't get snow down in Texas where we live. The kids were squeeling with excitement. Aj and I ]were also. I was hoping we would get to see snow while up here. The Lord knew the desire of my heart, and the childrens. Praise be to God!!!

 We finally found a parking spot, bundled up in our coats, gloves, and hats and walked several blocks with snow/sleet coming down on us. The kids were running around, sticking out their tongue to catch snow, watching it fall on each others heads. I am sorry I did not get pictures, I should have, all I was doing at the time was thinking about keeping my hands warm while we walked. I regret it now. Can't get those memories back.

We finally made it to where we wanted to go. And it was warm in the building also.

                                                             The Liberty Bell.

                                           

We spent awhile in there reading the history of this great bell and watched a short film. I was most impressed that I had never known etched onto the bell was a Bible verse. Leviticus 25:10.
                      "Proclaim liberty throughout all the land and to all the inhabitants of it."


                                      Here is Cracker Zech who did not want his picture taken...

                                     



                                  This picture is very blurry, but here we are in front of the bell.

 
                                            Behind the Liberty bell is the Indeppendance Hall. Very fitting.

                                       
                                         I am so thankful for the freedom we have in this country, and as a dear friend, Camille, reminded me, "God has truly blessed us beyond measure. What blessing it is to remind ourselves that HE is on the Throne and HE is in complete and Sovereign control of all things."  Though our country is not headed in the direction I had hoped, I know God is in control and Our freedom ultimately  is in Christ.
  God's Holy Word says, ""If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:31-32) \Thanks be to God for the freedom of this country and more importantly, my freedom from my sin through the precious blood of Jesud Christ.

We returned to our van and headed down the street. As I was typing in the address of our next location, I looked up as we were crossing over the bridge.

                                                      
I asked Aj what we were doing.

To my surprise, he said."Going to New Jersey! We've never been there!"

                                       Across we went, drove down a few streets...

(can you see the snow?)                                      

                                       
                                     
                           

After driving around a few streets, over the bridge we went back to Pennsylvania.

                                        Here are a few more pictures of Philly...

                                                                  

It was time to leave "Brotherly Love" (meaning of Pittsburgh) and head west. The drive was beautiful...rocky areas, rolling hills with farms on it....



an hour and half later we could start smelling it. We saw the smoke stacks.

                                                        Here are a few hints of where we went...

                                                                    

                                                       Why of course our next stop was...
                                                     Hershey, Pennsylvania home of Hershey Kisses!

                                                      

Mr Hershey was a man who persevered in spite of failing his first attempts in the candy business. After discovering adding milk to chocalate gave it a better, creamier taste, he risked all his money into this product. He built a factory and homes for his employees to live in. He and his wife couldn't have children so with a lot of his profits, he opened up a boys school for orphans. When he died, he didn't have any one to inherit his assets (his wife died 9 yrs. earlier) so he left everything to the school. To this day, the school is still open, but now also to boys and girls who are needy. It is a very nice school.  AJ and I thought it was some kind of campus for a small college.

We enjoyed our time touring the facilty. The kids were able to participate in a small factory production with their work hats.

The pictures are very bad and blurry (my camera is messed up and I have been having trouble with it on and off).

We then went on a little ride showing the process of making the candy.

\

                                     

                                         

Hershey closed about an hour after we arrived so to the hotel we went.

That was our day. It didn't seem like much but the driving took up some extra time. It was nice to get to a hotel around 7 pm rather 11 pm. We enjoyed a leisure time in the hotel together.

Our Trip- Part 3...Tuesday

Monday night we entered into Maryland to spend the night. This was all of ours first time in Maryland. We were excited to see the state the next morning on our drive back to Virginia.

                     Here are a few pictures. It was a beautiful, hilly state (at least where we were at).

                      Our first stop was Mount Vernon where our first president, George Washington lived.

                                                              Sheep up on a hill.

                                
                                
A family picture "with" President Washington, First Lady Martha, and their grandchildren.

                                
                                                             Mount Vernon

                               
                             
                                


                                              President Washington's privy house (outhouse)...

                                                

                                  Potomic River behind the house...isn't God's creation beautiful! 


                                           

                                                                             Some pictures of the grounds and inside the museum...

                                                                                 
                                 

                                 

                                 
            
                                        Kids working on their puzzle to get a free souvenir...

                                    
                                   

                                                While Zechariah pushed his stroller around...

Pictures inside the Museum:

                                                            Mr. President's sword...

 

On our way back to the van...

                                 We then headed to the Capital. We decided we wanted to go in.

                                                        

While there, we met an officer. He was there when we entered into the building. While I waited on AJ with the kids who didn't take the elevator, we began talking. He was a very kind man who immediately took to the kids once he heard we were from Texas. He lived there for several years while going to school and working in the law enforvcement.

We said our goodbyes and headed to get tickets to see the Tundra. While down there, AJ was called by an officer to return to the top floor. Aj, nervous he did something, went up there. The man who spoke to us earlier decided to give us a personal tour. He gave us many facts about the building. But our unexpected blessing was he took us into places the normal public doesn't get to go. Telling us info. about  things that go on behind the scenes. It was all very interesting and exciting to be in these places.  AJ and I were constantly amazed at what we were being able to see. It was truly a visit that we won't forget. By far, this has been the highlight of our trip so far...at least to AJ and I. The kids are to young to appreciate what they saw.

                                         Pictures from inside the Capital (which do not do them justice)...God truly blessed the man (forget his name) who designed this with great talent!

                                                 
 Outside where they are currently building President Obama's platform for his inauguration. You can see the wood if you look carefully.

                                 
This is where all of the important people people sit like Senators, past presidents and their wives, family members, etc...this way if they are cold, need to use the restroom, get a drink... they can easily walk in the capital

                                        
                                   A few views from the balcony (as the day went on it grew colder and        cloudier)......

                                         

                            Thank you, kind officer, for blessing us. You truly went beyond your duty to make our trip more memorable!!!

                                                          

         It was bitter cold when we left the Capital. Everyone was a trooper in not complaining while we walked back to our van (a few blocks away.) We loaded up to head to our hotel.

                                                                          We stayed in

                                                             

Very exciting once again!!! A state none of us had been before. But before we checked into our hotel, we enjoyed the treat of eating at Crackel Barrell ( I have been making all of our meals). Some of the kids enjoyed hot chocalate while some of us played checkers.

                                           
This trip so far has been amazing. I am beyond thankful to our Lord and His great blessings upon our family. His mercy is ever so great! I give Him all praise!


                                       Till tomorrow (Lord-willing), be blessed and honor the Lord!