For Foreign Service Officers, the 4th of July is an extremely busy
time. Each post around the world has the biggest party of the entire year to
celebrate the country's Independence day. This year, instead of being at post
being involved in a party at work, I was able to spend time with Lady Hiva,
friends and family.
It was actually really good for us to have the celebrations this
week. We still have our moments of mourning for and missing Aleki, but being
around a wonderful support group alleviates the blow just a little bit.
We went with Heather and her friend around Washington, DC and then to Gettysburg, PA. It
was the farthest Lady Hiva and I have been out of the DC area since moving here
in January. Luckily, Lady did alright. I had been to Gettysburg several times
but none of them had been there. We happened to be there during the 150 year
anniversary of Gettysburg war. That was NOT planned at all. It was FULL of
people. The best part was seeing all the people dressed up in Civil War Era clothing
and staying in tents. Full families were dressed up. The next day it rained all
day and we then felt bad for those tent sleepers...
Heather and Lady Hiva were in wheelchairs for much of the day... |
This is our spunky tour guide in the Capitol Building that told joke after joke about politicians |
Library of Congress...one of my favorite buildings in the city |
Capitol Building on a beautiful day |
Getting her bible study in... |
Gettysburg, PA |
This is a result of letting Heather take pictures...we don't have any photos of Gettysburg...so you will just have to imagine |
It makes you appreciate all the lives that were lost to have our
country the way it is.
Yesterday, we started out the day with a breakfast with our
congregation. Lady Hiva and I were asked a few weeks ago to do the presentation
portion of the program. With our week, last week they asked if we wanted
someone else to do it...but we figured we could handle. And we did. We both
made it through without crying! HAHA.
It was fun to see families in their Red, White, and Blue and ready
for the holiday. We spent the rest of the day at the pool with friends and
visiting family. That too was fun--although my pasty-stay-in-the-office-all-day-white-skin
was fried by the end of the day (I even put on sunscreen halfway through...but
apparently it was too late!) YIKES!
We then went and watched the fireworks and listened to the Air
Force orchestra at the Air Force Memorial. It was full of people, but the
evening was nice and cool and from the hill we could see fireworks all across
the valley. I love our Country. I am thankful for all the people that have
sacrificed to allow me to be here.
I don't know where my other post went so I will try again,
ReplyDeleteFirst of all.... What?!?! Don't knock my picture taking...
B.... It is very hard to take pictures driving swiftly through something.
3... Ask Hiva she tried to take a picture of the tents.... And crystal the guy with suspenders
Finally... Things are so much better to view than looking through a camera lens... And I have to say.. Those pictures in my mind are perfect and breathtaking.
And where is my picture of Hiva in the side mirror? That was some of my best work.
And 6.... Thanks for letting us visit, we enjoyed spending time with you and being there... Even if you serve warm drinks ;)
No more pics of me on the blog
The end