Arlington Cemetery: Our Nation's Sacred Shrine

This is one place that I still remember from when I came as a child. I only remember the changing of the guard though. I forgot to bring my phone so I wasn't able to get any pictures but I will go back soon and get some. We haven't been very good at going out and seeing the sights the last couple of weeks except for Arlington last Sunday.

When you first walk in you see the words

                                                    WELCOME TO

ARLINGTON NATIONAL

CEMETERY

OUR NATION'S MOST SACRED SHRINE

PLEASE

CONDUCT YOURSELVES

WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT

AT ALL TIMES

PLEASE REMEMBER

THESE ARE HALLOWED GROUNDS

"Our Nation's most sacred shrine" really stuck out to me. As we were walking along the roads in there I happened to turn and for as far as I could see were white head stones... David said, "Imagine if at every head stone there was a person standing there" I can't explain the overwhelming feeling of looking at those stones. I couldn't hold back my tears. I think of my grandpa and others who served in wars. Wow. What would I be willing to sacrifice my life for? 

Here lies in glory an American soldier.

The changing of the guard is amazing. The precision, the discipline, the care, the focus, the respect all shown there for the Tomb of the unknown soldier is again quite overwhelming. I love watching them.

Known only to God

Oh dear! Teaching the primary kids again!

Okay I am actually really excited to be a part of primary kids again!

So our church ward just moved to a brand new building on 16th street! It's huge and beautiful! 16th street has so many different churches along that street! I love the 50 minute bus ride and looking at how beautiful that area is. I have never seen such excitement! Our ward is incredibly excited to keep it clean and the first scratch in a bench or floor is really gonna hurt! It's so sweet and to know all the effort that has gone into it.

Our new calling is in the primary teaching the combined classes of the 7-11 year old children. So much energy and intelligence! There is one 10 year old little girl named Vicky who was recently adopted from Columbia and basically only speaks spanish. David goes and translates for her and I love watching them interact. When David first met her a few weeks ago she told him about being in an orphanage and praying to get out and that God answered her prayer and she was adopted. I cried. To think of this amazing little girl still stuck in a physically, emotionally and spiritually lacking place just breaks my heart.

Well some of the other children in the primary and in our class are not in a much improved situation here either. Some of them only receive kindness and attention at church and they can only come every few weeks. Some come hungry and haven't gotten to eat in a while. We are there to be a positive in their lives and to teach them about Christ. Something simple like prayer to carry them through. At first I wondered why our ward did so many functions around food and so frequently. We even have a weekly dinner and tutoring program for all ages. For some young and old it is the food they get for a few days.

I have never gone without food. Ever. I was never cold or alone at night....pretty hard in our big family. I am so grateful for what I had AND what I have now.

Employment!

I have forgotten to mention that I have a job! I am so glad and thankful! I love having a purpose and a schedule in my day. I work 4-5 days a week. 6 am to 2:30 pm. I don't have to work Sundays which is really rare and hard to come by. I can be home when David gets home and I also get back into the habit of waking up early which will really help the transition back to the gym in Utah.

So the job is at Trader Joe's. A few things about it is the awesome food! They have some very unique and yummy things, a huge chocolate section, yummy ice cream, and healthy food options to go with it. I get 10% discount. Everyone that works there is quirky. Secret handshakes, weird phrases, singing to songs with just one word over and over. I really enjoy it! A lot of trader joe T shirts.
Surprises: The wine and beer section are quite huge and I know nothing. Understand nothing about them...I look stupid when customers ask questions about them. The f word is used so much. Looking at food makes me hungry...I guess that isn't a big surprise but I really want to try so many different foods!

Chuck, Em, Jack, and Leah Visit

A few weekends ago! These guys all came to visit us for a weekend! It was short and sweet and boy did we cram a lot in to those 1.5 days! We went the Capitol, Smithsonian Art Museum, Archives, Lincoln Memorial, Smithsonian Natural History....and I think they went to the Air Space too.

A highlight for me (despite the lack of smiling in some pictures) was the Lincoln Memorial. We went and grabbed Georgetown Cupcakes and went to the memorial and sat on the steps eating the cupcakes! It was a beautiful night! We laughed a lot and acted quite silly...something that gets so fun with these peeps! I love these people so much.

We ate at Founding Farmers, which is David and my favorite.
Leah would crack me up when we went out to eat announcing at least twice to the waitress that we don't drink alcohol and then ordering hers! I love it!
Jackson is such an adorable kid! He's going to be goofy/awesome/busy body like his parents. I kinda' miss the little Jackson that didn't wiggle and I could cuddle with.
Em and Chuck are a very besties! I think that even if we only get to see them once or twice a year for the rest of our lives we will have that great friendship...I've decided that I don't like to make really close new friends because I already have super close friends. They know so many good and bad things about me and STILL they love me....not sure I can find that again. We love them and appreciate their example and common goofy-ness!

I had to go pet this old english mastiff! doesn't she looks so much like Roxy?? I felt like a little kid again and remembered how much I cried when she died!

So we got to the smithsonian area too early...my fault. So David and I sat around and watched this walk-love-your-dog-athon that was happening on the Mall lawn. It was really cold but we ended up laughing pretty hard at people and at some weird dogs...Oh and at the fact that David doesn't even really like dogs and there we were sitting on a bench watching dogs. So special ha ha! 

I tried to show how many dogs there were....hundreds!!

Sculpture Garden

The cute little guy that has learned a killer stare.

 Another highlight was getting to see Ellery, Salem and Sarah for lunch in Virginia at Cafe Rio (of course) I didn't get any pictures but Elle took about 50 while I made friends with her by giving her my phone :) it worked! And she is so adorable and a stinker...I think she is a lot like I was...but way cuter! So fun to see Salem again. I miss and love that crazy lady!

 I am not sure if you can read all of these. But they are beautiful quotes from President Lincoln. Man! He had a way with words that sends chills up my spine and they make so much sense!

Another amazing moment from that weekend was going to the National Archives and seeing the Constituion, Declaration, and Bill of Rights. To be in that room and to look at them my heart was beating so hard! To think of all the effort, time, lives, sacrifices, miracles that happened to bring this country together is overwhelming. The writing which is fading is beautiful and the meaning is so powerful. David and I are definitely going back. I love how much he loves history and he knows so much about it! Exciting!

Check out more pictures and details on Em's blog emandchuckkrebs.blogspot.com