Exploring the City

After the kids gave me such a hard time Thursday, I threatened to cancel our Friday outing. It turned out to be, however, just what we needed. Our timing was perfect- we made it, without incident, to the metro, then through the subway lines and on to the Mall. It was overcast, a little colder than expected, but as we stepped out onto the lawn, there it was, like out of a dream, the Capitol building. It was many football fields away, but even so, impressive. "Hey guys, look! It's the Capitol!" The kids gasped and squealed in excitement. What do they know about the Capitol? They were very excited.... I'm not quite sure why. But it did tickle the history-lover in me.

The Washintgon Monument was on the other side but is under reconstruction (probably from that earthquake a year or two ago) and appeared to be covered in tarps and duct tape. It was lacking in glory so we averted our eyes and, you know, gave it a little privacy. We dawdled, taking in the moment, till it started to rain lightly, which snapped us out of our lovestruck daze. We ran for the Natural History Museum where we met up with my highschool friend, Annette, and spent the next 3 hours wandering the museum. The kids got to lead and they were fascinated the whole time. I was a little disappointed in how little they remembered from last year's animal classification unit but I suppose all teachers experience the effects of summer vacation brain-drain with similar frustration. I would have reviewed the material with flashcards if it weren't that we have a box of items that we shipped here a week and a half ago that is missing in action. Also in that box, all our blank paper (a homeschool essential), our kitchen spices, and my only pair of black highheels. I am trying to be gracious.  I am channeling the patience of Job.

The kids loved the museum. They look forward to going back. It left me wondering, why did I even bother with curriculum? We could just go to the museum everyday for the next month and we'd be set. Saturday we woke up early for a special tour of the Library of Congress. I think this may be the most beautiful building I have ever seen. There's a Gutenberg Bible there, as well as a handwritten copy from the same time period. They are housed in a room with painted murals depicting the history of the written word, which the kids and I had just studied on Thursday. Booyah! The Library of Congress, the biggest library in the world, has over 30 million books, over 150 million materials total, including films, historic manuscripts, and music recordings. That's what the tour guide said, anyway. The materials are housed in three buildings named after John Adams who signed the legislation that dedicated it; Thomas Jefferson, whose personal library formed the original catalogue; and James Madison, who is considered the primary writer of the Declaration of Independence. His monument is located in the library that bears his name. All the library buildings are connected to each other and to the House Offices and the Capitol by means of underground tunnels. Noemie was disappointed that she didn't see any books. Oh darn, we'll have to go back. 

Sunday we attended one friend's church in the morning, and another friend's church in the evening. The word of God is living, powerful, and sharper than any double edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit.... We memorized Hebrews 4:12 last week, and how true it is! The first church had friendlier people admittedly, better music, and the congregation was about 8 times the size of the other, but they did not preach the Bible. Rather, they preached a version of it, edited to suit their lesson. I was unengaged. I felt estranged from the fellowship there. The other church preached the Word, and we were absorbed, challenged, encouraged, we identified with the spirit of the people there. A much better launch to our second week.