Gettysburg

A few weeks ago (April 17) we took a day trip up to Gettysburg, PA. Site of one of the most famous battles and a major turning point of the American Civil War. We had both been to Gettysburg before on various family vacations, but I didn't remember much at all. It is such a fun experience to drive all around the area and view the different vantage points and learn the strategies and events related to the battle.

Posing with Honest Abe outside of the new Visitors' Center.

Peering down from Little Round Top.

Some period cannon and monuments along the drive.
The Pennsylvania Memorial
We lucked out and got to see a little reenactment!
Aaron at "the clump of trees."
It is fun to see the landmarks from across the battlefield and then close up.

The Angle

Within the Soldiers National Cemetery.

A view of a couple of different types of markers...
In memorial of the Gettysburg Address. President Lincoln actually stood a little bit further into the cemetery, but this was dedicated to the remembering of that simple, exquisite address.In his address President Lincoln stated, "The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here."

He was right about the world not forgetting what happened on those fields that President Lincoln "dedicated" that day and that the soldiers consecrated with their lives, but he was very wrong about the impression his address would have on history. Thank you President Lincoln for your words of wisdom, and for letting the world (and future speech writers) know that it's not the length of the speech that determines the impact it will have. Hooray for history!

Birthday, Baseball & Sakura Matsuri

One of the fun things about living out here in Baltimore is all the fun that surrounds us. This weekend the National Cherry Blossom Festival wrapped up down in DC with the annual parade followed by the Sakura Matsuri, or Japanese Street Festival. Monday was also Aaron's birthday! We celebrated by going to the O's game with some friends.

We caught quite a bit of the parade, and even got to see Miss America sing!

Here's a video of a bit of the street festival and some of the yummy food we ate. I'm not sure it was completely authentic Japanese, but it was good.

Aaron eating some of the "chicken on a stick" as the sign read. Others called it "chicken teriyaki." Whatever it was it was delicious!

We got to see Ryan & Laura while they were here visiting! We only got to see them for a few minutes on Saturday before they were off seeing the rest of the DC sites, but we got to have dinner with them Sunday down in Virginia. Thanks Shanna for hosting all of us!

Some of the Taiko Drummers performing for the crowds.
They were pretty awesome!

The Cherry Blossoms had pretty much all fallen from the rain a couple of days earlier, but the tulips were blooming beautifully!

The Tidal Basin... hooray for Spring!

Monday, April 12th! Aaron's Birthday at the Orioles game.
Justin, me, Aaron, Marilyn, Michael
Thanks for celebrating with us!

Me and the old man. Happy Birthday Aaron!

Unfortunately Aaron ate all of his surprise birthday eclair from Vaccaro's before I could take a picture. It must have been good though. :) Happy Spring!

Blossoms, Basketball & Easter Eggs

Last week the National Cherry Blossom Festival kicked off down in DC, so we ventured down to DC a little early to enjoy the blossoms before we met the Hunters for the Wizards v. Jazz game.

Some gorgeous non-cherry blossoms

The Waterfront with some beautiful blossoms & the Jefferson

I love how the colorful blossoms pop out from the winter barren trees!

Wizards v. Jazz. . . go Jazz!

Easter Egg Hunt up in Owings Mills with Aaron some dental school friends and their families. It was so fun to watch all the kids search for the eggs!

Dying Easter Eggs!

My pride and joy - the rainbow egg!

The dashing egg model... so hot right now

With spring literally blooming and Easter and General Conference drawing our attention to our Savior and His miraculous resurrection I am so grateful for the hope that comes only through Jesus Christ. I love the constant reminders of miracles and rebirth that surround us this beautiful season. After a cold, dark, snowy winter, the hope of warmth, color and life is finally realized once again! Happy Spring!

Spring Break!

For Aaron's Spring Break a couple of weeks ago we decided to take advantage of our proximity to family and church history sites via a rockin' road trip. Here are a few highlights (and by a few I mean a whole ton of pictures - brace yourself).

1st Stop: Madsen Family of PA

My aunt and uncle and their family live just a few short hours north of us, and we have been wanting to visit again since we have settled in Baltimore. We decided they would make an awesome first stop on our road trip. Thank you Madsen's! We'll be back!

Spencer & Aaron zoned into the wii.

Caitlin watching her dad bowl!

The best group shot of our bowling adventures, and yes that is saying something.

2nd Stop: Palmyra

Christus at the VC. Notice the Sacred Grove as the background.

More of the inside at the Visitors' Center. Beautiful "stained glass" depiction of Joseph receiving the plates from Moroni.

Hill Cumorah monument.

Aaron "searching for the plates" on the back of the hill.

At the Smith Farm. The attic of the log home (right) where Moroni appeared to 17-year old Joseph Smith, and the frame home (left).

The Sacred Grove. We were hoping to catch "early Spring" like Joseph Smith recorded, but I think we were a little too early. The Spirit there was amazing though, and it was so nice to have the whole grove to ourselves!

Grandin Building, the location of the first printing of the Book of Mormon, 1830.

The site of the Martin Harris Farm, just out of town.

Stop 3: Fayette, NY

The Peter Whitmer Home & Visitors' Center in Fayette, NY

Stop 4: Seneca Falls, NY

Fayette was so close to Seneca Falls I couldn't resist. We stopped in at the Women's Rights National Park and learned more about the fight for women's rights in America.

(Notice that Aaron wouldn't be in any of the pictures...)

Stop 5: Mendon, NY

Tomlinson Inn where the Young family was introduced to the gospel. Samuel Smith presented Phineas Young with a copy of the Book of Mormon.

Tomlinson Corners Cemetary
The grave marker of Miriam Works Young, Brigham Young's first wife.

Solomon Kimball's (Heber C. Kimball's father) restored headstone.

Half of the original John Young home (Brigham's father). The other half has been moved across the street. The senior missionary couple who are living here saw us taking pictures and invited us in. They were so sweet, and told us more about the home and the area! Thank you!

Searching for the site of Brigham Young's home and saw mill. We're not sure if we really ever found it, but it was a fun adventure!

This could maybe be it... maybe...