Mom's Visit!

Mom came in town last weekend! Words can't quite cover how good it was to have her here. We did some exploring around Capitol Hill (tried some awesome restaurants!), but we spent a lot of time inside thanks to the heat wave. It ended up being good though, because we revamped my room! Mom was so sweet and volunteered to help repaint my room-- I promise she volunteered! We got our supplies on Friday afternoon and started painting Saturday morning. About thirteen hours of painting, a new duvet and a few pillow shams later... we turned this:

into this!

We actually moved almost all of my furniture out of my room while we repainted, so my back porch came in very handy. Mom was so sweet to come and help fix up my room! It was a fun weekend together.

These two pics are a little random, but I found them when I was looking for "before" pictures. I took these the day I moved into my house and literally the only thing on the wall was my mirror hanging on my closet door! Thought my friends would appreciate my "furrowed brow" in the first one haha

Thankful for a great Sabbath Day worship at Capitol Hill Baptist. We sang "We Rest On Thee" and "How Sweet and Awful" and heard a great sermon on 1st Thes. 5... So thankful for that body of believers.

More updates to come during August Recess... I'll have lots of pics from the 2011 Smithsonian Folklife Festival and July 4th!

A Hymn

Sorry I haven't updated in so long! (Definitely breaking the cardinal rule of blogging: be consistent). I'll do a life update later, but I wanted to share a hymn that has quickly become a favorite of mine! We sing it often at Capitol Hill Baptist. Hope you enjoy-- it's called, "All I Have is Christ".

"I once was lost in darkest night, yet thought I knew the way.

The sin that promised joy and life had led me to the grave.

I had no hope that You would own a rebel to Your will.

And if You had not love me first, I would refuse You still.

But as I ran my hell-bound race, in different to the cost,

You looked upon my helpless state and led me to the cross.

And I beheld God's love displayed, You suffered in my place.

You bore the wrath reserved for me, now all I know is grace.

Hallelujah! All I have is Christ. Hallelujah! Jesus is my life.

Now Lord I would be yours alone, and live so all might see

the strength to follow Your commands could never come from me.

O Father, use my ransomed life in any way You choose,

and let my song forever be my only boast is You.

Hallelujah! All I have is Christ. Hallelujah! Jesus is my life."

words and music: Jordan Kauflin, 2008 Sovereign Grace Praise

The Boys are Back in Town/Independence Day

If there is one thing I realized over the Fourth of July weekend it is that Independence Day in Washington, D.C. is celebrated like most religious holidays are celebrated in the South... you could hardly go anywhere without someone telling you "Hey! Happy Fourth!"... and that's just how I like it!

Two weekends ago, four of my good friends came in town for the 4th of July! Brett, Blake, Matt and Joe drove all Thursday night and got here on Friday the 2nd. I was so glad to have Friday off because I was able to hang out with them most of the day! I tagged along with them for a Capitol tour (given by Val and Nathan!) and we even got to meet Congressman Harper! That was an unexpected surprise and it got even better-- he gave us a personal tour! He took us to the floor of the House chamber, to a special chapel in the Capitol building and... (drum roll, please!) out to the Speaker's Balcony! 

Blake, Joe, Brett, Me, and Matt on the Speaker's Balcony!

The guys with Congressman Harper on the Speaker's Balcony

Looking out on DC from the Speaker's Balcony was one of the coolest things I've done in DC! Congressman Harper was so kind to take a special interest in us and give us such a neat opportunity!

The fun continued on Saturday with a morning trip to Arlington Cemetery. I guess visiting Arlington isn't necessarily "fun" but it was a beautiful day and a special weekend to visit a place set aside to honor the many men and women who have given their lives to allow us to celebrate our freedom. We went to the Tomb of the Unknowns and watched the changing of the guard there and toured Robert E. Lee's home! We ate lunch at the Old Ebbitt Grill and I had a delicious crab cake sandwich (not soft shell crab this time)! Our crew for the weekend (the guys, Cat Randall, Val and myself) spent all afternoon at the Nationals v. Mets game and just took it easy, enjoying the "Great American Pass-Time". I was glad we spent all afternoon there too, because after a close game and a late falter, the Nats came back with a bottom-of-the-ninth rally to win the game! It was really fun to celebrate a great comeback with the Nats fans who have been here through thick and thin.

The flag in front of Robert E. Lee's house being flown at half-mast in memory of Senator Byrd.

We all went to Capitol Hill Baptist for church (the guys are big Mark Dever fans) and got lunch at 7th Hill Pizza! We parted ways after lunch and I went back to Nationals Stadium with Lauren, Emily and Rae Anne for Party on the Potomac 4th of July party! We had a great time hanging out with friends, dancing, and watching fire works to celebrate Independence Day!

Mississippi on the Mall, etc.

fun summer flowers!

Then end of this week was awesome! Work was great Wednesday and Thursday because I got to do several things that I hadn't done before. I went to some cool hearings AND made me CSPAN debut-- big deal.

Friday morning I watched the U.S. world cup game (hopefully we'll come out with a win on Wednesday!) and then spent the afternoon at the Holocaust Museum. I was really glad to have the chance to go but it was tough to see the reality of what happened.

Julie (thanks for coming to visit!), Val, and I at MS on the Mall

That evening we had a DC Area MSU Alumni Association reception at Penn Quarters. It was so fun to get to visit with alums who are here in town and to see Dr. Abraham and his wife Mrs. Patsi! We have a great group of alumns in town so it was special to all get together before MS on the Mall Saturday. Before we left, we all sang "Hail, Dear Old State"... I felt like I was back in Starkville! haha Two school friends were in town so we all went to Georgetown for dinner and hung out with them!

On Saturday, Valerye, Lauren, and I went to the National Art Gallery for a few hours... It was amazing! I can't wait to go back and spend more time there. Our whole crew met up that afternoon for Mississippi on the Mall, a huge picnic put on by the Mississippi Society! They had McAllister's sweet tea (sweet tea is hard to come by up here-- as Cat Randall will tell you!), catfish and other southern food. We stayed at the picnic all afternoon just hanging out with other Mississippi folks. It was great to get to see everybody and have a little taste of home. The best part of the afternoon was before we left, Cat went to get her 5th (yep, fifth) refill of tea and the girl working just gave her a gallon jug that was left over!!

Cat Randall loves her sweet tea!

We wrapped the weekend up with church this morning at Capitol Hill Baptist. The sermon was wonderful and, as always it was so encouraging to fellowship with other believers and be taught from the Word. I'm so thankful to have friends here who want to be in church. As always, the Lord provides!

editor's note: for another/better synopsis of MS on the Mall, visit my dear friend (and Chi Omega sister) Caroline's blog!