At last it was time to go to Mount Vernon.  We got up early in the morning and had to drive 2+ hours--the "+"  being the traffic and potty stops.  We got there after lunch (yeah...I know) and as we pulled into the parking lot wondered if we had made  a mistake.  It was very apparent that we were going to need a FULL day here!  We asked one of the greeters and our guess was pretty much confirmed.  We headed back to the car and decided to hit the George Washington Grist Mill and Distillery, then come back tomorrow for the day.

So we are in Virginia and we live in Indiana.  We look over at this huge passenger van next to us in the parking lot and think...homeschoolers!  Right?  Wouldn't you?  So, we look again and lo and behold they are from our home town!  Of all places.  So, of course, we write 'em a note and stick it on the window.  We even left our blog address.  Hello?  Are you out there?  We're dying to know who you are and if we already know  you???!!

Well, we visited the Grist Mill and the Distillery and then began the hunt for a hotel room.  We soon found out there was a major convention in the area.  Every hotel for 60 miles was booked.  We finally found one that, according to our GPS was 57 miles and would take about that long to get there. THREE and a HALF hours later we pull up.  How on earth do people stand it in that place!  You can't go anywhere without it taking half your day.  We figured if we were to spend the whole day at Mount Vernon, we'd have to get up at 4am! 

We didn't, but we did get up early and the traffic wasn't as bad.  It only took us 1 1/2 hrs!  Hallelujah!  We were finally there.

Apparently just last October, they opened this huge Education Center there.  So we headed to that first.  We sat down in the theater behind a group of school kids and I started reading their shirts.  Lo and behold--again!--they were from Indiana, from a small school my cousins went to and is down the street from my Aunt and Uncle.  Small world.

The Education Center included a brief, very well done movie about George & the American Revolution.  It also had a really neat exhibit on how they used his skull and modern science to create more life-like images of him at varying ages.  The museum then had him at 17, 30, & then around 50-60.  It was fascinating.  There were all kinds of artifacts including a set of his hippo-bone teeth. (No pics allowed!)  We spent a lot of time there and really enjoyed it before moving on to the "formal" museum.   

This is the sword he actually used in the French and Indian War!

This one had ALL the goodies and a guard in each room!!  It had all the original paintings that we have come to know and love, as well as the 2nd Houdon (bust) .  Though there were no pics inside, the doors were glass, so we got a shot of it through the doors!  HeeHee! 

So...as if this isn't all enough, then we actually headed to the house and grounds--walked where he walked, sat where he sat.  I've never been so enthralled with a place!  The only thing that could top it would be the Holy Land!  We noticed an amazing contrast between this home and the one of Thomas Jefferson.  Mount Vernon was never allowed to be run down.  It remained in the family and because of this and a few other factors, EVerything was kept!  It is amazing how much of George's actual belongings they have!  There's not much left of Jeffersons and everything in the house were replacements and copies.

We walked the grounds and enjoyed George's view of the Potomac.  We walked down to the old family crypt and then the newer crypt (still 1800's!).  Here we had a special treat.  Each day they have a wreath laying ceremony.  They read one of George's own prayers, then say the Pledge of Allegieance.  They open the tomb doors and take the wreath in.  Well, they asked our son if he would lead the Pledge!  Yeah!  He was very nervous and wasn't sure at all if he wanted to do it, but he did.  I was Soooo proud!  What a great honor!  He even got to enter his name in their special book of participants! He'll never forget it (I won't let him!! :))

Martha on the left, George on the right.

We walked down to the docks and visited their newly re-done farm with the 16-sided barn.  That was George's brain-child (one of many) and was also fascinating.  The whole place was just incredible. 

Though we visited the Slave Memorial, we didn't get to visit the slave buildings.  BIG storm blew in, but...it was the end of the day, so we weren't too sad.  Just sad to leave at all.  We truly admire the memory of this man of God.  He did so much for this country.  Most of us really don't have any idea.  He is quoted as having been asked once if he thought God was on our side during the war.  His response was something to the effect that we better be on His side.  This was a man who had a personal relationship with God.  There is no doubt about it, regardless of what some may write.  He read and lived God's Word.  He prayed fervantly and with humility.  He knew what real Liberty was and he wasn't afraid to fight for it.  He led a people "into" a new land, "gave" them a new government, taught by example and honored God throughout it all, giving Glory to Him and praising His many Providences in his life. 

This man had a weather vane atop his home that was a dove with an olive branch in it's mouth.  Sound familiar?  Just as Noah honored God and led a remnant to start anew, so George Washington took his God-given "Ark" and waited on the Lord for deliverance. 

So!  That was our trip to Virginia!  We headed home after leaving Mount Vernon and the next day pulled into our own home.  I hope that we can honor God in a manner pleasing to Him, as I'm sure that George Washington did.