a road trip.

I decided to take a leisurely trip across the country instead of hurrying from Virginia to Utah. If I'd had a little more money and a little less crap in my car I would have taken an even more circuitous route. As it was I spent nearly 9 days wandering mostly from one friend's home to another, breaking up the drive and doing a bit of sightseeing around this great nation.

First stop was Hodgenville, Kentucky where I visited the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln.   Back in 1915 (the 50 year anniversary of his assassination) the public was invited to donate money and all the funds were used to build a memorial on the grounds. Fifty-six steps (one for each year of his life) lead up to a building housing a replica of a log cabin similar to the one where he was born. The cabin itself is a bit of a let-down but the grounds are beautiful and they hold a special sort of feeling, similar to the memorials in DC. It was a beautiful way to start my day and journey.

After leaving Hodgenville I drove a little over an hour north to Louisville where I took the opportunity to visit the historic Brown Hotel for lunch. The hotel had its hey day in the 20s and through the aftermath of WWII before it closed down. City revitalization efforts in the 80s paid off and the building is now on the National Historic Register, has been used in movies, hosted film and political dignitaries, and does a brisk business during Derby week. I treated myself to an amazing hot brown sandwich; an open-faced turkey, bacon, and tomato sandwich drenched in a rich Mornay cheese sauce.  Take my advice, it's worth the trip but share it with a friend!

Next up was a visit to a great friend in St. Louis. We spent many hours catching up, antiquing and eating delicious food (a killer kale salad, a hot pastrami sandwich, local frozen custard and a fresh pastry breakfast among my faves.)  We visited Forest Park, a huge park in the center of the city, larger than Central Park and originally the site of the Louisiana Purchase Expedition. It's now home to running trails, the zoo, a municipal theater, the St Louis Art museum, and a history museum. M and I spent one afternoon in the modern art wing of the art museum and I wandered through the history museum the morning before I hit the road. They're both free and both have pretty great collections. We also took a mandatory trip to the famous arch. It was fun to see the sights through the eyes of a local, to move beyond the traditional list of tourist attractions and venture off the beaten path. And to do it all with a gracious hostess and friend made it all the better.

Forest Park fountain

Andy Goldsworthy piece at the art museum

Part two coming soon. I know you can't wait!

having a hero

We all know that President's Day is coming up next week (hooray for 3-day weekends!) originally celebrating the combined birthdays of two of our greatest presidents, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. 

Washington is the hometown hero around these parts. There's a parade in Alexandria in his honor and his home, Mount Vernon (incidentally, one of my favorite places to visit in the area), holds special wreath laying ceremonies and has birthday cake and everything. There's even a visitation by the general (he tends to take this label more often than president) himself. His actual birthday is February 22.

Lincoln's birthday gets a tiny bit of fanfare.  We do have a beautiful monument to him after all. But unless it's a noteworthy anniversary (like the 200th a few years ago) he's mostly just lumped into the general celebrations on the Monday holiday. His actual birthday is February 12. Today! 

A friend posted this link on her facebook wall and it made me giggle so I just had to share.

I've long been fascinated by Charles Darwin and Lincoln is also a hero. I love imagining the two of them chilling together complimenting each others' beards! In reality though, could you imagine the conversation between those two great minds? What I wouldn't give to be a fly on the wall!

Care to learn more than what wikipedia might have to say about them? Give these things a glance.

Darwin's Four Great Books
I haven't read them in their entirety yet but have perused both On the Origin of Species and Voyage of the Beagle. Fascinating stuff.

Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith
An engaging biography focusing on the relationship between Darwin and his very religious wife.

Along the same lines, the movie Creation looked at their relationship and his struggles with faith and belief in God (and his decline in health.)

This award-winning photobiography gives a great overview of Lincoln's life and has stunning pictures to boot.

This sweet fictionalized picture book
focuses on Lincoln's relationship with his sons and the heartache he experienced after losing young Willie.

 And of course, there's the highly acclaimed movie based on Doris Kearns Goodwin's book.  I haven't seen it yet but have heard nothing but good about it. Perhaps I'll find a matinee on Monday. It seems only appropriate!






What have I missed? What are your favorite books, movies, mentions about these great subjects? Who are your heroes?

Happiness is...having an amazing mom.

I've tried to come up with something cutesy and quirky to post about my mom on this celebratory mom's day but my brain is just not cooperating.  Instead I'm going to have to go with the drab and prosaic praise...I have the best mom in the world.  Now, some of you may think that your mom is the best, but I'll have to argue with you.  You're wrong. Because mine is truly the best.

Not only did she (literally) risk her life giving birth to myself and various and sundry siblings she has continued to put it on the line in different ways for each of us since then. She has faced down angry teachers and bullies, gotten in cars driven by us before we were licensed and aware of what we were actually doing, sat through countless recitals, performances and awards programs, eaten our cooking, attempted to teach us how to scrub toilets and bathtubs, kissed our boo-boos, listened to our heartaches and dramas and dealt with all of our teen angst (which some of us have never grown out of!)

Most importantly, she's stepped back and let us make our own mistakes. She's been there to help pick us up when we fall and guide us back to where we needed to be without condemning or judging, just loving and nurturing and teaching each step of the way. And when we make the same mistakes again and again she has had infinite patience and continues to do so day after day, answering with prayers and encouragement and a shoulder to cry on.

She has taught by example how to serve others and put the Lord first and I am eternally grateful for her models of sacrifice and faith. I'm not much, but all the good things that I am I can trace directly back to her.  I love you mom!

And I would be remiss if I didn't mention all the mother figures I've had in my life, and I've had many.  Aunts, grandmothers, teachers, neighbors, youth leaders and more have all stepped in at moments when they've been most needed and offered love, support, and examples that have shaped my soul. I'm grateful for friends and contemporaries who are now mothers themselves, raising up children who give me faith and hope in the future of our world. Thanks to you we are in good hands!

Hopefully you've taken a moment today to voice your appreciation for the women who act as mothers in your life. If not, there's still time. Call them, thank them, and do something to show them how much you care.

A few closing thoughts, much more eloquently and beautifully stated than I could hope to attempt:

Motherhood is near to divinity.  It is the highest, holiest service to be assumed by mankind.
~Howard W. Hunter


A mother has far greater influence on her children than anyone else, and she must realize that every word she speaks, every act, every response, her attitude, even her appearance and manner of dress affect the lives of her children and the whole family. It is while the child is in the home that he gains from his mother the attitudes, hopes, and beliefs that will determine the kind of life he will live and the contribution he will make to society.
~N. Eldon Tanner


All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.
~Abraham Lincoln