A couple days after returning to Hibbing, Isaac was off to Boy Scout Camp. Here Isaac is with his good friend, Wil Maki (far right) as they are getting ready to head out Saturday (7/12/08) morning.

We are very blessed to have an extremely active Boy Scout group in Hibbing that almost annually produces Eagle Scouts. Here were the eleven scouts and three adult leaders that were heading off to Camp Tomahawk near Rice Lake, Wisconsin (north of Eau Claire).

The very next day, Emily and Erica were off to Camp Arrowhead, our church's summer camp on Lake Esquagama near Biwabik, MN. They were each going to be in different cabins this year. They both decided to bring bedding and quilts instead of sleeping bags this year. Last night (Monday), a big storm went through their area, with potential tornadoes. We were told that they all had left their cabins and went to the main Fellowship Hall on site for protection during the storm. Tornado sirens rang in Hibbing also. Was wondering if any of these storms found their way to the scouting area where they we sleeping in open sites that were sheltered from rain, but had to have misquito netting over their entire body to protect from the nasty little creatures.

Happy to get home July 2008

Over 1400 miles from Washington, D.C. to Hibbing all packed in our van. The five back seat passangers did great in managing time and space (and believe me - there wasn't much space!)

On arrival home we were welcomed with some freshly picked strawberries from our church secretary, Joann Ulrich, and a few from our own garden.

Our canine friend, "Happy," was full of spirited glee at our arrival. The neighbor kids had taken care of her while we were gone!

Oh, it's so good to be home!

U.S. Capitol and the White House

U.S. Representative, James Oberstar of Minnesota and his office staff provided us with a two hour tour of the U.S. Capitol which included multiple stops, one being the chambers which the House Speaker (presently Nancy Pelosi) and the 400+ house representatives meet to debate and vote on the direction our country takes. The president of the United States is invited there typically only once a year, to make his annual address to the nation.





The sites of important founders and former State representatives were noted on the floor. The paintings in the ceiling and on the walls were breath taking. We were suppose to go into the meeting area of the Senate, but for some reason they were not allowing access to that area. As you can imagine, much security!







We began and ended our time at the U.S. Capitol at the office of James Oberstar, our Minnesota State Rep. His office was full of memoribillia.










Our time in Washington, D.C. began and ended at the White House. We were not able to bring cameras on our visit a week ago Saturday and so today, we returned with our camera and remember foundly our tour of the White House where the President of our country resides and works. May God bless him and our country. We thank the good LORD for providing us the means and the health to have made this memorable trip with our family!

Memorial in D.C.

After viewing the World War II Memorial we walked down the long pooled area to the Lincoln Memorial that is found on our penny and $5 dollar bills.
















We attended the Vietnam Memorial, where there is the listing of all those who died and were missing in action. The listing is by the date of the dying or missing. Various tributes by family and friends sat at the foot of this Memorial.






Mark took time with the five kids to share a few stories that his Uncle Erv had shared with him about his experience while serving during the Korean War.












After viewing the FDR Memorial and then the Jefferson Memorial we had a long walk around the lake giving us this opportunity in the eveing to look back over the lake at the Jefferson Memorial. Not only was Jefferson so intregal in the development of the Declaration of Independance, but was very instrumental in designing the layout of Washington, D.C.
Got back to the hotel about 10 p.m. for a late supper of pizza!

Arlington Cemetary and WWII

The Changing of the guard at the Arlington Cemetary takes place every 30 minutes during the day. One officer announces the "change" and goes through an elaborate display of marching, guarding, and inspection of the soldier's rifle.










In addition to the rows and rows of servicemen who have given their life for our country, we
viewed the resting place of JFK, his family and his brother Robert Kennedy. I also by chance, saw the

resting place of Joe Louis, the great boxing champion from around 1940.



We stopped at Iwo Jima (spelling?????) Memorial, near or within the Arlington Cemetary complex.















Then it was off to the new World War II Memorial. Pillars erected in a circular fashion with each of the 50 states listed and multiple quotes from our leaders of the time. This was under construction when we had visited D.C. in 2003

Worship at the National Cathedral on July 4th Weekend

We arrived in the underground parking of the National Cathedral, an Episcopal Church, in time for the 11:15 a.m. worship service on this Fourth of July weekend, Sunday July 6. Impressive organ music before, during and after the worship. We were seated fairly close to the front, but off to the right (facing the altar). It took over 80 years to complete the construction of this church. The carolon (sp?) afterwards was also impressive.

Topic of the message: Jesus' Sermon on the Mount - "love your enemies"






Multiple stained glass windows vaulted high in the edifice.

A view from the rear of the church. Many of you may have viewed on television this church during the funerals of presidents, most recently, President Ford.


We thank the LORD, who has provided us a country in which we enjoy the freedoms that include the freedom to worship our gracious God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. These freedoms have been purchased with the blood of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our liberties - our next stop - Arlington Cemetary!

1st day DC

Isaac is goofing off with two statues at the space and air place. On our way to the Smithsonian American History museum, we stopped to take a picture with the nation's capitol building. Also walked through the Smithsonian gardens and took pictures by a nice fountain. Turns out, the American History museum is under renovations, so no one can go in. So instead we took in the Natural History museum. Saw many animals from all over the world, including this big elefant.

1st day DC

Saw lots of space craft and airplanes at the Smithsonian Space and Air museum. 1st picture is the Viking Lander, a space craft that went to Mars. Charles Lindburg's Spirit of St. Louis is in the 2nd picture. In the last picture, Mark, Anna, and someone else are touching an actual moon rock!

First Day in DC cont.

We made a quick visit to Smokey the Bear at the National Forestry Center. Also stopped by the Holocaust Museum for a little bit. We watched a short video about how the Nazis came to power. We walked a lot today and had to take a break at the Cinnamon Almond stand. Tried out some cinnamon pecans for a new experience. Not bad!

First Day In Washington DC

July 5, we first went to the Washington Memorial. It was a rainy morning. We had to use umbrellas, and the view outside the window at the top of the memorial was not too clear. In the second picture Isaac is holding a penny up next to the real Lincoln Monument.