So, I made chili for dinner last night. Hard to mess up, right? Well, I decided to EXPERIMENT a little.... make my chili a little more Cincinnati-style than our traditional tomato juice/beef/macaroni/chili powder concoction. I had heard that the good chili recipes around here use chocolate, cinnamon, and sugar. Before, I've tried to add to my chili, but it just never seems to have the impact I'm looking for. So this time, I added 2 handfuls each of chocolate chips and brown sugar and a tablespoon of cinnamon....
What a wreck! It totally tasted like chocolate-covered chili... not exactly what I was going for.....
At least "Grandpa's Corn Bread" was good! Totally saved the meal:).
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Ladies' Retreat!!!
Our church had a ladies' retreat this past weekend. We had an absolutely wonderful time. This year we stayed at King's Domain! It was very nice, and the food was great. (And it totally smelled like fall - which was awesome!) We learned about leadership God's way and had a guest speaker from Concerned Women for America (CWA). She helped us to think Biblically about our role as an American citizen and how we can get involved to further God's will in the United States. I decided to help with the "Encourage-a-Legislator Campaign" and am SO excited to pray and encourage State Representative Blessing this year!!
Here's picture of the dorms where some of the ladies slept (or didn't sleep.... it depends on who you ask:) ).
Pretty!
This is the Lodge. We had bible study here and ate here as well.
Here's the cabin where my 3 "roomies" and I stayed. Char, Trizzie, and Pam were so much fun! I really got an education.... I learned about Pixie haircuts and Charlie's Angels, amongst other things:). They took really good care of me!!
I can't wait for next year's retreat! They're always such a blessing!
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Washington, DC: Trip Home!
PerryAnne and I had such an exciting surprise on our airplane trip home! While we were getting ready to board the plane, I recognized Congressman Steve Chabot (a congressman from our area)!! I was really excited, but didn't know if we should go say something to him and get a picture with him or just let him be a "normal" person.
We were standing by this SUPER nice lady (in the picture below, she's the 2nd one on the right) and she encouraged us to meet him. She thought he wouldn't mind.
Well, when we got aboard the plane, Congressman Chabot was just a couple of rows behind us, and the SUPER nice lady was in his row..... and she said something like, "There's a gentleman here who would like to meet you two." Wow!
He was so gracious and kind! And he even posed for this picture (in which he had to be in a pretty uncomfortable position, I'm sure)! Well, that was definitely a highlight of the trip!!
We were standing by this SUPER nice lady (in the picture below, she's the 2nd one on the right) and she encouraged us to meet him. She thought he wouldn't mind.
Well, when we got aboard the plane, Congressman Chabot was just a couple of rows behind us, and the SUPER nice lady was in his row..... and she said something like, "There's a gentleman here who would like to meet you two." Wow!
He was so gracious and kind! And he even posed for this picture (in which he had to be in a pretty uncomfortable position, I'm sure)! Well, that was definitely a highlight of the trip!!
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Washington, DC: Day Four
Tonight we went to the Smithsonian Museum of American Art and Portraiture. It was WAY better than expected!! I just wish we could have spent more time there!!
Here were some of the exhibits we saw:
Michael Phelps has already made it in the Smithsonian!!
Sewing Machine:)
This one's for my mom:)
Here were some of the exhibits we saw:
Michael Phelps has already made it in the Smithsonian!!
Sewing Machine:)
This one's for my mom:)
Washington, DC: Day Three
This post is a little delayed... I was exhausted last night!!
We went to Union Station. It is a shopping mall (with many eateries) and a working train station (complete with winding staircases)! It was so cool!
We ran into this guy while we were there... you may recognize him:).
We went on the "Monuments by Moonlight" Old Town Trolley tour. I would highly recommend it for the next time you're in DC. It was really something special. And our tour guide was the best!!
Unfortunately, since we were on a MOVING trolley for a majority of the tour, most of my pictures came out something like this....
I particularly thought this turned out to be an interesting shot. There's a sign on the left-hand side (which is pretty much the only thing in focus) that says, "No Alcohol Allowed", and then the rest of the picture looks like the viewer is inebbriated. Pretty funny, huh?
I better back up a little bit. Outside Union Station is this Christopher Columbus memorial. The 3 flags in the background represent the 3 ships he sailed to America.
Also outside the station was this replica of the Liberty Bell. At least, I think that's what it is based on my history knowledge gained from the "National Treasure" movie. I hope they add a tourism sign by this soon:).
The Capitol Building.... We learned that if the light at the top of the dome is on, then either the House or the Senate is still in session. The light is on in all 3 of these photos!
The Lincoln Memorial.....
I apologize for you having to cock your head to the side just now:). This is an engraving at the top of the Lincoln Memorial steps where Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his "I have a dream" speech.
The Washington Monument.....
The Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial....
Iwo Jima....
The Jefferson Memorial.....
The House where President Lincoln died..... (across from the theater where he was shot)
We went to Union Station. It is a shopping mall (with many eateries) and a working train station (complete with winding staircases)! It was so cool!
We ran into this guy while we were there... you may recognize him:).
We went on the "Monuments by Moonlight" Old Town Trolley tour. I would highly recommend it for the next time you're in DC. It was really something special. And our tour guide was the best!!
Unfortunately, since we were on a MOVING trolley for a majority of the tour, most of my pictures came out something like this....
I particularly thought this turned out to be an interesting shot. There's a sign on the left-hand side (which is pretty much the only thing in focus) that says, "No Alcohol Allowed", and then the rest of the picture looks like the viewer is inebbriated. Pretty funny, huh?
I better back up a little bit. Outside Union Station is this Christopher Columbus memorial. The 3 flags in the background represent the 3 ships he sailed to America.
Also outside the station was this replica of the Liberty Bell. At least, I think that's what it is based on my history knowledge gained from the "National Treasure" movie. I hope they add a tourism sign by this soon:).
The Capitol Building.... We learned that if the light at the top of the dome is on, then either the House or the Senate is still in session. The light is on in all 3 of these photos!
The Lincoln Memorial.....
I apologize for you having to cock your head to the side just now:). This is an engraving at the top of the Lincoln Memorial steps where Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his "I have a dream" speech.
The Washington Monument.....
The Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial....
Iwo Jima....
The Jefferson Memorial.....
The House where President Lincoln died..... (across from the theater where he was shot)
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Picture Correction
I'm on the phone with my mom. My Grandpa Molter lived in Indiana when he was in the service. (It's a good thing I had a backup plan:) ).
Washington, DC: Day Two
Our conference started today, and it is awesome! We're learning a ton, and our teacher is great (he even taught at JAG for awhile!!).
However, most of our out-of-class time was spent trying to take care of my feet. Contrary to popular belief (and we asked a lot of people), CVS (or at least the 2 we went to) do not carry flip flops!
My feet were bloodied and blistered from my navy blue flats I wore today. A sweet lady at a spa in town felt sorry for me and offered me pedicure flip flops:). They were really great unless I walked on a non-smooth surface (not much cushion:) ).
Finally, we came across a Payless Shoes!!
Happy Feet!!
However, most of our out-of-class time was spent trying to take care of my feet. Contrary to popular belief (and we asked a lot of people), CVS (or at least the 2 we went to) do not carry flip flops!
My feet were bloodied and blistered from my navy blue flats I wore today. A sweet lady at a spa in town felt sorry for me and offered me pedicure flip flops:). They were really great unless I walked on a non-smooth surface (not much cushion:) ).
Finally, we came across a Payless Shoes!!
Happy Feet!!
I will "never" again judge a person by their poor choice of footwear (you know.... when they wear the high socks and sandals and it totally doesn't go with the rest of their attire...). It could be that they're more concerned with feeling good than looking good:).
We caught a few things in the city, though....
The White House.....
The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum....
The Capitol Building....
The Old Post Office.... evidently this is one of the "top 8" places to visit (we definitely didn't know this). We totally just stared at it from the outside, but evidently it contains shopping, eating, and some history, too..... Bummer we missed it:).
Monday, September 15, 2008
Washington, DC: Day One
My coworker, PerryAnne, and I covered lots of ground today in DC! I've discovered my feet are wimpy!!
One of her favorite sights was the squirrels...
"Here we mark the price of freedom"....
One of her favorite sights was the squirrels...
The Federal Reserve....
The Washington Monument and Reflecting Pool....
The Lincoln Memorial....
After a bit of self-touring, PerryAnne and I thought it might be worthwhile to tag along with this "official" tour group. However, we decided against it, seeing as we just might stick out a little:)....
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial.....
Wow! (see below).....
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you." (John 15:13-14)
Korean War Memorial...
"Freedom is not free"....
World War II Memorial....
Both of my grandfathers served in WWII. My Grandpa Molter served in the navy (in Normandy), and my Grandpa Shipplett served in the Army Air Forces (in China Burma India)....
They both were from Illinois....
"Victory in the Air. Victory on Land. Victory at Sea."
"Here we mark the price of freedom"....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
