Amelia's Journal Entries

Maryland

Sunday, March 21, 2010

We are driving to DC and it's supposed to be 9 to 12 hours. I can't wait till we get to Ann's Camp!

We went on a hike from 4 to 6:30 or 7:00. We saw the Global Village, a spring, and the whole rest of the forest area.

For dinner we had chicken and noodles, mashed potatoes, rolls, peas, and strawberry shortcake. We stayed up till about 10:00! My dad and I had a stinkbug in our room ! : )

Virginia

Monday, March 22, 2010

Today we got to Heather's house. She took us to the Udver-Hazey Air and Space Museum. For dinner we had Wing Factory. When we get back, the boys gave me a tour of the house at about 7:30 PM. I helped put the boys to bed. Then we stayed up tell 10:00. The we wen to bed. : )

Washington DC

Tuesday, March 23 2010.

Today was our first day in DC! We went to the Museums of Natural and American History. We had lunch at Elephants and Castle. I got a HUGE hamburger. : ) Afterwards we went to the National Archives. For dinner, back to the house. We had mac and cheese.

PHoto Gallery 2 Air & Space: Udvar-Hazy

National Air & Space Museum: Udvar-Hazy

Monday, March 22, 2010

Air France: That's a Concorde. Supersonic commercial flight. Always wanted to go. Not sure why they stopped flying this thing.

SR-71 Blackbird. I was amazed by these planes as a kid. I was shocked to see that the fuselage was so low to the ground. Yes, lower than AWP is tall! A very very cool plane.

Amelia really thought this astronaut was cool.

Yes. That is the Space Shuttle Enterprise. Very Cool.

Photo Gallery 1 Heifer Global Village (Shepherd Springs)

Heifer Global Village (Shepherd Springs, MD)

Sunday, March 22, 2010

An average kitchen in Mozambique!

Mozambique house (house on left, kitchen on right)

Composting toilet. Don't worry it's only emptied every five years. Ewww.

Guatemala kitchen (same building as the living space). This kitchen features a chimney (on the right a fuel efficient stove that uses firewood efficiently. It's fancy -- two burners.

Guatemala house.

Appalachia house (USA). Still under construction!

Kenya House (house on the right, kitchen on the left)

Kenya House

Amelia's First Day

Heifer Global Village (Shepherd Springs, MD)

On Sunday I went to my aunt's camp, Shepherd Springs. We went to the Global Village behind the lodge.

In the Global Village we learned about the different living styles of different countries. They had houses from Appalachia (USA), Mozambique, Guatemala, and Kenya. They also had a place where refugees live.

A lot of countries cook with an open fire so they have to have good ventilation. I learned that more than half of illnesses in third world countries come from breathing smoke when cooking every day.

This photo is of the houses in Mozambique. All the houses were built by Aunt Ann, Uncle Jr. and volunteers!

Speaking of volunteers. It's not all fun and games! I got to do the dishes!

Amelia Goes to Washington

I realized a few months ago that in 7 short years my oldest daughter will be, legally speaking, an adult. To her, that probably seems like a life time. To me, I wonder where the first 11 years went. It really does go quickly. I thought of the many plans that started back in the winter of 1999. I've made good on a lot of them. But so many have not yet come to fruition. Amelia constantly reminds me that I have yet to take her skiing -- challenge of midwest winters.

It's time to be more intentional. The wonder years (loved that show) are quickly evaporating.

So today we kick it up a notch. Remember 5th grade? That's when you study, for the first time, US Government and Civics.We all remember that a senator serves for six years and a representative serves for two. And we remember why. Right? Right?? Amelia is in 5th grade now.

I want my daughters to know and understand the wold around them as deeply as I want to know and understand them. New family tradition: Dad takes his girls to DC for spring break.

Tony