After bidding good-bye to TJ & Lacey and Jeff & Ruth, this Utah crew took one last picture in front of our reunion rental and headed to go find church.
We got there later than we intended (good-byes are hard), and so we rolled into the building just as they were finishing up the sacrament hymn. We sat in the very back row, and as soon as we partook of the sacrament, we quietly slipped back on out of the building. Brian changed out of his church clothes, and Kristina and I took a picture of the building, which looks just like the one in Semmes, Alabama where I served as a missionary. It felt like home walking into it.
After church, we headed back to the Wright Brothers' Memorial Park so we could check out the bronze model and statues. We had a little too much fun with them. Michael spent most of the time on a call for his church calling as a member of the bishopric, but we did manage to get him in a few pictures with us.
We spent probably too much time there, but that's okay. After that, we got back in the car and headed to Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia. While we were driving, we did a video call with Tyce (the shoe on the dash propped up the phone so we could see him.) It was so great catching up with him!
Before heading into the historic sites, we got brunch at a random diner. It was pretty good.
We got our passes in the visitor center and then walked into town.
We only had time to tour the Governor's Mansion and Courthouse before they closed the tours down for the day, but I thought those two places were worth it. Both buildings were reconstructions, but they were able to recreate how it once was, thanks in part to this blueprint of the Governor's mansion drawn by Thomas Jefferson and other historical documents.
Here we are outside the Governor's Mansion.
and inside.
It was a feast for my eyes! I loved seeing the moldings and classical features.
After touring the Governor's Mansion, we walked through some of the streets to get to the courthouse, and on the way, I couldn't help pointing out the classical features of the homes and shops.
And Michael and Brian managed to get themselves in trouble.
We made it just in time for the last tour of the day.
Our tour guide was incredible. This was my favorite room. It is basically the American version of the house of commons (I can't remember what it was actually called), and it's where the first patriots made speeches calling for change. Long ago, in the original room, Patrick Henry, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson were inspired to fight for something better for Virginia (and the other colonies. The stirrings of revolution were fostered here. I left deeply touched and deeply grateful for these men who took up the cause and pledged their lives and sacred honor to bring about our independence.
With most of the tours done for the day, we wandered the streets, looking at architecture and spotting the original buildings.
This one is original (that's why Brian is signing an O).
My only regret was that we only had one afternoon to be here, but we loved every minute of it, especially because we got to share it with Michael and Kristina.
Kristina took this really cool shot inside a church or meeting hall.
Here's Kristina helping Michael get a better view of the cemetery.
We walked past a family trying to take pictures for Halloween, and I couldn't help offering my assistance.
We ended up back at the Governor's Mansion on our way back to the car.
Then back through the tunnel.
This time, we read the markers on the pathway that gave a timeline of events.
And just before reaching the parking lot, we saw a racoon pop out of the storm drain!
Since we were so close to Yorktown, we convinced Michael and Kristina to swing by the battle site. It was dark, we couldn't see anything, and the park was technically closed, but we were there--the place where the British surrendered and Independence was officially won. Yes, we played the "Yorktown" track from Hamilton.
We stayed in in a hotel in Norfolk, near the airport, and then we flew out first thing the next morning, with a layover in Midway.
By this point, we were all pretty tired and struggling a little--well, maybe not Michael, despite what this picture shows.
We were all so grateful for grandparents who watched our kids. (Our kids got to go to Lowe's Trampoline Park with Nana and Papa while we were gone). This was such a fun trip, and we couldn't have gone without willing grandparents. Thank you, for this incredible gift.
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