Travel Log--DC "Professional Development" Trip

This weekend I was blessed to get away for a couple days to see some beautiful friends in the Washington, D.C. area. I told D that I needed to use some of my professional development days (as outlined in my benefits package) so that I could be a better mom and wife. Lucky for me, two of my good friends were actually available on short notice. I love these girls, and I loved getting to know their husbands and new babies.

I spent much of Friday with my friend JJ. What an amazing woman. I'm really inspired by her grace and goodness. We were girls together, but this weekend our giggling was replaced by happy reflecting and conversations about mothering and other grown-up topics. She and I and drove into the District to see some the monuments in the late evening. We were surprised by the crowds of people, and I was equally surprised by how reverent I felt to be there. It was quiet inside both places in spite of the crowds, and I enjoyed reading the inscriptions in the marble walls--what amazing vision these men had. I highly recommend a night visit to the monuments if you're ever in the area. They are simply luminous.

The Jefferson Memorial
The Lincoln Memorial

On Saturday morning I went here:

Wow. The DC Temple is exquisite, inside and out. What a treat. It is so tricky to schedule temple service as young parents, so I felt so blessed to be able to work this into my trip.

I spent Saturday afternoon with my friend "Nilla." Love that girl. She is ALL girl herself, so I'm so happy she has new baby girl to dress in pink. I love her patient parenting habits and her perfect love for an imperfect friend such as myself. I finally met her husband, bonded with her brilliant 5 year-old son, and snuggled with her new little bundle of love. Someday we'll meet again.