The national Shrine of The Immaculate Conception. WOW! Amazing. Mary is honored here in beauty and devotion. I was overwhelmed, in awe. I can not describe how moving this visit was. We made our way by cab Friday morning. The first Friday in October. I had wanted to go on Thursday during the rain....NO! God shut the door on Thursday and opened it on Friday. He knew what I did not. Friday was a special children's holy hour. EWTN and the Children of the Holy Eucharist had a wonderful procession, crowning of Mary, adoration and recitation of the rosary. There were thousands of children and a special section up front for home schoolers. We were invited to participate. It was so very moving. The procession of the Blessed Mother was unlike any I have seen. Mary was on a huge platform with mounds of flowers being carried with gold rods on the shoulders of four KOC. We were all givin the white hankies to wave like they do in Fatima. We all sang Marian hymns as the tears rolled down my face. There were lots of women and daughters with veils on, yahoo. I did not take pictures during any of this. It was being televised. live and I did not want to miss anything. Oh and Patrick would not have allowed that anyways! If you ever have the opportunity to visit DC, don't miss this shrine. We could have spent a full day going through all the little shrines and stations within the shrine. Again, this was the highlight of the trip and the part my girls will remember the most. I could go on and on....it was just amazing for me. I love the Blessed Mother.
Chloe took this picture....I love how she captured the dome against the blue sky. Nice job.Wednesday September 29, 2010
We made it! Tuesday night we stopped over in Richmond Virginia. Bright and early Wednesday we made our way to the heart of D.C. . As our hotel was not yet ready the children and I got right into tourist mode and walked to the Smithsonian Portrait Gallery and American Art Museum. I could have spent two days studying the paintings and sculptures, however Patrick was not having any of that. He managed to stay in the stroller off and on for two hours without any real complaints. He is fine in the ergo and enjoys being up where he can see more than feet and knees. So tomorrow Patrick tours in "ergo-style. We made a rather quick tour of some of the exhibits. My personal favorite exhibit was the "Presidential Portraits", it was as if the canvas was breathing. George Washington and Honest Abe were the most represented.
The Norman Rockwell exhibit was here, a private collection of George Lucas. I think the girls enjoyed this as much as I did. It was funny to hear the story the girls would come up with when I asked "what do you think is happening in this picture"?
The Shrine of The Immaculate Conception
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