A Capital Weekend

Here's a little blurb on our trip to Washington D.C. last weekend. It was such a great trip at very low cost and we feel so very fortunate and blessed for getting to experience each special moment! I could not have imagined a better tour guide than my husband, Patrick Berry (future POTUS). His perspective on the history and state of current events made it such an educational experience.

So many memories of trips there with Ma, Papa, and Summer came flooding back! I remembered wanting to give money to every homeless person. I remembered trying to keep up with Papa's fast paced walk, and seeing him enjoy the Air & Space Museum so much. Summer and I would have been content just riding the long escalators up and down on the Metro. I remembered walking through the Gallery of First Ladies and the American History Museum, and thinking to myself, "How cool would it be to be First Lady!" I remembered going to Mount Vernon and Ma's accident because she got so tickled by something Summer or I did or said (Sorry, Ma)... Good times!

My handsome husband. This photo could go down in history

The Hill had a lot going on with the whole Health Care Reform Bill thing. For the past 10 years they have been building the new visitor's center at the Capital, and it is in one word, AMAZING! It's 2/3 of the size of the Capital itself and was built three stories down into the ground on the back side (very much like the Louvre Museum in Paris). (Click here to learn more) Tours start there, and you watch a short movie on the history of the building. No longer can tourist just walk up the steps of the Capital (it's heavily guarded). Instead you enter from a completely different angle. It's a pretty well-oiled machine!

It was pretty chilly, but not unbearable on Friday - our first trip to The Mall. On Sunday we went again and it was absolutely perfect weather. The leaves were turning and the sky was the bluest of blues.

One very cool thing that happened was that while we were in the Capital we were able to meet up with Allison Beach (now Halataei), who works nearby. That was pretty great, and we have Facebook to thank!

I'm pretty sure we have a picture in this very spot of me and Summer when we were 12

While we were there Patrick had a very important meeting that he was actually supposed to lead at ASU that weekend. Since he couldn't be there in person to present from stage, they Skyped him in and put him on the big screen. Notice the Washington Monument from our hotel room window. We had 180 degree views in the Executive Suite (thanks, Dad, for your Platinum status)! Free Breakfast Buffet, amazing views, excellent customer service - the High life!

Lindsey and Patrick's wedding was spectacular! She was a beautiful bride! What a perfect location too, with fun nights in Georgetown and pretty much every guest in the same hotel where the reception was held. The wedding ceremony was in a beautiful old church with high wooden ceilings and velvet covered pews. Everyone had such a great time, and the food was so good!

You may have heard about my dress drama. I ordered it rush from a shop near town three months ago. When I called 3 weeks before the wedding to find out when I could come pick it up, I eventually discovered that the shop did not order the dress. They "couldn't help me", so I found a lady in Boone who was going to do her very best to get me that dress. She worked with the Manufacturer to have it rush made in China and shipped here in time for the wedding. Well, when it did arrive it was a size 14, not a 4! So, they sent me three other emerald greed dresses in a size 4 and I just figured out a way to make it work. The one pictured above was actually a halter top with a straight skirt. Martha, a friend of the family came to my rescue and "altered" the dress with safety pins and a little bit of thread. We tucked in the straps and I almost managed to blend in with the other girls. Lindsey was such a good sport and few people even noticed. Needless to say, the dress(es) was free.

It's such a blessing the way that God has continued to weave together this friendship that I have with Lindsey! I am constantly amazed at what an incredible woman she is, not only in her career, but mostly in her spiritual walk. God has shown his favor on this marriage in so many ways and made Patrick into exactly the man she desired and needed. It's also really fun to have to distinguish our husbands by calling them, "your Patrick" and "my Patrick"...

After it all, we were ready to get home - yes, Hickory is finally starting to feel like home. It's difficult to describe the transition, but I think it has something to do with Autumn. The changing of the leaves is so comforting and beautiful. It transforms Hickory into this quinticential all-American town. It makes you feel like you should go to a football game and drink hot apple cider. Granted, I am still missing all of my family - Ma & Papa, Mom & Dad, brothers and sisters and all of my amazing nieces and nephews. But HOME is where Patrick is now. Well, home is also where our BED is! Haha! Our bed is phenomenal, if beds can be classified as such. Marriot is a close second though.

This weekend our only plan is to not have a plan. We do need to blow off the leaves at the duplex, and we're going to visit Gateway Baptist Church. But our #1 goal is to rest and relax, and maybe start some Christmas shopping. :)