I recently had to go to Washington DC for a work conference. We got to see some of the memorials and monuments and it was really cool! I really liked DC a lot. I had been there as a kid (8th grade) but it was so much more poignant for me as an adult. I really felt patriotic while visiting there…in the sense of imagining how our founding fathers really worked hard to set up a country where freedom was central to all that we did and government for the people was key. Seeing all the places where such historical events had taken place made me feel as though as a country and a people we can endure and we can overcome. Wars will come and go, presidents will come and go, religious opinions and political battles will come and go…but America will stand patiently, like a strong mother waiting for her rebellious child to grow into an adult and come around…waiting for time to smooth the edges and heal the mistakes we have made along the way. I felt lucky that as a woman I was born in this country with equal opportunities to be educated and seek the lifestyle I choose. I know that we have a long way to go to deliver the promise of freedom for all Americans (and it seems lately that we have taken a real backslide) but I know that the ideals we set forth some 200 years ago are still the foundation of the country and we will persevere as a people. The conference was good too…but I missed Ava terribly. I was gone for 5 days and it was the first time I have left her. Dave did a great job of being Mr. Mom and she was even a little skeptical to have me back for the first few hours (which only broke my heart more). After a few days of being home we are back in the groove again.