Last Day in DC

Remember when I couldn't stop raving about a place with the most delicious
 chicken sandwich in New Orleans called District Donuts? here

While I was scanning through places to eat I saw that DC had District Donuts as well.

Our breakfast spot had been decided right then and there!

It was a little bit out of the way, but I didn't care.

I NEEDED that chicken sandwich again!

As we were getting closer, we were a bit confused about the location.

It was taking us to the water, and back by the sketchy shipping docks

where cranes were unloading cargo boats!

Almost like in a crime show!

Sure enough Casey said it's in that building, and pointed to a big tin shed type of structure. 

I was desperate enough so off I went to check it out.

It was like a mini market with all sorts of different vendors. 

It took me a second to find District Donuts, where they delivered the news that they 

did NOT have chicken sandwiches.

WHAAAA?!

I guess its not even the same restaurant. 
Disappointment to the maaaax. 

Should have looked closely to the spelling of donuts.

This one was doughnuts.

I shouldn't have felt like a loser, because they said a lot of people think

its the same thing like I did.

One of them needs to change their names!

Welp, we were hungry so I went searching for our options.

It actually turned out great!

A good variety and everything we got was super yummy. 

 I got a couple different things like a breakfast burrito and a smoothie.

I thought this English spot was cute. 

Rusty enjoyed his acai bowl.
Funny how the boys are maturing and think these are good now. 

It happened, the rain came.

And didn't stop the rest of the trip.

It was coming down hard, so we looked for an indoor activity to keep us dry,

for at least the morning. 

The Air and Space museum in the National Mall was closed for renovations.

My friend had just gone to the one in Virginia, not that far away.

She said it was amazing, so we decided to do that!

It's called the Steven F Udvar-Hazy Center, but still a Smithsonian.

It was pretty cool!

I thought this concorde plane was neat!
Wish they would let you walk around inside of them. 

The real show stopper was the space shuttle Discovery!

It launched and landed 39 times over the span of 27 years.
It's last mission was on Feb. 24th 2011.

One of its biggest missions was to carry the Hubble Space Telescope into orbit.

Its kind of funny, seems like it had lots of tape patch work done to it.
I know its not tape, but it sure looked beat up!

We also learned that the astronauts only stay in the very
 front portion of the shuttle.
So everything in front of that line going down
behind "discovery" is the living quarters.
The rest is unlivable cargo space.
Not very space-ious, lol. 

This space suit weighed 280 pounds!

This is the Command module Columbia for Apollo 11.
It parachuted into the ocean with the astronauts returning them back to earth. 
Neil Armstrong was in there at one point!

A bad drive-by picture going  past the Pentagon.

That place was lock down city.

We weren't even going to try to get a better look at it. 

Arlington Cemetery was next.

I could wander around cemeteries all day.
 This one being exceptionally interesting,

I wondered how long we would be there!

Even in the rain, we were blown away by its beauty and size.

Along with the soft spirit that was there.

We hopped on a wet tram to get going on the many stops inside.
Being 639 acres large, we were grateful we didn't have to walk!

 

The rain and moody sky sure helped show off its luscious green grass and trees.
Just breathtaking. It went on for miles and miles!

So many white headstones!
Nearly 400,000 are buried here.

There are about 30 funerals per day, crazy. 

 

The eternal flame by John F Kennedy and his wife, Jacqueline. 

Down at the bottom and looking up to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Up at the top. 

This was a surreal experience. 

With changing of the guards every thirty minutes,
we didn't have to wait long.

Plus, I could have sat and watched them for a long time.

I loved the reverence shown by all spectators. 

We needed to get moving to our next stop.

The whole reason we were on this trip, the Washington DC temple open house!!

When they closed the temple back in 2018, I said to myself that when they re-opened in a few years

we would go back with the boys to the open house.

This temple has always been on my bucket list.

I could not wait to see it in person!
Even better that we all could see the inside.

My boys have no idea how lucky they are that so many temples are being

built in their generation, giving them the opportunity to see the insides.

I could have only dreamed of such an opportunity as a child.

It finished, but then covid happened.
Temples shut down, which also meant any open houses.

I can't imagine how disappointed those people felt not being able to get back their 

beloved temple, all new and re-done.  

2 years later, they finally planned for its rededication.
And here we are, finally on our long awaited trip.

 

It says its in DC, but in reality its a bit out of the way.

We had a good 45 minute drive.

We weren't complaining because this was our scenery out the window!

I never will get used to the back roads the East coasters get to travel on.

Insanely beautiful.

We would be on a long stretch of highway, then all of a sudden houses
 popped out of nowhere. 

Dream houses!!

And then boom, spires!

After 5 years of anticipation, we were seeing it first hand. 

I love to see the temple!

I was impressed by how well organized the whole thing was.

They expected masses of people to come, and they were prepared. 

Parking was a breeze, in fact we parked basically in the closest spot to the temple!

They had coverings over all the walkways and a big holding room with heaters before

you entered. Which was nice because it was still raining on us. 

We waited maybe 15 minutes in line. 

I took these pictures off of the internet.

You started at the baptistry.

You walked down outdoor steps and through a side door. 

Then back up to the entrance.

This temple is massive with 160,000 square feet. 

The check in desk is in an annex.
This is the original stained glass of the tree of life.

They took each piece out by hand for cleaning.

It was beautiful. 

You walk behind the check-in desk and down a bridge.

Loved the open windows on both sides. 

At the end of the bridge is and oval shaped rotunda with the most amazing piece

of artwork on the main wall.

I guess there was drama about the new painting replacing the original.

People don't like change.
 They will refurbish it and put it somewhere else soon.

I read an article about the new piece written by the artist that made me love it even more.

The article is here.

So interesting how even the making of art work in the temple can resemble
  blessings of the gospel in our lives!

The brides room with an appropriate cherry blossom theme. 

There are 2 main staircases on the East and West side of  the temple.
Both have original stained glass that were removed individually for cleaning. 

I can't remember how many levels there were ( I want to say 5?), but we climbed them!

A sealing room where you are married for all time and eternity. 

An ordinance room.
I like that they tried to keep the time era it was
 built the same with the layouts of the room. 

Another look at the staircase.

The celestial room!

There was a theme of tall vertical lines extended skyward. 

It's hard to see, but there were 13 chandeliers in this room. 

I was surprised at how simple this temple was decorated. 

Very clean lined with its architecture, moldings and furniture. 

The carpet was basic with zero to no patterns or color. 

I didn't notice very many murals or paintings like I am used to. 

It was still stunning! But not what I had expected. 
Temples sure do fill your soul!

It was getting dark and cold, plus the rain was still going.

We skipped walking around the grounds and headed back into town. 

We needed Founding Farmers again!

Rusty was craving the meatloaf:)

 

I was needing Levain cookies again!

Round 2 was just as good.

What a glorious day!