50 yr Anniversary of our church

On Saturday, we had a roast dinner picnic - we went early and there were various games set up (bubbles, frisbees, big balls, putting small sand bags in holes sort of games) for the kids, and plenty of talking to do for the adults. The picnic was roast meat slices, roast potatoes, green salad, cherry tomatoes, hotdogs for the kids, some sort of cheesy pasta dish, and a bring dessert to share (which resulted in four overloaded tables of miscellaneous sweetness...lots of brownies and choc chip biscuits though!) It was a really enjoyable evening, except we left too late, and the kiddies had trouble settling down to bed.
On Sunday, under the huge marquee from the night before, we had one combined church service (normally there are about three - 8.30, 9.15, 11am, and possibly also an evening service?). No Sunday school, but luckily they'd set up drink stands on either side of the tent, so the kids were kept entertained getting themselves cups of water. We combined forces with some friends and brought along matchbox cars (they'd bought a whole lot of toys too), and our seats were right on the edge, close to some shade, so our kids could wander/play a bit during the sermon. They had the opportunity for people to help sing the Hallelujah chorus again, which they normally do at Easter, but they decided it was a special enough occasion. I can't get enough of this tradition.
Tonight they have a praise concert, I think, but our kids need some routine re-established, so we're at home putting them through the bath!
The church started in someone's loungeroom, and is now planting churches in the area - how great to see what God can achieve through imperfect people. I was happy that the minister noted that the church doesn't look much like the community around it, and that there is still work to do (ie, the church is very white and affluent, and Annapolis is not all white and affluent).

Flying Flags in America

There are lots of national flags flying outside houses here. I am not entirely sure about why, but you can buy flag flying kits from the hardware store with a flag, and a stick, and the mount to attach to your front porch uprights. I think the flag is very deeply tied in with national pride.
We bought our car from a navy guy, who flew the flag of his regiment/company out the front of his house. Flying regimental flags and US flags together is not uncommon. I also know that since 9/11, firefighters especially, have been more patriotically associated (and therefore, more likely to have flags?). This may be because 9/11 was seen as an act of war by some, and the firefighters took heavy casualties trying to rescue people.

We have had three public holidays so far that encourage the flying of flags -
Presidents Day/ Washington's Birthday (Feb 17th) (not a public holiday for hubby)
Memorial Day (May 26th), also seen as unofficial start to summer
Independence Day (July 4th)
There were also observances for the D-Day landings in France in WWII - the USA forces were a large part of the initial landings, and a lot of their men died as a result.
On May day in Annapolis, people are encouraged to decorate their homes in red white and blue (and flags, and flower arrangements).
I'm also pretty sure that on Veteran's day (November 11th) and Thanksgiving (November 27-28th) there will be flags!

The American flag is deeply tied into the birth of the nation - with the national anthem 'The Star Spangled Banner' being penned after Francis Scott Key saw a flag flying over Fort McHenry after particularly heavy bombardment by the British during the Battle of Baltimore in 1814. It has changed as the union grew - increasing the number of stars and stripes.
In fact, after warring with the British, the Americans warred with each other, and this was the flag chosen after the dust settled. So maybe the fact that they chose their flag, and fought for it (the winning side atleast), influences how they feel about it?

I'm not sure if any of this helps to explain why you can walk through neighbourhoods today and see flags on several houses on every street, and over restaurants (and not just in front of official state buildings).
 (final note - this is a 'Navy' town, so flag flying might be more common here than in other American towns)

School?!

We have had so much thrown at us in the last five years, so many things to work through, so many crises, and so much busyness, that it seems almost wrong to be sending a child to school. But there you have it. Five years have passed, and we have to cut that apron string.
He was so excited he was up at about 6am, wanting to get ready. We were a bit shell shocked. The tension of holding it together while simultaneously acting suitably excited really took its toll. But he was delivered back to us this afternoon, excited and safe, so we're starting to feel like we might survive the experience.

B & O Train Museum, Baltimore

We have had such a great run of trains recently!! This was the Baltimore and Ohio railroad museum, billing itself as the birthplace of American Commercial railroad. We went with a friend who has recently got membership and gets free entry :)
Some of the trains they have are Big... one steam train had wheels the same height as me. They even had some of the early trains that were shaped like stage coaches.
The photo shows the diesel that gave us a short ride along a very short bit of track that was on the same line as the first commercial track to be built (can anyone else see Chuggington?!). The special exhibition right now is about the civil war and the rail roads, but to be honest, I didn't get to really look at a lot of the exhibits, as the kids were moving too fast. We drove home extremely exhausted and very happy.

Gettysburg

Monument to Pennsylvania Regiments involved in battle.

We visited Gettysburg on the way home.  It is called a National Military Park by the National Park Service, which looks after the site.  On July 1,2 and 3 1863, Confederate and Union forces had a huge fight here, costing more than 51,000 dead - more than in any other battle on American soil before or since. I think the Unionists won, but probably the reality is, as with most wars, everyone paid a price (esp considering this was old fashioned cavalry and infantry and canons-at-the-back fighting).
Lincoln gave his 2 min Gettysburg address on November 19, 1863, at the dedication of the cemetery for the Union dead (the confederates being taken to some cemeteries in the south) which is now hailed as a masterpiece of English, among other things. We were surprised by the amount of visitors - this is obviously important locally.
It is about 4,000 acres, and they advise about 3 hours to complete the self guided auto-tour (in a car). There are various trails, and you're welcome to walk all over the place. There are a huge amounts of monuments, commemorating various groups and fights.I was unprepared for the hugeness of the site, and if you read some of the monuments, they were place by survivors, which means that within a few years, the Battle of Gettysburg was seen as significant among all the battles in the civil war.
I just felt sad by the end.

Dutch Country, Pennsylvania

This was the bit of the trip I was most nervous about - the cash in on the Amish communities that live around this area. I'm still not sure how to feel about it to be honest. We stayed in Strasburg, and I recommend keeping away from the bigger towns - Lancaster, Paradise, Intercourse, simply because Strasburg had enough to keep someone occupied (in my good opinion!), without the tourist buses. The Amish themselves seem to participate - running road side stalls, being drivers for Amish buggy rides, selling various crafts/food etc. The food is good, especially the baked goods. I don't know if that is a survival thing, or a taking the opportunity thing. In fact, I realised just how little I know about the Amish. I didn't even realise we were living within a two hour drive of major communities, for a start.
We opted for a bit of a drive in the countryside - on the small roads, just looking at farmland, workers etc. I don't think we got any 'good' photos, due to me feeling extremely reticent about being seen to be gawking. However, we got the photo above, of a wagon parked waiting for the lady who was running a shop to finish up. Also, lots of photos of farmland, including some quite large tobacco crops, which we had never seen before (big leafy crops, look like mutant cabbages)!
We were going to have a meal at a place that served sort of farm house fare at big tables that we were looking on as a cultural experience, but when we arrived we realised we were mistaken about the size of the operation (5 buses out the back, for a start), and retreated to the little restaurant next door to our hotel which was more than sufficient.
I liked this part of the world, still working out why, but possibly managing to see a horizon for the first time in a while had something to do with it.

Pennsylvania Train Museum and Steam Train Ride

The Train Museum

A working steam train

 I'm not sure I need to say more, for those who know my kids. For those who don't, Strasburg PA (Pennsylvania), has a train museum, which is a big shed with trains (steam and diesel) done up and parked in it, as well as a room off the side with more toy/model trains than I have ever seen at once. There are various displays about jobs on the trains (and around them), and the development of the Pennsylvania train line, which linked up two major cities at the time, Philadelphia and New York.
Across the road they have a train track with a working steam train and you can get a ride, and taste the coal dust for yourself. We rode in the open carriages, where small pieces of soot fell on us, and I recommend sunnies for eye protection. It was hugely fun, and it was even nicer to see the happy dance on the platform (the eldest because he was excited, the youngest because he is in a me too phase). It is sometimes wearying to be always providing loving boundaries, and sort of a bit of a relief when you can just make them ecstatically happy.
Tip for riding on the train - there is more view from the RHS of the carriage as the train leaves the station.
The train only goes around 13 miles, then turns around and comes back, but that is a good length of time for small attention spans, and a good way to see some country side.
My take away thoughts? Those trains, steam and diesel are big!! I felt awe inspired and a bit excited myself.