Merry land**Mara-lyn**Mer-a-lyn

  

This is Alissa. Alissa lives on the opposite side of the country as me...in a tiny little state called Maryland. Alissa talked about Maryland a lot over the last 6 months. She made it sound like the greatest place on Earth. I knew it couldn't be since everyone knows Carlsbad is the greatest place on Earth. BUT I wanted to see this land Alissa loves so very much. So I went and visited.

 **Really it was just an excuse to see Alissa. 

In a nutshell it was wonderful. Dreamy really. 

THIS frazzled picture is inside the Library of Congress. A new favorite place of mine. I could easily spend my entire life here. I even got a library card--it's only good for two years though so I'll have to go back soon.
A place that holds pretty much every book ever written--heaven! 

I could lay on this floor and stare in awe at this wonder all day. Luckily Alissa promised to work her magic and paint my bedroom walls to look like this.....it made leaving a tad bit easier. 

A random fountain. I'm sure it has a name or something. 

Modern Art. One day I will understand it. This one really struck a chord with me. Black on black--who would have thought? There is so much depth here. I just know it....

This my friends is the CAPITOL. Not the White House. It happens...
WHY do they have a capitol and White House in the same place? It's just confusing!! For the record this is the one I wanted to see anyways....

Rain. Lots and lots of beautiful heavy rain. Luckily we had an umbrella to wait it out underneath. 

Mmmm.....so much wetness. Squishy squishy

My own little ray of sunshine!! 

After the storm.
You can just feel the history pulsing out of this place! It's a delight. A true true true delight! 

Gettysburg. I think a battle happened here. But once again....not sure. So many unanswered questions. 

Luke- He's pretty great as well. 

This place brings out happiness!! History=happiness

Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain is a hero of mine.
 He was a general in the Battle of Gettysburg. He was given orders to hold Little Round Top. Him and his regiment held off the impending attackers as long as they could. Eventually they ran out of all food, supplies and ammunition. They had no way to keep off the coming foes and it was of the utmost importance that they not surrender Little Round Top. Practically the whole battle depended on it (and this battle ended up playing a large part in the outcome of the whole Civil War). 
When all hope seemed lost and their attackers were charging up the hill to them Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain yelled "Bayonets" and charged down the hill himself- right into the line of attackers. They were so startled by him and his accompanying regiment that were so fearlessly running to meet their death- they all surrendered immediately. 

Such a courageous man. America's history is filled with stalwart astonishing people like this. We are so blessed! 

A new friend of mine

This Temple is comparable to the San Diego Temple. It is SO beautiful! I love it so much.

                                                           

Cute little children observing the little fishies

Old Ellicott City. An adorable, precious little piece of heaven! 

Alissa's happy place. 

I followed the sunset from Maryland all the way home to California. It was breathtaking and magical.  This sight (almost) made me forget that I was in a heavy medal structure thousands of feet above ground. 

Someone said this was Mt. Saint Helens. I'm not sure if it actually is--but its a big mountain! 

The cutest little train station ever to grace our planet. It felt like walking into a place from Anne of Green Gables. I would have been happy just staying on these wooden benches all day. This place is called Dorsey. Is that not the most precious? Precious. 

California's not lookin so great anymore. 
I am trying to convince my parents to move to the East Coast now- we'll see what happens. 

Alissa leaves for her mission in 10 short days. To say I am going to miss her is a vast understatement. This girl is the sweetest. The kindest. The most thoughtful-generous-wondeful et cetera, et cetera. She is going to be one AMAZING missionary to the people of Campinas Brazil. It's going to be hard to find another person who is willing to go paleo with me or on midnight swinging trips. She's a little bundle of sunshine and I am so so blessed to be able to know her. 

A day with her is like a day at Disneyland! Thats about as good of a compliment as I can give. 
Can't wait for the reunion in two years! :)

Seems far but its actually only 11 weeks away!! :) :) :)