Mount Rushmore witnesses our renewal of vows.
Kids viewing Mount Rushmore- Silently taking it all in
Kids with Alaska plates and Mt. Rushmore
Sorry we could not get wifi connection until this morning so this post is late. Have a great day everyone!!!
We awoke at 4:45 am this morning with excitement building as we were going to travel to the Mount Rushmore National Monument. We ate a quick breakfast and stocked up on some groceries from good ole' Wal-Mart. We began the twenty two mile drive to the historic monument.
We found some neat elements along the drive that added to the jaunt up that very tall mountain. A bridge constructed out of cedar and wood joists was pretty. Then we woke the kids up as we drove through a tunnel carved out of the side of the mountain. As we started up the mountain Lily kept exclaiming that it must be Ak because it has mountains.
Once we had made it to the point we could start seeing the monument of faces we all began to wiggle in anticipation. Pulling into the parking lot we were all amazed at the size of it all. Both Gavin and I were snapping pictures like crazy.
It is so hard to explain how inspiring that big slab of granite can be. Patriotism just seems to burst from the entire area. The swell of pride as we stared at those four faces filled our hearts and throats. No matter the number of pictures we took they just could not do it any justice.
We posed the kids and then Lilyan became our photographer as Gavin and I exchanged vows again. We know we already have SD on our list but renewing our promise to one another between the avenue of flags and Mount Rushmore was too perfect to pass up. The four great men on the mountain were our witnesses and it was really touching.
The mountain was breathtaking and all of us could not believe how remarkable the monument truly is. We wanted to learn more about the history, and collected some information books on the mountain's history along the way. We finished our visit to the mountain with a detour to the gift shop for coffee mugs and t-shirts for the kids. We decided our old coffee mugs were not sentimental enough to pack up so we took them to Goodwill before we left Iowa, and decided to buy new ones from places that provided memories from our trip.
Once we were back in the car the kids were writing feverishly in their journals about Mount Rushmore. Nehemiah thought it was " awesome and an extraordinary site." Evelyn thought it was "cool." Lilyan said, "there was a lady right beside the man and it was awesome. The faces were cool."
Gavin stated the mountain was "awe-inspiring." I agree whole heartedly. I feel the monument is a magnificent representation of the principals and ideals that should be emblazoned in the hearts of all Americans. Each face on the mountain played a huge part in establishing the liberty and freedom our beautiful country was founded upon.
We learned about the amazing and talented sculptor, Gutzon Borglum from our reading material. He was a unique man who accepted the project, but refused to carve the faces the superintendent of the South Dakota State Historical society, Doane Robinson, wanted. Robinson wanted giant statues of the local heroes; however, Borglum declared his "life's work would not be spent immortalizing regional heroes." Borglum insisted upon subjects who were "national in nature and timeless in it's relevance to history. "
Each president chosen was picked because of his involvement in the United States' philosophy of liberty and the emphasis in pursuit of individual liberty.
George Washington, is remembered for helping the nation gain it's independence and establish a governmental rule that represents it's people.
Thomas Jefferson holds a place in the monument because he drafted the Declaration of Independence. Borglum include him because Jefferson was a visionary who dreamed of expanding the US territory from coast to coast. He accomplished a big part of that dream with the Louisiana Purchase, which doubled the size of the nation.
One thing that is very interesting about Jefferson's face is that Borglum pointed his eyes towards the Heavens emphasizing Jefferson's reputation as a "visionary and philosopher."
Theodore Roosevelt was the only face that was caught up in a controversy about being selected for the mountain. However, Borglum felt that Roosevelt's energy and spirit were the epitome of the "American Spirit." Plus, it might have helped that Borglum and Roosevelt were buddies too.
Abraham Lincoln, or The Great Emancipator," was Borglum's favorite leader and was included because of his "steadfast devotion to the nation." Borglum felt Lincoln was such a good leader that the sculptor named his only son, Lincoln Borglum, after the 16th president.
Lincoln Borglum ended up spending 7 months adding the finishing touches to the memorial after his father's death. At the monument there is a sculpture of Gutzon Borglum created by his loving son Lincoln. I thought this was a great touch to have the face of the masterful artist looking on his handiwork for life.
One of the cool things was that the 400 workers employed made $1.25 a day, but during the Great Depression this was a large amount. Even though these workers dealt with dangerous conditions there was not one life lost creating the carvings.
Another intriguing fact was that 90% of the carving was completed by dynamite. The workers were highly skilled and precise with the dynamite and could blast within four inches of the final surface. The dynamite helped shape the noses, eyes, mouths and chins of the great men ever immortalized on the side of a mountain.
If you have never been it is definitely a must see. It is one of the most memorable and spectacular sites I have ever viewed and suggest it to all Americans.
Wyoming! We made it into the state with some rain and clouds, but even with the dreary weather it was really pretty with all the red rock jutting out of the hillside.
We exchanged vows in front of a huge tree fossilized over the years. The sweet exchange of heartfelt dedication was followed up with today's version of I do; "I will again, two times in the same day, before lunch."
We snapped a few more pictures of the kids with their Wyoming maps, and headed back down the road. The road opened to fields of sage bush, pine trees, red rock and a distant view of the Devil's Tower. The Devil's Tower is a national monument which is sacred to the Plains indians.
Learning new things happens everywhere. The kids learned what dung was today. We read about all the things the Indians tad Bison for and this word prompted confusion. The Sioux Indians used the bison dung to make candles amongst other things; however, it's combustion capacity was highly valuable to these people. Then Evelyn piped in with, "then I guess that is another name for scat." after praising her for making connection to prior knowledge she learned on a field trip with Mrs. Ferrell, the other kids chimed in with other names for dung. Evelyn chimed in lastly with, "also the bad word we can't say." the laughter could not be stifled and eventually we were all chuckling uncontrollably. Out of the mouth of babes indeed!
We stopped at a rest area and let the kids play. They were running, skipping, screaming and quivering with joy. It was funny watching those little bodies release all that pent up energy. They went crazy and had a blast. Once back in the truck, as we prepared to cross the state line into Montana, they were still going berserk and kept nettling one another until they got out their journals and put into words the feelings and vigor surging through their veins.
We made it to Billings, MT at 5:30 p.m. We ended up having to drive around looking for an auto parts store to put a replacement cap for a wheel on the trailer. On our way to the hotel we noticed a terrible squeak coming from the trailer brakes. Can we say nervous when we have a huge mountainous region to cover in the next six days.!!!!
Well the brakes are more of a concern than we can just let go; therefore, we will be in Billings until we can get them looked at by a professional. Our cargo is too precious to risk it. So we are trying to relax and enjoy the nice hotel with a water-slide for the kids.
Dinner at Crackerbarrel came at 8 pm. We were ravenous and cleaned our plates. Then we went to swim awhile. The kids had a blast on the water slides and it was great sitting in the hot tub. However, Gavin convinced me to go down the speed slide, and it was really entertaining.
After the long day of driving and lots of expended energy at the pool we al showered and crawled into bed. The only sounds are the air conditioner and a dripping swim suit or two. I feel much more relaxed now that we have a room where our feet do not stick to the carpet tonight. Big improvement from last night.
To our followers we hope your day was blessed, and pray you witnessed the Lord's hand today. On the road it is hard to deny His vast creativity and Glory in all that surrounds us. We are blessed to have made it thus far and will continue to pray for safe travels.
Good night and God Bless everyone!
Peace n Prayers
We found some neat elements along the drive that added to the jaunt up that very tall mountain. A bridge constructed out of cedar and wood joists was pretty. Then we woke the kids up as we drove through a tunnel carved out of the side of the mountain. As we started up the mountain Lily kept exclaiming that it must be Ak because it has mountains.
Once we had made it to the point we could start seeing the monument of faces we all began to wiggle in anticipation. Pulling into the parking lot we were all amazed at the size of it all. Both Gavin and I were snapping pictures like crazy.
It is so hard to explain how inspiring that big slab of granite can be. Patriotism just seems to burst from the entire area. The swell of pride as we stared at those four faces filled our hearts and throats. No matter the number of pictures we took they just could not do it any justice.
We posed the kids and then Lilyan became our photographer as Gavin and I exchanged vows again. We know we already have SD on our list but renewing our promise to one another between the avenue of flags and Mount Rushmore was too perfect to pass up. The four great men on the mountain were our witnesses and it was really touching.
The mountain was breathtaking and all of us could not believe how remarkable the monument truly is. We wanted to learn more about the history, and collected some information books on the mountain's history along the way. We finished our visit to the mountain with a detour to the gift shop for coffee mugs and t-shirts for the kids. We decided our old coffee mugs were not sentimental enough to pack up so we took them to Goodwill before we left Iowa, and decided to buy new ones from places that provided memories from our trip.
Once we were back in the car the kids were writing feverishly in their journals about Mount Rushmore. Nehemiah thought it was " awesome and an extraordinary site." Evelyn thought it was "cool." Lilyan said, "there was a lady right beside the man and it was awesome. The faces were cool."
Gavin stated the mountain was "awe-inspiring." I agree whole heartedly. I feel the monument is a magnificent representation of the principals and ideals that should be emblazoned in the hearts of all Americans. Each face on the mountain played a huge part in establishing the liberty and freedom our beautiful country was founded upon.
We learned about the amazing and talented sculptor, Gutzon Borglum from our reading material. He was a unique man who accepted the project, but refused to carve the faces the superintendent of the South Dakota State Historical society, Doane Robinson, wanted. Robinson wanted giant statues of the local heroes; however, Borglum declared his "life's work would not be spent immortalizing regional heroes." Borglum insisted upon subjects who were "national in nature and timeless in it's relevance to history. "
Each president chosen was picked because of his involvement in the United States' philosophy of liberty and the emphasis in pursuit of individual liberty.
George Washington, is remembered for helping the nation gain it's independence and establish a governmental rule that represents it's people.
Thomas Jefferson holds a place in the monument because he drafted the Declaration of Independence. Borglum include him because Jefferson was a visionary who dreamed of expanding the US territory from coast to coast. He accomplished a big part of that dream with the Louisiana Purchase, which doubled the size of the nation.
One thing that is very interesting about Jefferson's face is that Borglum pointed his eyes towards the Heavens emphasizing Jefferson's reputation as a "visionary and philosopher."
Theodore Roosevelt was the only face that was caught up in a controversy about being selected for the mountain. However, Borglum felt that Roosevelt's energy and spirit were the epitome of the "American Spirit." Plus, it might have helped that Borglum and Roosevelt were buddies too.
Abraham Lincoln, or The Great Emancipator," was Borglum's favorite leader and was included because of his "steadfast devotion to the nation." Borglum felt Lincoln was such a good leader that the sculptor named his only son, Lincoln Borglum, after the 16th president.
Lincoln Borglum ended up spending 7 months adding the finishing touches to the memorial after his father's death. At the monument there is a sculpture of Gutzon Borglum created by his loving son Lincoln. I thought this was a great touch to have the face of the masterful artist looking on his handiwork for life.
One of the cool things was that the 400 workers employed made $1.25 a day, but during the Great Depression this was a large amount. Even though these workers dealt with dangerous conditions there was not one life lost creating the carvings.
Another intriguing fact was that 90% of the carving was completed by dynamite. The workers were highly skilled and precise with the dynamite and could blast within four inches of the final surface. The dynamite helped shape the noses, eyes, mouths and chins of the great men ever immortalized on the side of a mountain.
If you have never been it is definitely a must see. It is one of the most memorable and spectacular sites I have ever viewed and suggest it to all Americans.
Wyoming! We made it into the state with some rain and clouds, but even with the dreary weather it was really pretty with all the red rock jutting out of the hillside.
We exchanged vows in front of a huge tree fossilized over the years. The sweet exchange of heartfelt dedication was followed up with today's version of I do; "I will again, two times in the same day, before lunch."
We snapped a few more pictures of the kids with their Wyoming maps, and headed back down the road. The road opened to fields of sage bush, pine trees, red rock and a distant view of the Devil's Tower. The Devil's Tower is a national monument which is sacred to the Plains indians.
Learning new things happens everywhere. The kids learned what dung was today. We read about all the things the Indians tad Bison for and this word prompted confusion. The Sioux Indians used the bison dung to make candles amongst other things; however, it's combustion capacity was highly valuable to these people. Then Evelyn piped in with, "then I guess that is another name for scat." after praising her for making connection to prior knowledge she learned on a field trip with Mrs. Ferrell, the other kids chimed in with other names for dung. Evelyn chimed in lastly with, "also the bad word we can't say." the laughter could not be stifled and eventually we were all chuckling uncontrollably. Out of the mouth of babes indeed!
We stopped at a rest area and let the kids play. They were running, skipping, screaming and quivering with joy. It was funny watching those little bodies release all that pent up energy. They went crazy and had a blast. Once back in the truck, as we prepared to cross the state line into Montana, they were still going berserk and kept nettling one another until they got out their journals and put into words the feelings and vigor surging through their veins.
We made it to Billings, MT at 5:30 p.m. We ended up having to drive around looking for an auto parts store to put a replacement cap for a wheel on the trailer. On our way to the hotel we noticed a terrible squeak coming from the trailer brakes. Can we say nervous when we have a huge mountainous region to cover in the next six days.!!!!
Well the brakes are more of a concern than we can just let go; therefore, we will be in Billings until we can get them looked at by a professional. Our cargo is too precious to risk it. So we are trying to relax and enjoy the nice hotel with a water-slide for the kids.
Dinner at Crackerbarrel came at 8 pm. We were ravenous and cleaned our plates. Then we went to swim awhile. The kids had a blast on the water slides and it was great sitting in the hot tub. However, Gavin convinced me to go down the speed slide, and it was really entertaining.
After the long day of driving and lots of expended energy at the pool we al showered and crawled into bed. The only sounds are the air conditioner and a dripping swim suit or two. I feel much more relaxed now that we have a room where our feet do not stick to the carpet tonight. Big improvement from last night.
To our followers we hope your day was blessed, and pray you witnessed the Lord's hand today. On the road it is hard to deny His vast creativity and Glory in all that surrounds us. We are blessed to have made it thus far and will continue to pray for safe travels.
Good night and God Bless everyone!
Peace n Prayers
I want to go on your journey with you! I love your descriptions of your adventure. Good luck with the trailer. Stay safe and continue on.....
ReplyDeleteKeep blogging. I am loving picturing your happy little family making its way to the land that you all love so much. Happy trails!
ReplyDelete