Anyway back to Valley Forge.

Valley Forge National Historic Park  was the Revolutionary War encampment where the continental army lead by George Washington survived the long winter of 1777-1778. By the end of the winter, nearly 2500 soldiers had died from exposure, sickness, and starvation.  And we felt like we “survived” the winter in Breckenridge in our RV.

The visitor center, like most national park visitor centers, was filled with information and hands on exhibits. We learned about the sacrifices and hardships the soldiers of the Continental Army endured in their fight for our country’s independence.

And away we go!

Love and Laughter,
Jenn

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Not only is it one of the oldest inland towns, it is also home to one the largest Amish populations of the United States.

It was the Amish community that intrigued us the most.

The Amish is a people group known for their simple living.

Driving around, the reluctance to use modern conveniences was evident.

There were horses and plows, bicycles without peddles, buggies at the stoplights, straw hats, bonnets, and elaborate clothes lines strung from pulley systems marking the Amish homes.

You can’t see him but there was a boy not much older than 10 driving these 6 draft horses.

We took a buggy ride to get an up close look at an Amish Farm.

We were surprised to see cows lined up to milking machines! They were diesel but still we were confused not to see people squatting on stools next to cows with buckets.

 After further research (and according to our understanding) we learned that the community decides to adopt or reject certain conveniences based upon a literal interpretation of the Bible and its (the convenience in question) affect upon relationships. For instance, electricity is rejected, not only because of its connection to the outside world (and the can of worms that would open), but because it doesn’t encourage closer family relationships. In other words as we understand it, if there is only one central light source in the evening then the family will most likely gather together instead of going off to do their own thing in other parts of the hous

Admittedly, there is something appealing about the Amish life besides shoofly pie.

While the the stiff rejection of worldly ideals like cars and eletricty may sound crazy to most, it seems like a type of freedom to leave the distractions of modern life for a life focused on God and family.

However, there is chocolate and we were lured from our dreams of a simple pious life by a quick whiff of sugar.

After all, we would need an awfully big team of horses to pull our RV.

The old Hershey factory and more importantly Chocolate World is in nearby Hershey.

It’s like a real life Wonka Factory, minus the creep factor, with chocolate bars the size of your head.

Love and Laughter,
Jenn

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The next best thing to owning a farm is staying at a farm especially a farm with full RV hookups.

I think this has been my favorite campground. It’s right up there there Bahai Honda. (You know you’re crazy when it’s a toss up between white sand beaches and baby goats.)

The baby goats were the stars of the show but there were also horses, llamas (one spit on Thing Two), cows, ducks, and chickens.

The whole place was just…perfect. Yes, my idea of heaven has leaping goats and magical sunsets.

Not only were there animals but we connected with some friends who we had met in Florida and the kids had a blast!

So much to be thankful for…

Love and Laughter,
Jenn

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We began our  four day Memorial Day memorial tour on a Friday at Manassas National Battlefield Park. This was where the first major land battle of the American Civil War, most commonly referred to as the First Battle of Bull Run, took place. On July 21, 1861 the two armies converged on the rolling hills near Centreville, Virginia. Spectators came from Washington expecting an easy victory for the North to bring a swift end to the Southern rebellion. The battle seesawed throughout the day but in the end it was a Southern Victory. It was also the place where the legendary Southern general “Stonewall Jackson” received his famous nickname. It was the beginning of a war that would almost destroy a nation and eventually claim more than 600,000 lives.

Harpers Ferry, National Historical Park, West Virginia

Saturday, we visited Harpers Ferry in West Virginia. A visit to Harper’s Ferry is like stepping into the past. Historical reenactors and musuems bring the history of Harpers Ferry to life! It has a multi-faceted history being the place of the first interchanable manufacture, location of John Brown’s raid against slavery (a catalyst for the Civil War), a civil war battleground, and home to one of the first integrated schools, Storer College, dedicated to educating former slaves in higher education.

If history isn’t your thing Harper’s Ferry is beautiful. It sits nestled between hills at the convergence of the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers. Thomas Jefferson is quoted as saying, “The passage of the Patowmac through the Blue Ridge is perhaps one of the most stupendous scenes in Nature.” There is even a rock named after him, Jerfferson Rock, where he took in the view above lower Harper’s Ferry and said, “this scene is worth a voyage across the Atlantic”.

Antietam National Battlefield, Maryland

Sunday after a stopping in Shepherdstown West Virginia for a farmers market (Sheperherdstown is such a COOL little town), we headed over to Antietam National Battlefield. The Battle of Antietam is also know as the battle of Sharpsburg. The North tended to name battles after the closest creeks, rivers, or streams and the South often used names of towns or railroad junctions. Antietam was the bloodiest one day battle in American history with over 22,000 casualties.

This was our third battlefield in three days and, to be honest, Thing One was…Over. It. I kinda don’t blame him it was a sweltering hot weekend and after awhile all the battles start to run together with the same tragic theme. However, Thing Two couldn’t get enough if you can’t tell from the pictures! He loves history, war history in particular. This was his opportunity to wear his kepi in the correct time period. (God only knows how he feels about that!) After completing the Jr Ranger program, we took the self-guided tour through the battlefield and then ended our day at an old fashioned ice cream parlor, Nutter’s, for some crazy good ice cream. In fact, I’m still thinking about it!

Gettysburg National Military Park, Pennsylvania

It seemed fitting that we finished our Memorial Day memorial tour on Monday with a visit to Gettysburg National Military Park. While Anitiem was the bloodiest one day battle, Gettysburg was the bloodiest overall battle with over 51,000 casualties over a three day period. It was also a major turning point in the Civil War and the place where President Lincoln made his famous Gettysburg Address.

“Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate, we can not consecrate, we can not hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” – Abraham Lincoln

It was an unforgettable Memorial Weekend and to any who serve or who have served and their loved ones, thank you.

Love and Laughter,
Jenn

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