Thank you, Lord, for this day. May it be used for your glory!
Good morning everyone! Welcome back to another Thursday update!
This week I wanted to recap a little trip Tay and I just embarked on. We got to spend a long weekend exploring Philadelphia, PA.
It was a wonderful time, and brought back so many fond memories of our big road trip last year. That was the trip that kick-started this whole newsletter off in the first place. Crazy how time flies!
We even picked right back where we left off in the Harry Potter audiobooks for the ride up there.
Let me tell you, we really like Philadelphia! Like, if it’s in the cards for us to own a rental property up there one day, I think we’d seriously consider it. If you haven’t been, I highly suggest it. There is so much to do, tons of good food options, and cool attractions for anyone. It is one of the oldest cities in American history, and serving as one of the first capitols of the US it is chock-full of history stuff if you’re into that!
They also have one of the most haunted penitentiaries and the first zoo ever established in America. I just wish I could get a glimpse of the citizen’s faces when they first heard some zoo is bringing in live lions from Africa to live in their city, haha!
We got pretty lucky with a solid Airbnb right in the heart of downtown, and only a couple of blocks from the famous rocky stairs. The city itself was very easy to navigate and walk around. Not so easy to drive around, I’m just not used to the giant oval multi-lane roundabouts. We don’t have many of those around here.
I think the trip was filled with so many highlights to make the whole experience truly special. I mean, it even snowed on us multiple times while we were there. It was truly magical!
Speaking of magic, we also got to experience the world premier of the new Harry Potter exhibition! This is for the truly nerdy fans of Harry Potter. It is a traveling museum exhibit featuring a lot of the original costumes, wands, and behind-the-scenes stuff from the movies.
I just feel like our emotions went from magic to fun eating to deeper philosophical thinking all the time. The city was filled with all the old architecture, and we often caught ourselves pondering why people don’t make buildings like that anymore.
Perhaps the most philosophical we got was when we toured Independence Hall, the signing place of the Declaration of Independence. And of course the night before our tour we just had to watch National Treasure.
Unfortunately, when I was a child, I don’t think I ever would have thought that tour would be cool. Not even a little bit. It would have been super boring.
That’s unfortunate.
Luckily, as an adult, I did think it was cool. It’s wild to think of all those men sitting in that room creating the United States of America. I mean, they had this insane idea to separate from the British and form a brand new country! Biggest rebels ever. And not just a new country, but a brand new government never really before seen. Yea, it had parts similar to others, but it was so revolutionary.
It made us think about how critical these people thought back then, and how courageous they were to stand up for their own freedom in that way. It seems like that same critical thinking is just not something people do or strive to do anymore.
One of the things I admire about our pastor is that he tells us constantly to open our Bibles and check him on what he’s preaching. Just because he’s the one called to speak on stage does not mean his words are infallible. Perhaps we blindly listen too easily.
I feel like I could ramble on that issue for a while so I think I’ll just stop now.
All that to say, it was a wonderful trip and a well needed break! AND a wonderful way to celebrate Tay’s birthday and career shift! Congratulations, babe!
Until next time! Have a great rest of your week!