Good Bye, Maryland

Leaving D.C by Makenzie Moody
This is Makenzie, full of sorrow because this is our last full day in D.C. We have been sooo blessed by our hosts and people we have met along the way. This morning, we were supposed to get up and go to a one room schoolhouse for a day in the life of Little House on the Prairie, (actually the Seneca Schoolhouse, circa 1880) but when we woke, there were about five inches of snow on the ground! Janice, our host, came in with boxes of snowsuits, and we all bundled up and went sledding down a huge hill. Janice gave us four inter tubes and two sleds to use while we all piled in the back of the truck to go sledding. When we were there, people were running and sledding down the hill and crashing into each other. At the bottom, Joe would lie down on his stomach and we would go over him like a speed bump; but when we got a group of four people to slide down at once, Joe moved as quickly as possible! When we came back inside, we were surprised with hot chocolate, marshmallows, and the movie: The Incredibles. We all bundled up with a nice warm blanket and our pajamas and lay on the floor and watched half of the movie. Then we were summoned to lunch. We had warm grilled cheese and basil tomato soup. Then we went back and had fresh, warm brownies and finished the movie. Emma and I got to feed Elsie, (Janice’s daughter, Megan, her husband and daughter are living at the farm while they wait for their house to close.) a baby girl who had been a delight on this trip. We played choo choo train with her and Peek-a-boo until we made her smile. We all gathered together for pictures and prayers, as we talked about how much we have had on this trip and how truly blessed we are to have opportunities like this one. During prayer, Elsie started crying; probably because she felt that we would be leaving soon. We all came together for one last group picture, and we all gave Janice hugs, a candy bar, and cherry blossom soap. Janice said that we should learn that saying yes might have its regrets at first, but later it will make a positive ripple effect on people where one word makes a huge difference. We have brightened Janice’s days with us, and everyone who has come with us, helped us, or even opened their house and hearts to us. To everyone: THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!