Is it just me, or is there a smidge of resemblence between these two? Somewhere around the nose and jawline, maybe?
(If we could just tickle Miss Liberty under the arm there to make her smile, we might be able to get a better comparison...)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOLPWD26inVAptPSM5Yd8nAWMpJ9uKjmjXOR8_9vkynYN5uHpmXcJDCHwSdZL6SqF69e7ZqjcAw_Li6PizybVhDT5kfibbmxvG7qnzcII0035Bs9CFgCL0C66MpNFfZ2OMXf7QDD82Uh8/s400/statueoflibertyface.jpg)
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Make sure and read the last instructions given by St. Louis on his deathbed to his eldest son, Philip ~ all still good advice today.
For feastday arts and crafts,
we found the following resources to make:
Easy crowns
Fancy crowns
Play swords ~ Kimberlee at Pondered in My Heart posted these awesome instructions for making safe play swords a while back.
Shields ~ Everything you need to know about knights and heraldry, and for making shields you can find and download at Owl and Mouse.
And, what's a celebration without goodies?
Here are recipes and instructions for:
a Fancy crown cake
a Simpler crown cake
I am finding more to study and discuss than to actually do in celebration of this feast. The facts surrounding St. John's death are difficult to explain to young children... though they can be carefully summarized. There is much in the life of St. John, however, to explore as a background to his holy death: his role as precursor of the Son of God, the fact that he was the nephew of Mary, the son of St. Elizabeth, the cousin of Jesus, his life of simplicity and sacrifice, all climaxing with the ceremony of Christ's baptism at his cousin's hands.
Here are some resources for the day:
Information about St. John the Baptist, in general
Biblical reference to John's condemnation of Herod and Herodias' unlawful marriage: Luke 3:19, Matthew 14: 3-5.H/T for the beautiful image of Our Lady and her Divine Son at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Guild!
Then everyone grabbed their "buddy's" hand (a Big or Big-ish sibling with each Little)...
Seriously, folks, we go through a roll a day sometimes, and need to break this addiction. We might be feeling a little testy around here in paper towel rehab, so be patient with us, please.
They tell me cold-turkey is the only way. It's going to be rough, but I think we're up to it.
Too bad there's not a patch or something to help with the withdrawal, though...
(Oh, that must be his mom there next to him... &:o)
We were so surprised by the haunting Korean War Memorial. You never hear about this one! But, it was a strangely touching and personal tribute to the men and women of that war.
We were thrilled to get to stop at the Lincoln Memorial for about five minutes:
And here' are the very impressive spires of the National Cathedral against the very impressive Virginia blue skies... We wanted to find Immaculate Conception, but didn't have time, and we did drive by St. Patrick's but the traffic hurried us by so fast, I couldn't get a picture.
We'd saved most of our time to visit Arlington National Cemetery and were not disappointed in the least. The solemn beauty of this place...
The soldier at the Grave of the Unknown soldier ~ there are not words to describe the touching ceremony of this lone sentry.
Then, Sunday, after Mass in Vienna, Virginia, we had lunch at a Chinese seafood buffet, where I got a taste of a crawdad. Better shot of my chin than the crawdad, but you get the picture. We make a point of trying new and unusual menu items when we go on trips together. Last trip, we tried squid. Don't ask me which we preferred. They actually were equally unremarkable!
And, then we had about two and a half hours to spend at Mt. Vernon, before we had to leave for the airport and home.
But, I'm so glad we took the time to visit this site! What a perfectly preserved historic home, and a wonderful museum. Let me tell you, if I didn't already feel the utmost honor and regard for George Washington, I do now. His home and grounds are the most lovely example of efficiency and beauty I can imagine. Mind you, not that his military and political achievements for our country aren't really, really important, but, seriously, as a homemaker, I can appreciate his taste, organization, and care through his home. God is in the details. What an amazing man!