Inner Harbor

We also took J's parents to see the inner harbor of Baltimore. One of the coolest things we did was visit the Body Worlds exhibit - a traveling exhibit of 'plasticized' deceased humans. Their bodies' muscles/organs/tendons/skeleton/brain are hardened with some special form of plastic and kept in tact for display. You're literally looking at a former person's entire muscular or organ system being posed as if they were skateboarding/diving/shaking a hand, etc. So amazing!! We were enthralled at how intricate, imaginative and glorious our bodies are and what God does to keep them alive and kicking. It reminded me of this passage:

'For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them.' Psalm 139:13-16

Unfortunately, we weren't allowed to take pictures but here are some from the inner harbor.

The 'Rusty Scupper" where we had an awesome seafood dinner

Cherry Blossom Festival

Jason's parents came out for a visit at exactly the right time...Spring was in high bloom and the annual cherry blossom festival in Washington, DC was in full swing. We also stumbled upon an amazing tulip garden across from the Washington Monument. Here are some pics from the visit:

Mom & Dad Nixon

At the Franklin D Roosevelt Memorial

View of the Jefferson Memorial

Tulip Garden - approx. 40 different varieties

The 10K That Almost Killed

We ran a 10K in Richmond this morning...I cannot describe how crazy the experience was! First of all, it rained the entire time - we ended up looking like drowned rats. Secondly, it was so wonderful to have random family & friends lined up along the street cheering us on. I really needed any amount of encouragement I could get come the last mile. Thirdly, we can barely walk now! Looking back on the last couple of months that we trained, it was the mental preparation that was more crucial than the physical. I started out the process saying "I'm not sure I can do this, but I'll try..." The greatest thing I got out of this experience was thinking (while I was huffing & puffing through downtown!) how this race strongly paralleled our spiritual 'race'. A woman cheering on the sidelines was holding up a sign that read "Let us run with endurance the race set before us. Heb. 12:1" Running this race reminded me that we as Christians must continue with endurance (a mental & spiritual work), be cheered on and encouraged by others, and keep putting one foot in front of the other, being focused on our own race rather than comparing to the route marked out for others. Keep running friends!...

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace. Acts 20:24

The drowned rats back at home