A working girl makes it through another week

Wow, where on earth has this week gone? Where has my life gone? In less than 10 days I turn 25 years old! I still feel like I'm 12 and people still think I look like I'm 19. But I was extremely content this week, despite my birthday looming around the corner.

I just wrapped up another whirlwind week of work in the big city. Today I went to work at 6 a.m., but I didn't mind, because I was going into D.C. There is always such an air of anticipation and activity that draws me toward the bustling place. It's also fascinating to meet so many interesting people on a daily basis...

Today I went to a breakfast with Congressman Donnelly from Indiana. My boss managed to snap a photo of us at the Monocle, which is a classy little restaurant people have been going to in D.C. for 125 years. I think I almost look 25 in this picture. Happy Friday!

A working girl has a holiday

At one point in my life I was very proud to be an American. I think I'm still patriotic somewhat, but not as much... What happened? I'm thankful I'm American, but I don't believe that makes me any more special than anyone else in the world. I'm blessed to be an American not just to be blessed, but so that I can somehow bless others.

Anyway, I tried to be festive this Fourth of July weekend. I missed our annual neighborhood picnic, but we still found plenty to do here in Virginia. I had a great time:

-Visiting George Washington's home at Mt. Vernon
-Eating a picnic by the Potomac
-Taking the metro into D.C. with about 25 million other tourists on the hottest day of the year
-Going to the White House, Capitol, Art Gallery, Chinatown, Washington Monument, Air and Space Museum, lunch with Aunt Susie, and Georgetown
-Walking many miles
-Laughing a lot
-Swimming
-Going to church
-Listening to an army band in Reston
-Hiking in basically a swamp at a national park
-Eating Asian food
-Shooting off a giant firework

I was also thinking of my dear mother who has been in China for almost a week now! She is doing fabulously and I'm so proud of her...