Things We'll Miss About DC, Part 3

You know what I'm really going to miss about living near DC?

Being close to Virginia. It's the most beautiful place in the world.

(All pictures are from a trip we took to Mount Vernon in January.)

Virginia has a little bit of everything—forests, mountains, beaches, and of course cities.

It has hot summers and cold, slightly snowy winters (which are still a lot warmer than Chicago winters!)

^^It even has sheep if you know where to look ;)

Even in the dead of winter, on a cold Saturday morning with mist on the ground, it's warm enough to wander around outside.

I remember learning this funny little tidbit in history class: Robert E. Lee didn't want to secede from the Union. But he couldn't bear to fight against Virginia, his "native state" (source).

At the time, that made no sense to me. It's just a state; who cares whether you fight for or against it? I certainly didn't feel that loyal to Illinois.

Then I came to live in Virginia, and I began to see where Lee was coming from. I fell in love with this beautiful state.

There's just something about Virginia.

^^Frank being contemplative

Add to that the fact that Frank and I fell in love here ... that Virginia was the backdrop for our first meetings, our growing friendship, our months of dating, and our first steps in preparing for married life.

So many places here glow with happy memories. From our hikes in the Appalachian Mountains to our day trips to Virginia wine country, Frank and I have had such a great time living here.

So you can imagine how much Virginia has captured my heart.

These two years in Virginia have been some of the happiest of my life. I hope I always remember them that way.

And I sure hope we get to come back and visit soon. :)