We had an abbreviated church service this morning as today was Serve Sunday. Todd had a good lesson about the Woman at the Well – Can God forgive me? Jesus seeks us out deliberately. He gives us a 2nd chance. Our sins are buried and we are clean. He doesn’t think about them again. So we shouldn’t either. You have a chance, every day, to be who God knows you are.
So, now to vacation recap – the morning of the second day. We had spent the night in Abingdon Virginia, and were one hour and eight minutes from our next destination in Greenville TN. Before we headed out we got gas for the Jeep and got it washed – the windshield was filthy! We were greeted by a giant chicken!
We pulled into the visitor’s center about 9:30am and scheduled our tour of the homestead (17th president Andrew Johnson’s home). While we were waiting for our 11am tour, we watched the short movie about President Johnson’s life and presidency. Then we walked through the displays, including the tailor shop that he owned when he was 21 years old.
Paul drove the car down to the homestead while Kathy and I walked to the replica of Johnson’s birthplace. When he was 3 years old, his father died; later his mother placed he and his brother into service. He apprenticed as a tailor and eventually opened his own shop. He was mayor when when he was 21, and loved politics, the constitution and the country.
He was vice-president during the Civil war, and took the presidency when Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. After his presidency he and his wife Eliza (who tutored him in reading and writing) moved back into their homestead. The home had been occupied by soldiers during the war and it was left in disrepair. Their daughter Martha dedicated herself to restoring the home and it looks basically today like it had then.
(Do you ever watch HGTV???)
Johnson passed away at age 66 in 1875 and is buried in the Andrew Johnson National Cemetery, which is at the top of a rounded mountain a few miles from his homestead. He was buried with the constitution at this head and wrapped in an American flag. He spent his entire life in politics and loved his country to the very end of his life.
We left Greenville and headed to Asheville NC, where we checked into our motel, then went in search of lunch. We ate at Cornerstone, which had wonderful food in large quantities! None of us could finish our meal. The rest of Day #2 will come tomorrow!
My blessing today was to get the weed whacking done. It was very cool – in the mid-40’s – and I went through both battery packs as I finished. It took me two hours. So much yard work this time of year.
PEANUTS Thought for the Day:
TOMORROW April 22nd is:
April Showers Day; National Earth Day; Girl Scout Leader Appreciation Day; In God We Trust Day; National Farm House Day; National Jelly Bean Day; National Pinup Day; Passover.
Yesterday’s fake day was National Crackers Day. Hoping we DON’T have showers – I like living on the earth. And I do trust in God, every day. God bless!
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