So Much to See Drawn from the Land

I felt like Interstate 57 was starting to become a familiar stretch of road as I set out on another journey to see sights of Illinois on the morning of Saturday, July 27, 2019.

I had already driven I-57 in two previous journeys to visit Vandalia, Illinois's second state capital city.  For those trips, I would exit I-57 in Effingham and then travel about 30 minutes to Vandalia, which happened to be at nighttime.

On this trip, however, I exited I-57 in broad daylight to visit my first site on this trip, the Cross at the Crossroads (#33), in the picture below.  (Please note, all photos in this post in which I don't appear are mine.  I note the photographers in the others.)

Standing at 198 feet, it is the seventh tallest Cross in the world.  I walked inside a building at the center serving as a sort of visitors' center.

I got talking with two fine friendly ladies inside.  I also watched a video that showed how the Cross was funded and built.  In the process, huge pieces of the Cross were transported on oversize load trucks from Indiana.

I had seen this Cross twice before on my way to Vandalia, and it was quite a sight to behold lit up at night.  It was great to have the chance to visit it, and to behold the sight of it from standing right underneath.

I then drove into Effingham and stopped to get a porkburger for lunch at Cruisers and then got gas before continuing my journey southward on I-57.

About 30 miles away from Cairo, the southernmost tip of Illinois, I exited I-57 and drove westward through the Shawnee National Forest country (#34).  I soon reached Anna, and then the neighboring community of Jonesboro, which was my next destination.  I had gone through this general area before a few years ago when on a storm chasing trip as my group made our way west, and actually went all the way south on I-57 from around this point where I exited to Cairo and then into Missouri.

A short distance north of Jonesboro's center is the Lincoln Memorial Picnic Grounds (#35), the site of another of the Lincoln-Douglas debates.  There's a small brick-paved area with statues of the two debaters and interpretative signs and plaques, as you can see in the photo below.  I am grateful to that a small group arrived in the parking lot to look at the space, and one of them kindly got the photo of me, so I didn't have to resort to getting a photo with my camera's timer.  Abraham Lincoln appears to the left, and Stephen Douglas appears to the right.

Nearby is the US Forest Service Mississippi Bluffs Ranger station, which is the building that appears behind me in the photo above.

I headed northward out of Jonesboro to a small town called Alto Pass, where I drove a winding road to the top of Bald Knob (#36), which is a truly spectacular spot.  The drive there was very pleasant and so peacefully quiet going through shaded woods.  At the top is the Bald Knob Cross (#37), which I believe is the 14th tallest Cross in the World.

In the center of this photo, you can see the Cross on top of Bald Knob.  This view is from the winding road leading to the top.

The Bald Knob Cross

It's quite a sight to behold, and the views from the top are stunningly scenic.

This view I know for sure is in an easterly direction.

This view I know for sure is toward the north.

This view I know is toward the southwest.  The visitors' center is the building that appears in the photo.

I could look all around at the tree tops in the Shawnee National Forest, and on a clear day like I had, I could see to the Mississippi River and the Ohio River and Kentucky.  Something on display there noted that this is the highest point of land in southern Illinois.  It was an awesome experience, combining a symbol of Christian faith with the beauty of the surrounding lane.  It was notable to read about the efforts to construct it, which was an ecumenical effort.

I drove back down the winding road, and then got back to Illinois Route 127, headed north.  I enjoyed passing through small towns and by farm stands along the way.  At the northern edge of Nashville, I pulled off to get dinner at the Little Nashville, a restaurant attached to a truck stop at I-64.  I had an okay dinner of an open-faced hot turkey sandwich, with a great salad bar.

I was done with dinner by about 7 PM, and then made my way to the next destination for the day: Alton, IL.  I wound my way around the St. Louis Metro East Area (#38) to reach Alton and see another of the Lincoln-Douglas debate sites.  There was a brick-paved plaza with a scenic spot in close view of the Mississippi River (#39).

Stephen Douglas appears to the left, and Abraham Lincoln appears to the right.  In the perspective in the photo below, you can see the Mississippi River just to the left of the tall grain elevator with the words "Welcome to Alton".

I really appreciate the person who got this photo of me, taking a short break from helping some people with their luggage across the street.

By 8:30, I was on my way to the final destination of the day, the Sleep Inn in the St. Louis suburb of O'Fallon, IL, where I booked lodgings for the night.  After some directional confusion from missing the right exit twice, I finally got there by 9:30.  Since it is a Choice Hotel, I could count on having a super comfortable bed to sleep in that night.

My phone rang at 7 AM to wake me up.  I then went to attend 8 AM Mass at the Cathedral of St. Peter (#40) in Belleville, IL, (#41) another nearby suburb in the Metro East area.

It has the design of a medieval Gothic cathedral with a narrow nave.  Toward the back, I noticed stained glass windows displaying pieces of Illinois history going back to the 17th Century.

At the altar platform is the ambo and, appearing to the left of it, is the cathedra, the Bishop's seat.

Above is a close-up view of Jesus Christ handing the Keys to St. Peter, and below is a view of the full window.

Above is the window with imagery displaying the history of the US and Illinois.  Below is a close up of imagery from the Illinois State Seal.

At Mass, the cathedral's organist was specially recognized for his impressive 59 years of service.

I went back to the hotel for breakfast.  By 11:30, I had checked out and was on my way to Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site (#42).  It is the location of a large city built by indigenous peoples that flourished between 900-1300.  The site today preserves some of the mounds.

As a means of getting my bearings on what's at the site, I went on a 12:30 guided tour. Our guide did a great job pointing out highlights and noting the significance of the mounds and aspects of the culture of the indigenous people who built it.  He talked about the different types of mounds, and what archaeologists have learned by piecing together what they've unearthed in digs, especially in determining what areas of the site served what purposes.

a plot of native grasses, with the interpretative center in the background

Here's the view looking toward the Twin Mounds.  The whitish path running perpendicular to the main path marks the location a wall that enclosed the main part of the city, including Monks Mounds.

Here's a set-up of the wall.

View of the Twin Mounds

Following the tour, I stopped at the gift shop, and then drove to Woodhenge (#43), which is positioned west of Monks Mound.  When archaeologists excavated the site, they determined large wooden posts had been arranged in a circle there, and a post in the center of the circle was aligned so that the sun would appear to rise over Monks Mound right at that post on the vernal and autumnal equinoxes.  Somehow, the posts blended in to the nearby industrial area to the west, so I drove right past and missed it while headed westbound.

Woodhenge

After visiting Woodhenge, I went back east to walk up to the top of Monks Mound (#44), which was named for Trappist monks who once lived there, well after the heyday of the Cahokia city.

View of Monks Mound from the pathway where we walked during the guided tour.  The field between this path and the mound was a large plaza in the city.

The stairs leading up Monks Mound

This is a level terrace part of the way up to the top of Monks Mound.

The views from the top are quite impressive.  I could even see the St. Louis Skyline with the Gateway Arch.

Here's the view at the top, looking toward the southwest, where you can see the St. Louis Skyline, including the Gateway Arch, appearing near the center of this photo.

At the top, looking toward the north

Here's the view at the top, looking toward the south, with the top of the stairs in the foreground.  Visible on the other side of the road is the large field that was once the plaza, and the interpretative center, appearing toward the left.

View from the top of Monks Mound, looking toward the northeast

I thank the lady with her family who got this photo of me at the top of Monks Mound.

I stopped at a nearby Jack in the Box for lunch, where I ordered a rather tasty Chicken Teriyaki Bowl.  I then made my way to I-55 and headed northward.

I exited at Springfield and went to tour the Lincoln Home (#45), which I had been planning to do back in December when I had a weekend visit to Springfield, but the US government was in shutdown mode then.  I had gone on this tour before almost 20 years ago, and I felt like doing it again so that I could appreciate it at an older age, as well as part of celebrating Illinois's bicentennial.  I got there just in time for the 4:30 tour.  Rene, the NPS ranger, led our tour, and focused on Mary Todd Lincoln (#46), who did much to spiffy up the home as part of giving her husband a prominent image as he made his political strides.  Those efforts were evident in the decorative furnishings in the house, which featured prominently in a journalist's sketches of the home that were to give people outside of Illinois, especially on the East Coast, an idea of who Mr. Lincoln was.  In the kitchen, I learned that the stove was a gift from Abraham to Mary.

The parlor

The dining room

Above and below are pictures of the more informal family room, where the children were allowed to play.

Rene pointed out that this handrailing is original to the time when the Lincoln family lived in this home.  Unlike other parts of the house we weren't allowed to touch, we were encouraged to use the handrail when ascending to the upper floor.

Bed

In the bedroom, toward the right of this photo, is a desk Mr. Lincoln used.

Mrs. Lincoln's bedroom

Above and below are photos of the kitchen.  Rene mentioned the stove was Abraham's gift to Mary.

I'll admit that my first attempt at a "selife" using my new smartphone was a bit botched, and probably out of its context, you wouldn't be able to tell that I'm in the kitchen of the Lincoln Home.  I had just seconds before my tour group was ushered out to make way for the next group, so I did what I could.

Touring the home was another opportunity to appreciate the work the NPS does in preserving notable historic places so that people can experience what it has to offer, especially in coming into contact with the very human side of notable people who made an impact in history, but were also like us in many ways in their day-to-day lives.

I thank the visitor who got this photo of me in front of the Lincoln Home, after which I returned the favor to get a photo of him and his companion.  I believe they were from some German-speaking part of Europe.

The wonderful tour pretty much concluded my sightseeing for this weekend.  I got back on I-55 and headed northward back to Oak Park.

Reflecting on this weekend, I think the most prominent take-away is how much Illinois has to offer.  When I arrived home, the odometer displayed 871.8 miles, and it's amazing to think I did all that driving all within the state of Illinois.  There's great history, fine places big and small, beautiful nature, and amazing views.

Indeed, there's so much wonder to behold in the land that is Illinois.  Far south past the vast flat farm fields are the intricate landscapes around Shawnee National Forest.

And from that land a great city arose and thrived for centuries at Cahokia.

This land is the context from which notable individuals arose like Abraham Lincoln, who went on to shape the course of Illinois, the United States, and even the world.

In our day, we have the chance, in the same way, to draw opportunity from the land.

The odometer read 871.8 miles when I arrived home, demonstrating the many miles of amazing places in Illinois.

I thank the fellow visitor at Bald Knob Cross who got this photo of me.

Continuing the Spirit of 1783

September 3 brings a spirit of celebration like that of July 2 and 4.

The Treaty of Paris 1783, officially concluded the American Revolutionary War on September 3 of that year, by which Britain recognized the independence of the United States.

There is so much in these patriotic celebrations that reminds me of the significance of the people in the US experience.

Sure, there were important leaders who made their mark, but they took their places not necessarily on their own power, but because of the system in place by which the people acted.  Their leadership is the result of the people exercising their power.

The people factor was the main idea in the address Chicago History Museum President Gary Johnson gave at the July 4 ceremony, in lieu of Museum Vice President Russel who passed away earlier in 2019.

Our system of government is not about acknowleding the sole authority of one person, but rather about people coming together.  The seeds were sown years prior to the Declaration of Independence with documents like the Fundamental Orders, as Mr. Johnson noted, which was about people coming together collectively to govern.  And so many other documents espoused the same principle leading up to the formation of the United States.

Even the Declaration itself uses language that speaks of collective action, like when the signers declare independence in the final paragraph, doing so on behalf of the people.

As we celebrate an important day in US history, let us behold what this country is, knowing that it is the result of what the people make of it.  And we continue to make something of it, because our system is designed so that we are involved to make something of it.

These days are truly something for us to celebrate, because it is a reflection of us, the people of the United States.

The Lasting Impact of Values: 10 Years and Beyond

It's a significant time of the year in these 20's days of August, for it was 10 years ago during this time that I commenced my time as a student at Valparaiso University.

I moved in on Saturday, August 22.  On Tuesday, August 25, I began my classes, starting with my Christ College class at 9:05 AM CDT.

In the gap between those days, my college experience started to leave an impactful imprint upon me.

I had spent much of my time up to that point in school, with one grade following another, and one level of school following another.  I went to college thinking I was just taking the next step in my education, not fully conceiving the entire experience and lifestyle I would have living long-term away from home and full-time on the campus of ValpU.

There was a lot on campus outside of classes that would enrich my experience and my life in general.  The first way I experienced this happened on that Sunday morning, August 23.  I went to the lobby of my residence hall, Lankenau, along with other new freshmen students, to meet two older students wearing shirts that read, "Follow Mii to St. Teresa's" with a Mii figure of Jesus.

A few minutes later, they escorted us on a 1-minute walk over to St. Teresa's to attend our very first Mass there at 11 AM.  That one hour totally transformed my life, allowing me to experience faith like I never had before, in a community of people who were passionately loving God and living out faith in a church that was focused on loving and supporting students.  I had had experiences before in Church that were impactful, but attending Mass at St. Teresa's took it to a whole different level.  I was deeply drawn with a strong desire to be part of this kind of community, where I could truly experience God's presence alive.  For my four years at ValpU, St. Teresa's became a very important part of my life.  For one, while I was always drawn to attending Mass, during my college years, Mass was something I was excited about.  And my faith grew in other ways, as I lectored and participated in other spiritual activities there, most especially a service/mission trip to St. Augustine during my 4th year.

I continue to feel the impact of St. Teresa's:  Upon leaving college, I was eager to channel my newfound passion for faith.  I started teaching Religious Education for middle schoolers, eager to inspire faith in the students in my charge, just as I was inspired when their age, and then inspired anew during my college years.  I've continue teaching each year since graduating.  Teaching RE connects me with the times in my life when I was set ablaze with passion for faith.  It indeed touches something deeply profound within me, especially this past year, for when they graduated from 8th grade, I recognized that they were born around the time that I graduated from 8th grade, an occasion that capped a profound character development in my life, just like happened when I was at ValpU.  Indeed, there are many parallels between my years at Julian Middle School and ValpU.

The impact also continues as my relationship with Dan and Ann Ruggaber has not let up one bit.  I enjoy visiting with them when I go back to Valparaiso, and they keep me connected, even as my friends who I knew there have moved on.  It's been a delight celebrating the milestones in each other's lives.

I also have a close group of friends with whom I maintain regular contact.  The friendships I forged with them during those early days at ValpU went to deeper levels than any other friendships I had ever had, the kind of "kindred spirit" friends that my Abuela talks about.

My long-time roommate Zach was one friend I can remember deliberately meeting.  Many of my other friendships just happened to start up because we were near each other and just started striking up conversation.  That is especially the case with my friend Richard.  We were both meteorology majors, and after attending a pre-first day of class session to hear from the professors, we both elected to join a small group tour of the meteorology major areas, led by the staff meteorologist Adam Stepanek.  We then just found ourselves talking--that's the only way I can really explain how our friendship started, that it just happened.

So in just those couple of days before classes officially started, ValpU already started having an enormous impact on me, and that set me up for the impact my classes would.  As I reflect 10 years later from when I started at ValpU, I think about what stood out most, the values-based education I would get there.  The noble values of learning with purpose really resonated with me.  It's kind of something I experienced in middle school, when I could see how my education would connect with life at large and gave it meaning.  After 4 years of high school that seriously lacked a strong connection with values, I really flourished in the college environment, where our learning was driven with values and purpose.

Those values were embedded into the design of the shield that debuted as part of the new brand launched at the start of my 2nd year.  And they were presented ceremoniously each year at the opening convocation in the late afternoon of the first day of classes.

And what a grand feeling it was for me on my first day of college to process into the Chapel.  While my high school graduation ceremony may have been called a "commencement ceremony", walking into the Chapel with the other freshmen for the opening convocation really felt like a commencement ceremony.  I was being welcomed into a community driven with purpose, and I strongly felt the sense of welcome everywhere.

I really flourished in that environment, as the experience touched me inside in so many ways.  And that is why the impact continues.

For What It Is and What It's Worth

Today is the release date of Unplanned on DVD and Blu-ray.  It causes me to think of the flurry of activity over the past year pertaining to the debate on abortion, which ramped up like never before when Supreme Court Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy announced his retirement and President Trump nominated Brett Kavanaugh to replace him.

Then it led to a flurry of laws expanding abortion provisions like never before, which unfortunately happened in an extreme way in Illinois.  I did my part to make sure it didn't happen without a fight, even keeping an eye on my e-mail inbox as Illinois Right of Life alerted me to fill out witness slips for hearings on the legislation held during Memorial Day Weekend.  Later in June, after Governor Pritzker signed the legislation into law, I was heartened to help support the sanctity of life by attending a banquet hosted by Stars for Life, the pro-life student group at Dominican University, which got pushback from the university regarding one of their displays on abortion.  They did a great job with the banquet, even done to the fine details.  I was glad to be there especially as a Dominican alumnus.  They certainly got a big-name speaker, Joe Scheidler, who spoke about his many years of pro-life advocacy, ever since that day he was convinced to skip watching football and attend a gathering to uphold the sanctity of life, an experience that truly opened his eyes.

Having eyes opened to the truth was a big part of Unplanned, an intense and powerful movie.  It was amazing to watch Abby Johnson's life unfold in various twists and turns, as she became so engrossed in Planned Parenthood's mission, moving from volunteer to clinic director, advocating fiercely for the organization and superbly selling abortions.  Yet she eventually came to differ with the leadership, as she saw Planned Parenthood's purpose as being about women's healthcare, but the leadership was more focused on increasing abortions with the purpose of making a profit.

The movie opens with Abby Johnson in the procedure room observing an abortion for the first time in her many years at Planned Parenthood.  Seeing what actually happens was enough to trigger her stance on abortion, as she saw the great harm it does.  And the movie certainly had some intense scenes displaying the realities of abortion.  Another intense scene took place before Abby became director, when a high school-aged teen came in for a procedure, which the abortionist botched, triggered a crisis situation.  Even in that frightening situation, the director, Sheryl, told Abby they shouldn't call an ambulance for fear that the pro-life people outside the clinic would use that against the clinic.  Then Sheryl told Abby to offer an untruthful explanation to the father in the waiting area, again emphasizing how twisted people become in having to cover up for abortion.

There was talk about how the movie's R-rating was intended to hurt the movie's success, but in a way back-fired because it validated the violent nature of abortion.  Furthermore, the movie was immensely successful during opening weekend, and I was glad to see it on opening day to contribute to that success.  It has been successful despite many on the pro-abortion side seeking to discredit the film.

Seeing abortion for what it is and its negative impacts was at the heart of the movie Gosnell: The Trial of America's Biggest Serial Killer, which tells the story of the trial of Dr. Kermit Gosnell on charges related to negligent care in his abortion facility and murdering babies who were born alive.  I watched it in February after it came out on Blu-ray and DVD.  It was amazing to see how the drama unfolded starting with a drug investigation of Dr. Gosnell's office, known as the House of Horrors, which then led law enforcement officials to uncover disturbing evidence of the terrible things that happened in his efforts to provide abortions to women.  There were parts of the movie that were very intense when getting into the nitty-gritty of the evidence.  Bringing such a case to trial was a potent matter, as reflected by how one of the judges said she would refuse to sign off on the grand jury report if it was about abortion explicitly.

The movie demonstrates what happens in a society that compromises the sanctity of life, especially the preborn.  If we don't value the preborn, we can dehumanize them, which can then justify all sorts of wrongs can be inflicted on them.  It can lead to extreme cases like Dr. Gosnell being negligent toward patients and killing babies born alive.  I couldn't help but notice how much he cared for the pets he had in the aquarium in the office, but didn't show that same level of care consistently for his patients, even with his claims that he was helping provide abortion services for people who needed it in a low-income area of Philadelphia.  It's also telling how the Governor of Pennsylvania suspended inspections of abortion facilities, which led to matters getting out of control.

The Gosnell movie also addressed how the mainstream media largely ignored the trial at first, only to flock to the courtroom once a blogger exposed their bias.  It speaks to how people who support abortion will do anything to prevent the unsavory side of it to be exposed for fear that it will lead to greater restrictions.

It is amazing to think of how the filmmakers of both movies overcome so much in getting to the finished products.  Certainly, having sufficient money was a hurdle to overcome.  And also in the case of the Gosnell movie, it was an intense battle to get the movie shown in theaters, speaking to the lengths abortion proponents will go to cover up for abortion.

Indeed, as the struggle against abortion continues, it's important for people to see abortion for what it really is, because that can make all the difference.  And it's just as important for people to see the beauty and value of life, even for preborn people.

I am very pleased to have been part of the Knights of Columbus for just over a year now, because of the compassionate efforts this prestigious organization undertakes.  At the National March for Life in Washington, D.C., back in January, Supreme Knight Carl Anderson talked about the new milestone in the Knights' Ultrasound Initiative, having placed the 1000th ultrasound machine.  I read an article in the Columbia magazine, which shared stories of women who, in the midst of pregnancy crises, decided to see their babies to birth because of the impact of seeing their babies' ultrasound images, which was made possible by donations to this initiative that funded the machines at the facilities they went to.

Seeing those ultrasound images allows us to see the babies for who they are, and to appreciate how each person is unique from day one, which was the theme for the 2019 Chicago March for Life.  Cardinal Cupich talked about how this should stir a sense of wonder in us, leading us to value these lives and nurture them.  There were powerful testimonies offered at the March, by a client for Aid for Women, and then from Ryan Bomberger, who was conceived in rape.  Each testimony spoke to the value of life as being worth defending, as did the many signs, like "Make Babies Great Again."

At the 2019 Chicago March for Life, Cardinal Cupich speaks.

At the same March in Chicago, an Aid for Women client speaks, while holding her daughter.

Ryan Bomberger speaks at the 2019 Chicago March for Life.

Above and below are the Marchers, testifying that all life is unique from day one.

Indeed, the preborn and their parents need defending, especially when the parents lack the resources to support their children.

That's what actress Ashley Bratcher emphasized in her keynote address on May 1 at the Aid for Women Spring Evening dinner 2019.  She spoke in such a heartfelt way about supporting the preborn and their parents, especially when the parents lack the necessary resources.

It was such a pleasure to hear her in person after having seen Unplanned, and to meet her afterwards--as I remarked to her, I'm fairly certain this was the first time I ever met a real actress.  She quipped that she has a job like everyone else, to which I responded her job just happens to lead to her face being everywhere.

She had quite a journey to becoming a star.  In her life's struggles to achieve greatness, when things didn't turn out quite the way she intended, she came to the realization of how important it is to prioritize God in her life, which made the difference.

And she herself offers a testimony of the sanctity of life:  While in the midst of filming the movie, Ashley's mom told her that she scheduled an abortion, only to pull out of it toward the last minute, and then gave birth to Ashley.  That's an intense story that speaks to what we have to offer to enhance the world when we give each life a chance to live.

Ashley has become such a champion for the sanctity of life since starring as Abby Johnson in the movie Unplanned.  When she was in the period of time leading from auditions to the filming, she got to know Abby Johnson very well, and came to be compelled by Abby's story.

One of the most powerful parts of Unplanned was seeing God's amazing grace at work in the life of Abby, who thought she was helping women in her work at Planned Parenthood as were the other employees who worked at her clinic, but then came face to face with the reality of abortion in an intense way.  God's amazing grace also helped her through the struggle with immense grief over what she had done, as was the support of her family, who constantly sought to see her turn away from Planned Parenthood.  In fact, the Sunday liturgy of Unplanned's opening weekend was the story in Luke 15 of the son who leaves home and squanders his father's inheritance.   The story in Unplanned was truly a great modern-day depiction of that parable.  Indeed, it was amazing to see how overjoyed Abby's parents were when she called to announce the good news she had quit Planned Parenthood, joy that I sensed even surpassed the news she was pregnant with her daughter.  It was joy that arose from the heartbreak of confronting the reality of abortion.  It was incredible to see how eagerly she jumped into supporting the sanctity of life, with ardency based on her first-hand experiences at an abortion clinic.

As the work continues to uphold the sanctity of life, I pray that God will clear our vision to see the value of every life, especially the preborn, and work to create a world where those lives can be nourished and truly support the parents with life-affirming alternatives.  I pray that we continue to be inspired to see the value of life as something worthy of being defended.

Above and below are photos of Ashley Bratcher speaking at the Aid for Women Spring Evening on May 1, 2019.

Someone at the dinner got this photo of me with Ashley Bratcher.

New Outlooks Around Me on the Pleasant Peninsula

I firmly believe that travel is life-changing when I take the time to really look at what's around me.

And so the possibilities abounded when I departed Oak Park around 9:15 AM CDT on Saturday, July 13, for a weekend road trip in Michigan.

About an hour and a half later, around 11:45 AM EDT, my journey on Interstate 94 brought me to a sign that welcomed me to Pure Michigan, my first time in Michigan in 14 years.  It gives me pause to think that half of life as of this point had elapsed since I was last there, despite the relative closeness to home.  Having that realization settle upon me was just the start of how I got a whole new outlook on life during this weekend trip.

About an hour later, I stopped just outside Portage, MI, for lunch at Culver's, enjoying a nice, limited time only Strawberry Fields salad with grilled chicken.  I gassed up and then headed back onto I-94, determined to stay on track to reaching Lansing in time for a later afternoon tour of the Michigan State Capitol, yet recognizing I would be back in Portage later.

I exited I-496 and drove around in the downtown streets, until I found a parking space on Allegan Street between the Capitol complex and the Charles E. Chamberlain Federal Building.  I walked to the capitol entrance, arriving in time for the start of the 2:30 tour.  I couldn't help but notice how deserted downtown Lansing appeared, even though the city, in general, had a rather prominent feel for a medium to large-sized city.

A docent named John led our tour:  He started us off in an orientation room with a short spiel, and then we made our way to the rotunda, where there are replica battle flags on display from Michigan regiments.

You can see the battle flags on the level of the rotunda just above the glass floor.

Looking up into the rotunda

Looking out from the balcony one level above the rotunda glass floor

(Please note, all photos in this post are mine unless otherwise noted.)

From there, we looked at the Governor's Room, please see the photo below, which serves a more ceremonial purpose nowadays, since the governor's primary office is across Capitol Street in the George W. Romney Building.

Then we went to view the state House of Representatives chamber, please see the photo below, where we also learned about procedural matters.

In the ceiling of the House chamber are the 50 state seals, and the Great Seal of the US.

The Great Seal of the United States

Toward the top of this photo, from left to right, are the seals of Florida, Michigan, and Illinois.

We were unable to view the Senate chamber, which was closed for construction work, part of an effort to covert the capitol's energy systems to geothermal energy, but you can see pictures of it here.

We concluded with a visit to the former Supreme Court Chamber--please see the photo below--which is now used as a committee room, but is still where the Supreme Court has its formal opening of each new yearly session.

After the tour concluded around 4 PM, I lingered around in Lansing for a while, getting pictures outside the capitol, walking over to the Grand River, and then walking around the capitol.

As John, the docent, was walking out of the capitol, he kindly granted my request for a photo in front of the capitol.

The Grand River

It was around 4:30 when I got back in Avila and headed to my next destination, tracing my path back to Portage, MI, where I had stopped earlier.

I got sidetracked when I didn't get off at the right exit, but I got myself turned back in the right direction eventually.  It was around 6:15 when I pulled into the driveway of my cousins' home in Portage.

Greg and Melissa are a truly wonderful couple, and I always enjoy visiting with them.  I was glad that I had an opportunity to be in their neck of the woods, and could make it part of this Michigan weekend.

Upon arriving, they were enjoying the warm day outdoors, and their three children, Ava, Emma, and Micah, were playing outside along with some neighborhood children.

As Greg finished grilling hot dogs and hamburgers for dinner, Melissa requested that Ava and Emma give me a tour of the home.  They showed me around the rooms on the main level and then took me downstairs where we ended up in the guest bedroom, which would be my accommodations for the night.

Then, Melissa called out that it was dinnertime.  All six of us gathered at the table in their kitchen.  After Ava led us in prayer, we enjoyed the grilled food.  Later on, a bowl of mixed fruit came to the table, with lots of sweet peaches and berries.  All throughout dinner, Greg told the children about my travels for this weekend.  He mentioned how I went to Lansing to see the state capitol, and then prompted Ava to ask me what the capitol is, which led to my discussing civics with them.  Then he mentioned about my plans to travel to Grand Rapids the next day, which is the area where Emma was born.  And then Greg brought up my library work, which gave me a chance to talk about what I do, and a way to take delight in it.  Greg mentioned to Ava that we get shipments day after day, which makes every day like "Christmas".  I was glad that I was able to make connections with them based on what's happening with me.

Following dinner, I played a memory card game with Ava and Emma that had a Dora the Explorer theme.  As their bedtime drew near, Ava and Emma requested I read them a bedtime story.  I'm pretty certain it was Ava who selected the book Hans in Luck, a Grimm brothers' story.  If there was a highlight to this magical evening, I think it was definitely sitting on that couch right between Ava and Emma, reading them a book, which touched me deeply in so many ways.  It gave me new insight into helping form lifelong readers, which connects with my work as a librarian, as I made my small contribution in reading this one book to them.  I was also so delighted that establish rapport with Ava and Emma, to the point that they would request I read them a book.  And I was able to experience a strong sense of familial love in the act of reading them a book.

Greg took this picture of me with Ava, on the left, and Emma, on the right in the strawberry pajamas.

As Ava and Emma went to bed, serenaded by Melissa's beautiful singing, Greg and I visited, and then we took a loop walk around their neighborhood.  Upon returning, I took time to settle in, and then I joined Greg and Melissa for some dessert, a peach crisp.  They offered to make some homemade ice cream in their ice cream maker.  We spent a while visiting and talking about things going on before we three went to bed.

I was up early the next morning, and visited with Greg over breakfast.  Around 7:40, I departed, feeling so uplifted by a truly wonderful visit.  Visiting with the five of them in the course of the evening was truly profound and magical.  It reminds me of what Pope Francis discussed in his homily at the Concluding Mass of the 2015 World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia: "Faith opens a 'window' to the presence and working of the Spirit. It shows us that, like happiness, holiness is always tied to little gestures....These little gestures are those we learn at home, in the family....They are little signs of tenderness, affection, and compassion....Love is shown by little things, by attention to small daily signs which make us feel at home.  Faith grows when it is lived and shaped by love. That is why our families, our homes, are true domestic churches. They are the right place for faith to become life, and life to grow in faith."  Greg and Melissa truly make Christ a cornerstone of their family, and the love I sensed during my visit at their home is truly borne of faith in the God Who loves us so much.  In the midst of everything I have going on in life, for a few precious hours, I found myself so present in the moment, recognizing God present in the living out of family life in the Steinsdoerfer home.

The air had a delightful, cool, and refreshing feel to it, and I soaked it in by keeping the windows down as I drove due north on US 131 toward the Gerald Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids.  I arrived there Grand Rapids just after 8:30, in time for the wreath placing ceremony at the gravesite of Mr. and Mrs. Ford.  Susan Ford Bales, their daughter, offered introductory remarks.  There were several wreaths placed, one on behalf of the President, another on behalf of the Ford family, another on behalf of local law enforcement officials, and another on behalf of the crew of the USS Ford ship.  It was a dignified scene as the members of each group quietly placed the wreaths and adorned them with additional flowers.  It is customary for the President of the United States to have a wreath placed at the grave of deceased presidents on their birthdays.  After Mr. Ford passed away in 2006, Mrs. Ford requested the annual placing of a wreath at his grave in Grand Rapids, which is carried on by the Ford descendants.

Susan Ford Bales offered the welcoming remarks.

The Boy Scouts present the colors after Susan spoke.  The Boy Scouts counts Gerald Ford as one of their members, and he attained the rank of Eagle Scout.

Crewmembers of the USS Gerald Ford place their wreath.

Later, I took this photo of all the wreaths lined up at the gravesite.  So far as I remember, the wreaths are, from left to right, on behalf of law enforcement, the family descendants of Gerald and Betty Ford, the President of the United States, and the USS Gerald Ford.

Something mentioned in the remarks offered was the motto of the USS Gerald Ford: "Integrity at the helm", which embodies an important character trait Gerald Ford display throughout his life, and I was to get a greater sense of the values he demonstrated in his life when I visited the museum exhibits later.

The ceremony was over around 9:30.  I then decided to drive to the Cathedral of St. Andrew to attend 10 AM Mass.  Inside, I looked up in the ceiling and saw stars, which reminded me of the stars in the dome of the Michigan State Capitol.  As I drove around to and from the Cathedral, I got a sense of Grand Rapids as a city with a prominent feel.

The exterior of the Cathedral of St. Andrew

The altar area inside the Cathedral

The stars in the ceiling of the Cathedral

Following Mass, I stopped for some food at a taco place called Adobe and then at Tim Horton's.

I returned to the Ford Museum shortly after noon to visit the exhibits.  I was delighted to see that in celebration of Gerald Ford's birthday, there was free admission.

This is the third NARA presidential museum I've visited, and like the others, it's fascinating to see all the items from the president's life on display.  I get a real sense of the person and his experiences that highlight the information in the displays.

There were many items related to athletic team participation, the desk from his days as a member of Congress, and lots of commemorative items from the Bicentennial of US independence, which happened in the final year of his presidency.

It was also intriguing for me to get a better sense of the tragicomic shenanigans of the Watergate scandal that propelled him into the presidency.  And it was fascinating to see the paperwork related to the major events from his becoming vice president into the early weeks of his presidency.  While all this happened before my time, seeing the exhibits at the museum about his presidency gave me a sense of the times in which my parents' generation came of age.

Here is a display about his earliest years.  He was born Leslie Lynch King, Jr., but got his new name after his mom remarried.

Above and below are displays about his service on the USS Monterey.  There is a plane behind a screen of sorts.

Here's a display on Betty Ford.  She wore the black dress on her wedding day.

Gerald R. Ford's Congressional Desk

This display has artifacts from when he became vice president.  Toward the bottom is the swearing-in Bible.

President Ford was the first sitting US president to visit Japan.  During that trip, he received this vase. 

Display of commemorative items from the Bicentennial of the United
States and its Independence in 1976

Model of the USS Gerald Ford

Gerald Ford's Profile in Courage Award

This piece of the Berlin Wall on dispaly on the first level of the museum.  You can see the exhibits in the level above.

As is typical for the presidential museums, there is a model of the oval office from the time of that president's administration, as you can see in the two photos below.

The Ford Museum also has a replica of the cabinet room, as shown in the two photos below.

There was a special temporary exhibit featuring photos by David Hume Kennerly, the official White House photographer during the Ford administration.

I spent nearly 4 1/2 hours soaking in everything, shortly before 5 PM, I walked outside to view the gravesite again.  It's a splendid setting with the museum set right along the Grand River in the heart of Grand Rapids.

I also made sure to pose for photos with Gerald Ford and Betty Ford, who is #32 on my second Illinois 200 list, since she was born in Chicago.  She moved with her family to Grand Rapids, MI, as a young child.

Above is me by Gerald Ford, and below is me by Betty Ford.  I thank those nearby who I stopped to request they take my photo.

By 5:30, I was on my way southwest back to Oak Park.  I stopped near Holland for some cherry pie and peaches at Dutch Farm Market, right off I-94.  And I continued along I-94 until I reached the Jane Byrne-Circle Interchange and after a short drive on I-290, I was home in Oak Park around 8 PM CDT.

As I reflect on this weekend in Michigan, it amazes me to think of the wonderful experience I had after having been away from Michigan for 14 years.  And just a couple hours or so away from home, I was able to encounter so many wonderful experiences.  I was able to tap into deep-seated interests when visiting the Michigan State Capitol and the Gerald Ford museum.  It was also so special that I have a family connection now in Michigan and that added a richly meaningful touch to my weekend.

Indeed, as is stated in Michigan's state motto, I went to a pleasant peninsula and looked around me to gain a new outlook on who I am.