Washington D.C. - March 2016

In September 2015, Vonage acquired iCore which is located in McLean, VA. iCore's business is the same principle as what the Vonage business does in Phoenix, so I have made a couple of trips to Northern VA in the last few months. On my March trip, I decided to fly out a day early to take advantage of spending a day in Washington, D.C. since I have never been before.

I flew in on Saturday night, March 19th, and arrived at DCA around 7pm. I took a cab to my hotel, and as I was driving I realized I wasn't going to be walking anywhere from my hotel. I had assumed D.C. was a lot like NYC in that people would be out and I could venture out and find something for dinner. I decided to get an Uber and I had put in the destination as The National Mall (also thinking that there would be people walking around the monuments). We arrived there, and it was pitch black so my driver was nice enough to drive me to Verizon Center (where the Wizards play) and fortunately there was a lot of activity around that area. As I was walking around, I saw a restaurant called Matchbox - I had heard the flight attendant talking about this restaurant on the plane so decided to give it a try. I just sat at the bar and ordered a pizza - it was good and a place I would visit again.

Chinatown

After dinner, I found a place called Red Velvet. Got a cupcake and then got an Uber back to my hotel (it was a cold night and raining as well).

Saturday morning I slept in a little but was still out of my apartment a little after 9. I forgot that was still super early on a weekend in a city.

I had breakfast at the Protein Bar - a little breakfast and lunch place I found online. This was a peanut butter oatmeal.

I then got a coffee at this coffee shop - in the window it says "Proudly Independent & Locally Owned" - my type of place.

From there I walked to the White House museum and spent a couple of hours in there. There was a lot of information and I didn't make it through it all. That is a place you could easily spend a half a day if you took the time to read everything.

I thought it was interesting that the White House used to have a lap pool.

Magnolia tree outside of the White House grounds.

Around early afternoon I met up with my friend Craig. He recently moved to the D.C. area. It was good to catch up and also have a tour guide. We spent most of the afternoon walking all the monuments.

I was there for the first day of the cherry blossom festival. Some of the blossoms were starting to bloom - 4 days later was considered the peak bloom.

After a while of walking around, we went to lunch at The Hamilton. I had a great salad, and it was also nice to warm up for a while.

After lunch we were going to walk around some more, however, it was cold outside and getting to be later in the afternoon so I decided to go back to my hotel and pick up my luggage and get an Uber out to McLean where I was staying for the rest of the week.

This was a good initial visit to D.C., but I for sure still have a lot to see and do there.

Tonto Natural Bridge

A couple of Sunday's ago (April 24th), Dave and I did a day trip hike up to Tonto Natural Bridge. I had been there a couple of times as a kid, and Dave never been. 

There are 4 trails total - we hiked down the Anna Mae trail. These are very simple, non-strenuous trails.

Perfect time of year for wildflowers and butterflies.

Under the bridge.

The pictures don't show it well, but this was a neat waterfall.

Side plank on the bridge.

After we were done at the bridge we went to The Honey Stand but it was closed so we drove back to Phoenix and had lunch at Flower Child.

Prayer of Covenant Renewal

O righteous God, for the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, see me as I bow down before you. Before all heaven and earth, I here acknowledge you as my Lord and God. I take you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, for my portion, and vow to give up myself, body and soul, as your beloved servant,
to serve you in holiness and righteousness all the days of my life. You have given the Lord Jesus Christ as the only way of being reconciled to the Father. Jesus, I do here on bended knees accept Christ as the only living Way, Truth, and Life, and sincerely join myself in a covenant with him.

O blessed Jesus, I come to you hungry, sinful, miserable, blind, and naked, unworthy even to wash the feet of your servants. Forgive my unfaithfulness in not having done your will, for you have promised mercy and grace to me if I turn to you with my whole heart. You require that I put away all my idols and I now with all my heart renounce them all, covenanting with you that no known sin shall reign in my life as you alone bear that title of Lord. Against your will, I have turned my love toward the world. In your power I will watch all temptations that will lead me away from you. For my own righteousness is riddled with sin, unable to stand before you.

All your laws are holy, just, and good and I therefore take your Word as the rule for my words, thoughts, and actions, promising that I will strive to order my whole life according to your direction, and not allow myself to neglect anything I know to be pleasing to you. I yield myself to the leading of Your Spirit in my life and invite Him to search and know me that I may live a life of increasing faithfulness and devotion to my Savior. I do here covenant with you, O Christ, to take my lot with you as it may fall. Through your grace I know that neither life nor death shall part me from you.

O God, you know that I make this covenant with you today without guile or reservation. If any falsehood should be in it, guide me and help me to set it aright. And now, glory be to you, O God the Father, whom I from this day forward shall look upon as my God and Father. Glory be to you, O God the Son, who loves me and washed me from my sins in your own blood, and now is my Savior and Redeemer. Glory be to you, O God the Holy Spirit, who by your almighty power have turned my heart from sin to God. O mighty God, the Lord Omnipotent, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, you have now become my Friend. And, I, through your infinite grace, have become your covenant servant and your beloved child. And let this covenant which I declare now be resounded in the heavens to proclaim the wonder of what you have done through your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom we pray all of these things.

Amen.