East Coast Historic Tour - Day #2

If you don't have a fondness for American History, save your pennies, and come on this trip with me next year!! As day #2 draws to a close, I'm reminded once again why I teach US History!

Today, we were able to visit Williamsburg and Jamestown, Virginia.

Williamsburg was the capitol of Virginia while under British rule. Established as the capitol in 1699, this town has seen the likes of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, George Wythe, Peyton Randolph, and many more. The town has been rebuilt to portray life as it was in Colonial America. Many of the buildings and homes have been rebuilt, but with the artifacts, journals, and other historical information they have gathered, you really get the sense of what life was like for many Americans who were subjected to live under British rule. Williamsburg is also (as far as I know) the only place in America that another nations flag is flown apart from the American flag; as you will see in the pictures below.

We also got a chance to visit and walk the campus of The College of William and Mary (established in 1693). No disrespect to Azusa Pacific (trust me, I love my school), but if I could do it all over again, I would have attended William and Mary. There is so much history to this school. George Washington started and ended his career at this school, Presidents Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe, and John Tyler attended the school, Benjamin Franklin was the first to be given an honorary degree, the school served as a hospital during the Revolutionary War, and at the outbreak of the Civil War, most of the professors and students joined the Confederate Army! Wow!!

We then finished our day with a tour of the Jamestown settlement (Indian village, fort, and the 3 ships that brought the original settlers to America). What you need to know is that the settlement has been recreated in its entirety. The original site that the settlers established has been closed to the public due to a recent hurricane. Regardless, to still be in the area that was the first permanent English settlement in America and where our nation began is astounding! It brings to life the stories of John Smith, John Rolfe, and Pocahontas to life (please do not get your history from Disney). You are going to have to forgive me, but I have no pictures of Jamestown as my camera battery died on me 1/2 way through our tour of Williamsburg (enter my scream of frustration here)...so unfortunately, I will only be able to share a little bit of my day with you, visually.

As for all of us weary travelers, we are well rested and doing good. There are only a couple of students I would like to put in the stocks and leave behind...just kidding, but not really. If I was frustrated that easily, I would have gotten out of teaching after my first year...I love these kids! To my students at home...I still love you too!

Stay tuned, as tomorrow we are going to see Monticello (Thomas Jefferson's home), and then head into Washington DC. It's gonna be a great day!!

Here's a bit of what we saw today...I promise to make up for the lack of pictures tomorrow:
1. The capitol building in Williamsburg.
2. British flag flying alone atop the capitol.
3. The courtroom
4. House of Burgesses; Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry spoke of the ideals of Independence in this very room.
5. Colonial-style home; for the upper class of course.
6. Blackbeard; the most famous of the prisoners to have been housed in the Williamsburg jail.
7. Jail cell; which could have housed up to 20-30 prisoners at one time!
8. Playing a colonial game called "trapball"; notice the ball on the ground...that's why I played football...sorry dad, I tried to make you proud.
9. Cameron and Jessica's new home...what do you think babe?! Wanna move to Williamsburg?

East Coast Historic Tour - Day #1

Hello from Williamsburg, Virginia!

We arrived safely this morning at 6:00 AM (EST)...actually, it was 3:00 AM, and boy did it feel like it. I have never been one to sleep on planes. If there was ever a time when I needed to sleep on a flight, it was this one. Well, I didn't get any sleep and once we hit the ground, we were off and rolling! Once I started to see signs like "Manassas" (site of the first major battle of the Civil War), "Fredricksburg" (another Civil War battle), and Richmond, VA, I got very excited and the historical adrenaline kicked in.

We started our day by heading to Richmond, Virginia to St. Johns Episcopal Church. This is the site where Patrick Henry issued his famous speech, "Give me Liberty, or Give me Death!" We were treated to a re-enactment of the Second Virginia Assembly with the likes of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Richard Henry Lee, and of course, Patrick Henry. What an amazing presentation! No pictures were allowed, but as you can see, it is a beautiful church (established in 1611 as a parish, and in 1741, an official church). Buried in the cemetary are a couple notable individuals...George Wythe (signer of the Declaration of Independence), and Edgar Allan Poe's mother.

We then headed to Yorktown, Virginia, site of the last major battle of the Revolutionary War. We were able to get out and walk the battlefield, see some of the redoubts, trenches, and cannon used in the battle. Amazing to think that men died on this battlefield so that I could live in a free country. Also, just down the road was "Surrender Field". This is where the British officially surrendered to the American and French forces, under the leadership of George Washington.

Check out the last picture...this is an actual cannon ball from the battle at Yorktown that was lodged into the side of the house and never removed!

It was quite an amazing day, and we've only just touched the surface of what we are going to see.

I am the Luckiest man on the planet

1 Corinthians 13:7,8a says, "[Love] bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails."

There is not much to say other than I am one of the luckiest, most blessed men on the face of the planet. I have a gorgeous wife who loves me so much and has given to me two beautiful daughters. I thank the Lord everyday for the gift He has given me in Jessica. I love you Pookey!

Getting Very Excited!

I don't know if I was able to share this before, but I wanted to let you know that I have the opportunity to travel to the east coast with my school. We will be traveling between the 17th and 28th of February. We will be seeing places like the Jamestown settlement and fort (the first permanent English settlement in America), Williamsburg (the capitol of Virginia while under British control; the only place in America to fly the British flag apart from the American flag), Mt. Vernon and Monticello (George Washington and Thomas Jefferson's estates), various buildings and monuments in and around Washington D.C. (White House, Capitol, Supreme Court, Lincoln/Vietnam/WWII/and FDR memorials, and the Pentagon to name only a few), Amish country, Philadelphia, Independence Hall (home of the Declaration of Independence and Constitution), the Liberty Bell, Betsy Ross' house, and we finish our trip in New York City (Statue of Liberty, ground zero, Wall Street, the theatre district to take in a broadway show, and Trinity Church).
I wish I could list all of the things that we are going to see and do, but you don't have that much time to sit and read your computer. So here is what I'm gonna do...mark your calendars to get day-by-day updates while I am on the trip. Every night, I will update my blog with what we did and saw that day along with a few pictures for your viewing pleasure. I will do my best to bring my experience to you. I am very excited every time I get to go on this trip, as Washington D.C. is my "Mecca"...oops, forgive me, I mean...my "Jerusalem".

Daddy's Little Warriors

I just wanted to share a couple of pictures of my girls. Needless to say, I've got some fans...my little Warriors.

Happy New Year!

And what a good start to the year it has been. As far as the New Year's holiday, it was a great time! Family, food, and of course, FOOTBALL...all day long football!! I had a wonderful time off with my family. I absolutely love spending those days with my girls. We had a great time playing at Papa and Mimi's house with all of the cousins. My sister Carrie and her family were able to come down from Oregon and spend a week with us (one of the few occasions the entire Stevens' family was together).

I'm back at school now too. It has been a great start to a new semester. I love my job! I have a lot of fun with my students and colleagues. I never feel it is just a job. Everyday is different and to teach US History everyday is a blast...especially right now...I am teaching the Civil War, one of my favorite time periods (stay tuned for a special blog about the Civil War).

On the football front, it has been busy! I've been calling schools, coaches, finalizing our schedule for next season, organizing our football sheds (holy schmoly), and various other things. Once and a while, I can hear in the background, the laughter of one Laing Stevens. We had our football banquet this past Saturday, and as my dad "passed the torch", he said to me, "It's all yours now."...emphasis on the ALL! You know that feeling when you think you are prepared for something, and in reality, your not...welcome to being a Head Coach! Please don't get me wrong, I am absolutely loving it and things haven't really started yet, and I know it will get better as the days, weeks, months, and years go on, but it has been an interesting initiation over the last couple of weeks.

Well, I think that's about it for now. Thanks for stopping by, and remember...

Love the Lord with all your heart,
Take pride in your country, and
Go Warriors!

Merry Christmas and Happy Festivus!!