Capitol Tour Tag-Alongs
Ray and I hugged our sweet Henry and his folks yesterday morning and headed west for the Midwest Parent Educators Conference in Kansas City. The clouds were so ominous that we got out our travel weather radio to see if we should expect them to start spinning. The rain was so heavy that we pulled off the Interstate for a little while to wait for it to let up.
Though we were scheduled to meet with homeschooling moms and children yesterday afternoon in Independence, we decided that if we hurried we could detour to Jefferson City and take a quick tour of the Missouri state capitol. As we headed south, we were thankful that we hadn’t come that way any earlier. Hail was so thick along the roadside that I wondered at first if it was snow!
We couldn’t find a parking spot close to the capitol. Since the scene outside the car looked like this, we decided that our first task was to buy an umbrella.
My brave husband went out into the rain in his Tilley, letting me have a few more dry moments. He found one in the second store he tried and we headed out in the cold, cold rain.
to get the mail without wearing his winter Tilley or his summer Tilley.
He doesn’t play in the backyard with his grandchildren without one either!
When we got to the capitol, we climbed its beautiful tall steps.
The legislature is in session so the inside was bustling! Yesterday was Disability Rights Legislation Day 2014, so a stage was set up in the rotunda where people were making speeches–loud ones with loud cheers! It was great to see democracy in action.
I had called ahead to be sure that tours would be held as usual yesterday, not knowing about the special day, but just in case there was something unusual going on. I was assured that tours were held every twenty minutes this time of year. The people at the tour desk had a different story about the frequency of tours, but if we didn’t mind going along with a group of school children, we could join a tour in about fifteen minutes — if the group showed up. Otherwise, we’d have to do the walking tour on our own.
They did show up and we enjoyed our tour. I like to see beautiful art and architecture. I was not disappointed. Ray and I are on a quest to see as many state capitols as we can and we found the Missouri capitol one of the prettiest we have visited.
Our tour guide was great and so were the children, but I was disappointed with the mothers who served as chaperones. I guess there were eight or ten of them and I only remember one showing an interest in what the guide was showing us. Instead they talked among themselves.
As we entered the stately House Lounge with its wonderful floor-to-ceiling murals of Missouri history by Thomas Hart Benton, one mom sat down and started using her smart phone. History lover that I am I could hardly stand it. I am sad that the children showed more respect for the tour guide, their state capitol, and their history than most of the mothers seemed to do. I think they could have taken a lesson from the pioneer mother below.
You are like the pioneer mother. I am thankful for you and the sacrifices you are making for your children. You are blessing to them each day.
The Missouri state capitol is a reminder of times when faith was a bigger part of our public life. I am thankful for the way you make it a big part of your children’s lives.
Many words of encouragement written in gold decorate the capitol walls, including:
LORD GOD OF HOSTS BE WITH US YET — LEST WE FORGET
These words from Psalm 24:1 and Proverbs 14:34 are there, as well:
THE EARTH IS THE LORDS AND THE FULLNESS THEREOF
and
RIGHTEOUSNESS EXALTETH A NATION
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