Thursday, June 07, 2007

Off to Virginia!

Don't fall off your chair - yes, we're finally updating!!! : )

We're going to Virginia next week for the Jamestown Quadracentennial. We would not be going except that I (Jessica) have been involved in Vision Forum's The Jamestown 400: Our National Treasure Hunt. Click on the link to read more about it.

I started the hunt because I heard about the codes, and I love solving codes and puzzles! After finding the secret website, I didn't want to stop! There was an intriguing story line, combined with learning history and cracking codes. Some clues were harder than others; I was practically stumped on some, but I had a lot of help! Mom, Dad and Julia all helped, and I found a forum where other sleuths helped each other (giving little nudges, but no direct answers).

I am very glad I could do this hunt; I learned so much! I learned much about the founding of our nation than I ever knew before! I also learned to practice patience, and to persevere even when the clues looked impossible!

It's amazing to see God's hand in the forming of America. Even though it is not a Christian nation, it was founded on Christian principles by Christian people. It's something that many people today don't want to acknowledge, which shows how far America has fallen. The purpose of this hunt is to show God's hand in history, and I think Vision Forum has succeeded in achieving that goal!

The first 100 to solve all the clues on the website by the deadline qualified to go on to the final phase: the physical search for the treasure! I finished minutes before the deadline, so I wasn't sure if I had made it. A few days later (it seemed like a week!) I got the news that I was IN!
Mom and Dad had said that IF I was one of the 100 (which seemed very unlikely at the time) we would go to Jamestown so we could hunt for the treasure. So, we're going to Virginia! I'm glad we can go, not just because we'll get to hunt for the treasure, but because I'll get to see the town I've been learning so much about!

Last weekend we visited a family we recently met, and they helped us sew costumes for Jamestown. They came out beautifully! Here are a couple pictures of Mom, Julia and I in our dresses.

(We were trying to look serious... which is very hard when everyone is laughing!)


We still need to add a few finishing touches on mine, but they're done for the most part! We still need to find a costume for Dad; then we can post a family costume photo!

We're leaving this weekend, and we'll be there for all of next week. I'll try to post some pictures, and a little more if I have the time!

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Haha! The costumes are great!! Whatever costume you end up forcing your dad......... Oops! I mean, whatever costume you end up finding for your dad, it has to have a good hat to go with it, one that is in keeping with his personality. :) Later, SC

Matt said...

I love the blog. This is Matt from Steeple