WASHINGTON D.C. SOUTH MISSION: SHENANDOAH BEAUTY-THE SKYLINE DRIVE

Monday, November 16, 2009

SHENANDOAH BEAUTY-THE SKYLINE DRIVE

We took a drive to see the Shenandoah Mountains in the Autumn and I am so grateful we did. It was beyond description. We started in a beautiful little town called Front Royal. From here the Skyline Drive goes through this national park. They only rise to about 3000 feet but they are really spectacular. The winding roads were just lined with beautiful colors and the views were majestic. You could see rolling hills covered with bright colors for miles in the distance. And inbetween the colors were lush green rolling hills and farms. I'm sure the Garden of Eden could not have been lovelier. We drove for about 1 1/2 hrs and then took a side road down. The Skyline drive takes 5-6 hrs. to drive the whole thing. We drove down into a quaint little town called Sperryville. It was picturesque. We window shopped at gift shops with homemade quilts and crafts and jams and candies. It was a wonderful afternoon. Can you imagine tracting in this beautiful place?

The winding Skyline Drive

The view from the Shenandoahs looking down on the valley below. One color after another.

Sperryville.

The picture perfect front yard.

Sperryville

Gift shops in Sperryville

The sunlight show just how magnificent the landscape was. (the sun made the pictures hard to show how really beautiful is was.)

Rolling orange hills

WOW

The valley below

climbing into the Shenandoah hills

Could it be the tree from Lehi's dream?

Who wouldn't want to tract in this little valley?

A kalidescope of color on the hillside.

Front Royal. The town we first came to as we headed into the Shenandoahs in the distance.

1 comment:

SherryNovember 17, 2009 at 7:40 AM
My son just got there last Wednesday. He's right, it is beautiful!!!
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Stephanie Smith Fireside

Last Sunday evening we were privileged to attend a fireside in the mission. It was held at a beautiful old chapel in McLean. One of the pictures shows the inside of the chapel and the wood beams on the very steep-pitched ceiling of the room. The gym is under the chapel in the basement. I have never seen a floorplan like this one. Very unique. This fireside hosted Sister Stephanie Smith. Her story was in the Ensign sometime in the last year. She has a remarkable conversion story. She has held very high government positions and at one time was 5th in command at the CIA. She said something at the first of her talk that I wrote down: she said, "I've been on some remarkable adventures. But no adventure in my lifetime has been as extraordinary and life-changing as my path to conversion and baptism in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints. She then told about her introduction to the church. She was at a time in her life with tremendous worldly success achieved after clawing her way to the top without any regard for others, and she felt her life was shattering into a million pieces. At this time she turned to a colleague she admired who was a member of the church. He told her two things. That her Heavenly Father knew her by name and loved her and that Heavenly Father had a plan for her success. The next day he sent her a map to the temple visitor center. She told how when the missionary sisters came to her door, she didn't think she could relate to these young women. The first thing they did was ask if they could sing to her. They sang,"I am a Child of God." That was the beginning of her conversion, a long a beautiful story. You can read it on the web at Meridian Magazine. Her testimony was a real inspiration to me. There were over 350 people there and she does a great missionary work speaking to investigators. What a blessing to have heard her and felt her spirit.

Chelsea Our recent Convert

We have met the sweetest young sister. Chelsea is amazing. She joined the church during the last year and has an incredible testimony also. She never misses any missionary function and we were able to take her with us to the Stephanie Smith Fireside. She also came to the mission home a few weeks ago and we had family night. She gave the lesson and is was unbelievable. She is hoping to go on a mission next year. What a great young woman. This is a picture of her with Elders Ganaway and Gifford.