Morning view.
In front of the dining hall which boasts a spectacular valley view.
Daddy explaining God's glory through nature.
My recommendation for budding artists on long car trips. Jules worked for over three hours straight on this art book during our ten hour trip. : )
On the way back from D.C., we drove down Skyline Drive. Chad was craving some mountains. We started at Front Royal, Va and wound our way down to the Skyland lodge, elevation 3600 ft. It was chilly and you could tell fall was blowing into the mountains. Red Maples had already turned a glowing red. They are always so beautiful in contrast to the greens and yellows. Foreshadowing for my favorite season. Chad, in a charismatic way that only he can do, got the girls completely excited watching for each mountain overlook on the road, for deer, and maybe a black bear. We had a delicious dinner followed by a delicious buffet breakfast overlooking the valley. What a perfect diversion.
President Roosevelt said, "..with the smell of the woods, and the wind in the trees, they will forget the rush and the strain of all the other long weeks of the year, and for a short time at least, the days will be good for their hearts and for their souls." Writer Wallace Stegner said, "National Parks are the best idea we ever had. Absolutely American, absolutely democratic, they reflect us at our best rather than our worst. Ken Burns said, "National parks embody an idea as uniquely American as the Declaration of Independence: that the most magnificent and sacred places in our land belong not to royalty or the rich, but to everyone and for all time. All that is required is we visit...and that we pass it on to our children."
But most importantly...
"You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you." (Nehemiah 9:6)
"He spreads out the northern skies over empty space; he suspends the earth over nothing. He wraps up the waters in his clouds, yet the clouds do not burst under their weight. He covers the face of the full moon, spreading his clouds over it. The pillars of the heavens quake, aghast at his rebuke. By his power he churned up the sea.... By his breath the skies become fair.... And these are but the outer fringe of his works; how faint the whisper we hear of him! How then can we understand the thunder of his power?" (Job 26:7-9, 11-14)
