Virginia

We are back from our Virginia trip. A lot of people have asked me "What's in Virginia". "Family" I tell them. "Family????" Yes family. About 4 years ago I had a business trip to Virginia and on route I met Ron, Nancy and Randy Rodgers. I begain asking the Rodger family about the state and where I would be traveling that night. It was strongly recommend that I do not travel that night to Lexington since the area was through a switch back road through the mountains that were full of deer. So upon landing in Lynchburg VA, I went to get my rental car and... they were closed (The airport is really small) so I went to call the hotel in Lexington to move my reservation down to Lynchburg and all the hotels in town were full (due to a lot of conventions that weekend) so Nancy told me "There is always room at the Rodger house"- so I went home with them. This started my 'birth' into the Rodger house.

Stu and I had been back to see Ron and Nancy in August of 07 but with his last semster starting in 09 we knew if we didn't make it back in December on school break it would be late summer 2009 before we made it back.

December in Virginia was awesome. While it was snowing in Salt Lake we had about 50's everyday except for one. Stu and I were able to see Appomattox (the place where the treaty to end the Civil War took place) and go to a Christmas Program at a Baptist Church. Ron and Nancy took us to their house on the Greenbrier Estate in West Virginia. The Greenbrier has so much history. It was a beautiful hotel both inside and out and the Rodgers house was equally as beautiful. Ron and Nancy took Stu and I to many wonderful restaurants and spoiled us rotten. We were grateful they let us make them dinner one night. :) We were also blessed to get to know Lana more. Lana is Ron and Nancy only daughter. While at the Greenbrier we got to take a ride on a horse drawn carriage, tour the bunkers, go bowling in the private bowling alley, have tea during the daily "high tea" in the grand ball room, and eat a ton of good food.

Stu and Sarah in front of the McLean House where the treaty was signed to end the Civil War

Inside the McLean house- the parlor where the treaty was signed

Nancy, Sarah, Stu and Sheila at the Baptist Christmas concert

The front of the Greenbrier hotel. Isn't it beautiful??

Poinsettia trees are a signature tree during Christmas. Picture was taken in the front lobby at the Greenbrier hotel

Don't you love the colors?? Hot pink and black. Most places were hot pink and neon green

Stu and Sarah in the grand ballroom

Lana, Sarah and Stu after we went bowling

West Virginia- picture taken from the Rodgers front porch

Sarah, Stu, Nancy, Ron and Randy at the Boonsboro Country Club

Sarah with the Rodger dogs, I am holding Lucy, Baron is the brown Australia Sheepdog, and Maggie is the black dog