The Blue Ridge Parkway has a different look now that the trees haved leafed out.

This was taken on the way back to Bedford from our District Meeting held Wednesday in Vinton.

This is what we see, looking off to the north from our Bedford residence in the early morning after a night of rain.

This is the view on the same morning, looking off to the southwest from our home, after a night of rain.

Another view from the edge of our driveway, looking off toward the southwest, in the direction of the town of Bedford. Our little lane (Hopes Way) takes us out to Forest Road (US 221) that connects Bedford with the neighboring towns of Forest and Lynchburg to the east.

Another view from under the trees in the front yard, looking off to the north and the Blue Ridge Mountains, just barely visible above the knoll of the hill between us and our nighbors, the Schutte's.

Spring time in Virginia! Pretty nice wouldn't you say?

It is always the mother who waits for us, who never gives up on us. She understands us so well.

Here is a mother, standing outside the Washington DC Temple, waiting for someone she loves to appear.

What a great woman she is! How good, how kind, how thoughtful and faithful in doing what is right.

I love her. I know she loves each of you so very much!

Happy Mother's Day to every woman who is a mother in the way she lives her life.

The view of our place of residence, the Hodge home, from the far southeast side of the property, looking at the backside of the house. Such a peaceful and lovely place! As we have said before, almost daily we see Whitetail deer, 6-8 at a time; we see that many wild turkey feeding about, but not as frequently. And many varieties of small wild birds inhabit the area, including robins and cardinals. We keep bird seed in the bird feeder in the back yard and we enjoy seeing many different small birds come to feed.

The trees in the front yard of the home where we live (1277 Hopes Way) are beginning to leaf out and we see more color and heavier foliage each day as we drive about.

Coming from the deserts of Arizona as we do, this Virginia springtime continues to impress us with its many hues of color bursting forth from trees, scrubs and flowers.

these are the Wharton Gardens in Bedford.

While waiting for the happy couple (the 'new' Mr. & Mrs. Graff) to imerge from the Temple last Saturday we took several more pictures of the Washington DC Temple and surrounding grounds. It was an usually warm, but also beautiful spring day. It is one of the largest of all LDS Temples and certainly one of the most beautiful, inside and out.