Once a year we get together with George's siblings and spouses to make plans for the Walt and Orpha Lewis Foundation. When George's Dad died, he left some money to be donated to charity so starting a Foundation seemed a wise thing to do. Over the years the family has been very generous to several organizations, including my favorite, Kenya Keys. The IRS requires a yearly meeting of the Foundation so it's a great chance to get together. Those meetings have taken us Provo, to Boise, and to Zion National Park several times. During Covid, we did Zoom meetings. This year the meeting was planned for Sedona, Arizona.
It had been quite a few years since we had been to Phoenix. Karen moved from downtown Phoenix to John and Katherine's neighborhood and we really wanted to see her new house. Plus we wanted to see our niece Jennifer who is now a Instagram 'influencer'. We chat back and forth on IG and I was anxious to spend time with her and her partner Mendell. Also hoped to see nephews David (and his family) and Brent. And it is always a pleasure to be around John and Katherine and Richard and Tammy so it was an easy decision to fly down a few days early.
Karen took us on an LDS Temples of the area tour.
First the Phoenix Temple
Then the Mesa Temple
Karen and George's 2nd great grandfather, Charles Crisman is a founder of Mesa.
In 1988 a bronze statue was dedicated to commemorate the Arizona Pioneers.
From the keynote speech given by Gordon B Hinckley:
"Enough praise cannot be said for those four men who stood here and began the work that led to the establishment of this community.
I suppose that none of us today can really appreciate the labors of those who came here 110 years ago. This was the mesa, the high tableland above the river, shunned by early pioneers. It was dry and parched. The soil looked promising, but water was the key to survival. How to get it to the land was a problem.
President Hinckley felt it was inspiration that led those who came here in 1878 to turn to the long-deteriorated canal system of the Hohokam Indians.
After nine months of backbreaking toil through summer’s blistering heat, this small band of eighty-three men, women, and children carved out a twelve-mile canal to bring river water to the parched soil of the mesa"
As President Hinckley looked over the spacious park and the Arizona Temple across the street, he said he was “almost overwhelmed” by the history of the pioneers and the “length of their vision.”
Great-great Grandpa Crismon is the one with the gun, the one on the right.
To understand and reconnect with our stories, the stories of our ancestors, is to build our identities.
Frank Delaney
I love being a part of the Lewis family.
Having dinner with our niece Jennifer and Mendell was such a treat.
Jennifer has been having some health problems and also went through a divorce recently so it was a joy to see her so happy.
Mendell is just a great man.
Originally from Oklahoma, he has a slight southern accent that, naturally, endears him to me. He is very outgoing and has a wonderful sense of humor. And icing on the cake, he has ties to a travel group that takes groups to Kenya to get to know the culture.
His name for George - 'Big Homie G'. LOL!
Of course the thing that I love most about him is that he obviously loves Jennifer and takes such good care of her.
Our days in Phoenix flew by until Thursday when we headed to Sedona. I had never been there before and it did not disappoint. Those red rocks are just stunning.
I adore my beautiful sister-in-laws.
Two days and two great hikes.
The photo bomber is the foundation lawyer - Joe Morton. He and his wife Heidi fit into the family dynamics and we enjoy spending time with them.
The 2nd day we tackled a more difficult hike to Devil's Bridge.
Steep stairs at times
And a climb with 'sort of stairs'. I didn't take this photo. It was from the internet.
George and I were rather proud of ourselves for completing this hike. I was slow on the steep 'non-stair' climbs but I made it to the top. And it is amazing!
George wasn't happy being on the top so we didn't get a photo up there. I estimate that it would have taken 45 minutes to work my way through the line to get out on the bridge. There was a long line waiting. Every few minutes a group would walk out to take photos. Some were quick and some did multiple poses....a few poses that terrified us.
Since no one else was interested in waiting for the photo op, I decided not to wait either. Maybe next time?!?!?!
But we did get this one from below!
Sedona is spectacular!
Spending time with family was spectacular too!
Delicious food and lots of conversation!
I loved every minute.
After arriving back in Phoenix we were able to enjoy a visit with one of George's friends from his mission in Texas more than 50 years ago. Terry Eschenroder was never George's companion but they did live in the same apartment with their respective companions. Terry and his wife Robyn lived in our ward in west Boise before we moved to Spain.
After Karen moved to Gilbert, Terry happened to be her Bishop.
Small world! Unfortunately he was recently released as bishop because he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. He is having chemo and radiation but was able to visit with us.
Lots of prayers for him and his family.
Yeah for family and friends, good food, good times and our beautiful world!
