Crismon and Vivienne Lewis Family: July 2014

How do you sum up "The" Best Family Reunion ever? You put Uncle "Fun" Malin Lewis in charge along with lovely Aunt Sally and a tremendously supportive family and there you have it all rolled in to one amazing event. We gathered in Ajo, AZ on the afternoon of Wed. July 2nd until Sat. morning, July 5th. Malin and Sally thought of every detail imaginable from welcoming signs posted all the way into Ajo with all the family names, water misters to stay cool, great organization of meals where we just showed up and prepared the food they had planned, purchased and had ready for us, hiring a videographer, matching t-shirts for this incredible family photo of the 188 of us that attended. They made everyday a most memorable event. We were the main attraction in their community 4th of July parade with Grandma Lewis as the Grand Marshall.

What an overwhelming feeling of love and excitement filled the air as each family member arrived and the numbers kept swelling. This was the largest attended reunion to date. What a wonderful blessing that Grandma Lewis' health was strong enough for her to make this trip and be a part of all of the events of the reunion. She is nearly 94-years old, in September, but you'd never know it. She was there smiling and beaming with her amazing posterity around her.

Our first gathering was held in the Curley School Auditorium where the Lewis children attended school. Music and entertainment and delicious Mexican food was a hit for the "Opening Night." Uncle Wick put together a fantastic video that highlighted Grandpa Lewis sharing experiences of his early days in Ajo, and coming to know that Myreel Smith was the right one for him after all those years of waiting for the one that had every quality he wanted in a wife. As Christian watched his Great-Grandpa on the screen, he said, "There's you, Grandpa."

The reunion theme, "Remembering Our Roots," carried through the week by visiting different locations in town that were especially meaningful to the Lewis Family.

I'm so grateful I belong to this amazing Lewis Family. I feel it a great honor to have the privilege of marrying into this family. I love Grandma Lewis so much. I love her like my own mother. I love each one in this family and I hope we can carry on the great legacy that has been passed down to us.

Strengthening family relationships, is so very important. Quoting from Elder Quinton Cook's April 2014 conference talk, "Family commitments and expectations should be at the top of our priorities to protect our divine destiny."

Aunt Lynn provides bubbles for all the children

1st Built Church where Crismon attended.

House where the first saints met for church

Malin & Myreel's first home

The Curley School

Community garden in the courtyard of the school. They are turning it into guest apartments.

New Cornelia Hospital where all 12 children were born.

Uncle Malin giving us instructions at the Federated Church where Grandpa Lewis preached one summer when the church didn't have a pastor.

Crismon with grandson, Christian and granddaughter Evelyn Williams at the graves of Ardene & Selwyn.

Ajo Church house today where Grandpa Lewis served as the 1st Bishop and helped build along with help from his family and saints in the area.

Phelps Dodge Cooper Mine no longer in operation

Julia in the Desert Dairy Office

Grandpa Lewis' office where Crismon proposed to me in Nov. 1974.

The little home to the east of the Dairy where Crismon was brought home to after his birth in Dec. 1948.

Two journalist in the Desert Dairy Office.

On the dock of the Desert Dairy. The sign above us was just found by a friend at a junk yard and purchased to give to Malin & Sally. That helped solidify there prayers of where to hold the reunion. It seemed right to have it in Ajo and they were right.