Dad's 50th Class Reunion

We traveled to Arizona to celebrate's Crismon's 50th High School Reunion with his childhood friends in Ajo. Gratefully, it was held the latter part of October, so it wasn't as hot, however, they were having a heat wave so it was over 100 degrees for most of the time. I love the good people of Ajo, and it was fun to get acquainted with his friends. Crismon was the student body president his senior year at Ajo High School. He holds many choice memories in Ajo. It was nice to see how many of his friends had fond memories of him and shared many good things about him and about all the Lewis family.

A special treat was staying with Malin & Sally and having some good visits with them, watching Jacob play in his last home football game as the quarterback. Beverly Nelson, Sally's Mom lives with them, too, and she is always so delightful to visit with. She has that radiant smile and happy nature. Esther and her children were living there, too, while they try to sell their home in Showlow. Jesse came for the weekend to be with his family and that was good to have him. Wick & Jace came down unexpectedly from Mesa to support Jacob in his last home game. We had great fun enjoying many flavors of ice cream thanks to Malin and the Dessert Dairy.

Our first night there we stayed in the Curley School, the stately stucco school where Crismon attended school from 1st through 8th grade. It has been remodeled to house apartments for visiting artisans, mostly snowbirds who live there during the winter. They've done a nice job in making the apartments very comfortable. After staying Thursday night in one of the apartments (near Crismon's first-grade classroom) we moved Friday night to stay in Malin & Sarah's home next to the Dairy, as they were out of town. This was the home where Crismon's parents were living in 1948 when Crismon was born.

On Saturday morning we attended the annual Ajo Red-and-White weekend, designed to bring former Ajo residents of all ages back to their roots. It allowed Crismon to re-connect with many former friends, some he hadn't seen in literally decades.

Early that afternoon we returned to the Phoenix area to catch our plane home. We were able to squeeze in a quick visit to Mesa where my sister Meredith & husband Norm were serving as the Mesa Temple Visitors Center Directors. Their daughter Lindsey was there that weekend with her new baby visiting them, too. We also met up with Romeo and Joyce Betita, our dear friends who moved to Arizona from Gresham three months earlier, for dinner. They then shuttled us to the airport. It was a fast, but fun trip. 

Events this Fall

Sunshine and fall in Oregon is spectacular! We love the beauty we are surrounded with in this scenic state of Oregon. In September we hosted two Neighborhood Emergency Preparedness meetings and we were surprised and grateful for the many who attended. It was a great way to get connected with our neighbors and listen to training from a lady with the city of Gresham.

We love the privilege of serving together in the Portland OR temple. I'm a temple ordinance worker and Crismon is a volunteer temple worker, serving at the recommend desk, in the Baptistry, and a veil worker, as he can't be an ordinance worker while serving as the stake president.

Crismon is a member of the Gresham Chamber of Commerce. In October at one of their meetings, Ryan Crouser, who earned a gold medal in the 2016 Summer Olympics in the shot put, spoke and it was fun for Crismon to meet him. 

We enjoyed seeing most of the Allen cousins at Kimball's wedding in Portland in October. McKay, Katelyn and cute Everett stayed with us one night.

I appreciated Ondalynn coming to help me with baking and it was a treat to have Paxton here, too. Seth's family stayed with us one evening, and the boys went with us to Vancouver for the Vance's ball games. Seth & Tiffany attended the temple. We celebrated Daisy's 8th birthday. I have loved having "Special Time with Grandma" with the grandchildren preparing for their baptism, thanks to the connection across the miles through Google Hangout.

Daisy's Baptism

We were so happy to attend the sweet baptism for our beautiful granddaughter, Daisy. We're thankful she made this important choice in her life. I gave the opening prayer, Sydney gave a talk, and Dad was one of the witnesses of the baptism and stood in the circle for her confirmation, and gift of the Holy Ghost. We're glad that Seth and his boys could be there. Tiffany had a writer's conference that weekend. The Vance's were there, too. 

Vivi prepared a delicious potato bar for many to enjoy afterwards. Others helped with the last minute details and desserts. A special time together for our wonderful Caudle family. We're thankful Brett is a worthy Priesthood bearer and was able to baptize Daisy and confirm her. Making covenants with our Heavenly Father is so important.

Our good friend, Janell Atkinson was also there. She is in Vivi's ward and it was so good to see her. She knew Ondalynn and Seth when they we were in Florida and they were just babies. This was a full Sunday as it was soon after our Stake Conference with Elder Ballard. Sydney is getting tall, but heels helped her to be nearly as tall as Jackson.

Elder M. Russell Ballard visits our stake

This has been an especially wonderful month. Our stake fast day was Oct. 9th, the week after General Conference. As our stake conference was coming up on the following Sunday, Oct. 16th, Crismon sent an email out to all the stake members asking them to fast for our stake conference, that there would be a special spirit attend our meetings. As Crismon was driving home from a full day of church meetings on Sunday, the 9th, he received a phone call from Pres. Craig Ballard, our Portland, OR Mission Pres. His father is Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Elder & Sister Ballard have come to Oregon fairly often over the last couple of years to visit their grandchildren. Elder Ballard always likes to be put to work when he comes.

Pres. Ballard told Crismon, "My Dad is coming up this weekend. If you could accommodate him, he would like to speak at your stake conference. This was an amazing answer to our fasting and prayers as a stake. Of course, we would be happy to have Elder Ballard visit our stake conference. Suddenly, changes had to be made to free up the time, but everyone was willing to make changes. The worry of hosting a member of the Twelve settled over Crismon, but things came together, and he only had to worry that one week.

In our Saturday evening meeting, Crismon gave a very good talk. He started out by saying that this was a talk he didn't want to give but that he had felt very strongly he was to give. The beginning was about Satan and what we knew of him and how he is angry because he will never have what we have. He pacifies and lulls us away to carnal desires. Some of the counsel he gave in overcoming Satan's temptations; don't get casual in prayer, scripture study is a protection against the destroyer, follow the prophets, be like the people in the land of Jershon when Korihor came to them, they cast him out immediately. Crismon was taught by his father when he was 8-years old to say, "Get thou behind me, Satan." Satan tried to stop the Atonement. He first tried to destroy thousands of babies while Jesus was young, in hopes of killing him. He temped Jesus after he fasted for 40 days. He gave death threats, and then the depth of suffering of the Atonement. In D&C 19:2-3 it says the Atonement is done. Everything is in place. Now, we are Satan's last battlefield. May we never doubt. We can't let him win over us.

Crismon conducted the Sunday morning session and was the first speaker. He spoke of the Parable in Matthew 21 "A certain man had two sons." Also, the Parable of the Lost Son. We are all prodigal sons. There were no three sons. Christ is the 3rd son. The Lord runs to rescue us. Then he shared about the song "Tie a Yellow Ribbon" and what that song meant. He shared how Duraye needed to move and how not 4 came to help her, but 400! We were taught well by others, including Pres. & Sis. Babb, the first counselor in the Temple Presidency and Pres. & Sis. Craig Ballard.

The counsel we received from Elder Ballard: We are living in interesting times. There is a shift in secular attitude, to the extent that we are not authorized to testify of God in a public square. These are the Signs of the Times. He referred to the Mt. of Olives. He imagined that Jesus went there for some rest. Apostles found him and asked, "Tell us when shall these things be." What is the sign when He comes again. Jesus answered, "Take heed that no one deceive you. Destruction's and famines, all of these are the beginning of sorrow. Because iniquity will abound, natural affection will be gone. He talked about Pres Lewis: He is a great man. I wish I could be here next time to hear him speak. He knows how to capture you, doesn't he? We have authority and power of God to direct. We are here together trying to endure to the end. There are many men who have fallen away. The Brethren are concerned about the spiritual knowledge of the members.

Our Sacrament meetings should be such that Jesus would smile upon or bless us. We were counseled to: Come on time, listen to the soft music and prepare to be ready for the Sacrament meeting. Partake of the sacrament in remembrance of Christ. This should be a spiritual feast, come out of the hectic world. Cell phones can eat up your life. What do you need to do the endure to the end? Renew Covenants, Review life, Repent.

Bishops need to discuss what happens in sacrament meeting. It should be a feast. When it is, you won't have to be nudged to be a missionary. You will want to bring our friends to church. We have been preaching this message for over 2 1/2 years. We will continue to teach it until every sacrament meeting you will feel the power of God in our meetings. We need to be fed spiritually. There is so much clutter in our lives. The days of Noah, their wickedness is like today. Oregon is different, things happen here, but we'll let you fix it. Some of us will step off the stage - young men and young women must be raised up to build up the kingdom of God.

Internet power - it was given because the Church needed it for family history and temple work. Satan immediately filled it with pornography. The two most popular sites are pornography and family history. You can not have the spirit if you're on pornography of any other thing, unbecoming of priesthood men. Men, be calm, do not raise your voices. Set an example of love and kindness. If you need to ask for forgiveness, today is a great day to do it.

Repentance is a glorious principle cleansing priesthood men to be filled with the spirit and love of God.

LeGrand Richards - my hero, he taught me. Story of a 95-year old man. He was asked how he had such good health. He said that my wife and I agreed never to argue. I would step outside if we got upset with each other. Being outside kept me healthy.

Respect parents, have family councils. Fix your problems there, not when you get angry. Together we will endure to the end, this is our great objective.

Sisters, this Church needs you. Your voices need to be heard, you have good judgment. How can I build and strengthen the ward? Missionary work - Story of a patriarch and his wife who went on a mission. They told their mission president that they didn't know how to be a missionary. He said, just say, "We're new here, can we come and share a message with you?" They said, Pres. "we don't know the discussions." He counseled them, "Teach them the gospel." The wife said that to the storekeeper, "We're new here, can we share a message with you?" He invited them to come to his home to share their message. They had 18 convert baptisms. We need to invite others to know of the gospel.

The Lord loves you. We pray for you, for the missionaries, we pray that we can build up the kingdom of God. Go home and read Mormon 8. Moroni saw our day. The greatest thing you need is a testimony of the love of God, attend the temple, desire in your heart to repent, prepare for Christ to come, help build up His kingdom. Be one who others see you and say you have something others don't have. We have the scriptures, Joseph Smith, modern prophets and apostles.

He said, I bless you with peace, courage, strength, I bless you that your homes will be a refuge where there is love and kindness. I bless you that our sacrament meetings will be filled with the spirit, with the love of God. I bless you that your righteous desires will be granted unto you. Then he closed with his testimony.

After the closing song, he stood at the pulpit again and shared that he wouldn't be able to stay to shake hands. He asked us all to raise our right hand, and then out stretch it, then go up and down like we were shaking his hand. He did it, too. Now, you can say that your shook Elder Ballard's hand. It was a cute and effective way to show us he would shake our hands if he could.

Seth had come up from Eugene with his boys so they would have the opportunity to seeing an Apostle in person. Ondalynn came about 11 am, after their ward Primary Program, with Sydney. We were able to squeeze Sydney in the small bench with us. Ondalynn sat further back. Unfortunately, they whisked Elder Ballard away, actually, Crismon escorted him out and then they locked the door coming into the Stake Presidency's office area. He visited with the Stake Presidency, and a few of the family members. I wish I would have thought to go out to their car and wait for them, but we didn't know if they had already left. Sadly, our grandchildren didn't get to shake his hand, but at least they were there in person for this special meeting. It was an amazing experience for our stake and a choice privilege for Crismon to have that time to associate with him.

Our visit to Virginia

In case you're wondering, this was our favorite site in Virginia, Dallin & Janelle's beautiful family, Dorothy, Ruby, Norah and Gwen. We had such a fun time with them. We were spoiled with delicious meals, lots of hugs and attention from the girls, and touring their beautiful area. They made it very difficult for us to say good-bye. 

Of course, Gwen, is in that adorable stage. She melted our hearts as she was so good at coming to both of us. We arrived on Dallin's 32nd birthday, Thursday, Sept. 22nd. We surely appreciated him making the 3-hour drive to Dulles airport to pick us up and then turned around and drove us back home. Getting to their home isn't the easiest, but it is definitely worth the long day of travel to be with them. One thing I love about visiting family in their new home is now I can visualize them doing things. They don't seem so far away when I know what their surroundings are like, so I'm including pictures of their home inside and out so you can get that visual, too. This is the front of their home, however, they park in the back so they don't access the front door as much. They do have neighbors as you can see from the long row of mailboxes, however, they are all tucked away in their own spot and with all the vegetation, you don't see them very much.

Friday morning we barely woke up in time to see the girls head off for the bus that they catch by their home. It's about a 10-minute drive into Lexington to go to school. We visited their school later that morning and ate lunch with them. The girls were excited to see us there, and Gwen loved seeing her sisters. She misses them when they're gone and gets so very excited when they come home. Gwen points to the picture of Dorothy at school. Norah in the picture with Gwen.

Dad and I met Dallin on the campus of Southern Virginia University where he is an English assistant professor, teaching Writing Composition and American Literature. The campus is so beautiful. We loved seeing the various architecture and surroundings. SVU is located in Buena Vista, about 15 minutes from their home. It's a beautiful commute for Dallin, a very peaceful, lovely drive.

The campus has quite a history, dating back to 1867. It has evolved over the years from being a Seminary to a Jr. College to a College for Women, and finally, in the late 1980's and early 1990's enrollment began to slip and the college became financially unstable, which led to a loss of regional accreditation in 1996. In the spring of that year, a group of Latter-day Saints in Virginia stepped forward to renew the college, assuming responsibility for its assets and liabilities. Since then the institution has experienced phenomenal growth.

You will noticed the statue of the knight in front of the Administration Building. The Knight family were instrumental in coming in and rescuing the school. The next picture is Dallin and Dad standing in front of the building where Dallin teaches. The campus is very unique with beautiful interior especially in the Administration Building. Because of so many LDS students attending, about 92%, there was a peaceful, wonderful spirit on the campus like you feel at church schools, although, not affiliated with the church. You'll see a picture of the church house close to campus where the Institute meets and the dorms on the hill behind the church.

 

We took the girls to one of their favorite parks in the area called, "Boxerwood." A very interesting, clever park where everything is made of wood or natural materials. Endless make-believe things they could do there. Gwen loved wading in the small stream of water best of all. (Norah left, Ruby right).

 

Saturday we drove into Lexington to the campus of Washington and Lee University. What a setting! It began in 1749 as Augusta Academy, founded by Scots-Irish pioneers. It has quite a history which you can read more about, but I won't go into detail here. The University is the nation's ninth oldest institution of higher learning. We visited the Lee Chapel & Museum which was fascinating.

Lexington was named in 1778. It was one of the first places named after Lexington, Massachusetts, known for being the place at which the first shot was fired in the American Revolution. Lexington is also the location of the Virginia Military Institute (VMI). It was a charming town, rich in history.

Before we arrived, the girls made a list of things they wanted to do with us while we were there. High on the list was back rubs at night. Grandpa would tell them stories and then I would rub their backs and arms. These were definitely special times for us, too. Visiting their library was another wish. The library is located on this New England style street.

Feasting on Dallin's homemade pizzas was great! It is the only pizza I like and are they ever good! He's an expert at it. Their family tradition is homemade pizzas and movie night on Saturday night.

We enjoyed attending their ward and meeting Madison U. Sowell, the University Provost who participated in hiring Dallin, (he is now on a Sabbatical, or some kind of leave from the University.) Many in their ward are affiliated with SVU or other Universities in the area. It was an important day in their ward as a new Bishop and counselors were sustained. Later that day we took a Sunday drive about 20 minutes away to "The Blue Ridge Parkway." This is a National Parkway noted for its scenic beauty. The parkway, which is America's longest linear park runs for 469 miles through 29 Virginia and North Carolina counties, mostly along the Blue Ridge, a major mountain chain that is part of the Appalachian Mountains. We didn't go far, but it gave us a glimpse to the beauty of the valley and this lush area where they live. The Parkway was built in 1936 to connect Shenandoah National Park to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Dorothy is such a wonderful big sister. She keeps the girls busy and happy. Coming home from church she wrote up her "To Do List for the Sabbath," full of many good works. Dorothy, you inspire your grandparents.

Norah is showing off the wall of fame. 

The girls have lots of fun with their piano. This nice play set is a great addition to their yard. Their landlord provided and set up for them. (Ruby left, Norah right...I think).

Without a garage or carport, they make do by building a bike rack, along with boxes for Janelle's herbs and other plants. The back door goes into the kitchen. The two windows are in the master bedroom.

Notice the thick vegetation just outside the backdoor where the girls have their make believe world.

Norah and Rudy are running down the driveway from the back of the house. Dorothy said, I feel like I live in "The Little House in the Big Woods." The trampoline is on the other side, across from the play set.

Monday we were happy to spend time with the girls. I think they were happy to miss school, too. We picked up lunch at McDonald's and then had a great time playing at this park that is like Imagination Station. They were pretty clever in their hiding when we played "Hide-n-Seek." (Ruby in striped dress.)

Janelle being the super organizer that she is has made this little house so livable and cute. If anybody can do it, it's Janelle. Check out the bed that she designed, and figured out all the measurements for, with Dallin assisting with the building of it. This provides them with some well used space for storage. When getting to the storage, the bed stays up with hydraulic lifts. So cool! (Ruby left, Norah left.)

Our trip went way too fast. We're so happy we could be with Dallin & Janelle and their adorable girls and get acquainted with their new surroundings. We enjoyed late night visiting, and we were glad to hear how happy Dallin is with his job, the students, the faculty he works with, and the great opportunity he has at SVU. (Ruby left, Norah right).

We hated to say goodbye Monday afternoon. Dallin drove us back up to Washington DC, to Gens and Annie's house for us to spend the night. Then Annie drove us to the airport the next morning. It was so convenient as they live about 15 minutes away. Gens was helping Hans drive their moving van to Miami, so we had the fun of seeing Kristi and their children as they were staying at Gens & Annie's, too. 

Seth had a friend that was teaching at Washington and Lee University. He invited Seth to come and give a talk as he knew his brother taught at SVU. Preston accompanied his Dad that weekend, and they had a nice time visiting Dallin & Janelle and family, too.