Our Egypt, Israel, Jordan Trip 2012

We went on a 17 day to Egypt, Israel and Jordan leaving Salt Lake on September 21, 2012.  We flew to JFK in New York, then to Amman, Jordan and on to Cairo, Egypt.  The Intercontinental Stars Hotel in Cairo was one of the most elegant hotels I have ever stayed in.  There were 91 in our group from Fun For Less Tours.  John and Diane Madsen were our lecture guides.  Bro. Madsen is an emeritus general authority and very knowledgeable in the history of these countries.  It was one of the most wonderful trips and experiences of my life.  To walk in the footsteps of the Savior and to see where he suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane, where he walked on his way to Golgotha to be crucified, and sit in the Garden Tomb where he was resurrected have forever changed my life.  I have a much deeper feeling for my Savior and greater desire to follow him and to share with others how I felt.  One thing Bro. Madsen said during each lecture was, "It is good for us to be here!"  and it was good for me to be there.  It was a dream come true of a trip I have only dreamed I would take.  We were accompanied by Linda and Ron Burgener as well as Richard and Carol Lasson. 

At Airport in JFK Airport

 

In front of a mosque in Cairo, Egypt

 

 

At the pyramids in Cairo, Egypt

2012 Update

This has been a truly wondeful year.  Rex and I have gotten involved in many areas of service in St. George:  Tuacahn, Historic St. George Live Tours, Huntsman Senior Games, and I have volunteered for many annual events such as Iron Man, St. George Marathon, Docutah Film Festival, and service at church as Scout Committee Chairman, teacher of 17 10-yr-olds in Primary, and visiting teaching supervisor. I am also the Social Chairman for ICL in St. George and Chapter Chair of BYU Alumni Association in the St. George area where we have about 5,000 alumni.   Yes, life is wonderful and becomes more so as we serve others. 

Rex has had some health issues with his back pain and leg pain.  He has a herniated disc in his back and bone spurs on his spine.  He is trying to work through the pain and walk each day.  I get a good hour of exercise each morning and feel so deeply blessed.  I have a truly wonderful husband.  We have six fantastic children and their incredible spouses, with 24 amazing grandchildren.  What more could I possibly desire!  I know I have a Savior who lives and loves me.  He is ALWAYS there for me and through his atonement, and with His help, I can accomplish anything and overcome any trial in my life.  I KNOW the gospel of Jesus Christ, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is the only true church on this earth and if we live by its teachings, we can return to live with God again. 

This past July 2012, we had our Rex and Vicky Lewis Family Reunion.  38 of us spent 4 days on Lake Powell in 2 houseboats, with another ski boat and 2 jet  skies.  Several of the kids learned to waterski.  We had a raft that holds 3 to 4 people and a water weinie that 5 people can ride.  They were pulled behind the ski boat for hours as everyone had an opportunity to ride and have a great time!  We made certain everyone had life jackets and the little ones had them on every waking minute for safety.  Here are a few pictures of our 4 days:

Kali, Ryan, Romi, Vicky, Rex, Kyle, Lisa, and Lance

Family in our back yard just before everyone went to see Aladdin at the Tuacahn.

Rex, Vicky, Jaxon, Daria, Ksenya, Vicky and Rex sitting at pool in our neighbor's (Fraziers) pool

Leila going down slide in Frazier's pool

Ryker showing us his muscles

Everyone just as we are boarding the houseboats for our fun time on Lake Powell

One of the houseboats with a slide on the back.  4 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, kitchen, pullout sleeper in kitchen.

Morgan and Daria on jet ski.

Ksenya loved the sand!

Vicky and Rex on a jet ski.

Kyle with Leila and Eva taking a rowboat ride.

Kevin skiing with a roaster tail behind him.

Kyle, Lance, Morgan, Kandace, and Cole on the water weinie.

Lisa, Steve and Vicky on the raft.  What fun!

Everyone gathers for a family photo on the shores of Lake Powell where we parked.  It was truly a marvelous, memorable reunion for everyone.

Ryan, Heather, Morgan, Makenzie, Makayla, Garrett, Gage and Madison

Jason, Romi, Paige, Abby, and Sydney

Steve, Lisa, Cole, Brock, Rhet, Maci, and Ty

Kyle, Kandace, Leila and Eva

Lance, Diana, Ethan and Parker

Kevin, Kali, Drew, Jaxon, Daria, Trey, Ryker, and Ksenya

Rex and Vicky (the ones who started it all)! and so grateful for our dear family!

Kyle, Ryan, Lance, Rex, Vicky, Lisa, Romi, and Kali

Romi, Lisa, Vicky and Kali

 

Fall time with Kyle, Kali and our Swedish Reunion

Rex and Vicky with our dear friend, CC (Cecilie Lundgreen) in Salt Lake. She and her friends Reeve and Lolly collect items for "Eyes for Zimbabwe" each year then ship 3 big containers of clothing and other items to the people of Zimbabwe. It is always such a privilege to donate items and help with the sorting.

Vicky, Morgan and Rex. Morgan's 18th birthday. She is our oldest granddaughter and is a senior at Desert Hills High School. How qucikly she has grown up.

Rex and Vicky with our Hathaway grandchildren. Drew (10), Jaxon (8), Daria (6), Trey (4), Ryker (2) and Ksenya (5 months). We were in Idaho for a day to help celebrate Ryker's 2nd birthday.

Ryker Hathaway on his 2nd birthday. This is the little wooden train that we got him for his birthday.

Here is Ryker with his tiger cake that Kali made for him. It is surrounded by cupcakes that spell out: "Happy Birthday Ryker". What a cute boy!

Ksenya at 5 months of age. She rolls over and over and babbles alot. She is growing up much too quickly.

Steve and Amy Johnson, who organized our Swedish Reunion in Brigham City at Maddox Inn. We had 34 people in attendance and a wonderful few hours together.

Rex, Garth Hanson, Pres. Larry Anderson (our mission president).

Some of the great women with whom we served: Berniece Nelson, Judith Thunell, Marilyn Pearson, Linda Wright, Vicky Lewis, and Amy Johnson.

Kyle, Vicky and Rex as we were going into the Salt Lake Temple to do a session. Kyle had never been to the Salt Lake Temple to do a session and it was a wonderful time together. Kyle had flown in to Salt Lake to attend a job fair at BYU as he has been out of a job since August 10, 2011. We are fasting and praying for him.

Makenzie Lewis and Vicky at her 15th birthday. She too is growing up too fast.

Our lives are busy but wonderful here in St. George, Utah. Rex and I volunteer alot at Huntsman Senior Games, Tuacahn, ICL where I am the social chairman, and attend Dixie State College classes for a nominal fee. We are also part of a wonderful group in our ward who go out to dinner and then our religion class on Wednesday nights. Dr. Randal Chase is the instructor and just an excellent teacher.

Great Summer 2011

Vicky and Rex and BYU Education Week in Provo August 15-19, 2011. What a spiritual, uplifting, educational week for us. Our very first Education Week!

Patti, Linda, Vicky and Jeff in front of Austin's and Nelson's Doggie Daycare in Las Vegas.

Patti, Linda, Vicky and Jeff at Hoover Dam in August 2011. Great few days together.

Ron, Linda, Jeff, Marla, Vicky, Rex, Patti at Hoover Dam in August 2011.

Ksenya Hathaway at 3 1/2 months old, when they came to visit us in St. George August 2011.

Rex, Vicky, Sarah, Sebastian, Jesper, Mette Paulsen and 2 friends from Denmark. Wonderful visit with them.

Rex, Vicky, Kali, Kevin and children in Zion Park August 2011.

Daria and Trey in back, Ryker and Kali in front at Squish Rock in August 2011.

Kali, Kevin and children in front of Christus at St. George Visitors Center August 2011.

Vicky, Rex, Kali, Kevin and children at Christus in St. George Visitors Center August 2011.

Swimming in Frazier's pool August 2011. Jaxon, Daria, Kali, Gage, Madison in front. Garrett, Trey, Kevin, Drew and Heather in back. Both Daria and Trey learned how to swim while they were here visiting for their vacation.

Heather, Madison and Ryan in Guisingers pool August 2011. We loved swimming together.

Romi, Sydney and Abby in their pool at their new home in Queen Creek, AZ. Romi, Jason and family moved to AZ mid July 2011 from PA.

Front: Abby and Sydney Back: Vicky and Paige at Queen Creek in September 2011

Sharon and Vicky while visiting in AZ in September 2011. Todd and Nicole invited us over for a delicious barbecue at their home in Phoenix while we were in AZ. Sharon lives at The Stratford in Phoenix, not far from Todd. We also saw Ted and Teresa. Very fun evening.

Jason, Romi, Paige, Abby and Sydney Kimball. This is their new home in Queen Creek, AZ.

Ethan and Parker Lewis all dressed up for church in Irvine, CA September 2011. Ethan is 4 and Parker is 1 1/2 years old.

Lance, Diana, Ethan and Parker at Balboa Island September 2011.

Vicky and Rex on the pier at Balboa Island. We saw some dolphins in the ocean. September 2011.

Parker and Vicky in the pool in Lance's and Diana's back yard. September 2011.

Ty, Brock, Kyle, and Rhet in Ripon, Ca September 2011.

Lisa and Steve in Ripon, CA September 2011. We are off to a football game of Cole's.

Rex, Cole and Kyle after Cole's victory over Ripon Christian. Cole scored a touchdown and Ripon was victorious. September 2011.

Maci all decked out to cheer and Rhet suited up to play youth football in September 2011 at Downey Stadium. (Chuck Hughes Stadium) This is where Ryan played football during his high school years and I worked here for 18 years.