Over the Memorial Day weekend we met up with my parents, my sister and her family, my brother-in-law's father, and my and youngest brother and his wife in Chinle, AZ.
My brother-in-law's father (R. Sr.) lived in Chinle for three years while working in the hospital there and knew so much about the area, the Navajo people, and the history of the
Canyon de Chelly. It was a treat to spend the weekend with him and learn more about this beautiful hidden gem in the NE corner of Arizona.
We arrived on Saturday afternoon and enjoyed seeing everyone and hanging out. The kids were in heaven to have some cousins and be loved on by their grandparents and aunts and uncles.
Sunday everyone went to church in Chinle and enjoyed the spirit of the meetings there. In the afternoon we went on a hike down the canyon to see the white house ruin. It was a 1.5 mile hike down the most gorgeous canyon I've seen in a long time. We all made the trek, with the little boys being packed by their dads and the two 4 year olds making the whole journey on foot in maybe not the best of hiking footwear. Stylish, but not practical.
It was a gorgeous hike and view of the sandstone canyon walls, riverbed, and the amazing ruin. We took our time on the trail, soaking in the scenery and catching up with each other. After the walk we drove to the other viewpoints around the canyon and were stunned with the beauty of the canyon. I lvoed hearing our girls exlaim, "It's so beautiful" or "Wow, that's amazing" as they took in their surroundings. God is a master architect.
Sunday night we had a little FHE where my parents and R Sr. spoke about their ancestors and some
family history stories. My mom gave us a wonderful family history chart spanning more than 8 generations as well as a book about my great-grandfather Vernon Romney. I am so grateful for the legacy of faith and hard work my ancestors paved for me. I am "the beneficiary of the visions and the dreams, the labors and the sacrifices of all who have gone before me" and I hope to always be a
strong link in my generational chain.
Monday morning we played in the green grass on the hotel's grounds and packed to leave. The drive home was a breeze and we were loved starting off the summer with such a fun trip.
