I am currently finishing last my last semester of classes in order to finally graduate from BYU. One of my assignments was a 2 page autobiography. I decided to post this for a couple reasons:
First, I am still under the impression that those who take the time to look at my blog are people who know us and are genuinely interested in the well being of our family.
Second, I am currently suffering from two major injuries that have made it impossible to for me to run for the last 20 days. I probably wrote this at the peek of my running career. I was told yesterday in order to avoid more serious -impossible to recover from- injuries I should not run as often as my heart desires.
This is dedicated to those who are true runners...

The Great Race

I don’t remember registering for the race although I know I did. The many miles I have run have varied in degrees of difficulty. The beginning was a little easier; my body was young and fresh. As the miles have gone by I have had to slow down and endure rough road. I have picked up a rock or two on my way and endured some painful injuries. I am now on mile 32 and going strong. I am grateful for the strength I have built up to keep me running as fast as I can.
My parents were the ones who paid my fee and provided transportation to the starting line. I remember bits and pieces of them teaching me how to use my mind and my strength to become a good runner. As I grew up I watched them ahead of me on the course and I realized I wanted to take the road they were on. I gained a strong testimony of the Gospel and because of this I had a whole team I was training with. The scriptures, prophets, and the Atonement of Christ provided me an extremely helpful map of the race course.
By the time I reached mile 18 in 1994 I was following the map, on the right course and running at a good speed. I ran the streets of Provo as a student at BYU for four years. There I found my running partner. Todd Lewis and I were married in the San Diego Temple in 1996.
About a year and a half later I was going up a hill that seemed small but by the time I got half way up I realized it was pretty steep. I had just given birth to my first son Keith. He was born three months early because I had Pregnancy Induced Hypertension and the doctors had to take him C-Section or I might not be able to run any more. He was 2lb. 2oz. and had to stay in the hospital for 2 months. He did extremely well; he ended up being a miracle in our lives. At the time I thought that hill was tough but looking back it was one of the easier hills I have run.
As I hit mile 24 I was approaching one of the toughest most painful hills I would ever run. I gave birth to my baby girl Lexi Renee Lewis who only lived 6 days. At that point I didn’t think I could make it over the hill. It was so steep, there were rocks everywhere and I didn’t even know if it was worth climbing. I couldn’t run any more! The only way up was to get on my hands and knees to climb the difficult hill. My husband, family, friends and Jesus Christ, my Savior helped carry me to the top and somehow I was able to keep running.
Soon after, my husband and I took a different road and only a year later adopted our son Scott. While on this road I have gotten a few tiny rocks in my shoe making it a little more difficult to run. At mile 29 Scott was diagnosed with Mild Mental Retardation. I have had to push him in the jogging stroller and this makes the road seem longer and harder but I have kept going.
I am running faster and stronger than ever now. Mile 32 is beautiful. I currently enjoy running through Bidwell Park in Chico, CA every day. My great running partner helps me to stay motivated and is able to push our son Scott in the stroller whenever possible. Our other son Keith is 10 years old now, and rides his bike beside us. I have had so many blessings in my life that have helped me keep up with all the other race participants. I have been lucky enough to run in many beautiful places that Heavenly Father has created. I feel his love for me and I am grateful for the blessings of health, family and the gospel. As I get closer to the finish line I hope I will feel that even though the road has seemed hard my performance has been successful.