My life is an open book

1. I was born May 6, 1978, aka 5-6-78...5-6-7-8! means I was born to dance! =) I love to dance.
2. I am the oldest of 6 kids-3 girls, 3 boys. My youngest sibling is 13 years younger than me. A big family is a challenge but a blessing.
3. I am an extreme perfectionist. OCD! Everything around me needs to be orderly, clean, organized, chronological, etc. or I will freak out.
4. I asked Jesus to live in my heart when I was 5 years old at a Summer Bible Camp at Gladstone First Baptist Church; I prayed with Teri.
5. My dad was music leader and Youth Pastor at Gladstone First Baptist Church 1981-1985. I met Tyler there when I was 3, he was 5. We (my family and the Lewis families) left the church in 1985. had something to do with Teri.
6. My dad was a Pastor at Spirit, Love & Truth, a non-denominational Church 1986-1992. PK! It was a small church, half of it was Lewis families! ;)
7. As early as I can remember, about age 6, every wish and prayer was to marry Tyler Lewis! :)
8. I did gymnastics year-round from age 5, at Sunburst and Portland Gymnastics Center, until about age 11 or 12. I can still do backflips and the splits.
9. I went to Parkrose public Elementary School, then Portland Christian Junior High and High School.
10. In 8th grade, I started Running. I averaged 30-40 miles/week until I was 23 and had kids; 10 years of running 6 days a week. Now I’m lucky to run 1 day a week, but I still enjoy it.
11. I have always been really shy, social anxiety, and struggle with feeling judged. (nobody likes me, guess I’ll go eat worms…was my favorite song through school) I had eating problems in High School and over-exercised to feel better about myself (Tyler was my cure)
12. I draw (pencil sketches), play the piano, dance, run and read lots of books, including the Bible, all of which I would do more of if I had the time. Now I color with my kids, play chopsticks with my kids, dance with my kids, run around the house chasing my kids and read stories, including the Bible, to my kids!
13. In High School I played Volleyball, Soccer, Cheerleading for boys basketball and Track. I set a school record in the Triple Jump.
14. I would have been the #1 Cheerleader in 1A/2A/3A at the State Competition my Senior year, if I didn’t break a safety rule by dropping into splits without hands, but I still made the top 10 All-State team. (just meant no scholarship for me, but I wasn’t planning to go to college anyways =)
15. My first kiss was a month before I turned 16, after Tyler and I finally started dating. Tyler was my first kiss and the only person I’ve kissed :*
16. I was engaged to Tyler on December 23, 1995, after he finally asked my dad for his blessing. I was a Senior in High School, only 17 years old!
17. I got straight A’s in High School. I was a 4.0 Valedictorian with my friends, Sami & Lexi.
18. I was married August 10th, 1996, at Gladstone First Baptist Church, 2 months after I graduated High School! (This was what I wanted since I was 6, remember?!) I was 18, Tyler was 20.
19. My first alcoholic drink was on my 21st birthday, on a dinner-date with my husband. I wish I could remember what my first drink was? I love a glass of wine now in the evening to help relax.
20. I was pregnant with my first child at age 22. I prayed he would be early and small (instead of 4 weeks past the due date like my mom’s first child-me!) Dominick was born 2 months early, because my water broke, the same week as my birthday and Mother’s Day! He was 4lb 3oz. Easy delivery. Healthy, small baby!
21. 21 months later, baby #2 was so easy I said "I could do this again!" after she popped out. I prayed for a girl that would be outgoing and like to talk to her mother (unlike my mom’s first child-me!) Brianna was 6lb10oz. 110% Girl. When she was 5 she told me one night in bed, “I want to talk about something but I can’t think of something to say, wait, it’s coming up…” She’s a talker! Getting her to be quiet is the challenge ;)
22. 4 years later, our 3rd child was a surprise. The ultrasound looked like a girl so we thought we were having Abigail until, after the longest and most painful labor ever, we were surprised with baby Boy Lewis! Isaac, which means laughter, was 7lb11oz. I still think at times my life would be easier with just the older 2 kids but Isaac makes us laugh all the time and, of course, our family would not be as good without him!
23. I have fought depression my whole life. I think it's a spiritual battle that should be battled with prayer, but after one of my longest episodes and persistent suicide thoughts, I got on medication about 2 years ago. It also helps my social anxiety =)
24. I was laid off summer of 2008 by my employer of 12 years, Fidelity National Title Company. Good thing I was on medication! hehe. Now I am a preschool teacher at Sonshine Preschool at Gladstone First Baptist Church and I LOVE my job! Happiness is worth more than money :)
25. I love our church, Faith Evangelical Church, we started attending a few years ago and they are family! I know we live in a Spiritual world. I've seen angels and demons. I can't wait to see God! And spend Eternity with Him and His Son, Jesus!

I wrote this a year ago on Facebook, in response to a Note thread that was being passed around. I thought I should share this before my next post, which is a very personal confession of the struggles I live with. Despite the many answered prayers and blessings God has given us, there will still be struggles. We're only human. But we can learn to Trust God and grow in our Faith. God is in control of our lives and "He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the Day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6