Lewis Sisters Retreat - post by Julia

My sister Meredith set out a goal last September to run a marathon and it worked out that we could all plan a sister's retreat around that in Newport, Oregon. It was THE BEST. I had a hard time coming back to reality. I did take Dallin with me and I was a little worried about the sleeping and how hard it might be on him with routine kind of messed up but it worked out a lot better than expected. He still proves to be such a happy, laughing, smiley, easy baby. 

On Wednesady, May 29th, Dallin and I flew in and were the first to arrive. Dad and I went and got all the groceries for the retreat since I was in charge of the food. Mere and Emily came in later that evening. I loved sitting around chatting with Mere and Mom and Dad out on the deck on a beautiful evening. 

 Thursday, Ondalynn and Alice-Anne and Danielle arrived and we ate lunch then packed up the food and other supplies. They picked up Viv on the way. And Tiffany met us at the beach. We really missed Janelle who couldn't make it.

 I loved being able to talk with A-A, Mom, and Danielle on the way down. It was fun to hear about the upcoming adventures for Danielle and Crismon in Europe and then New York. 

We got settled into our house and ate dinner then went on a walk. Basically the retreat came be summed up into eating, chatting, and walking. It is what Lewis women know best. 

Holding up the drone for Emily

Friday was my 29th birthday. I LOVED celebrating with all my sisters and Mom. Ondalynn hung up this happy birthday banner. We had lunch at Local Oceans then walked around Newport. We also went to this lighthouse and tide pools with amazing sea creatures. And the view was spectacular!

That evening after dinner, Ondalynn shared with us about how there is a spirit animal for women: elephants. They rally and protect each other, especially from predators while a mother is giving birth. She talked about how we are all rallying with each other. She each gave us a necklace to remember that by. 

And they were all so nice to give me presents! I was pretty surprised by that. They gave me the book Insights from a Prophet's Life about President Nelson and then the Love Real Food Cookbook that I've been checking out from the library over and over again so I was so grateful to get it! 

We ended the day by hot tubbing and then eating brownies and ice cream. 

Saturday morning was the race and because of injury, Meredith and Ondalynn just ran the half marathon but it was still impressive! Unfortunately we missed Ondalynn's finish but then she went back and walked/ran with Mere by the end so we got to see them both together at the last stretch. 

We got to go to a local beach near Waldport and sit around and do more talking. Throughout the week during the meals we talked about a tender mercy we've had this last year. And on Saturday evening we talked about 'favorite things.' Basically I came away with LOTS of things I wanted to buy hehe. 

I loved something that Mere said that I've been thinking about a lot. She told the backstory of her signing up for this marathon and how it was a big goal but she was willing to put herself out there and do it. Then a couple of months ago she got shin splints and then while she was running the race, her injuries were so bad that she had to walk most of the way. She felt so deflated that after all this training, she couldn't run her race. She kept having the thought, "this was not the race I was supposed to run." Then it dawned on her, that there are some things in our life that happen and we think, 'this was not the race I was supposed to run. This wasn't supposed to happen.' Then she thought of Viv and her situation and how this wasn't the run she planned on having but she was doing it; as hard as it is. Ondalynn and Mere dedicated that race to Viv. When they were training, they sometimes didn't want to because it was so hard. Then they would think of Viv and all that she is going through and think, 'if Viv can do this hard thing, then so can I.' I just love the idea that we're all running in a race and sometimes it's not the race we signed up for but we do it anyway because there is so much growth on the other side.

I came away from this sister's retreat so rejuvenated. I love these incredible women and glad that we stay in contact almost daily through Marco Polo or texts or calls. They are my best friends. 

The Races We Run | Lewis Sisters Retreat - June 2019

My daughters are excellent writers. I'm going to take advantage of that and share what they wrote about our Sisters Retreat in Newport. We had such a wonderful time. We missed Janelle, but we were so happy all the rest of us could be together. I'm thankful for their good husbands who covered at home so they could come. I'm blessed with the most wonderful daughters and daughter-in-laws.

(blog post taken from Emily's blog) 

Meredith shared a tender mercy experience that really resonated with me and I wanted to share, and Juila wrote it so beautifully, that I'll share that here:

"I loved something that Mere said that I've been thinking about a lot. She told the backstory of her signing up for this marathon and how it was a big goal but she was willing to put herself out there and do it. Then a couple of months ago she got shin splints and then while she was running the race, her injuries were so bad that she had to walk most of the way. She felt so deflated that after all this training, she couldn't run her race. 

She kept having the thought, "this was not the race I was supposed to run." Then it dawned on her, that there are some things in our life that happen and we think, 'this was not the race I was supposed to run. This wasn't supposed to happen.' Then she thought of Viv and her situation and how this wasn't the run she planned on having but she was doing it; as hard as it is. 

Ondalynn and Mere dedicated that race to Viv. When they were training, they sometimes didn't want to because it was so hard. Then they would think of Viv and all that she is going through and think, 'if Viv can do this hard thing, then so can I.' I just love the idea that we're all running in a race and sometimes it's not the race we signed up for but we do it anyway because there is so much growth on the other side."

I think of my mom who has suffered with Polio all her life and will continue to, this isn't a race she signed up for or wanted to run, but running it anyway - but with so much happiness, energy and love. 

I think of my sister Danielle who suffers from endometriosis and is running the race of infertility and experiences chronic invisible pain. 

I think of friends and family members who run the race of depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses that pray for relief but it doesn't come right away.

I think of my friends who running the race of being single and longing for an eternal companion and marriage.

I too am running my own races of struggles - and the rest stops don't come as quickly as I'd like, and the weather is sometimes too cold and too hot (figuratively speaking), but I know that God performs miracles in my (and everyone's!) life as He has does for His children in the past! 

May Memories

One of the highlights of the month included a mini-family reunion Memorial weekend on the East Coast at Meredith & Bryan’s home in Maryland. Dallin, Janelle and girls came up from Virginia. Seth, Tiffany, Preston and Asher were in DC for the week. Seth was at a conference where he was one of the host administrators. A big responsibility, yet a nice recognition for him. Tiffany was taking the two boys sightseeing during the week. Emily and Bronson had tickets to fly to Philadelphia, where they toured on Saturday, and then drove down to gather with the family at Meredith's house. They had a terrific time visiting the Washington Mall, going to church together, along with nonstop sibling conversation, while the 11 children, 13-years and under were organizing and practicing a play they had written. There were 22 scene changes (Ha!). It was quite the production!

May is filled with flowers, planting and receiving them. Mother's Day is perfect for celebrating in May. No where is it more beautiful than Oregon in May. I love my reclining chair that I received for Mother's Day. Nothing better than sunshine and warmth for my health. I spend cherished moments on the deck listening to good audio books.

Another highlight of the month was our Sisters Retreat at Waldport OR, just 15 minutes south of Newport. We had so much fun going on walks, sharing tender mercies, cheering for Ondalynn and Meredith in their half marathon race in Newport on Saturday morning, going to the beach, visiting the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse, sharing some of our favorite things,celebrating Julia’s birthday, along with lots of laughs, and some tender tears, as Vivi shared some tender mercies while going through her divorce. We arrived Thursday afternoon, May 30th, and we headed back to Gresham after church on Sunday morning,. All of the sisters and daughter-in-law's were there, except we really missed Janelle, who had clinicals. She is in her last year of her Masters program In speech pathology. She loves working in the hospital with stroke victims. The husbands were good to tend the children while the mommies were away. It was such a bonding, wonderful, inspiring weekend together. We all loved being together. It was truly a special weekend. The rest of the month was the usual busy comings and goings to the temple, grandchildren concerts, etc. Our life is very full and wonderful.

 

Lewis Siblings Reunion

We just returned from a fantastic weekend with our Lewis Siblings in San Diego. With Brad & Dantzelle as the Directors (President) of the Mormon Battalion Visitors Center, we were all so happy to meet there so we could all be together. We really missed Wick & Lynn who had to cancel at the last minute, due to a terrible infection in Wick’s knee, that required a long hospital stay and much recovery ahead. 

It was ideal to meet in Brad & Dantzelle’s lovely apartment for our meals. Myreel & Larry were so kind to arrive early to purchase the food, and Myreel worked her magic in preparing delicious meals for all of us. We loved attending a devotional at the Visitors Center, meeting the outstanding missionaries, enjoying a fun tour of the Center by Brad & Dantzelle, going on an interesting trolley ride around San Diego, Mexican food together, (of course,) walking around Old Time San Diego Historic State Park, attending a temple session together in the magnificent San Diego temple, learning more about our ancestors that were in the Mormon Battalion, feasting on Duraye’s most sumptuous CCC’s and sharing tender mercies. 

We are so grateful for family, for their good lives, for the love we share, and for time together to strengthen those bonds that bind us together.