Change, Change, Change

We miss you Steven

2010-06-13T12:03:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, my older brother Steven has been missing since Christmas time. Today marks six months since anyone has heard from him. It has been a challenging and humbling experience to go through something like this. Our family has truly been blessed by thousands of people (many whom we don't even know) praying for and helping our family during this time. We will never be able to properly thank everyone who has taken the time to think of us this year. Unfortunately no new leads have come forth, but we still have hope and know that our Heavenly Father is mindful of Steven and when the time is right we will know and find peace in the situation.

{Steven would kill me for posting this picture. He was very much a University of Utah fan and only when this was the only sweatshirt around would he ever wear BYU gear. =) }

(My dad, nephew Peter, and Steven at my wedding)

Those of you know Steven, know he is a kind hearted and caring person. He enjoys sports and being outdoors. He started playing the guitar a few years ago and even had a pretty decent voice to go with it. I admire his willingness to help others and his faithfulness to the Gospel.

{Me and the boys...}

We've had to find a new "normal" in our family. And even though at times it feels as if we've moved on, we sure haven't. My parents still tirelessly search for clues and travel many miles to keep the investigation active. We pray daily for him and our hearts are tender when we think about a brother/son/uncle/cousin/friend whom we miss.

{All five siblings at Moon Lake a few years ago}

We love you Steven and we miss you.

Memorial Weekend

2010-06-06T12:09:00.000-07:00

Last weekend Andrew and I went to Dallas for a much needed mini-vacation. We hopped in the car Friday afternoon after work and made our way to Dallas. We found a great deal on a Marriott hotel in Las Colinas. Saturday morning after a leisurely breakfast and workout we headed for the Dallas Temple. I miss being so close to a temple like we were in San Antonio, but it is always refreshing to attend the temple when we can.

After the temple we had a nice afternoon walking around South Lake where we met up with my former roommate Mandy and her family at The Cheesecake Factory. YUM! (except for the raw chicken in my salad, but they fixed it and the cheesecake was still amazing!) It was great to catch up with Mandy and Matt too!

Matt, Maddy and Mandy

On Sunday we met up with my long time friend Katie and her family for church. Katie and I go WAY back. We grew up in Amarillo together and probably have known each other since we were 1 or 2. She now has two cute boys and will be moving back to Amarillo with her husband Scott in a few weeks.

Me, Katie and Elliot

We drove back Sunday afternoon. On Memorial day we had a great day relaxing at the pool and BBQ's with friends. I sure could get use to having Monday's off!

Almost done!

2010-05-23T19:37:00.000-07:00

Here are a few pictures of our kitchen now. We are not 100% finished, but for the most part we have completed the major projects. Here is a quick list of what we did: removed wallpaper, textured walls, painted walls, tiled floors (thanks to Tim and Amy for all their help!), new countertops, new dishwasher, new faucet, sanded-deglossed-oil painted cabinets, new hardware, new blinds, new wall decorations. Oh and btw each one of those projects had set-backs (sometimes huge problems) as does any home improvement project does! Feel free to visit anytime!

Oh and this a yummy fruit pizza that I made this weekend for a BBQ.

I'm Back!

2010-05-09T12:14:00.000-07:00

Okay so my 4 followers probably don't believe me, but my goal is to get better at blogging!

I love reading my friends and family blogs but have been selfish and have not blogged my own updates. As my disclaimer states, I don't promise to be great at this but I hope to be more consistent.

So for my first update I wanted to share some pictures of our never-ending home improvement project. We began in late February. Andrew had time off in March and he worked tirelessly on this project. Everything took longer than expected because of complications, but we are slowly seeing signs of completion.

I need to thank my dear husband for all the hours of frustrations he put into this project. I am very proud how he tackled obstacles with determination, where I probably would have given up. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

Here are some before and during pictures. We cant wait to have all our after pictures to show you!

Here is our kitchen pre-remodeling. Don't you love the dark wallpaper!
Hard at work--grouting tile in the kitchen and Andrew scraping off wall paper in the bathroom. Looking good hubby!

Here is our bathroom before and after. No wallpaper and painted cabinets. Much better!

Catch Up

2008-10-19T19:12:00.000-07:00

So I have a lot of things I wanted to post since last week, but this is first the time I've had a chance...

This is what I found on the table after my 9 hour terrible drive to Shreveport last weekend.

Two dozen red roses! What a sweetheart. We had a great weekend together.

We talked a lot about our wedding date and decided to really think about moving it up. So we decided we better start registering if we are seriously going to move it up. Here are a few pictures of that event. It was a lot of fun! Andrew was having so much fun, I had to beg for a turn! Although after an hour or so, we both had enough!

Blog Help!

2008-10-08T20:38:00.000-07:00

I am trying to add a new cute background but I am having a hard time with margins etc. How do I fix it!? It's a work in progress...

Engaged and loving it

2008-10-06T18:44:00.000-07:00

Wow, I didnt realize anyone read my blog since it's so sporadic! Glad to know you bloggers out there still check to see if I have anything profound to post.

I think an engagement is a pretty good excuse to blog! {Thanks Mandy and Michelle for encouraging me!}

I did get my real engagement ring last weekend! I love it. I didnt make Andrew re-propose but maybe I should have, it was so fun the first time!

I am going to try to be better at posting and keep you updated on my wedding plans...which are slow right now. I have ideas but nothing official yet.

The long distance is hard...I am ready to move. Anyone have a job for me in Shreveport??

If you have any wedding tips send them my way...I can probably use all the help I can get.

I am engaged!

2008-09-25T18:16:00.001-07:00

Run, Lisa, Run

2007-05-31T15:45:00.000-07:00

What a better way to celebrate Armed Forces Day than to run a relay marathon?! 6 of us girls ran the Beach to Bay marathon on May 19th. We each ran 4 to 5 miles each to complete the marathon. I got the lucky first leg which was four miles of running in the sand! After getting up at 5am after staying up late watching the Spurs beat the Suns mind you.... (Go SPURS Go!) It was a rough run, followed by a 2 hour bus ride going 1.2 mph back to the meeting spot. Despite all that it was a fun trip!

Top Pic-- Sara, Sunshine and I are practicing our hand-off. Yep we ran with a baton! Oh and ignore that half naked guy in the background...
Bottom Pic- We are the lucky early crew, 5am!

Where have you been?

2007-04-15T09:59:00.000-07:00

I fell off the blogger planet for a while... thanks to doozer and mander for reminding me to come back!

Check out some pictures of my last few months:

A group of my SA friends went down to Corpus one weekend. We stayed in my roommates condo and played all day outside. So fun!

Third time to San Fran and I finally made it to Alcatraz. Very interesting place.
How would you like to live here?

I went to SF for a "work conference". This is at one of the many gatherings we attended.

Next trip: Utah. My niece is so dang cute!

The excitement of the trip was my new little nephew Peter was blessed. So adorable!

More to come...

-I survived Artic Blast '07-

2007-01-20T20:14:00.000-08:00

SO this week little San Antonio made the national news quite a few times with our winter wonderland...

Schools were cancelled for 2.5 days and most businesses closed as well. Lucky me made it to work each day though.

We had our big annual wellness fair on Thursday so I had to get to work during the storm to prepare. Luckily it was great success. Oh and note the HUGE picture of me and my two coworkers hanging. Oh darn the balloons are covering my face... maybe I will try to add a better pic so you can laugh at it like we all did. It's so fun to look at a 5x12 foot picture of yourself for the entire Valero population to see!

Oh this is my boss in the red and my co-worker Nathan.

San Francisco Treat

2006-11-12T10:05:00.000-08:00

Last weekend I visited my college roommate Elise and her little family in San Francisco. Her baby Claire is about 6 months old. Isnt she adorable! We had a great time that weekend. Ryan and Elise live in a neat area very close to the Golden Gate bridge and one morning I even jogged down to the ocean from her house (no thats not me in the picture above).

In the 2 short days I was there, we tried to fit a lot in, but relax as well. We walked around downtown, ate at cute unique restaurants, shopped (at Old Navy mostly-- of all places), walked around Golden Gate State Park in the Japanese Tea Gardens, etc. Friday night we ate outside at the Cheesecake Factory looking over Union Square as the USC marching band decided to have a pep rally. It was a great trip!

Unfortunately we didnt make it to the typical China Town, Fisherman's Wharf, Ghirardelli Square, or In-N-Out burger (sorry Mand) but we caught those last time I visited, so it was just fine. It was a nice break, before an amazingly long crazy week. More to come on that...

Always a bridesmaid....

2006-10-29T18:33:00.000-08:00

Since it will probably be a while till I have my own bouquet and veil, I decided to try on Mandy's. What a great reception Matt and Mandy!

{Recent Purchase: I finally got a new phone! }
{Favorite Movie: Step Up... it's a little cheesy but some good dancing}
{4 days till San Francisco!!}

So you had a bad day...

2006-10-17T20:03:00.000-07:00

Last week began with many stupid work challenges, the main one being a $2000 piece of junk that yours truly ordered for the company. Man I did a good job on that one. Luckily my facilities department patched it up nicely so I didnt look like a complete idiot.

Then today, I had to smooth things over with a lady that was very unsatisfied with one of my co-workers. That was fun. Again luckily I worded things just right to make her realize SHE was the one having a bad day and decided to take it out on us. Once again problem solved.

So my bad days ended just fine, and to make things better my staff bought me flowers and chocolate for bosses day! I feel so grown up... it's weird.

Hope your bad days have happy endings too!

{Favorite Song: Chasing Cars}
{Favorite memory currently: Mandy's reception/hang out time with Stef}
{Mood: excited, I'm going to San Francisco in two weeks!}

Days gone by...

2006-10-05T15:16:00.000-07:00

The summer is officially over, and I guess it is time to report. The days have gone by so quickly, and I think I still havent been in San Antonio more than 3 weeks in a row...

I did a little traveling this summer and will try to report on some of these. Here comes the list:

Vegas (work conference)
Utah(Anne's wedding)
Dallas
Chicago(visit Stef)
Dallas
Padre Island (Girls weekend at the beach!)
Utah(Dallin's Homecoming)
Dallas
Utah(Mandy and Matt's wedding)
Boise ( " " )
Amarillo (Randy's wedding)
Dallas

So yes, I have had a lot of wedding's and trips to Dallas this summer! (I had a hard time weaning my self away from Dallas... )

Here are a few pictures to get started and will continue to blog soon. (I promise Mandy!)

This is me in my office at work, Anne sent me flowers for my birthday!

Mandy and I on one of the MANY public transporation options in Chicago

Stef and I washing windows in the John Hancock Building

Kati (my current roommate) and I on my birthday

Work in progress...

2006-05-24T15:56:00.000-07:00

Obviously I am not too good at this whole blogging thing. I'm working on it...

Well all the changes happened, and life is slowly calming down. Within about a 6 week period my roommates and I all got new jobs, moved out, and went seperate ways. The hardest part was we actually like each other! (this is me and mandy on moving day)
Stef moved to Chicago for a summer job. I moved to San Antonio to accept a management position, and pretty much we just abandoned Mandy! She moved in with her brother and got a fabulous new job, (oh and a new calling).

We sure did make the best of the last few weeks, and even created a Calendar-of-fun to fit it all in! Good times. I will add more pictures of some of these events soon!

Howdy

2006-03-15T07:39:00.000-08:00

Everyone's blogging these days... thought I would give it a try. Stay tuned for profound updates by LisaLou!