Sunday, September 11, 2011

Busy Life


You know how it goes, life just gets...busy. (And it’s just the two of us!) If you told us two months ago what would transpire in the coming weeks, we probably wouldn't have believed you. Evidently God thought our life was a little bland so He threw some spices in to liven it up!

Since my last post we’ve been on family vacations, had friends come visit and made a few weekend road trips. I'll catch you up some on the "busy" in our life lately, but some of it will have to wait until we make solid decisions. Let's just say, the Lord is blessing us with some wonderful opportunities and we are learning how to "listen" for His guidance. Please be praying that we are good listeners!!

To begin with, we have been looking to build a house (really since May)! Our lease is up at the end of the year so we have to act soon if we are going to have a home completed by then. Fast forward 5+ builders, about 3 months, a realtor, and many many weeks of searching, and we finally made up our minds! Maybe. We are currently under contract building a beautiful home and set to close JUST before Christmas! BUT, we recognize that much can change in 4 months and this is a huge purchase so we are not dead-set on it until it’s final. It’s been a fun and slightly intimidating process; it's not every day you make a 6-figure purchase!!!! (It's also not every day that mortgage rates are as low as they are right now! *Finance major moment*) We have picked the lot, the floor plan, and all the colors and are excited to see how it will all turn out. We'll update in pictures as construction gets started. :)

The other busy thing in our life is that I have a new job as the Associate Financial Controls Analyst at Tesoro, the oil company right next door to our apartment! I was unhappy with my previous job and eager to get into something more in line with my background and education. It was totally God's timing for me to end up in this new position, and I could not be more thrilled! Despite my frustrations where I was before, He had me there for a reason and placed some wonderful people in my life through it. I learned a lot about myself and the “Real World,” and I better appreciate my career now because of it.

Tesoro has already meant a positive change. For starters, I'm under less stress, which makes me a much more pleasant wife. I have some wonderful co-workers (including my friend and neighbor, Sammy, who endured the black-ice ordeal with me back in February), and I'm challenged constantly as I learn something new in the heart of our busy time of year. They've got a gym on site that I've actually utilized probably more than I ever went to the gym at my last job. I'm even going to a spinning class during lunch twice a week and I've lost 2.5 lbs already!

Life has been busy, confusing, and exciting lately. The Lord has blessed us tremendously and we are so thankful for how far we’ve come in these first 20ish months of marriage. We will update more as we make decisions regarding our future. (Stay tuned in the coming weeks for some posts about our summer vacations too!) Thanks for reading this far even though there aren’t pictures! :)


Sunday, July 10, 2011

Happy Birthday America :)

Happy 235th birthday America!! What did you do to celebrate the 4th of July? We spent ours in none other than our dear hometown. :)

From the Lakeside Icehouse with the Rock-a-fellas, to the golf course, horse trails, and Centerville, TX. It was a fabulous weekend with lots of family fun. It really is great having both our parents a few miles apart. We love our families!!

Lakeside Icehouse

The Rock-a-Fellas
One of the things I miss the most about B/CS...SPOONS! Anyone want to donate a few $$million for me to open one in SA?? :)
 
Brock & Cade in Centerville while we were walking around the market. They had some really neat stuff, baby clothes/accessories, pretty Texan decorations for your home, hats, jewelry, etc.

These little cuties made some sand dudes and were showing them off.

picking up candy from the parade!
The Barton/Slaydon gang at the parade! 
Nothin' more All-American than a small town 4th of July parade!

And top it off with a little BBQ. This smoking gun made some delicious BBQ!

Other activities not pictured:
  • Friday night poker with Chrissy & Justin and some of our old friends. (Darrin won!)
  • Darrin and our Dads tee it up at Briarcrest Saturday morning.
  • I saddled up with Mom and the little girls early Saturday and rode horses for a few hours.
  • Sunday church at Central Baptist with some excellent patriotic music, a few minutes with the Cowleys after church, then lunch at Wings 'N' More with the whole family.
  • A sweet afternoon visit with Darrin's Mimi.
Hope you had a wonderful time of celebration with your friends and family too!

Friday, July 8, 2011

Father's Day

Father's day was a big day this year, because it was also my Mom's 25th-ish birthday!! (Don't tell her I told you, but it was really her 50th!) We had a wonderful weekend celebrating with my family! And to top it off, we didn't have to drive far because everyone was in New Braunfels! (my 11 month old car with 14,000 miles thanks those of you who made the trek in.)

{Saturday Afternoon} Gruene then Gram and Champa's house:

Hanging out in Gruene

Happy Father's Day Champa!!
Yeah, we were all about the fishin' shirts this year! (And this is the only picture Gram got in! :( )
The Lampley family original: just grab a picture of the person that's missing!
{Saturday Evening} Jackie and Stephanie's house:

"Playing" in Bond's studio/bedroom




Showing off her birthday present - Jojo's registration papers!

{Sunday * Father's Day * Mom's Birthday} Birkner Family Reunion:


The train ride is a tradition! And the conductor (an Aggie) has been driving this since back when Gram & Champa used to bring us girls to ride when were all under the age of 10!

Cousins with Mimi & Poppy

Mimi & Poppy and kids

Birthday girl with Father's Day boy

Happy Father's day to the best Daddy in the world!!



Poppy and Leigh
Next post...4th of July fun!! Hopefully I'll get it posted before August rolls around! :-P