Monday, December 24, 2012

Another Year


Seriously? 2013 already? I can not believe I made it. So much happened this year! I remember writing my blog at this time last year looking forward to 2012 and all the exciting travel and everything. And boy, this year was amazing. I traveled everywhere. Tennessee, and California, and Colorado, and New York! Wow that's alot of places. I am currently working in Dallas, TX. After that its off to North Carolina! God has truly blessed me. I still love my job. I really thought that I would get tired of the travel. But, I still love it. Airplanes and hotels, and rental cars and new people constantly. LOVE IT!
Ok so this year in a nut shell, WORK. that was most of it. I learned alot about my self. I learned what kind of person I want to be and what I deserve. I have had relationships some amazing, and some not so much, but they had meaning. I am happy. Struggling with my parents relocating, and losing connection with some dear people in my life has been difficult. But, learning from decisions and making decisions based on what is good for me is what is important.
I am moving forward in my life. I have a new house I am moving in to. My parents are home for the Holidays, and spending time with them is number 1 on my list this year. So 2012 has taught me alot. I learned the Mayans were wrong about the end of the world, people are waiting for a Zombie Apocalypse, Call Me Maybe was America's song for a while. KCCO is said on a daily basis.
So next year... what does it hold for me? I don't know yet. Looking forward to God's guidance and looking forward to see what he has in store for me.

Merry Christmas to everyone and I wish everyone a wonderful 2013.

Thursday, September 13, 2012

What? Really????

Ok Guys. I have been waiting to write this blog for a long  time. I am excited and I finally made a huge life changing decsion. Everyone knows I have been traveling for a little more than a year now! I can't believe it has been a year. But it has. I have been working like crazy, and we are about to start our last region. Wow!! The last one. So right now I am in beautiful Denver, CO. So much has happened here. I made alot of decsions, and bettered myself. I am looking forward to the future with the training team. My last stop with be, NEW YORK! I can not wait to be there for 6 to 8 weeks.  I still cant believe I have had this opportunity. I am so blessed. So of course I have plans for NYC and Boston, and Philly for sure! I am so stoked for this!! I am sure that I will have tons of pictures and stories and an amazing time there!
Ok for the life changing decsion  I have decided to move! I know Lisa out of Tulsa? It is going to be crazy!I am so excited and I should have more details as they come. I am not trying to be vauge about this move, but I just have to right now. I have traveled all over and it is has been an amazing journey, but I am ready to settle down, calm down and start over.
Mom and dad being so far away has kind of helped with decsion. I know that God has a plan for me! I know I am going there for a reason and I am so so so excited. So, for my readers, if you could pray for me. Pray for strength, and not to be too crtazy when I move. When I started this job a year ago, I knew the opportunity could come up that I could move. It actually happened. God has blessed me so much and I need to remember that when I do move. I will tell more when I get more details. Love you all!!!

Monday, August 13, 2012

5 Weeks...and some more

Well, Mom and Dad have been gone for 5 weeks now. Everyone keeps asking if it is getting any easier, and to be honest not really. Yes I get to talk to them and and I get to see them over Skype and FaceTime. But they aren't home. I wish they were but I am still working through it. I completed Northen California/Nevada. I was in Fresno, for training then moved on to San Leandro for go live. San Leandro, which is near San Fran was beautiful. Got to do a lot of sightseeing like, my my blog said last time. So currently, I am on beautiful Denver, CO. I am a third in a training room. I am with Tim and Steven. Jon is still close so I didn't completely lose my partner Jon Jon. It is interesting to see how other trainers do train. I mean you get into your groove and you do things certain ways, then you come into another room and they do everything absolutely different. It is a good to see different things and learning how others train across the USA as we continue to do this.
I am still loving my job and loving moving around this country. Denver is beautiful, nice a cool and beautiful. Only been here a day or so, but temperature wise, it is awesome compared to Oklahoma. So, I know this was short, but I wanted to give my readers up to date.

Love to all!

Lisa

Monday, July 16, 2012

Bloggity Blog Blog

Well, The last blog I wrote was about my parents and their new adventure they are on. I am dealing with it as best as I can. I am working alot lately, and not really going home as much as I used to. I am in Corpus Chirsti and will be for the next 2 weeks, not going home till the 27th. So, beach and sunburns are in my future. Mom and Dad are doing great. It is fun to hear all the little stories and how they are adapting to the new culture and customs. Work is going well for them, just missing them here back in the states.
My work is going well. Corpus now then Denver for training. Not with my partner Jon, :( but we are both still in Denver, which is good. My birthday is coming up, the big 28, lol. The years keep passing by so fast. But things are good. I am happy. Just working and working.
This is short blog, but I will write more later. Love to all!
-Lisa

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

About 7000 miles....

7000 miles. That is how far away I will be from my parents very soon. My parents have recently accepted a career opportunity. God has blessed my parents beyond their imagination. In the coming weeks, my parents will be relocating to China. Yeah, as crazy as that sounds, its true. So here I am, their youngest, struggling the most with it. This is not going to be a blog about my struggles, this is going to be a blog about how much I look to my parents for strength. So since my mom and dad have taught me that God will not give me anything that I can not handle, and the God himself is with me every step of the way, I will make it through. But here we go.
My parents, for as long as I can remember, have only given me and my brothers, and now their wives and grandchildrem, everything. They have blessed this family with love, with trust, and with integrity. I look to my brothers, and see men I am proud to say are my brothers. That is because of my parents. I see the love they have for my sister-in-laws, which they dont like that term, they are daughters, not daughter-in-laws. They brought Melissa and Jennifer into the family without hesitation. Then the grandchildren. They would give anything for those boys. I sometimes think that we take for granted what they truly do for me and for the family. No matter what, they will love you. My mom will hug you even if you dont like hugs. My dad will pick on you, just becasue he loves you. They are a united front that will never be broken. Man, am I blessed or what?
My parents love unconditionally. I have said that in many of my blogs. They show God's love everyday. I can only pray that one day I can find someone and love someone the way that they love each other. I have always looked up to my parents. I have always wanted a marriage and a family like the one I grew up in. I want to be able to provide for my kids the way my parents provided for me.
My parents deserve everything. I dont think I tell them enough how much they mean to me. I dont tell the enough how proud I am that I get to call them my parents. This opportunity is such a blessing and I am so proud of them for this. This is a huge sacrifice that they are making as well. I keep asking them how am I going to get through this? How am I going to make it without them, but what I should be asking is How can I make this easier for you? What can I do to make this transition better? They are the ones that are moving. They are the one making the sacrifice, and moving 7000 miles away from home. I will be here, well, relatively speaking, I will be in America. My career has taught me alot of independence. It has taught me that I can go and be whatever I want, and do whatever I think I want to do. So I guess I am somewhat prepared for this.

Here is my little paragraph about how I feel. Not that I want my parents to feel bad, but I need to get this out. My parents are my best friends. I feel like my heart is being ripped into a million pieces and there is no way it can be put back together. I feel like a little kid whose best friend is moving away. I know technology is better and i will be able to Skype and email and all of that, but people who know me know that I need them. It is not a want, it is a necessity. When I really start thinking about them leaving, I stop breathing. I am praying that this is just a horrible nightmare that I am going to wake up from. That when I do come home on the weekends that they are here. My mom is a part of me. When we are seperated I feel this tug at my heart that only my mother can fill, but I konw that I get to come home and see her. Now, I wont get that. I wont get that Mom time that I need.My dad and I, I cant even explain it. He made me into the woman I am today. His advice, his wisdom, his love. Unmatched from anyone else in my life. No on will ever be able to take his spot.
Ok enough about me. Let me end this by saying, I love my Mom and Dad. I am so proud of them. I look up to you more than you can ever understand. I am so proud of you. I am so happy for you. We can make it here in Oklahoma. Go do you thing and come back to us. I love you more than anything.

Good Luck on your amazing Adventure!!

123

Monday, June 25, 2012

Insomnia

Insomnia: I truly hate it. When I am on the road working I sleep fine. I am able to go to bed, sleep and wake up refreshed for the day, ready to hit the road. When I am at home, sleep eludes me. It is so frustrating. I can only clean the house so many times, and rearrange stuff, and organize stuff so much. Being in the new apartment is great! I love spending time with the roommate and seeing my family and friends. But, I get stir crazy. I feel like I should be doing something. I am working, dont get me wrong. During phone support I am constantly on the phone, supporting multiple locations with thier issues and working them out, but being home is just not me anymore. I feel like Tulsa/Bixby isnt where I should be anymore. I dont know, it is kinda scary to think about moving away from here. Not coming back to Tulsa when I am done training somewhere or not here for the Drillers or OKC Thunder. I know it is wierd. I havent lived here my entire life. I did have a short stent in Tucson for half of highschool, but then I came back home to Bixby.
Now I feel like I can go anywhere I want too. I feel like there is something bigger for me somewhere else. What am I so scared of? I am never here anyways, and something tells me this place I call home isnt going to be my home after all of this. When I cant sleep, this is what I do. I sit here and think about my life and how I might want to change it. How I might want to move away and start over. Not that my life is this horrible thing. I love my life and I do love Tulsa and Oklahoma, but it isnt home anymore I dont think. I want an adventure. I want my life to go somewhere. I want to meet someone new. I want different experiences with new people. I dont want my friends to read this and say, "Are we not good enough?" It isnt about that. It is about me getting out of this rut that I feel like I am in. I want so much! I want to conqure things I never thought I could. In this last year, I have conqured alot! But I want more. Is it wrong to want that? I have so much I want to see and do and feel, and something tells me staying here in Tulsa wont get me there.
I want nothing more than to become sucessful in my career and live my life the way God intened me to. I think He has a bigger plan for me than I could of ever imagined for myself. I feel like He is pushing me to make this decison. I am ready for whatever He has in store for me, but it is scary sometimes. I know I need to have faith in whatever He has planned for me and be patient and wait on Him. I am working towards goals I have for myself and letting him lead me. This is His show, and I just need to wait on him to cast me in it. I have alot coming up soon that my faith is going to be strengthened, and I am ready to take it on. I just hope I make the right decsion. I want ott golrify God in my decsion, and hopefully I can do that.
Thanks for reading. Will write more very soon! Love to all!

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

The more I travel, the more I see...

Picture by: Fred Adelman


It has been a very long time since I have written a blog. So I believe the last time I blogged I was in Kingsport, TN. Oh man, I miss Kingsport. Before I got there, I thought, Ok, I am going to Kingsport, TN...how boring is that going to be? But I loved it. I miss all the wonderful people I met there, but just like every other location I have been too, I must move on and go to the next.
I have, for the last month, been in Fresno, CA. Training with my partner Jon. Things are going great here. Great people and beautiful weather. I decided to go back every other weekend. So the weekends that I have stayed have been wonderful. I have been able to mark some things off my bucket list. I know I am kinda young to have a bucket list, but I have one. Some of the things that are on there aren't really important but the things I marked off, I wouldn't want to do it with any other people than the people pictured above. My wonderful parents decided to come and spend the weekend with me. We made plans to go to Yosemite and to go to San Francisco.
So to get back to the bucket list. Yosemite and Giant Sequoias have been on the list for a long time. To see El Capitan and Half Dome has been a dream forever. Then The Giant Sequoias. HOLY MOLY. I loved Yosemite, I got to see everything I ever wanted to see. It was breath-taking. Too see God's beautiful creation was astounding. To see Half Dome from Glacier Point is something I would tell anyone to do for sure.
Picture By: Lisa Howell
Then came the beautiful Sequoias. I knew these things were big. But these WERE HUGE!!!! I have always wanted to hug a giant tree. When we were going through Yosemite with our own person tour guide. (Mark from my class in Fresno was awesome!!!!) Anyways, I saw some tall trees, and the trunks were big as well. But to see the giants...oh my goodness! They were huge! So amazing! My mom and I have a great picture of us standing in between two ginormous Sequoias and it was just crazy. Then down the road a little bit there was one of the trees that had fallen over and the roots were so tall and amazing. Pictures can not do it justice. The time spent at Yosemite was one of the great memories that I will share with my parents for years to come.
Then on Sunday we made our way to San Francisco. Again, we had a wonderful tour guide, Mr. Fred Adelman. We spent the day walking around Fisherman's Wharf. We had a wonderful lunch. Then walked down the pier and I touched the ocean. Of course mom and I had to do some shopping and other things. We had dinner reservations at Fog Harbor and it was wonderful!
To try to explain how blessed I feel for being able to do a job that I love, and to see this beautiful country, it is priceless. I am loving life right now. My family is doing well, my job is doing amazing, I have a boyfriend that I could not even begin to explain how great he is. I LML! Fresno is awesome. I am going to miss it. But I am ready to be home and spend sometime with my boyfriend and family. I'll write again soon.

Saturday, March 3, 2012

1,073,088,000 Seconds

1,073,088,000 seconds -  1 billion, 73 million, and 88 thousand seconds.
17,884,800 minutes - 17 million 884 thousand and 800 minutes
298,080 hours
12,420 days
1,774 weeks
408 months
34 years
Equals:   1 Marriage (So Far)

I am a rarity when it comes to "kids" of parents who are still married. My parents married 34 years ago tomorrow. When I saw the calculations above I was astonished. My parents have spent more that one billion seconds married. (I don't know about you... THAT IS A LONG TIME)
My parents have taught me a lot about life, about love, and about respect, attitude, religion, and everything else. I have a lot to say tonight, so here we go....
The Bible defines love very simply, God is Love. (1 John 4:8) Love is mentioned in the Bible 697 times in the NIV version. Love is obviously important. I have been thinking about writing this blog for a while now, and I really sat down and thought about their love and their marriage and this is what I came up with.
There are not two other people in this world that love each other as much as my parents love each other. They are the definition of love. They love with out boundaries. That kind of unconditional love that you only think is a fairytale. That oh my goodness, can one person love another that much? But it is true. They love more than anyone I know. But here is the kicker. They love each other that much, and yet they still have enough love for their children, and grand kids. Our family has grown from the 5 of us, to now 9. Two spouses, and 2 grandchildren. They love each of us in their own way. And it is always enough. If i could truly explain it I would, but I can't.
My parents met in high school. (I know, High school sweethearts) They graduated and married in the spring of 1978. They lived in Tucson, Arizona and had the three kids, Scott, John, and then me of course (the favorite) in 1984. In 1986, we moved from Arizona to Tulsa, Oklahoma. That's when I start remembering stuff. My dad worked, and mom stayed home mostly with the kids. My mom worked as well. I would come home from school and mom would be there, and as the kids got older, mom worked more, and there were times when my dad would be home instead of mom. (Dad always had awesome snacks when we got home from school) Thanks Dad!
 In the early 90's my mom was diagnosed with cancer. I barely remember this time. I was so young. But I do remember that my father was there every step of the way. Chemo and radiation and illness and crying and prayer and support. I remember thinking how lucky my mom was to have my dad there beside her though that.
My parents were youth pastors at our church. Their dedication and willingness to serve our God also taught me alot about what kind of person I wanted to be. After mom's cancer our family became even more close than we already were. When something so devastating happens, you try to understand why or how. But our faith is what pulled us through. We knew God had a plan. My mom then worked at Tulsa's Cancer Treatment Center. I believe that God put her there for a reason. She would just be there for the patients, and hold their hands and cry with them and pray without ceasing. My mom would bring me up there, and I met some of her patients that I still remember today. They told me how much of a blessing my mother was. Back then, that's when I started to realize what kind of woman my mother was. She has no clue how amazing she really is.
In March of 1999 my father had a heart attack. I was 15 years old. It was a Friday. The day after their wedding anniversary. My dad, (the most important man in my life) was lying in a hospital bed. That strong amazing man, who I have looked up to my entire life was having a heart attack. I didn't know how to handle this. I don't think I comprehended the fact that he was actually going through this. But the thing that I remember most is my mom being by his side just like he was there for her. No matter what life threw at my parents, they got through it. By the grace of God, I still have both of my parents. PRAISE GOD!
After all of this, the kids grew up, graduated school and moved out. Got married, (got divorced) and had grandchildren. My parents today, are more in love than ever. They dance, they travel together, and enjoy each other now more than ever. Now that I am an adult, I see God's love in my parents marriage. I see what God's definition of marriage and family is. I LIVE IT! How blessed am I? My parents do NOT understand their importance in my life. When people say there are not enough words in the English language to explain something, its true in this case. I am proud of who my parents are. I am proud that I can say that they are my parents. I am astounded by their love and kindness and understanding and unconditional willingness to love me even with my faults. That is what I was trying to get to. Even though I have made mistakes and continue to, NO MATTER WHAT, they love me. (Just like God) So when I say my parents marriage reminds me of God's love, that is what I am talking about.
SO to my wonderful, amazing, inspiring parents, Happy Anniversary! I love you both more than I can ever explain. I am proud to say that you are my parents. I am proud to tell everyone that you are celebrating your 34th year of marriage and I wish you many more years of love together.

I love you both so much!!!

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Emotional Ramblings.....


Usually I write blogs that are concerning my life, or my job. This one will not be like the rest. I have so much on my mind right now. I have decided to write, so whatever comes out is what is going to come out.
Being an emotional person has its good times and bad times. Emotional doesn't always mean crazy, being upset all the time or anything like that. I do describe myself as an emotional creature, but not always in a bad way.
I am emotional in every essence of the word. When I get excited about something, I show true joy. When I am upset about something I also, show how upset I am. I have no qualms about being an emotional person. I enjoy embracing my feelings and most of the time wearing them on my sleeve.
Everyone who is apart of my life knows that I am so adamant about certain things. My faith, my relationships, my family, and my career. Without emotions, what would life be like?
Some people don't show their emotions as much as I do. I have people in my life that are too emotional as well as pretty much a brick wall. Feeling and emotions, in my life, are vital. I show how I feel, and if you don't understand it, then here I am trying to explain it.
No matter when you (all of you) were at one time, or are now, apart of my life, you know that I love unconditionally. I will walk to the ends of the Earth for someone who is important to me. Sometimes, it bites me in the ass and sometimes, I have those moments with the people in my life that I would never get, unless I was there by your side through something that sucks, or one of the happiest moments of your life. I feel like no matter what happens in my life, that I make the choices that I make for a reason. Do I get screwed sometimes, well of course. But being there for a friend and everything working out somehow out weighs the times that I get screwed.
My major problem with being so emotional is that I want to make sure that everything is okay. I mother people like crazy. Some need it, and some do not need it. But, it is who I am. No matter what happens, I want to be there, I want to help, I want to be that shoulder to cry on, I want to be that one that you laugh with, cry with and, grieve with. I want to be there no matter what. Certain people don't understand why I do this. They think I get involved, or but into situations that do not concern me, but I am here to tell you, I AM NOT GOING ANYWHERE. This is how I am...I care, and it isn't going to change.
This is all stemming from some situations that have recently happened in my life. Nothing is wrong, no one is sick or anything like that, but my concern for some people is taking over my mind. Even though the close people in my life say I shouldn't concern myself with issues that I cant do anything about, but I worry. I will always worry. I will always think about you, I will worry if you are okay, or if you are happy. If things are getting too tough. I will worry. Although, my biblical background tells me not to worry, (Matthew 6:25) It is what is taking over my mind right now.
I care too much sometimes. I think constantly about how I can help someone, or how I can make someones day better. I have no idea why I am like this, but I am. I am not writing this blog to sit here and talk about how I am this wonderful selfless person. This is not what this is about. This is about the pain that I have in my heart for you. (You being unnamed) I constantly worry if you are okay, or happy, or making it. I constantly pray for you, I pray for you to be okay.
In my current situation, I am unable to physically be in Tulsa, I do not always know what is going on, or your troubles or your concerns, or issues. But I am here. I am praying for you.
Blogging for me is way to show my emotions. Some do not agree with putting your feelings or opinions out there in the world for everyone to read, but as my big brother and I have discussed, this is for me. This is how I show my emotions. (Sometimes I just come out and show them) But being all across America, this is the way I download. That is the only way I can describe it. Writing (typing) down all of my feelings or fears, or concerns, thoughts, opinions, ETC.....this is my download. I feel better when I write.
If you have made it this far in my blog...thank you. I try very hard to keep my blogs as PC as possible, but tonight was basically me getting everything out that I could. Thank you for listening.
My next blog will be better...I promise.
I love ALL of you! Truly I do!

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Kingsport, then Fresno.....



Well, It has been a while since I have written a blog, so here we go! (By the way, this is a shot of Kingsport, TN. I drove past this the first week I was here, and I just thought it was beautiful) Things are AMAZING! I am loving training with BJB my partner, couldn't ask for a better one!!! We have had an extra trainer here every week. Week 1 is Diane Ewing, and Week 2 is Eric Turner. Having a blast with both of them, and learning alot from them as well. Kingsport training is going well. We have wonderful students, like Barney and Lewis...crazy boys! But I have been able to train more and more and learn more and more. Just loving the job still!!! So we have found out where we are going to be for NCN, FRESNO!!! Holy Moly! So excited for Fresno! I have plans for Yosemite and other stuff. My parents might come out one weekend, so it will be fun. In my last blog, I said that I had met someone over the Christmas holiday, and I am happy to report, things are still going amazing! Tim and I are having a blast. When I am away from  home  it sucks, but we are doing okay with it. (it is so weird having a boyfriend) Anyways, Tim will be coming out to Fresno while I am out there too! So that will be fun! Looking forward to Go Live here in Kingsport! And some of my old students are go live buddies now!! I am so proud! But not much more is going on, just work and Tim.
This past weekend, I went to Bowling Green, KY! I met up with Freddie, Ken, Jeff, Jimmy, and Johnny Savage! It was an awesome weekend. Corvette Museum and caves, and dinner and bowling, and cards. It was so much fun! I have missed those guys so much!! We have plans of getting together again in NCN! So it should be fun again!! Love my training team!!!  SO I will write more later!!!

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Kingsport and Conference Calls

Well, It is finally 2012!!!  Woo Hooo!!!  Happy New Year to all!!!! So lets get started!! I had an amazing Christmas and New Year with my family! It was wonderful to spend some time with them all! Wonderful lunches with both of my brothers, wonderful craft time with my sister-in-law, and for New Years Eve, an amazing dinner with the entire family! Lots of time spent with my Mom and Dad, who are the best ever! SO enough about all of that.
Met someone over my little break. He is so sweet, just an all around nice, smart, cute guy! Taking things slow, and seeing where it takes us, but pretty much amazing... more to come on that front I am sure. Now about work.....
I am now in Kingsport, TN. This town actually used to be called Salt Lick....so I kinda like Kingsport a little better! Today was a nice day, in the low 50's but now, we have a winter storm getting ready to pass through. The wind is howling out there!! So hopefully it wont be too bad tomorrow. My training room is ready to go! All the stuff I needed to get done is done, and now all I have to do is wait for training to start!! I am excited to get started again, and with my partner Jon, it looks like it is going to be a blast!
So I do have a funny story to tell you guys, and my CS3 trainers will really get a kick out of this....tonight, I held a conference call. All the trainers were on there, along with all of my bosses and old bosses and like everyone you can think of. Well someone was talking, so I kinda leaned away from my desk and looked up on the ceiling. Well guess what?? A HUGE GINORMOUS (yes Fred I know Ginormous is not a word) bug was crawling on my ceiling!! Of course, I can't say anything because I am in the middle of a conference call that I am leading so I unplug my computer and start moving away from the bug, while I am still training everyone on the call.....so, I have to deal with this bug, and the conference call and everything else....SO the call finally ends, then my phone rings, it is my boss...we have to talk about some of the things on the call, and discuss some different stuff, all while this DAMN bug is crawling all over the ceiling. So I finally get off the phone, and call my partner, who happens to be in the same hotel ( thank God) and I ask him to come down and kill the bug!! It is awesome having Jon as a partner by the way....So in between the time of Jon coming to rescue me from the big bad bug, I decide to make a video blog of this adventure. (I do a video blog too by the way)  ((those are hilarious))  Okay anyways, I am video blogging on my Ipad, and showing the bug to the Ipad, I turn the Ipad towards me and I am vlogging (sp?) and the DAMN bug takes flight......I am like SERIOUSLY???? JON NEEDS TO GET HERE NOW!!! So finally, after what seemed like an hour, which was probably just a few minutes, Jon comes in an kills the bug!!!!  YEA!!!!!!!!! No more bug in my room.
I know this whole story is kinda long and drawn out, but if you were here and watched the whole thing....ummm you would be on the floor laughing. Yes I do have an issue with bugs, and I am not proud of it, but it does give me something to blog about, rather then you guys always hearing about my job!
So that is my story for the night. I hope you guys enjoyed it. The vlog is the most hilarious thing I have ever seen, by the way!

I will blog more later!!
Love all of you!!!