Chris & Lisa’s story is not your typical love story, but boy it's a good one with grief, joy, family & triumph. Let’s start from the beginning. The Mahowalds & the Marshalls both raised their kids in Redondo Beach, went through St. Lawrence Martyr School as well as Redondo Union High, Bishop Montgomery & other LA schools & were SLM church goers. Jeff Mahowald, Lisa’s husband, passed in 2003 & the St. Lawrence crew was there to provide immense support. So, when the Mahowalds learned of the passing of Kathy Marshall, Chris’s wife, in 2009, they reached out & invited them to join their annual family snow trip to Mammoth Mountain to offer support & honestly, some good food & laughs through their tough time that the Mahowalds knew all too well. What started as an innocent blend of families, turned into so much more… something that we can only call God’s Plan. On the last day of the trip, both Mahowalds & Marshalls decided to finish off the trip with some sledding. Lisa being the “picture freak” that we all know & love her to be, thought she would stand at the bottom of the hill & snap some photos of all the kids sledding. Everything was going fine until Meg, Jeffrey and Paige (a family friend) came barreling down the hill, laughing & spinning backwards. Lisa looked to the side for one moment & BOOM, the kids slammed right into her, knocking her to the ground. *This is where things got real* I’ll spare you the nitty gritty, but when we got to the hospital, the doctor informed us that Lisa's knee has been "powdered". In plain english, it was a SERIOUS injury that would leave Lisa in the hospital for days, possibly weeks, just in time to ring in the New Year alone. Oh, & with a few metal rods in her leg. Glamorous, huh? Now, let me preface by saying… all the kids during the trip noticed there was a spark between Chris & Lisa & had been poking fun at the two of them separately. Both denied it but it was clear, something was going on. I tell you this because once Lisa was placed in the hospital, Chris did not hesitate to go into full “take care of the families” mode. He drove everyone home to the South Bay, a cool 8 hour drive, turned right around & made his way back up to the hospital to be with Lisa & tend to her in her time of need. He stayed with her, spent New Years in the hospital & we, the kids, believe this to be the moment their loved formed. Once Lisa was released, Chris took her home, set her up to be comfortable in her home, crutches, food, and even carried her up and down 3 flights of stairs every.single.day. After this 'tragedy turned love story' started to mellow out, it was clear they had serious feelings for one another. They started to date, told the kids, moved in together & by the Spring of 2011, everyone was in one house, chaotic as all hell & Lisa & Chris were engaged. Now, remember I told you this wasn’t your typical love story? Well… the engagement didn’t last & they went their separate ways for several years. Even through their different relationships, both couldn't stop thinking about one another. Lisa felt in her heart, Chris was her second chance at love & according to Chris, he never stopped loving Lisa since the moment they met. Fast forward through several difficult years & they were reunited. Stronger than ever, they started to date again but this time slowly & with intention. You know how they say timing is everything? Well this time, their timing was perfect & they had God on their side - slowly & perfectly orchestrating their second coming - man, was it worth the wait. Chris & Lisa were engaged again at the close of 2022 & we couldn’t be happier for them to celebrate their love as they make it official in May. Please join us in celebrating true love that stood the test of time along with all the trials & tribulations & in God’s perfect timing, was reunited at last.