5 Things (That a Lot of People Don't Know) About Me

1.) I grew up terrified of E.T. I couldn't sleep at night because of him. If I woke up in the middle of the night, I couldn't get back to sleep because I thought E.T. would come into my room. My friend said that if I kept my room messy, he wouldn't come visit me, therefore, I tried to keep my room messy. I wouldn't look at the night light in the hallway because I saw E.T.'s shadow on the wall. 

2.) I have some symptoms of those with OCD. For example, the volume on the tv and radio and the temperature of the air conditioner must be on even numbers. If my leg touches something (like a table or any object) accidentally, I have to make sure my other leg touches it so it will be even. If one of my eyes has something in it, and it twitches, then I have to blink the other one as many times as I did the other one to make it even. I never touch door handles or sink handles with my hands because of the germs. I wash my hands frequently when I go to the doctor for allergy shots and have Purell in my car for emergencies. I also have things very specific ways. In my kitchen, everything goes in a specific place. I like to load dishes on my own because people either put them in the wrong place or don't rotate the dishes. I want every dish to be used the same amount of times. 

3.) I found out 1 1/2 years ago that I am allergic to dogs (along with cats, hickory trees, pecan trees, and oak trees) after having one since I was 5. I now get allergy shots twice a week and take 5 daily medications so that I can have Kona and not be miserable. 

4.) I love cold weather! I love drinking coffee, eating warm soup, and snuggling up to watch a movie. I get sad when the weather starts getting warmer.

5.) I an a wannabe world traveler. I want to travel the world really badly but don't have the money to do it. I live my traveling dreams through Christina who has gone more places than anyone I can even think of. I should be a cruise director like her--then I will travel the world while making money...the best of both worlds!

-Christie

A Survey

i am: watching the Today show.

i think: that i will get a lot of work done today.

i know: that God will never leave me and that He is the only one who will always and forever love me.

i want: to have the ability to be able to decorate my house in a beautifully, casual and modern way. 

i have: finally turned the heater on...the house was 63 degrees.

i wish: i could move to chicago right now.

i hate: being in tuscaloosa right now.

i miss: kona.

i fear: not being happy and criminals.

i feel: hopeful.

i hear: the tv and the tranquil waterfall in my turtle aquarium.

i smell: the aroma of my perfume and hair.

i crave: coffee and muffins.

i search: for puppy breeders and available puppies in rescue shelters way too often.

i wonder: what life will be like in 5 years.

i regret: some things i did in the past.

i love: fall and winter because that means cuddling with special people while drinking coffee and hot chocolate and watching Christmas movies (like Home Alone).

i ache: when i kickbox for over a week (my back) and when i see people that are suffering.

i care: about people’s feelings and their circumstances.

i always: am breathing and eating something.

i am not: a simple person.

i believe: God.

i dance: to michael jackson.

i sing: really loudly in the car and shower to anything and everything.

i don’t always: exercise everyday, but i do try to.

i fight: with Christopher and my dad.

i write: papers, blogs, and to do lists. 

i win: tennis matches (sometimes).

i lose: yahtzee.

i never: want to become a bridezilla.

i confuse: myself by thinking to hard about simple things.

i listen: the home alone soundtrack and other Christmas music at inappropriate times of the year.

i can usually be found: in my house.

i am scared: of scorpions in my house...especially in my bed. i check every night.

i need: to get away to develop into the woman God wants me to be.

i am happy about: our wedding, honeymoon, and new life together.

-Christie

Escape

As I'm writing this, my turtle is trying to escape from his aquarium...

We had a great weekend! We went to Gatlinburg and Knoxville, TN for the amazing Tennessee game. It was a great win! 

We drove to Gatlinburg on Friday, ate, walked around the town, and played putt-putt. Christopher was the big winner, with Dad coming in 2nd, then me, and lastly was Mom. We went to bed shortly after that. We woke up early on Saturday to get coffee and to go to the Pancake Pantry. I had to order the sweet potato pancakes, which I finished eating this morning. After that we shopped around for a little bit, then left for Knoxville. I took a nap in our new hotel, and then we left for the game. We all got to sit together, thanks to the fans who didn't show up. We definitely cleared out the stadium quite early. We got McDonald's for Christopher, and everyone else but me after the game. We got to sleep around 1 a.m. We didn't all wake up until 11:00 a.m. the next morning, with me being the first up. We ate at Moe's, looked for coffee for way too long (at least 30 minutes) with no success until we found Starbuck's, then we left for home. We got home last night around 5:30 p.m. and went to Hokkaido for sushi. 

It was a fun weekend in which no work was accomplished, so I'm sure this week will be a long one. 

-Christie

Longing for Something More...

I'm very ready to be done with school and move out of this town. At least I just registered for the last time ever today. I want to be in a big city right now. I want to be able to walk out my door and go somewhere. Unfortunately, the only jobs that Christopher is able to attain are ones located in small cities. I guess I have unrealistic "dreams" if you can call them that. 

If I could live anywhere, I would live in a large city with four seasons (which eliminates a lot of places like Hawaii, Texas...well Houston and the other cities in the south, all southern cities and northern cities, Alaska, anywhere in Canada). I like mild summers that don't get so hot that I get a heat rash every time I step outside. I want to live in or very near to a big city. I don't mind a suburb like Alpharetta since it's safer, but I really just don't want to live in the country. I also want to live in a state that has fairly good schools so that the state would just let teachers do what they're certified to do...not Mississippi or Alabama (right now). I want to live somewhere that is beautiful, close to some body of water or mountains. I also want to live in a place that is close to a lot of other places that are good vacation/getaway spots. 

Ever since I was a little girl, I wanted to get away for a little while to establish a life of my own. I guess this is a dream. That's what some would call it, while others call it stupid. I feel like the only way I can truly live out God's will is to do it in a new place with new faces with Christopher, of course. 

-Christie

Avoiding School

I'm writing now to avoid school work because it is the most pointless and boring assignment I've ever had to do. Thanks Dr. Shwery for teaching me how to procrastinate.

I have made a collage (if you want to call it that) of hairstyles that are similar to something I would want for the wedding. This is one thing I've done today. I don't think I can post it because I put it in a word document, so too bad.

Another thing I've done is researched miniature schnauzer and westie breeders. Yes, I want another dog, and it's not because I miss Kona. I do miss her, but she needs a playmate and a sibling. In my opinion, everyone needs a playmate and a sibling. I'm not writing a persuasive paper or anything, but there are two people in particular who do not want me to get another dog, and those people just don't like to take care of dogs, but I don't mind. They also have siblings. I don't, so I know how Kona feels. It sounds like an 8 year old is writing this, so I'm going to stop...

I probably need to start working again or else I'm going to do it during class tonight, which doesn't sound too bad...But I don't want to be stressed tomorrow and the next day because I hadn't done an assignment that is past due. 

-Christie

Life is Busy. I miss Kona.

Today I have been thinking how drastically Christopher's and my life are going to change. In the next seven months, we will be married, graduated, and (hopefully) working. We will most likely be living in a new city, maybe in a new state making new friends. It's exciting but scary at the same time. I'm really not very scared because I am excited for change. I like being comfortable but I think it's time for a change. It makes it easier knowing that I won't be alone; Christopher (and Kona and maybe even another baby...by baby, I mean dog) will be with me. I know God will provide us with everything we need, whether it be money, shelter, food, etc. I'm really now worried about money because I'm pretty certain that we will both have jobs and will make plenty to survive. Even with the bad economy, teachers and engineers are always needed. 

I have been trying to live my life according to Isaiah 26:8--"Our desire is for Your name and renown." God is most glorified when He is able to show his great power and glory. If we have pride and are too busy talking about how great we are, then how can He show his glory? It's simple--we have to get rid of our pride and look to God who is able to do" immeasurably more than all we can ask for or imagine (Ephesians 3:20)." Even during football games, I pray that the team and/or fans that glorify God the most will win (Alabama fans, don't try to kill me for that). It's not that I want to lost the game, but I want God to win more. I want to make God's name famous, but to do that, I need to act more like Him. I try but am often not successful. I will strive to do this for the rest of my life, with the help of God, Christopher, and my friends and family. I will continue to pray that the journey that Christopher and I will be taking soon will allow us to make God famous, and I know that God will take care of that because He is in control. 

P.S. I miss Baby Kona! It's way too quiet here, and I have no one to walk or cuddle with at night...except my turtle, but that would be nasty.

-Christie

Sushi Tonight??

I got out of class early, so Christopher and I are going to go to Chuck's to get sushi! 

So, since fall break not too much has happened. We accomplished all that I had planned during the break, which was amazing and busy! It was a great break! 

Now that I'm back, it's time for work. It's not too busy yet. Everything is going really well...God is good, and life is good. (We set a date for our engagement session--November 2nd. Hopefully the campus isn't too trashy the day after the homecoming game. Look at the Gresham's blog...they're amazing!) The only thing that's not too great is my car. It smelled like something was burning, but then it went away. And the air conditioning is out. At least it's cool outside. I wish it got dark earlier in the summer and was dark later in the winter, but I don't think I have any control over that. 

My thoughts are always really scattered. With that said, I want a puppy, not only for my sake, but for Kona's sake. She is so sad now that Chloe is in Alpharetta. She just sleeps and mopes around all day long...poor little girl! 

I'm so proud of Christopher and me for all that we have done for the wedding, so I'm going to list everything we've completed. We have the date and venue for the ceremony and reception, the food, the dress, shoes, photographer, bridal hair appointment, bridesmaid dress colors, and registries for Macy's and Target. That's all I can think of now, but it's a lot to me.

Happy (79th) Birthday Grandma and Happy Birthday to Mimi (tomorrow and it's the 80th)!

P.S. Here's the wedding website. It has pictures, wedding info, and other important stuff.

-Christie