Who knew?

Why didn't anyone warn me that moving to a new place was so much work?? Shwoooo! Well, I guess it's not so much the moving, but setting up your own place for the first time. I thought that being on my own would give me so much free time to catch up on so much--but it's been quite the opposite so far! But it's been enjoyable. Hopefully things will slow down eventually and I'll be able to catch up with you all. Sorry if I've been neglecting you--nothing personal, I promise! Have a great week. I'll talk to ya soon!

Trip to Texas

I'm sooo ready to be a diehard Longhorns fan!

Here's my lovely Uhaul trailor and Jeep. I had one tire blow out, and was on the side of the road for a couple hours, but it was all good. Just part of the experience!

Yee-haww... they let me in!! I had to stop at the welcome center and get my free "Don't mess with Texas" sticker!

Anyone still out there????

Hello people! I'm back and finally have internet. I'm alive, doing well, and lovin' life in Texas!

Anyhow, I'm gonna post some pictures on here later on, and give some more details of what's going on. Right now, I have to clean this apartment from head to toe and finish unpacking all my junk.

Hope you all are doing well. I'll be checking your blogs soon!

It's time...

Please pray for safety as I travel Thursday and Friday.

Lord willing, my next post will be from Texas!

Thanks! Y'all are the best! =)

Middle of the Night Hysteria

I was awakened from a sound sleep Saturday night by a loud "THUD!" and then silence. The clock read 3:09. What in the world was that?

I reached down for my dog who is usually curled up down at the foot of the bed. Not there. I reached down on the floor, and felt her furry body. That's when I started to panic. "Oh no, Cinnamon! No. Please wake up. Move. Do something!" But her body remained limp. I picked her up and started shaking her. (Okay, remember I was half-asleep... so I wasn't fully aware of what was going on, and I probably shook her way too hard and just made it worse, but we don't need to mention that.)

By this time, I was pretty hysterical. "Cinnamon, no, you can't die like this. Everyone's gonna think I kicked you off the bed or something!"

Anyway, I calmed down finally and checked if she was breathing. Yep. Actually, she was even still SNORING. That's right. She fell out of bed, hit the floor, and kept right on snoring. And to think she had me all worried.

I'm just glad no one saw me crying and shaking my poor dog senseless in the middle of the night.

Tagged.

Those of you who know me, know that I'm not much of a "book person." So, this tag may be a little difficult!! I have a very limited number of books to choose from here, so bear with me...

1. One book that changed your life: "Cinderella"... I finally realized the true princess that I really am.
2. One book that you’ve read more than once: "Apartment Guide" So many pictures and choices!
3. One book you’d want on a desert island: "Robinson Crusoe"... Yeah, that one tells me everything I need to know about living on an island.
4. One book that made you laugh: "1001 Greatest 'Yo' mom' jokes"
5. One book that made you cry [or feel really sad]: "The Three Little Pigs"... Makes me feel so guilty for killing those three little pigs! *sniff, sniff*
6. One book that you wish had been written: "Kristi and Will Smith live happily ever after" ha ha.
7. One book that you wish had never been written: "Amelia Bedilia"...If you're gonna write a book about me, at least use my real name!
8. One book you’re currently reading: "Rand McNally Road Atlas"
9. One book you’ve been meaning to read: "Complete Idiot's guide to Living in Texas." (Do they even have one of those?)
10. Now tag five people: yeah, yeah... do it if you want. (That's how tags work anyways, right?)

Email Evangelism

I wanted to share a series of emails from a student over in the UK who came across my blog and had questions about my faith. At first, my replies were just direct answers to exactly what she had asked, because I was trying to feel if she was wanting to find fault with my faith or if she truly was interested and seeking. Well, I definitely found she was not trying to find fault. She seems to be interested in "religion" in general, but has her mind already closed to ever personally believing in a god. This is the second time this week I've had people emailing me, asking about my faith through my blog. I think it's awesome. Now this girl is on my heart, and I pray that God will take the blinders off of her eyes, and show her that He is real and she can know Him. Please pray with me.
*****************************************

Original comment:

a very interesting and enlightening poem, i wasnt so aware that people who were religious questioned themselves and their faith so often, not being religious myself, but fascinated by it as well as poetry I enjoyed reading your work. would be good to talk. {email address}

Hi, thanks for the read and the comment. I wanted to explain that, yes I am a Christian and yes, I do question myself a lot. But not questioning in the sense of, "I hope I'm good enough to get to heaven." NO! Being good will never get anyone to heaven. Jesus Christ paid my way there, and I have no doubts in my mind about that. I question myself in the sense of "Wow, look at all the Lord has gone through for me. He suffered and died so that I could live. Am I really doing my best for Him? Am I living in such a way that shows I'm appreciative for His free gift of eternal life in heaven?" That's the questioning we do.

I'm glad you enjoyed the poem though.

So tell me about yourself. your profile doesn't say much of anything.

Kristi

hi,

thanks for responding (and so quickly!)

im a student beginning university in the uk studying direction and
production in media. ive always been very interested in different
religions, without being religious myself as i mentioned previously. i love going to the theatre and any live events (sports to music) and also heavily in to photography especially black and whites - i take a lot of pictures in and around churches...and when i lived in the middle east some of mosques. I also love taking pictures of people, again this was particularly fascinating in oman (middle east country in which I lived) because of the difference in culture and dress.

if you dont mind me asking, in what way do you think you could be more appreciative of him?

cheers,

{name}

Hello. thanks for sharing all that about yourself... very interesting.

I think I could be more appreciate just by remembering Him more in my everyday life. Taking time to read what He wrote to us in the Bible, stopping to talk to Him in prayer, thanking Him for little blessings that come my way, and just living my life in a way that would please Him--again... all because I WANT to, not because I HAVE to. The right perspective is key.

Kristi

hello,

let me start by saying how much i appreciate you responding, without hesitation, to my questions. its such a shame more people cant be like this, well in my experience anyway.

i think its fantastic that you have a faith like you do. at first i wished I had something similar, such a devotion, then i realised, like you that it is the perspective which is important, i believe in many moral principles which correspond with christianity, without believing in 'a god', so to speak. I was brought up with an understanding of, but never with an inclusion of god, or jesus, i am therefore very aware but also very (i want to say cynical but that seems to harsh) of the notion.

i would be very interested to hear how you discovered your faith, of coarse only if you feel comfortable discussing this.

anything you have to say is much appreciated,

thanks again,
{name}

{name},
I do appreciate your questions. Don't feel bad to ask anything!

I was raised in a Christian home and in a church that taught the Bible very clearly. So, I've heard these things all my life. I personally came to understand that Christ had died in my place and paid my way to heaven when I was 7 years old. I've never doubted since that time that I was on my way to heaven.

However, I have been far from perfect. I had my time of wandering away, and questioning my faith. Did I REALLY believe all this stuff? Is this just something my parents taught me so that I would turn out to be a decent person? Is God really
real and do I really know Him? The more I questioned and doubted (and honestly, I can say now I only wanted to try to get rid of God so I could feel better about living a sinful life), the more God showed me definitely that He is real, and I am His child, and He wants a personal relationship with me.

See, Jesus died on the cross to provide our way to heaven, but that's only the beginning of the story. When we accept His sacrifice as payment for our sins and our way to heaven, the Bible teaches that we become a child of God. God comes to live inside us (in the form of the Holy Spirit) and we begin to get to know God in a personal way. We talk to Him in prayer, and He talks to us through the Bible. It's a
friendship.

Of course we will still mess up and sin until we get our perfect bodies in heaven, but God gives us forgiveness, grace, and mercy every day to keep living in a way that is pleasing to Him. He really is a good and wonderful God. I wish everyone would be seeking to get to know Him.

It's really hard sometimes to believe in something or Someone that we cannot see.... or at least we tell ourselves it is. But take for example your brain. Have you ever seen it? No. Yet, you believe it is inside your head. Why? Because you see evidence of it. You can hear, see, smell, function, move.... you're alive! That's how it is with God. We cannot see Him, but we see evidence of Him every day. Look at all the design, purpose, order, and planning in the universe, in the plants and animals, in our human bodies--that's evidence of a Designer, a Creator. One who knows all and can do all--none other than God himself.

I hope you will consider this further and keep asking questions. Sometimes going through hurts and things we don't understand can push us away from believing in God. But we have to understand that God doesn't cause the hurts. God's ways are much higher than our ways, and He has a bigger plan that we cannot see in allowing some of the atrocities of the world to go on.

prayers,
Kristi

Kristi,

ok i wont feel bad any more! its just i understand how personal this sort of thing can be for some people and just wanted you to know your honesty was appreciated.

what you said was very interesting. it's great that you strayed away from your faith and then came back to it, was there any deciding factor which made you do this or was it a feeling?

I know now that i will never believe in a god, as you do. when i was about 14 or 15 i had a very good friend who was very religious and went to lots of christian youth groups, she took me along a few times, as i was as interested then as i am now. i found it very difficult to be a part of something that i didnt personally believe in, even when i was surrounded by so many people of a similar age, i realised then that i would never believe in a god, as you do. however the experience was invaluable because it taught me about the many different kinds of belief and ways of looking at the bible. it could be fun! haha, but i didn't think it was right for me to be there participating if i was doubtful...it felt deceitful...but anyway, ive been meaning to ask if god, as you see Him takes on any sort of form, physical or otherwise. this is something of particular interest to me, i want to know how people view god. do you have an image in your mind?

i won't be able to write for a couple of weeks as i am away, but i look
forward to your reply when i come back!

cheers again,

Quote of the Day

"I am learning that being right with the wrong attitude is about as bad as being wrong."--Gordon Cloud

Post #200!!

I'm so thankful that God's ways are not our ways, neither are His thoughts our thoughts.

That is all. Feel free to expand on this concept or share what it means to you personally.

Communication quiz

You Communicate With Your Ears

You love conversations, both as a listener and a talker.What people say is important to you, and you're often most affected by words, not actions.You love to hear complements from others. And when you're upset, you often talk to yourself.Music is very important to you. It's difficult to find you without your iPod.

How Do You Communicate?

Let me hear you.

I've got some things rolling around in my head, and I want to hear your opinions.

First of all, in the Bible, everyone is commanded to honor their parents. Their is no age cut-off, or any stipulation on what kind of parent it is.

We've all heard that honoring your parents includes respecting and obeying.

Here's the question: If one does not "respect" his parent, but still treats him with respect, is he obeying the command?

Now, think about that, and then let's take it further. What about the child who is molested by a parent? Do you really think that child will ever respect their parent? Is it commanded? Or is it enough to just obey and treat with respect?

Friday Fifteen

Here's my Friday Fifteen Fun Facts!

FIFTEEN GREAT THINGS I WILL MISS ABOUT SOUTH CAROLINA:

1. Maurice's yellow (mustard-based) barbeque--on chicken, pork, beef, or ribs--it really doesn't matter!

2. The Palmetto Tree and Crescent Moon (state flag symbol) being appropriate decoration for EVERYTHING--office, bathroom, vehicle, jewelry, tatoos, clothing, shower curtains... you get my point!

3. Mass pandemonium (sp??) breaking out anytime there is the slightest chance of flurries or ice in the forecast. Grocery stores are emptied out within minutes, everyone calls in to work, school gets cancelled for days, and everyone drives like idiots--thinking everyone else is the idiot! (I think this one might actually follow me to Texas)

4. Everyone always thanking God for Mississippi for making us state #49 instead of #50 on all the "rate-your-states-stupidity" tests.

5. Seeing the rebel flag flying just about as often as you see the American flag.

6. All the good-ole-boys driving around in their big trucks with fresh mud all over the tires, a fishin' pole in the back, shot-gun rack inside, their dog hangin out the window, with the "I love Jesus" stickers next to their "I'd rather be hunting or fishing" stickers.

7. Being able to jump in the car and drive an hour or two to the mountains, beach, lake, woods, or big city... whatever your desire is for the day.

8. The Irmo Okra Strut. (No explanation will be given for this point. I'm just gonna let the curiosity kill you on that!)

9. Being able to buy as many fireworks as we want and set them off wherever and whenever we want without all these crazy restrictions and all that other states have. (If you're dumb enough to blow your hand off or catch a house on fire, then you shouldn't be messin with them in the first place, right?)

10. "Great" politicians such as John Graham Altman, who are famous for things such as calling the news reporter a dumb blonde. Also University administrators who referred to New Orleans victims as "yard apes." (okay, so I won't really miss this!)

11. SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCK FOOTBALL!!!! (At least I'm going to a state with a great college football team--Hook 'em horns!)

12. The most important piece of legislation being debated is whether cockfighting should be a federal offense or not.

13. Being part of the "Bible Belt."

14. Victory Bible Baptist Church, and the wonderful people there. (Finding a new church will be weird--I've been at this one for all my 24 years!)

15. Last, but not least, mom's home cookin!

See y'all! Have a great weekend.

Break for a Little Promo for a Home-Dawg!

My friend Steve Sporre, of Following God's Will has just released his new CD. "I'm Ready" is available for purchase online HERE. It is an 11 track CD, all of which I believe that he personally wrote the words and music.





He is a man on fire for God, and who willingly allows God to use his talents for God's glory. If you haven't read his story of how God got ahold of his broken, empty life, and gave him such meaning and purpose in life, you need to read his story HERE. I believe reading his book will put so much more meaning behind his music for you.

Anyhow, check it out. I've already ordered mine, and can't wait to get it.

I take it back!!!

So, I spoke to soon about work slowing down!! I guess it was just a little tease for a day. Oh well. Two more weeks!!

Changes

Well, work is finally starting to slow down for me. After several weeks of skipping lunch break, staying late, and even taking work home over the weekend, I am definitely glad for the slow-down! You know, just a simple "thank you" from the boss would make me feel good about all my hard work, but I guess I will have to do without. I'm not complaining; just sort of evaluating my feelings, I guess--dealing with the retrospect feelings of, "Was all that worth it?"

My church just completed another week of VBS. They work hard to get alot of unchurched kids and teenagers from the community involved and use it as an outreach program. Listening to all the blessings and testimonies last night in church, I sure wished I could have been helping at VBS (like I did every year before my current job), and being involved in that eternal work, rather than my earthly work. But God gave me this job, and He knows where my heart was all week, so I'm going to trust Him with all that... Why do I still feel guilty? Probably because I'm too focused on what others think of me... story of my life.

Anyhow, I'm looking forward to new opportunities in the future. People are going to continue to judge my motives and reasons for doing what I'm doing (moving to San Antonio), but I'm going to continue to not let it get to me, and just follow what I feel to be God's hand leading me on.

I know this post is completely random. Really I'm just thinking on paper (or on screen, I suppose). I probably have lost a good group of readers due to my silence the last 2 months, and that's okay. I didn't start this blog for readers, but to have an outlet for what goes on inside my head and heart.

I have been so dizzy all day. I really need to start taking my iron supplements again.

See, I told you it was random.

Quick Update

Hello everyone.

I know it's been a while. Just wanted to let everyone know that my interview went great, and I did get the job. So praise the Lord for that. I found a great apartment only a mile away for a good price, so I'm just waiting on approval for that. My move date is August 10.

I've got a lot to do between now and then, so posts will probably continue to be scarce. But I've got wireless internet on my laptop and plan to continue blogging when I get settled in down in San Antonio.

Keep it real out there! Miss all of you and love some of you. (You can decide who you are!) ha ha ha.

Talk to ya soon,
Kristi

Next week's itenerary

Friday, June 3o

• Work from 8-5.
• Drive like a mad-woman home from work and pack Jeep for trip.
• Get on the road to Ohio by 6:00 pm
• Drive all night long

Saturday, July 1

• Arrive at grandparents house about 4 am
• Visit/talk/chit-chat for about an hour.
• Go to bed at 5 am and get up at 7 am
• Go to Cedar Point and wear yourself out even more all day.
• (Warn family that you will be very crazy and potentially dangerous operating on 2 hours sleep in 48 hours!)

July 2-4--Just relax and have fun with the family.

Wednesday, July 5

• Drive back to South Carolina from Ohio.
• Unpack, do laundry, and repack for next trip.

Thursday, July 6

• Work from 8-5 (and fix all the problems from my absence!).
• Leave straight from work and go to the airport.
• Fly out to San Antonio at 6:30 pm.
• Visit with friends, play with the kids, and go to bed!

Friday, July 7

• Interview at 10:00 am.
• Go looking at apartments all afternoon.

Saturday, July 8

• Get packed and ready to go back home
• Fly back to Columbia. Land at 10:55 pm.
• Drive home and then crash for 6 hours!!!!!!!

Sound like fun? woo-hoo.... I'll be in 3 states in 3 days... (well, more if you count the ones I drive through!) I might start to feel important or something! ha ha. NO seriously, I just wanted to post this so you all could pray for strength, safety, and energy in the next week for me. Thanks.

!! IMPORTANT MEMO!!

M E M O R A N D U M

TO: All Kristi's Korner readers, whether great or small, faithful or slack, comment-proficient or silent

FROM: The personal assistant to Miss Kristi R. Reese

DATE: June 6, 2006

SUBJECT: June and July elusiveness (thank you Katie, for adding that great word to my vocabulary.)


WHEREAS there are heaps and heaps of work stacked from floor to ceiling all around her office due to the nearing of the fiscal year end,

WHEREAS she is the only one here at the office processing all this work, and answering hundreds of questions every day, and trying to balance out 130+ state agencies' books,

WHEREAS she has now gone incognito in a little office somewhere as a state accountant instead of the professional blogger that she is,

WHEREAS in her free time away from work she must sort through her life and decide which things to throw away, which things to pack for her move; and also sort through all sorts of unwanted and ridiculous emotions from time to time, she

THEREFORE reluctantly declares an official break from blogging during the months of June and July. She may show up randomly at your blogs from time to time, but as Katie pointed out in her last comment, she is oh so elusive--you will not be able to track her down. Enjoy the break. Don't forget to come back later.


Sincerely,
The support staff for
Kristi R. Reese

PS: June 21 is her birthday, so if you happen to come by on that day, please leave all kinds of fun stuff and messages, and ecards, and whatever birthday wishes you deem appropriate. =)

I _____ :

Kc, Nan, and Green all had posted this recently. For lack of anything better (or rather the time to put real thought into a decent post), I decided to fill out this fun list. Feel free to borrow and do it yourself as well.

I AM: glad it's Friday!

I SAID: I don't like repeating myself.

I WANT: college football to hurry up and start.

I WISH: you didn't have to see my bad side so much

I MISS: hanging out with friends

I HEAR: thunder

I WONDER: about my future.

I REGRET: not getting a 4-year degree

I AM NOT: going to let you get me down

I DANCE: only when completely alone or else completely wound up

I SING: along to the radio a lot.

I CRY: any time I see a grown man cry.

I AM NOT ALWAYS: thoughtful of others.

I MAKE WITH MY HANDS: DEE-li-cious chocolate chip cookies

I WRITE: poetrty in order to sort through my feelings

I CONFUSE: myself by being too analytical

I NEED: a good massage

I SHOULD: be working right now.

I START: projects all gung-ho and then fizzle out fast

I FINISH: my laundry way past time when I should.

I LOVE: God, America, my family, my friends, and on and on I could go.

I TAG: anyone who wants to do this.

Kristi's Adventures at the Gas Pump

I had to get gas yesterday. So, I got off the exit where it's always the cheapest. Now, granted, sometimes I have to wait in line, but I figure paying $2.49 and having to wait a little is better than paying $2.63 or $2.69 elsewhere. So, I got in line. I was the only car in line for pump #4, and I think it was pretty obvious that I was waiting. Well, in comes this tiny little sports car and jumps right in front of me and pulls up to the pump as the other car was leaving.

Flashback: Last time this happened, I let the person know I was already in line and I was just a little ticked off by their inconsideration. Well, that led to nearly getting into a fist fight with a huge black guy. Lesson learned. I do not want to do that again.

So, with all the strength in me, I didn't mouth any words through my windshield or do anything ugly or obscene. I just pulled around to wait at the next pump.

I get there, no problem, put in my credit card and reach for the grade 87 pump. Umm, is this some kind of cruel joke? The handle thingy was totally gone. I was not about to get in line again, so after all that I ended up just getting the grade 89 gas for $2.59--still cheaper than other places.

Anyways, that's my story. Even the simplest things turn into adventures of bad luck with me. I don't get it.