I'll be back!

Well, as you know, we got our new house!!! Woohooo! I'll be out of touch for a few days as we move and I get my cable internet service connected. Yippee!

I'll be back online on Tuesday or Wednesday (Lord willing). Keep us in your prayers as Deedee and I get settled. We'll just be getting settled in when Meagan comes back home from Illinois with all of her furniture! It's going to be a busy month.

On top of all of this, I'll be turning 30 next Monday! This is an exciting time for me - I feel like I'm just getting started on the rest of my life.

Anyway, have a great weekend and I'll see you when I see you!

Blessings!

WE GOT IT!!!!!!!

Ok, I didn't sleep very well last night and I probably won't tonight either! We got the house we wanted!!!! Woohoo!!! Deedee and I are ecstatic. Meagan hasn't even seen the house yet, but is glad we finally have somewhere to live.

As soon as I can, I will post pictures of the house. This is going to be so good!

Now, let's see: I've got to pack, get folks to help move, get new curtains, rugs for the floors..........oh dear, it's going to be a long weekend!!!!!

Flattery does not get you everywhere....

"I'm going to make your car as pretty as you."

"Ok, thanks."

"You sure are a pretty lady."

"Thanks."

"Are you married?"..........."No"

"Dating anyone?"........."Uh, no."

"I sure would like to call you sometime."

(very awkward pause)

"Thank you?!"

No lie - this was an actual conversation from my life. It happened today. I must say, that's the first time I've ever been hit on like that. I did not know what to do.

There were several reasons why it would never happen, but for a split second I was way flattered! I mean, who doesn't want to hear that they are beautiful!? The only problem is, reality has a way of working itself into the picture.

Alas, I am no beauty queen, but for that instant someone considered me extra special. It was kinda nice!

Life is definitely interesting

Well, me and one of my future roommates are still waiting to see a house we are VERY interested in. By tomorrow, we'll know for sure whether or not we totally like the house - if we do, then hopefully we'll know by the end of this week if we got it! I'm so ready for this to be over! The good news is, if this doesn't work out, another option has opened up! I don't understand this journey called life, but at least I do know the destination!!!!

I tell you, in the midst of all of this, I am being challenged spiritually. Over the past few years, I've struggled with breaking through the barriers that "religion" imposed upon my life - and feel like I've come a long way in learning how to have a relationship with Christ- but there are more lessons to be learned.

I'm learning a different side of Grace and freedom in Christ. I don't think most Christians fully understand these things. I know I don't. It's kind of scary. It is amazingly.....free! But, there's also a fine line between having freedom in Christ and crossing over into sin. This is my struggle. Let me explain.

I have formed some incredible friendships over the past few months with people who come from different backgrounds than myself. I cannot begin to describe how excited I am. These folks are incredible people and have amazing relationships with God. However, they are in a different place in their relationship with Christ than I am. Not saying either place is better than the other - just different. I am learning a lot about myself and my relationship with Christ because of their friendship. My struggle is learning how to be with them and accept them for who they are without changing what I know is necessary to keep me in a right relationship with Christ. Does any of this make sense?

I don't want to hold on to an idea just because it's what I was taught to believe. However, I don't want to do things or begin to accept a different attitude about things just because someone else does it and is not convicted in their spirit about it. After all, they have a different walk with Christ than I do.

I guess what I'm coming to realize is that if I don't keep my eyes on Christ and my ear tuned to His voice, I could begin to falter. I could step out of line with God's will for my life, because I was too focused on someone else. For me, this means that I need to learn to accept people for who they are and accept where they are and not necessarily change who I am.

I do know this - I do not want to be "stuck" in one place. It's just that I want the changes in my life to occur at Christ's prompting and not Christy's.

The search goes on...

I hate house hunting!!!! We are still no closer to finding a place to live than we were last week! However - the pressure is off a bit. Deedee has a friend who said she could live with her for a couple of weeks until we get the housing situation worked out. Meagan decided to go back to Illinois for a bit to save up some more money - she has a new job down here which starts in August.

There is one option we'll be looking at on Wednesday. (Lord willing!) I went by and looked at it today - it looks like a serious possibility!!! If it's not rented when we look at it, we'll probably go for it - all that's left is to clear the credit check. *fingers crossed*

I know it will all come together. As I said in my previous post, I know that God's hand is in all of this. Too many things have happened for it not to be so! The hardest part is trusting Him to bring it to pass, because it is always in His time and not ours!

Keep us in your prayers!

Good things come to those who wait

Well, I am in another waiting game! Me and two friends (Deedee and Meagan) are waiting to hear whether or not we'll be able to rent this house we want. The problem is - Deedee and Meagan have to be out of their current home by the end of the month!!!!! That's only 11 days away!!!!! Aaaagggghhhh!

I am so excited about being roommates with these two. I met Deedee at church about 2 months ago. We hit it off instantly! She is so awesome! Her sister, Meagan, moved to Mississippi from Illinois two weeks ago and we, too, hit it off instantly! They are great and a LOT of fun!!! Once we get settled in, our house will be like Grand Central Station with all the friends we have coming over!!

Anyway, if the house we want doesn't work out, we do have a back-up - but it's not what we want!!! I must say, though, I do see God's hand at work in every step of this process: from when a testimony I gave about God's provision prompted Deedee to approach me about being housemates to right now. I know it is in His hands. Sometimes, I just don't like not knowing how it will all work out. Wait a minute - who am I kidding - I never like not knowing how it works out! Lord, just be patient with me!

I'll keep you posted as to what transpires!

Life is good

Sorry it's been so long since I've posted something interesting to read. (At least I hope my ramblings are interesting!) There have been a lot of things happening in my life over the past couple of weeks.

As I posted a few weeks ago, I got a new laptop. My iBook came in!!!! I love it! I've been frustrated that I've not had the opportunity to really explore it and the software I have loaded on it. I'm very familiar with PC's, but Mac's are totally new to me. Although a Mac is not too different from a PC, there are some significant differences that elevate the Mac far above the PC. I have been won over to the Mac side and it is Good!

My church is growing and as a result, I've been involved in a couple of things. I'm a cell leader, so we have weekly meetings. On top of that, our church hosts a motorcycle ministry and we've had a bunch of people join our church in the past few months because of that ministry. I've made some really awesome friends and God is opening so many doors, I'm overwhelmed by what is taking place. As things develop, I will write more about what is happening. There could be some really interesting posts!!!! I'll tell you this - it is so cool to go outside of our church on Sunday mornings and see all of the motorcycles! I'll post some pictures so you can see. :)

I feel like I'm on the verge of some great things happening in my life. I'll be turning 30 in July, and I am really excited! I've been a "late bloomer" in a lot of ways, so I really do feel like I'm just getting started in my life. I know that I have a closer relationship with God than I've ever had and I'm more confident in who I am than I've ever been before. I know, too, that I have a long way to go! I look forward to the journey ahead!

What book of the Bible are You?

Here is another one! I really like it.

You are Psalms.


Which book of the Bible are you?
brought to you by Quizilla
By the way - Psalms is my favorite book of the Bible!

If you want to see a good movie...

I just saw the best movie for the second time tonight. "Bruce Almighty" has to be one of the funniest movies I've seen in a while. Now I know that a lot of folks will have problems with this movie, and that's ok. If we all saw and did things the same way, it would be a boring world. But if you can get past some of the details, this movie is rich in it's spiritual messages.

Here's the premise of the move: Bruce Nolan is a quirky news reporter (who always ends up doing the everyday, local interest stories) but wants to be an anchor for the evening news. He is unsatisfied with his life and blames God for all the bad things that happen to him. Bruce thinks God's doing a terrible job and says he could do it better - so "God" gives Bruce that chance. I won't say more about the movie so as not to spoil it for those of you who haven't seen it yet. If you're worried that it's blasphemous, it's not. It presents some thought provoking ideas and has several clear messages (you'll have to see the movie to find out what they are!)

Without giving away any plot details, I think one of the best things the movie shows is man's struggle with himself and with God. Bruce is very self-centered, and his perception of God is distorted. As he says "God is like some big kid with a magnifying glass sitting on an anthill and I (Bruce) am an ant." He begins the journey of learning that it's not all about him - the earth does not revolve around Bruce. He comes to realize that even with all of God's powers, he still is unable to satisfy his soul. Bruce finally surrenders himself to God's will. Yes, I know - who would have thought Hollywood would produce a movie like this. It is fantastic! Bruce learns what true love is.

I must say, I was amazed at the overt spiritual messages in this movie. I just have to believe that many people will explore their relationship with God and with others as a result of this film. I know that it was the topic of conversation in my car all the way home from the theater!

Anyway, if you've seen the film, leave a post of your thoughts on the film.

Now I know I'm getting old

"Kiki, you need to get married."

This was the statement made to me yesterday by my 5 year old niece. I was speechless! "Oh my goodness", I thought to myself, "what have I done to bring about this question?" So I asked her, "Who told you I needed to get married?"

"Momma."

"When?"

"On the way to Papaw's house."

"Oh, ok."

I knew there was another aspect of this conversation that I wasn't privy to at that moment, so later, I asked my sister-in-law about it. Sure enough, my niece had asked when I was going to have a baby and my sister-in-law had told her I had to get married first. I guess my niece is thinking about babies these days since she already has one brother and one sister, and my brother and his wife are expecting a fourth child in September.

Still, every time I think about this conversation, it makes me laugh. I have finally gotten to the place where I am content. I honestly thought this day would never come. There was a time when I couldn't stop thinking about getting married and finding "the one". Sure, I would like to be married and believe I will be one day, but for this moment, my plate is full and I am satisfied. God has been so good to me, I cannot complain. I have a wonderful family (and super nieces and a nephew!), outstanding friends and I am a part of an incredible body of believers on a weekly basis. I couldn't ask for more.