for the love of life

I was talking to a guy I work with yesterday while we were at work and we were talking about how we don't have THAT many friends, but the ones that we do have- we love so, so, so much and absolutely cannot live without.

Over the past few days, a lot has happened in my life. Yesterday it reached a climax and I wasn't sure how I could ever mentally cope with what seemed to be taking place. The people in our lvies really, truly are the most important aspects of life. Of course, in my case, it's right behind my faith. I love my Lord and I love the people he's put in my life. They are here, existing in my eyes and mind every day for a reason. God knew what He was doing when he made us and crossed our paths. I love Him for giving people people I love and need so passionately.

In the mood for some new music? Brittany went to go see A Fine Frenzy in concert last night (listen to them on their myspace they are one of my top favorite bands), and playing with them was a guy named Danny Malone. Brit suggested I go listen to his song playing on her profile, so I did and of course I loved it. So, if you're in the mood to hear something new (and you like mellow, indie sounding music) check out his myspace. Also, if you go to A Fine Frenzy's page, be sure you listen to the ORIGINAL "Almost Lover" before the remix. I like the original way better.

Alright, I only have 15 minutes left in this computer room til the computer shuts off, so I must go tend to other things I need to do online.
Be back tomorrow, I am sure.
Christi

and we're back

Well, here I am again. Today is my day off and so internet is definitely a must. You see, I don't actually have the internet yet at my house, so anytime I want to get online I have to either mooch off someone, or come to my old apartment complex that I'm still paying rent at (LONG story) and get online here. So, here I am- happily sitting in the little room with two computers, and typing away at my newly founded blog.

I haven't forgotten that I had said I would further introduce the other "characters" in my life. I think I might do them in chronilogical order (when I met them in life) so that the order means nothing!

Ironically, the first one would be Craig.

I met him around the same time I met Karen, eight years ago. He always fascinated me. You see, he's three (yes, Craig- THREE) years younger than me. He was always the kid that I thought was so cool and cracked me up. We went to the same church and went to a couple of church camps together. Over the years, after I left that church, we only hung out a couple of times but always kept slightly in touch here and there. Well last October I was incredibly bored one night on my trip to Arizona (my parents live there) and I decided to randomly text him! So, I did. The rest is history, he is now more than just the kid that fascinates me- he is the *guy* in my life. Boyfriend, best friend, confidant, you name it. That'd be Craig. He knows more about me than anyone else on the planet. He's so weird, I tell him that all the time. He really is weird. But I can't tell you how many times I've been called "so weird" by people in my life, so it's nice to find someone that falls in the same category. I have so much fun with him, I've learned so much him in every area of my life. And I can't wait to go to Australia with him in a year. (I'll get to the whole Australia thing eventually, if you don't already know what its about)



Speaking of Australia, the next friend in chronilogical order would be Audra.

The first time Audra and I ever remember speaking was on stage (ironic) during worship practice. It was about 7 years ago I believe. We instantly found a point in both of our hearts where we connected. We have the same goal in life, to be in the music ministry. We are both going to Australia to go to Hillsong College to get a degree in worship leading and whatever else God might have us do. I can tell this girl anything, and she will not falter in her friendship towards me. She is beautiful, she is amazing, and I am absolutely blown away every time I hang out with her (not exaggerating) about how CHRIST LIKE she is. She is full of grace to every person that she is involved with. She loves unconditionally. She is an inspirtation, and one of my favorite people to sing with. (the other being my sister). We have quite a future ahead of us together, that being on an entirely different continent and I cannot wait to experience life with her beyond America. :)



Shortly after I met Audra, I was introduced to her silly sister and other half, Ashleigh.

Oh, Ashleigh. Ash and I have had our ups and downs, and I don't know what it is- but something continues to bring me back to an strange closeness with this girl. We might not see each other all the time, or even talk all that often- but everytime we do get together, we dive so deeply into conversation that it doesn't seem like a minute has passed since I last got to spend time with her. She's so beautiful and so precious, but I don't think she knows it. I see such a strength welling up in her that is just waiting to be tapped into. I admire her passion for the people she loves. I hope to be able to talk about her a lot in this blog, because that would mean I'd be spending a lot of time with her. :)

Okay, only two more. Sorry this is long. Hang in there.

In the year 2004, shortly after I graduated highschool (wow was it really four years ago? I'm old), I stumbled across a completely random and unexplainable friendship that I never thought I had, and was brought into a lovely closeness with a family that has become what I call my second family since my parents and sister have moved away. I met Zack Ritchie, and then I met the Ritchies. I don't think I've ever had such an intense relationship with Zack, and then his sister, that I've ever had in my life. I've told them before that I felt like they were a part of my skin. I've never had such a rocky, crazy, scary, fun, weird, unexplainable friendship as I have with Zack. And with Brittany never such a sister-like, close, intense (sorry I just cannot think of another word to describe these people), loving, weird, difficult, yet addicting friendship. I love them like they are my own brother and sister. I love their parents like they are a second set, and they are. Although things may not be the same right now with either of them as they have been in the past, they will remain a huge landmark in my life that I will never forget. They have made me so much of who I am today. I have no doubt in my mind that I would not be the Christi I am right now if it wasn't for meeting the long haired boy, Zack Ritchie, in the summer of 2004. I can't imagine my life without him and Brittany and their family.

That is a picture of HORRIBLE quality of Zack, me and Brit but I think it's seriously the only one in the world that exists of us three together. Sad, but true.





Alright. I figured it would be appropriate to end with this group of girls I'm about to tell you about. My girls. My 5 girls who I graduated highschool with and am still silly, stupid and crazy with as much as we possibly can be now that we are all scattered in different cities, and some of us married or getting married. Karen, Megan, Janean, Courtney and Lauren are my girls. We all met as a whole in ninth grade and slowly made our way into an inseperable and probably annoying group of yellow tshirt wearing girls by 10th grade. Then somehow we ran off the other girls in our tiny private school class and ended up being the ONLY girls left in our grade by 11th grade. Then, we all graduated together. Karen wasn't there, but whatever-- she WAS. Yes, it's the same Karen as the one in the first entry. But when I am with these girls, I feel like everythings okay in the world. They spark such a highschool carefree feeling in me that I can get no where else. I miss them and think about them all the time. I love them SO much and I don't think they know how important they are to me. We are hilarious together, we have so many ridiculously stupid inside jokes, and memories that we could put on a huge stand up comedy show and make millions probably. Actually, I dunno, we'd probably be the only ones laughing. They are my heart and soul and will be the girls I tell my kids about when they are in highschool. It may not be seven forever anymore, but whatever it is- it IS forever.







Okay, that is all for today. I am off to Brenham to fetch my camera from Craig, and a few more errands on top of that back here in Austin.
I hope your day has found you happy! And that you smile a lot.
Christi

inspiration

I've found in my measily 22 years on this planet, that inspiration comes pretty much daily. Whether it be in the form of a movie you watched, song you heard, speech you listened to, or friend you love- it comes. In my case, I was inspired to start up a blog like I used to have a few years ago by one of my few best friends, Karen Greer. She is absolutely superb. Please, stop by her blog as well! (I'm assuming that someone will actually read MINE to begin with haha). Click here to drop a visit to her little bloggy. So, that is my tid bit of inspiration for the day- I liked the idea of having a blog post-xanga days. So, here we are. I encourage you to start one as well.

I guess I should do an introduction and explain what I believe this blog will be about mostly. Me, of course. But also whatever interesting things, or profound happenings, or silly encounters happen during my day. I hope to share cool things I find online, maybe some even helpful! I can, however, almost garauntee you that a lot of what I will talk about or show you will be music related. That is for sure.

I think what I'm going to do in this post, being my first post, is introduce the characters in my life as I am sure that I will be speaking of them often as I go throughout my days. I suppose I'll begin with Karen since you've already met her. I'm going to try to find picture of each of the people I introduce that best depicts their personalities. Hehe.

Meet Karen.

Ahh hahaha. I love this picture. Very her. :) Karen and I have been friends since we were both 14 and in 9th grade. We were best of buds through most of highschool and still talk and get together on a regular basis. As a matter of fact, I'm having dinner with her tonight! She is one of the VERY few friends that I can tell absolutely anything to. I also tend to find myself laughing my butt off with her. We have memories like crazy. I love her so much! You will hear about her hopefully atleast on a weekly basis.



Next, we have Kristina.

Hehe. This is Kristina eating pizza on her wedding day. Priceless. Anyways, Kristina and I have been friends since we were 11 years old and playing handbells in sunday school. Or something like that. She lives in Houston, where I lived until I was 14, but we have remained best friends through out the following 7 years (and on!) after I moved here. I just got to visit her last weekend! Her and her husband are hilarious and I have an absolute blast when I'm with her. I try to talk to her several times a week and visit her as much as possible, and vice versa. She knows me inside and out and she's my boat. And you'll be annoyed if I tell you what boat stands for. I made it up when I was young, ok? I'm not as lame anymore.



And of course, last but definitely, positively, absolutely NOT least-
My sister Becky.

Becky is my sister and one of my core best friends with these other two girls. I talk to her pretty much daily, she loves cats, and she comes into town often so you will definitely be hearing about her. She cracks me up. We end up crying a lot of the time late at night when we're being ridiculous. She is the source of 90% of my inspiration in life. She's an amazing artist and a beautiful woman of God. She's going to go so far in life, I can't wait to watch her go. Please go visit her photography blog, click here, sit back and be amazed!

Okay, those are my core cannot-live-without-them girls in my life. They are the ones that have been around the longest and stuck around. Becky for 20 years, Kristina for 11, and Karen for 8. They are the inspiration for me to grow closer and closer to my Savior every day, they are the inspiration for me to sing, for me to love, for me to LIVE.

I really had not planned on this blog first of all being the long, and secondly being about those three girls! But, it suits me. They'rethe foundation for all the friendships that have come since. I will introduce the friends that have spurred from later years in my life coming soon. So do not fret if you are reading this and you know you're a huge part of my life but you were not mentioned here-- you're time is coming:)

I really hope this blog didn't run off any potential readers. I promise once I get the introductions out of the way, I will continue to have not-so-long (but sometimes they could be lengthy!) and more interesting posts! But, ya gotta know me and to know me, you gotta know my girls.

Have a marvelous day! Be Back soon.
Christi