Christina Michelle

2007-08-10T15:04:00.000-05:00

Seriously!

2007-07-25T12:00:00.000-05:00

"The obsession to demand that things go the way we want them to go is one of the greatest bondages in human society today." - Richard Foster

2007-07-19T11:57:00.001-05:00

Charlotte Sex Slaves

The feds say Hispanic women are being held against their will at brothels in neighborhoods along North Tryon Street and The Plaza and South Boulevard. Streets many of you drive everyday.

These women looking to get into the country at all costs, a lot of them unfortunately taken advantage of, pimped out to earn their stay. While millions of hispanic immigrants stop at nothing to make it to the states to live the American Dream too many of the women are getting caught up in a filthy nightmare.

Tens of thousands are trafficked into the country year with big promises of a better life, only to find themselves forced into prositution. They become sex slaves at the mercy of low lives that operate brothels. Cops and FBI say hundreds of hispanic women are brought in and out of Charlotte every week. They work at more than a dozen brothels to sex trafficking rings up the East Coast.

The Feds say it's happening in neighborhoods around South Boulevard, North Tryon and The Plaza. Operations that are bringing in big bucks at the expense of these naive women. They're abused, raped, and even killed..big price for that American Dream.

The only thing tougher than finding these brothels for cops is trying to build a case once they do.

The criminals that run them have these girls so scared, very rarely are they brave enough to cooperate with police. They are worried about retaliation, not just against them but for their families.

The US Department of Health and Human Services plans to kick off an aggressive campaign next week in hopes of tackling the Human Trafficking problem here in North Carolina.

WBTV reporter Rob Tufano has more on these operations in Charlotte. Click "PLAY" to view the complete story.

Story Created: Jul 18, 2007 at 11:56 PM EDT

Story Updated: Jul 18, 2007 at 11:56 PM EDT
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2007-05-16T20:31:00.000-05:00

a post from yesterday....

I was very sad tonight to see Gilmore Girls come to an end. I love that show! I still will...the finale wasn't what I'd hoped for, but it was good. It must be unhealthy to want closure from a television show. haha. It's only TV!
anyways, thanks to my awesome husband and dad the gilmore girls will live on in my house....since I now own 5 out of the 7 seasons.

those are my thoughts tonight! ...still coughing!!!

2007-05-13T13:12:00.001-05:00

well...I went to the doctor today. It was great...no one was there...then I realized it was Mother's Day-so that's probably why. haha.
the verdict: an upper respiratory infection with bronchitis to boot. lucky me! Z-packs are great though, so hopefully I'll be back to myself in no time.
Pray that Daniel stays healthy.......he never seems to get sick! :-)

2007-05-12T19:11:00.000-05:00

For those of you who know me......this is a great thing. I finally got a new cell phone last week. Yay! My old one was dying...literally. I couldn't call 911 if I wanted to since my 1, 2, & 3 buttons and a couple of soft keys didn't work.......and that kind of defeats the main purpose of a cell phone, doesn't it?

anyways...here it is, the LG AX8600 in apple green.

I love it! Yay!

In other news...I'm sick for no apparent reason. It came out of nowhere! I can't stand having respiratory viruses or whatever I have...it really stinks. I was in the grocery store yesterday and I decided to pick up a box of those "breathe right" strips. They're supposed to help with both snoring and nasal congestion. I can't vouche for the snoring aide, but they are WONDERFUL if you have a stopped up nose. You seriously have to try these if you're like me and can't sleep with your mouth open.

well, I think that about wraps it up. The ring has been returned......so sad that it could only stay such a short time.

2007-05-08T20:46:00.000-05:00

so....WOW. To make a long story short, I ordered something from amazon and a few days later I received an email from the seller telling me that they mistakenly sent another package to me and wondered if I would mind sending it back. (sure, no problem). So today I recieved a package, opened it, and you will would never believe what was inside. Craziness!

Tiffany Swing ring. Round brilliant diamonds, carat total weight .65 (size 6), color grade G, clarity grade VS. Platinum.
$3,400
(tiffany.com)

I would want it back too! I just think it's crazy that it was on my front porch today...

2007-05-04T20:16:00.000-05:00

Recent Wedding Cake...from last Saturday. :-)

2007-04-18T10:52:00.001-05:00

Create your own Friend Quiz here

2007-04-12T21:04:00.001-05:00

New cake pictures up over on the cake blog...

http://christinasimmons.blogspot.com

check it out!

2007-04-09T10:49:00.000-05:00

The repercussions of a broken family never seem to end.....it's been another eventful holiday weekend. I never understood why anyone could be bitter about a holiday or not look foward to one.......but I think I'm starting to get it. I'm not becoming bitter, but they're definitely not as enjoyable as they once were.
Aside from the holiday drama, yesterday was great...we had a great lunch with my dad and some friends and it was a good time! The Hopper's retirement was Saturday.......it was beautiful. I stayed up all night Friday (literally)...working on the 280 individual desserts. I didn't think I still had it in me...the ability to pull an all-nighter...but apparently I do and it wasn't so bad. I feel it more than I did when I was in college though.
In other news...our 3rd anniversary is tomorrow (whoo hoo!), my birthday is in a couple of weeks....17 days to be exact ....and.....one of our awesome friends is getting married Saturday...... I'm making a wedding cake this month (always exciting).....and we have two out of state trips planned this month.
April is my favorite month
...and the icing on the cake: The Braves are off to a rockin' start in case you haven't noticed

2007-04-03T15:31:00.000-05:00

hard to believe it's been a year. Miss you grandma! Madeline Sipe Kinlaw
Major Madeline Sipe Kinlaw (Ret) February 24, 1922- April 2, 2006 PINEVILLE, N.C.— Mrs. Major Kinlaw, 84, of The Laurels at Carolina Place in Pineville, NC, died Sunday, April 2, 2006, at Presbyterian Hospital, Main, in Charlotte, NC. Her family will receive friends from 1-2 p.m. today, Tuesday, April 4, at the Salvation Army Temple Corps in Charlotte, with the funeral service starting at 2. Major Robert Bagley and Commissioner Phillip Needham will officiate. Interment will follow in Sharon Memorial Park. Born February 24, 1922, in York, SC, the youngest of the 11 children of the late John Henry and Florence Whitener Sipe, she was preceded in death by her husband, Major Arthur Kinlaw. They had served in North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee and West Virginia. Major Kinlaw is survived by her daughter, Judi Kinlaw of Asbury College in Wilmore, KY; son, Keith Kinlaw of Charlotte; and five grandchildren, Christina Simmons and her husband, Daniel, and Matthew, Heather, Kathryn and Timothy Kinlaw, all of Charlotte Memorials may be made either to Presbyterian Hospice, 1918 Randolph Road, Suite LL50, Charlotte, NC 28207 or the Salvation Army Temple Corps, 940 Marsh Road, Charlotte, NC 28209. Major Kinlaw's family is being served by the Wilson Chapel of Hankins & Whittington Funeral Service, online at hankinsandwhittingtonwilsonchapel.com. Published in the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer on 4/4/2006.

2007-03-28T10:20:00.000-05:00

I was in Rock Hill the other week teaching a piano lesson while Daniel was teaching a beginners band class...When we were finished, Daniel took my piano student for her brass lesson and one of the younger girls hung out with me since she had to wait for the corps to take her home. We were sitting in the hallway talking...we talked about everything.

C told me all about her parents and her home life...how neither of her parents work, her dad's on disability and probably won't go back to work. She told me about how sleepy she is and how she hasn't been feeling well so her parents give her medication early in the evening (which makes her sleepy) and then she wakes up at 2am and can't sleep anymore....so she stays up by herself. It's 7pm and she tells me how she hasn't had dinner, so I gave her the club crackers from my purse that had come with my fast-food salad that evening.....(she did get dinner at the corps shortly after that).

She told me how they moved here and how she used to play the clarinet before she played the trumpet but her dad couldn't stand it and made her quit. She told me how she wasn't allowed to practice because it bothered her dad while he was watchingtv. My heart was sinking listening to this child who did nothing to deserve this, yet she seems so resilient.

While I was digging through my bag for those crackers we found a bottle of pale pink nail polish. She loves pink, so we went in the bathroom and we scrubbed her dirty little hands and cleaned her dirty little nails that had bits and pieces of scratched off old hot pink polish on them. We went back to the hallway with some paper towels and painted her fingernails. She loved them. She felt so pretty.

Last night, Daniel and I pulled up at the corps....He rolled down the window as C and her friend came skipping over to the car to see us....Daniel asked them if they were ready for band and they looked in the window right past him and said..."did you bring the nail polish?! are we going to paint nails tonight??!"

C had told her best friend all about how she got her nails done at church last time and her friend wanted it too. ...then they asked if they could try on my shoes. So there in the parking lot was an 11 year old girl (M) strutting around, striking model poses in my heels.

We finished with band/piano and I took the two girls in the bathroom where we spend 25 minutes scrubbing off black nail polish. We didn't have enough time to paint nails, but there was a lot of conversation happening in that bathroom. I learned that the first C's parents were not even married. They said that married people fight too much so they never got married. I learned that M seriously dislikes being the middle child and feels like she has no privacy. She wants to be just like her 16 yr old sister, S.

M said to me last night, "I don't understand why S gets to go the movies with boys alone and I don't. She gets to go all the time." I asked her, "Why do you want to go to the movies alone with a boy???" (keep in mind, she's in the 5th grade). M bats her eyes dreamily and says with that duhhhhh-huh tone, "to be romantic."
wow. Of course, Christina...didn't you know that?

Manicure Ministry....has a nice ring to it doesn't it. I love those girls.

2007-03-14T09:46:00.000-05:00

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2007-03-08T14:30:00.000-05:00

So there's been all this hype over Pomegranate Juice in the past couple of years......and I LOVE pomegranates (even though they take me about and hour to eat...and then and hour to scrub the red juice off my hands :-) )
Today Daniel and I were in a local granola eaters store and I decided to get a bottle.....much to my dismay-it was very bitter. You only get a small amount of juice from the actual fruit, so it remains sweet, but when you drink it...bleh.
So that's what's on my mind today, just thought I'd share :-)

2007-03-01T13:02:00.000-05:00

...Haven't posted in a while! We're going to see Harry tonight, and I'm really excited. I wish I could take pictures to show you all.......but there are no cameras allowed. Pooh.

This is a picture of my grandmother's last birthday party (this week last year). What a wonderful group of friends and family she had with her that day........this year, she gets to celebrate with Jesus. how wonderful,

(These are my siblings...my little brother loves to put "ears" on people during photos, it cracks me up......everytime.)

2007-02-12T09:39:00.000-05:00

The general has his own website... (maybe you already knew that?...... I didn't)

http://www1.salvationarmy.org/thegeneral

2007-01-29T15:56:00.001-05:00

I love this picture. It was taken sometime around Christmas...give or take a couple of days. The sky is so amazing. Looking out from the house the sky was filled with an intensely dark cloud, yet behind me the sun was shining as brightly as the summer sun on a shore.
God creates some pretty awesome scenes, huh?

2007-01-27T23:46:00.000-05:00

Juror #8

This week I had the honor of serving on a Jury for a criminal case. Not everyone that gets Jury Duty gets seated on a Jury...and some cases take forever if you do. Luckily, the whole thing only took 3 days. It seemed like forever, and it didn't feel so honorable the night before I had to go...but looking back, it really is a privilege to serve. I'm glad to be American.

C

2007-01-12T15:58:00.000-05:00

Yay for Harry and his Big Band! Two new CDs come out Jan. 30....tour starts Feb 23.....and guess who's going? :-) Can't wait! :-)

2006-12-23T01:04:00.000-05:00

Can I just say that I love Christmas ? :-) I love that I can go shopping somewhere besides wal-mart at 10:30pm...and it's surprisingly not really crowded. ...of course, that's not why I love Christmas, but it's a perk of the season. Merry Christmas all :-)

2006-11-30T23:05:00.000-05:00

Right now I encourage you to not let program stand in the way of ministry. Don't let church keep you from being the church. This has been on my mind for a while, but particuarly today.

Tomorrow is Friday :-) Lots of band stuff going on...what a wondeful season it is! :-)

2006-11-29T09:49:00.000-05:00

Fun Thanksgiving. Here's to new traditions.

2006-11-03T12:38:00.000-05:00

Earn your Wings? This caught my attention today.

2006-11-02T10:30:00.000-05:00

Today I am blessed. I am blessed by a woman I haven't even met yet; her kindness, her love and support for her husband, and her Christ-like spirit. I thank God for her.

2006-10-25T22:04:00.001-05:00

This ALWAYS makes me laugh!

Blue Cross Blue Shield

2006-10-25T11:13:00.000-05:00

So, I'm kinda sad......I love the holidays, and I love to cook. Last Thanksgiving was pretty great because it was the first Thanksgiving Dinner that was my responsibility. My sister was home, so we had a good time cooking together...her boyfriend was there, my grandmother, and cousin......and this year, well, it's not going to be like that. It'll be me and Daniel and my dad. I wish my grandma was still here, it brings tears to my eyes to even type that. Things have really changed since my parents split. ..and it's just really hard to accept that things will never be the same. I feel like this huge part of my life is just gone...and it stinks!

2006-10-21T22:41:00.001-05:00

This is what we did today.........we had a great time together :-) enjoy some pictures of "peak week" :-)

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2006-10-19T11:12:00.000-05:00

I was reading on wbtv.com this morning...and thought I would share that you can now have AMBER alerts sent to your phone. Every second counts...

visit https://www.wirelessamberalerts.org/index.jsp to sign up!

Just 2 days ago the weather radio went off with an alert that a little girl disappeared from N. Charleston, SC and was believed to be in extreme danger...when I hear or read these reports.....my stomach just flips. It's so sad that anyone would kidnap......it's just sick.

2006-10-10T20:37:00.000-05:00

HAPPY NATIONAL CAKE DECORATING DAY! :-)

2006-10-10T09:09:00.000-05:00

2006-10-06T11:54:00.000-05:00

Hey! We went to the beach last weekend......and it was fabulous. So beautiful...chilly enough in the morning and at night to have nice quiet walks on the shore and warm enough in the day to get in the water and splash around :-) Some pics are over on Daniel's blog......we went out early Saturday morning, it was very serene.

check out my husbands nice photos... http://thetrumpshallresound.blogspot.com

2006-09-22T11:12:00.001-05:00

are you SERIOUS?

I was just reading online about excercise, fitness, etc........and at the bottom of the page was this:

Learn the Secrets to Building
A Bigger Butt FREE!!

Fill in the form below to receive a FREE,
e-mail course designed to help you get
started on building a bigger butt NOW!

You will get better results in two weeks
of using this information than most people
get in MONTHS!

2006-09-21T08:41:00.001-05:00

Last night was my first night back at the gym in a couple of months. I'm glad to be going though. I love to go...I just find it hard to find time when there are so many other things going on....but bottom line, when you want to do something bad enough, you will make time for it. Last night I was able to squeeze in dinner with my husband, do 30 minutes of cardio and then go to band practice. It's a lot in one day, after a full day of work...but, sometimes you have to re-evaluate your priorities. It's so easy to become overcomitted and not have enough time for your family or time to take care of yourself.
On a different note, I am very excited about the season premiere of Grey's Anatomy tonight! :-) whoo-hoo! I'm not much of a TV-freak, but I have a couple of shows that I love.

2006-09-20T11:03:00.000-05:00

So last night I did the home league program...we did cake decorating, and the ladies enjoyed themselves. It was a good time. It was difficult to try to teach the basics and ice a cake in an hour though. There's so much to learn...the first night of my first class, we didn't even get to use icing. we just talked and watched for almost 3 hours. I miss taking those classes, they were fun!

2006-09-19T13:07:00.000-05:00

So I don't really have time to blog anymore. I've started a few things, but decided to leave them in draft. Our life is filled, but enjoyable. We are blessed. Daniel has an incredible passion for his ministry and it's wonderful to see him happy and blessing others.
Everything was so different this time last year. It's hard to believe that in one week it will have been a year. Hmmm.
I'm waiting to see what God's going to pull out of this one...something good always happens, even when you really can't possibly imagine what.

2006-09-04T22:48:00.000-05:00

So sad! My Bio 2 AP teacher in high school loved this guy and talked about him all the time.

Steve Irwin, Australia's 'Crocodile Hunter,' Dead at Age 44

Say a prayer or few for his wife and two kids.

2006-08-21T14:23:00.000-05:00

I was reading through some material today for our teen group and came across a lesson on the Black Eyed Peas song "Gone Going". I wasn't aware that it was a popular song though...I heard it through Jack Johnson, an artist that I happen to love listening to. The Black Eyed Peas have a lot of controversial music out there...but the words in this song ring true.

BLACK EYED PEAS LYRICS

"Gone Going"

Johnny wanna be a big star
Get on stage and play the guitar
Make a little money, buy a fancy car
Big old house and an alligator
Just to match with them alligator shoes
He's a rich man so he's no longer singing the blues
He's singing songs about material things
And platinum rings and watches that go bling
But, diamonds don't bling in the dark
He a star now, but he ain't singing from the heart
Sooner or later he's just gonna fall apart
Coz his fans can't relate to his new found art
He ain't doing what he did from the start
And that's putting in some feeling and thought
He decided to live his life shallow
Passion is love for material

[Chorus]
And its gone... gone... going...
Gone... everything gone... give a damn...
Gone be the birds when they don't want to sing...
Gone people... up awkward with their things... gone.

You see yourself in the mirror
And you feel safe coz it looks familiar
But you afraid to open up your soul
Coz you don't really know, don't really know
Who he is, the person that's deep within
Coz you are content with just being the name-brand man
And you fail to see that its trivial
Insignificant, you addicted to material
I've seen your kind before
You're the type that thinks souls is sold in a store
Packaged up with incense sticks
With them vegetarian meals
To you that's righteous
You're fiction like books
You need to go out to life and look
Coz... what happens when they take your material
You already sold your soul and its...

[Chorus]

You say that time is money and money is time
So you got mind in your money and your money on your mind
But what about... that crime that you did to get paid
And what about... that bid, you can't take it to your brain
What about those shoes you'll wear today
They'll do no good on the bridges you walked along the way

All that money that you got gonna be gone
That gear that you rock gonna be gone
The house up on the hill gonna be gone
The gold purse on your grill gonna be gone
The ice on your wrist gonna be gone
That nice little Miss gonna be gone
That whip that you roll gonna be gone
And what's worst is your soul's already gone

[Chorus]

I think it's awesome how we can take everyday things like this song that are REAL parts of our teens' lives and Biblically apply them...it sure makes teaching a lot more fun and on the other end... the learning has to be more interesting...

"Don't store up treasures here on earth, where they can be eaten by moths and get rusty, and where thieves break in and steal. [20] Store your treasures in heaven, where they will never become moth-eaten or rusty and where they will be safe from thieves. [21] Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be."

Matthew 6:19-21

2006-08-18T08:27:00.000-05:00

Anybody want to buy a good car? It needs a good home!

2006-08-15T07:47:00.000-05:00

Here's to a wonderful summer with wonderful people. We will miss you very much! Andrea and Anthony Castle were here in Charlotte this summer from the War College in Vancouver, BC. Travis is still with us :-) Yesterday was the Castles last day here in the states, and they are going to be missed very much!

2006-08-14T22:44:00.000-05:00

God is very awesome. He made it very known to me today and I am very glad that He chose to. I can't wait to see what he has in store for tomorrow.

Wilton Course III Final

2006-08-06T16:46:00.000-05:00

100_1124
Originally uploaded by salvogirl83.

Here is the cake i made last week for my final in the Wilton Course III class. Each rose is made from fondant that was cut out, thinned and rolled with a ball and veiner tool and shaped into a rose :-) We had to have 38 roses on our cake. That was a lot of work!

100_1166

2006-08-06T08:10:00.000-05:00

100_1166
Originally uploaded by salvogirl83.

the final product....the castle cake and me. double shot, since you get to see the cake and the bangs. granite it's 5:30 in the morning when this was taken. ah the life of cake.

100_1141

2006-08-06T08:09:00.000-05:00

100_1141
Originally uploaded by salvogirl83.

100_1153

2006-08-06T08:08:00.000-05:00

100_1153
Originally uploaded by salvogirl83.

2006-07-30T22:28:00.000-05:00

yesterday...I got a haircut.........and... *gasp*...I got bangs. What a commitment. I like it though. My honey comes home tomorrow... can't wait.

2006-07-27T06:18:00.000-05:00

So...yesterday, I pulled my back out. It was so weird to hear those words come out of my doctor's mouth to me. My whole lower back hurts like crazy...and it doesn't just go away. Wow. This is something I've never experienced before. I don't remember the last time I used a sick day. :-(

2006-07-24T22:10:00.000-05:00

Despite my husband's absence, these last few days have been full of blessings. Thank you, Lord.

God is Great!

2006-07-16T20:19:00.000-05:00

the latest work...

2006-07-13T09:48:00.000-05:00

so this morning I was talking to an officer who vented/lectured me on the trend of people calling our officers by their first names. It wasn't directed at me, it was just a frustration for this person, I could tell. But I was frustrated by what came out. I was appalled when this person said to me "why even bother to go to training if you're going to have someone call you by your first name? what's the point in even going?" and then later on "why even have ranks?" well, my answer was...some people will argue you on that point (why have a rank). They compared the Salvation Army's ranked officers to leaders in other churches, saying that you would never walk into another church and call the pastor by his first name, you would say, "reverend so-and-so". WELL, I'm here to tell you there's a difference. Why should we have "ranks" in the Salvation Army? I believe that in most cases (MOST CASE-not all!) that they create division. They set other people "higher" or better, if you will, than others. They give some people egos and a sense of imaginary authority or higher sense of worth. Follow me here...some of our best friends are officers, and we call them by their first names, but when I am addressing them to another person, out of respect I would say, Capt. so-and-so, not "Larry" (for example). BUT! the only reason that I'm calling them Captain, is because that is their title. Even if they didn't go to training, I still wouldn't call them by their first name in that situation, I would call them Mr. so-and-so.......and a Captain is no better than a Mr. ......I suppose it would be different if the rank didn't change......but with an increase in service years/position, comes a higher rank.....Which indulges our human nature in some people of "I'm better than you are". In other churches, even the "senior pastor" is called pastor or reverend. Shouldn't all of our officers be called the same thing. Maybe we should have "senior captains" who are just called captains. just thoughts......

2006-07-12T18:42:00.000-05:00

and so we wait!

2006-07-07T10:22:00.000-05:00

I have immense feelings of frustration this morning.

2006-07-05T13:55:00.000-05:00

How often are you serving?
Have you ever really wanted to do something but you can't because you don't have the ability to do it? I don't mean like go on a European vacation or buy a new Mercedes. I mean have you ever wanted to do something for others but can't do that specific thing because you aren't able, your work schedule doesn't allow it, or whatever other reason is prohibiting you. It drives me nuts when you know someone else who could do it, and has the ability, but chooses not to.
How conscience are we of our own abilities, resources, and gifts. Do we make an effort to use what has been given to us?
I pray for the ability to accept the things I can't do even when I desperately want to and trust that God will move those who can.

2006-07-03T11:22:00.000-05:00

so here is my cake from my last class of course one in cake decorating. I will post a picture of the whole thing when I find it....but for now, you get an inside look :-)

2006-06-29T11:45:00.000-05:00

The Salvation Army's Charlotte Temple Corps, 1983. Look at the cute little baby there..........that was me 23 years ago. My, how life has changed.

2006-06-23T08:36:00.000-05:00

my first cookie cake. yum-o. (just in case you were wondering...I did not pick random animals, they wanted an elephant, tortoise and a hare on the cookie) :-) I finish Course 1 of my cake class next week.....2 more courses and I will be "Wilton Certified"...hahaha.... :-)

2006-06-19T10:00:00.000-05:00

this morning at work, I skinned my elbow on the brick wall in the bathroom and it hurt. This could only happen on a Monday. :-)

2006-06-17T21:13:00.000-05:00

While we were in Atlanta a couple weeks ago, we went into this two story Target in Buckhead......I thought this was the funniest thing......it's an escalator for your cart....you push it on and it meets your at the top (or the bottom if you're going down) ;-) fun.

2006-06-16T08:16:00.000-05:00

it's been a long time, I never have time to post anymore. too much to do when you get home.......the cake business has been keeping me very busy. I had three cakes in 4 days the other week. I don't think I'll do that again unless it's my full time job :-) whew! Other than that...things are cool...I'm working on a handmade quilt...no machine whatsoever...so...it's frustrating when I think that in the time I made 5 blocks (out of the 90 needed) I could've made the whole quilt top on the machine, but...I want a handmade one, so on I march.
I am so tired today. I can't wait for our beach trip Labor Day weekend...I'm ready to get out of town again.
Be blessed today.

2006-06-04T21:14:00.000-05:00

I never have time to blog anymore! We can't even blog during lunch and breaks at the office anymore since it's blocked.......blah. So anyways, we're in Atlanta...it's a great trip. I feel like we've been here for a while, but we're only halfway through our trip. Yay for staying at the Snelson's fabulous house the past few nights :-) (thank you Jill!!!) Tomorrow is the retirement and festivities! here are some pictures from our trip so far...we went running around town today :-)

2006-05-24T22:23:00.000-05:00

Yay!!!!!! Taylor won!!! I'm excited :-) ...like I told Daniel, this is like my superbowl.

2006-05-07T12:58:00.000-05:00

2am...finally finished! yes...I wear shades at 2am...they are a habit...but they also keep my hair out of my face :-)
Game Cube cake :-) how fun! yum-o!

2006-05-06T13:19:00.000-05:00

Cake Weekend! One down, one to go! Here's an attempt at a spiderman cake. fun stuff :-)

2006-05-05T13:43:00.000-05:00

I need a miracle Lord. Please Please Please. I am weary and need rest! (not physically)

Refreshment is coming this weeked though: I have the chance to minister this weekend through baking. This is exciting to me...my creative juices are flowing, I want to give these kids the most awesome birthday cakes ever! ideas anybody?

So glad it's Friday...and the afternoon at that. Kat and Tim are here this weekend!

2006-05-01T22:12:00.000-05:00

A wise man told me this past week that when you stand up for what is right, people will make a fuss.

2006-04-25T20:10:00.000-05:00

2 hours and 51 minutes left to be 22 years old. tomorrow is another year!

2006-04-25T14:34:00.000-05:00

2006-04-25T12:23:00.000-05:00

Gossip.

“A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid a man who talks to much” –Proverbs 20:19

Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary defines a gossip as someone who habitually reveals personal, or sensational, facts about another.
The Bible says that God’s children should not let any unwholesome talk come out of their mouths; only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs that it may benefit those who listen. (Ephesians 4:29)

I’m sure that gossip has affected each one of you at some point in your life. Perhaps it affects you every day or maybe just every now and then. Perhaps you are the gossip or maybe you are the subject of gossip…or maybe your friends like to gossip. It’s everywhere we turn.

I have been affected by gossip this weekend…now granite, it wasn’t earth shattering information that was shared, but it’s troubling to think you know someone and trust them only to have them turn around and tell others. It’s like some people can’t wait to finish their conversation with you so they can turn around and tell the next person.

I found this quote:
“Those people who are considered “busybodies” are easily spotted and are usually in the center of the action, flitting from one situation to the next, seeking out a tidbit of information they can use to spread to others. They’ll talk to just about anyone, pretending to care or be genuinely interested in what is being said to them, when all the while, their minds are racing ahead to the first person to whom they can repeat their conversation. Gossips are only in it for themselves and the perverted pleasure it brings them to tear others down.”

This is so true. Why do humans feel the need to tell others other people’s business, whether it be the truth, the distorted truth, or a complete rumor/lie. Is it for acceptance? Maybe you grew up in an environment where you were a “nobody” if you didn’t know the latest happenings. Maybe you are starving for attention and think that people will be amazed at your knowledge of others. Maybe you’re just desperately trying to fit in or make it into a circle of friends. None of these are excuses though. We are called to higher standards and I challenge you to live up to them! Proverbs has A LOT to say about the tongue…perhaps that is because this issue needs reinforced.

“A fool’s mouth is his undoing, and his lips are a snare to his soul. The words of a gossip are like choice morsels they go down to a man’s inmost parts” (Proverbs 18:7-8)

A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbor, but a man of understanding holds his tongue. A gossip betrays confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret” (Proverbs 11:12-13)

“The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so the hearts of fools.” (Proverbs 15:7)

The righteous will overtake the house of the wicked and bring them to ruin (Proverbs 21:12).
Those who guard their mouths and tongues keep themselves from calamity (Proverbs 21:23). So, guard your tongue and refrain from the sinful act of gossip. Surrender your natural desires to the Lord and allow Him to help you remain righteous.

I challenge you to examine your tongue today. What are your motives? Are you trustworthy? When your friends confide in you, are you honored to be so trusted or are you a fool who cannot hold his deceitful tongue?

2006-04-25T12:08:00.000-05:00

God calls women to discretion. Proverbs 11:22 says, "Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion." Your body is God's. Romans 12:1-2 says, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will."

2006-04-24T10:20:00.000-05:00

Okay, Monday Morning and topics are looming through my brain...here's one that's on my mind: they way women dress.

So a lot of women out there dress in a way that is less than desirable. I don’t mean they’re “out of style or fashion”. I mean they do not know how to dress themselves in a way that is decent and reflects their holiness. Perhaps some Christian women do this accidentally, but I honestly have a hard time believing that any woman could be oblivious to what she is doing. When a woman puts on a miniskirt or a low cut blouse/dress she knows that she will attract male attention. Men are visually stimulated. Every woman knows that. My question today is why do Christian women feel like it’s okay to dress like this? I mean, it appalls me at the women that will dress like this period, but even more so…to go to worship! I understand that a man is his own person, and he is ultimately responsible for his sins, but why, as a woman, are you going to dress like a “wayward woman” and help him to sin. Women: when we dress like this, we are ENCOURAGING all the men around us to have a look. We are saying, “hey, look at me” and tempting the man to have impure thoughts or ultimately even actions. This is not okay! Society encourages us: “if you’ve got it flaunt it”. This is society, not the Lord. You should honor your husband (whether you’re married, engaged, or haven’t even met your man yet) and every other woman’s husband by keeping and sharing what you have with your husband alone. If you’re married, are you honoring your husband by dressing this way? Are you honoring God? Are you honoring your friends’ marriages…or even marriages of those you don’t know…that couple you just passed in the grocery store? Maybe you’re single…are you honoring God? Are you honoring you’re future husband? Are you honoring other marriages by not being a temptress? The Lord has called us to be holy and set apart for him. What does your wardrobe say about you as a Christian?

2006-04-22T12:17:00.000-05:00

awesome things happening today. Praise the Lord!

2006-04-20T20:25:00.000-05:00

good weekend so far....oh wait, it's not the weekend yet! but tomorrow is friday...and I get to dress down at work because we're cleaning up our office...and it's a half day for me....all of that makes me happy. yay :-) kat and tim came today...lots of love filling up our house today! We saw Curious George tonight. I don't remember the last time I went to see an animated film...it was cute :-)

2006-04-20T08:35:00.000-05:00

My co-worker and I are sitting here this morning reminiscing about the Christian programs and books from our childhood. If you remember Psalty and the magnificent Multi-Phasic Take-Your-Time Machine, then you are definitely in my generation. or maybe Gerbert? Does anyone know the name of that show with the girl who had a mirror in her bedroom and would step through it to another world where, I believe, there was a bookworm along with other characters? Little dark headed girl. We're stumped.

2006-04-19T08:48:00.000-05:00

So God must have a lot of faith in me right now, because my trials keep piling on. When will the rain be over? Geez!

2006-04-18T12:59:00.000-05:00

same blog, new look. Pink is my favorite color. :-) my birthday is a week from tomorrow...happy happy. I'm getting old! I hope the bandmaster doesn't make me go to rehearsal on my birthday...hint hint. :-)

2006-04-16T21:27:00.000-05:00

"O God, you are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you,
my body longs for you,
in a dry and weary land
where there is no water.

I have seen you in the sanctuary
and beheld your power and your glory.
Because your love is better than life,
my lips will glorify you.
I will praise you as long as I live,
and in your name I will lift up my hands.
My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods;
with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

On my bed I remember you;
I think of you through the watches of the night.
Because you are my help,
I sing in the shadow of your wings.
My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.

They who seek my life will be destroyed;
they will go down to the depths of the earth.
They will be given over to the sword
and become food for jackals.

But the king will rejoice in God'
all who swear by God's name will praise him,
while the mouths of liars will be silenced."

PSALM 63

2006-04-12T10:08:00.000-05:00

a little blurry, but you can see.....Good Times with Grandma, only 6 months ago... Love you Grandma.

2006-04-12T09:11:00.000-05:00

Good times were had last night at a fantastic concert given by the Stockholm South Citadel Band. They were in Charlotte last night in the middle of their tour of the states. Here are a few sweet photos from the band... They already had their website updated with last night's concert photos! ...speedy. anyways, have a look...

2006-04-10T08:28:00.000-05:00

Today is our 2nd anniversary. Happy anniversary sweetheart! Sometimes it's hard to believe it's been 2 years already! ...but it's hard to imagine life before we were married. Marriage is so great :-) Here's a snapshot from our reception and one from our honeymoon...

2006-04-07T11:08:00.000-05:00

We went to the park this week....This Park is one of my most favorite places...it is where I grew up, where I took field trips as a child in elementary, where my Grandma Kinlaw took me, Heather, and Matthew to Easter Egg Hunts, where I learned to rollerblade, where the Salvation Army used to play outdoor concerts in the amphitheatre and have open air meetings, where I've attended Art and Music Festivals, where Daniel and I went every Sunday afternoon before we were married to lie on a blanket in the sun and talk...where we really got to know each other and fell in love....and this park is where, this week, I returned with my husband of 2 years this Monday to relax. What a beautiful day it was...and what a lovely park filled with memories of my life thus far.

2006-04-02T18:49:00.000-05:00

My "Granma"

April 2, 2006. 5:30pm. Grandmother was Promoted to Glory. I MISS YOU GRANDMA.

2006-03-28T10:04:00.000-05:00

So I came into work today for the first time since Friday morning...not too long ago, but under the circumstances, it has felt like an eternity. I'm so tired. I feel bad for leaving the hospital, but I needed to come in for a little while at least. I had two things to do this morning...one of them is completed...the other I'm waiting on. I have to wait for 2 other people to finish their assignments before I can complete mine...so i'm waiting. and waiting. It drives me nuts that I'm in a hurry to leave and I'm just sitting here because other people could not plan better. Does that makes sense? I do not like relying on fellow people. God is my Rock, the only one that can be truly relied on at all times, no matter what. We are all human. I am going to miss my grandma so much it breaks my heart. I know the glory and greatness of what's happening to her, but selfishly (and humanly), I am going to miss her and wish she were with me always. I love her.

2006-03-22T15:39:00.000-05:00

"In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul."
Psalm 94:19 NKJV

2006-03-21T19:26:00.000-05:00

Your prayers are coveted for my grandmother right now. The cancer is taking over. I don't know what else to say.

Revolutionary

2006-03-20T23:17:00.000-05:00

From this day forward I will make a difference....I will make a change in this world. I will not be ashamed of your name or your Gospel. I will look enemies in the eye and love them. I will pray for them and love them no matter what the consequences. I will follow your voice, unafraid, for I know you will be with me. If I should stumble, if I should fall, if I should deny your name, if I should feel guilty that I did not pray. I will not quit. I will not wallow in guilt. I will turn back to you, confess my sin and do what you called me to do. I will stand with you and mny brothers and sisters around the world because no matter what happens, no matter what I face or how it looks in the end, we will have the victory we will inherit eternity in heaven with you. I can do nothing else, because I am a REVOLUTIONARY.

2006-03-20T13:23:00.000-05:00

Youth Councils was a blast...I hadn't been in a loooonnnnng time and this was the first time for Daniel, Heather, and Matt. So glad we all went. =)

2006-03-20T13:20:00.000-05:00

Look at those goofy guys

2006-03-17T09:07:00.000-05:00

2006-03-16T14:48:00.000-05:00

the results are back and I am speechless.

2006-03-16T09:32:00.000-05:00

Is it sad that one of the first things that I think about when I wake up Monday through Friday is how I can't wait to be back home (from work) in ten hours and crawl back into that bed. I don't like getting up in the mornings. especially when I'm sick. bleh.

2006-03-15T15:32:00.000-05:00

Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee, Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Be Thou my battle-shield, sword for my fight,
Be Thou my dignity, Thou my delight.
Thou my soul's shelter, Thou my high tower.
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise,
Thou mine inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of heaven, my victory won,
May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heav'ns Son!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my vision, O ruler of all.

2006-03-15T13:38:00.000-05:00

I made my first wedding cake last week for a wedding on Saturday...I started Thursday night, and that was a lot of work in a short amount of time! 2 very long nights. I was very excited about the finished product though. Here are a couple pictures.

There are more pictures over on my cake blog . I'm so very tired. By the time I got home from the wedding Saturday, I knew I was sick..attack of the flu. I'm back at work today but still yucky. Enough about me though, in the midst of all, my grandmother's breast cancer has spread into her liver. Please pray. We find out the details tomorrow...

2006-03-08T09:37:00.000-05:00

My stomach is in knots this morning. big knots. the funeral is in an hour and 20, and after all i've been through to be able to attend, i'm scared. i never have been one for funerals, but for some reason this one is different. this time it's personal. i haven't had family pass away in years so the feeling has been forgotten, and this is the first time i've been to a funeral of a friend. a friend, friend. my friend. not someone i knew through someone or a friend's family. she was my friend and it aches. Lord, stop my aching. It's all too real.

2006-01-27T14:15:00.000-05:00

over on my other blog you can see some pictures of the petit fours I made for the Territorial Review Team. ...well, by "some pictures"...I mean a lot...I may have gone overboard photographing, but they took a long time, so I thought lots of pictures were in order. anyways...you can see them at: http://christinasimmons.blogspot.com

Can't wait for the weekend...only and hour away... I haven't seen my sister since Christmas, so fun times are ahead with all four of us kids home this weekend!

2006-01-25T10:54:00.000-05:00

I took a picture with my phone...it's little and fuzzy, but you get the idea. aw.

2006-01-25T09:33:00.000-05:00

I made the cutest petit fours last night for the territorial review board coffee break tomorrow, and I didn't bring a picture with me to post...so it'll just have to wait until tonight...
Still praying on this end for grandma, no results yet from the biopsy...this getting up at 6am to meet the doctor each morning is getting really old really fast.....I wish the results would hurry up and come in. I'm growing impatient and curious.

2006-01-23T11:29:00.000-05:00

Finished Product. There is a certain satisfaction in completing a task. Too bad it has to be eaten :-)

2006-01-21T16:36:00.000-05:00

This is my latest project....the pattern that's iced on the cake...alone, has probably taken an hour to get that much complete. It's tedious, but I enjoy it for some weird reason. you have to go slow and keep a stead hand, and that's hard for me...so it's teaching me patience. yay :-) anyways...have a sneak peak. I'll post the finished product later!

2006-01-19T13:41:00.000-05:00

Pray Hard today. ...We're awaiting a biopsy that will determine the status of the cancer in one of the most important and loved women I know, my grandmother.

2006-01-18T09:15:00.000-05:00

Here is my latest atempt at cake decorating. This was my first round with coloring the homemade fondant as well as my first whack at scrolling...it'll improve with practice, but I'm happy with my first try :-)