Thursday, June 22, 2006

I'm moving!

I am moving tomorrow!!! I've spent all week painting furniture in my boss's basement. I'm wearing long sleeves at work today because I got black paint all over my arms last night and it will not come off! I have still not packed even remotely close to everything I need to take with me tomorrow.

But as of tomorrow night, I will officially not be bumming off my parents anymore, and I will have my own space less than 10 minutes from work! Goodbye hour long commute of death. Goodbye 14 hour work days because I can't go home in between office work and whatever I have to do that night. Goodbye leaving my house before 7:30 just to make it to work on time. Goodbye extra money and the luxury of buying food whenever I'm hungry. Oh, wait... this is the happy part. Scratch that last. :-)

Everyone come visit me! My new address is:
400 Rhodora Court
Apt. E
Knoxville, TN 37923

Also, everyone should go comment on Amy's site and get her to tell you about our dog Cookie's run in with the bee. It's truly comedy at its best.

Friday, June 9, 2006

Final Support Update.

Dearest Friends and Family,



I cannot thank you enough for your prayers and support these past 10 months. Coming on staff at Providence Church has changed me and taught me more than I ever thought possible, and I am so thankful to all of you who have given gifts towards my salary, enabling me to be a part of this ministry.



I have not written in quite some time, partly because of the incredible business of my schedule, and partly because my role here at Providence has been in transition for quite some time now, and I didnt want to reveal any information until everything was finalized.



I am so excited to be able to tell all of you that I have been promoted to the Administrative Assistant position here at Providence, working with all the pastors and staff to help the office run smoothly and with excellence so that we can make, be, and unleash fully devoted followers of Christ.



This means that I now have a salary, and no longer require your financial assistance. Again, I cannot thank all of you enough for your prayers and financial support these past 10 months. I could not have had this amazing opportunity without each of you. Please continue to pray for me as I move into this new role and follow God in the path that I believe he has set before me.



If any of you wish to continue supporting the church and our efforts, or ministry associates who are raising their salaries, please contact me for more information on how to do so.



Also, I wanted to share a praise report with all of you who have been praying diligently for the inmate friend that I mentioned in my last update. He was released from prison in February, and immediately started attending church here at Providence. On March 22nd, he prayed for Christ to come into his life and take control, and he has not looked back since. Please continue to pray for him as he struggles to become the man that God desires him to be.



Thank you for your prayers! Please feel free to contact me anytime. I would love nothing more than to talk with each one of you more about what is going on in your lives.





Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. - 1 John 2:6





Love in Christ,



Rachel Elizabeth Smith

Romans 8:28

Friday, May 26, 2006

Yea!!!

Ladies and Gentlemen...
I am officially out of debt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Well, credit card debt anyway. Woo-hoo!

Wednesday, May 3, 2006

Why you haven't seen me or heard from me and may possibly be wondering if I am still alive...

Hello my friends! Since I have received many "Are you alive?" e-mails, texts, and comments, I thought I would explain my absence as of late. First of all, I was in Charleston last weekend visiting one of my best friends on the whole planet! It was so wonderful to get to visit Brittany (the hyperlink thing isn't working, but she's in my top 8 so check her out there) and spend a bit of time with her. I wish it could have been more!

But anyway, the main reason that you haven't seen me and/or heard from me is because I am currently working 2 part time jobs and a full time job at the church, plus all my normal extra-curricular volunteer stuff. So yeah. I leave my house at 7am and return around 11pm, just in time to wash my face, read for a bit, and fall asleep. I didn't even watch the new Gilmore Girls last night, so you people know that I must be busy and exhausted! By the way, don't spoil it for me because I probably won't have time to watch it until this weekend. So yeah. This is day 3 of 13+ hours at work. Fun times. But yea for my first sizeable paycheck ever!!! :-)

In other news, I go to court tomorrow. Not looking forward to talking in front of a jury about a wreck that ruined my life (at that time) almost 4 years ago. Please pray that it will be over and done with quickly, and that they won't be mean to me when they cross examine me. Jason is taking off work to go with me, so he definitely wins the prize for most supportive person.

Anyway, I hope all of you are doing well! Please e-mail me or message me, so that I can keep in touch with you that way... I can return e-mails on my lunch break! If I normally talk to you on a regular basis and haven't been lately, rest assured that I miss you dearly and can't wait until my schedule slows enough to allow conversations once more. See you then! :-)

Tuesday, April 11, 2006

April 11, 2006.

Okay, I realize that I have not been great about posting blogs lately, but you should all be happy for me, because that means that I've been hanging out with real live people instead of spending my life alone in my room on myspace. Wow. I am such a loser.

So, life is good. I spent all afternoon yesterday at the World's Fair Park, my favorite place in all of Knoxville, and got stripes of sunburn along each arm and leg. Those of you who do not know me well do not fully understand the joys of the way that my body accepts sunshine. But I spent about 4 solid hours reading while feeling the sun on my face and the perfect cool-but-not-too-cold breeze in my hair, so nothing can be better than that. I also met this amazing man named Hillbilly. He's a 45 year old homeless man that refers to himself as a "cardboard technician" and isn't ashamed of the fact that he's spent well over half of his life drunk. It was good to be able to sit and talk with him and hear about his life, and Jason talked to him a lot about God and even asked if we could pray with him at the end. It was a very sweet, beautiful moment to hear that broken, drunk, homeless man thank God for keeping him safe, fed, and clothed. I pray that Hillbilly will wake up before it is too late and realize that God still has a plan for his life.

I finally finished Long Walk to Freedom, which is a major personal accomplishment. I am 99% positive that it has never taken me longer than one week to read a book, and it took me almost one year to read this one. Granted, I read other books along the way, but it feels so wonderful to be done with it! Great book by the way. I totally recommend it. And if you don't have the time, read the last three pages. It won't spoil the story for you because we already know how it ends, and it is my favorite part of the whole book. Nelson Mandela was a man like no other.

In other news, I received the world's largest Easter Bunny as a gift yesterday. His name is Harvey James Stewart. I am entertaining guesses as to the origin of that name.

Well, I have a lot of random thoughts and not much substance, but I wanted to get a post out for the 2.5 of you that actually read my blogs. Please comment so that I feel loved and encouraged to repeat this occurrence. :-)

Wednesday, March 29, 2006

Survey (Yeah, I know I'm a dork.)

Somewhere along the way, I decided it was okay to start filling out these stupid survey things... I'm such a huge dork! Really, I just wanted everyone to see #3. :-)

1. EVER BEEN GIVEN AN ENGAGEMENT RING? No.

2. LONGEST RELATIONSHIP? 3 1/2 months or so.

3. LAST GIFT YOU RECEIVED? A dozen red roses delivered to my office yesterday and a White Chocolate Mocha from Starbucks last night. :-) It was definitely the perfect day.

4. HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU DROPPED YOUR CELL? About a million. I should really put his little outfit on to protect him.

5. WHEN'S THE LAST TIME YOU WORKED OUT? Ooh, it's been awhile... I guess since before I hurt my knee! I bench pressed a bar on Sunday, though. :-)

6. THING(S) YOU SPEND A LOT OF MONEY ON? My car payment and car insurance take over 70f my income.

7. LAST FOOD YOU ATE? A biscuit (not a cookie for you British folk... an actual biscuit like people in America eat for breakfast).

8. FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT THE OPPOSITE SEX? Hm... probably smile.

9. ONE FAVORITE SONG? "Hold Me Now" or lots of other songs by Jennifer Knapp... she has made a strong reappearance in my CD player lately.

10. WHERE DO YOU LIVE? With my parents. I'm a loser.

11. HIGH SCHOOL YOU ATTENDED: King's Academy.

12. EVER DATE YOUR BEST FRIEND?: Not yet.

13. LONGEST JOB YOU HAD: Hopefully the one I have now! I think I tutored Biology at UT longer than I've done anything else so far.

14. DO YOU OWN A PAIR OF DICE?: I'm sure I do inside a board game somewhere.

15. LAST WEDDING ATTENDED?: Hm... I've been to so many! I think the last one was my cousin Katie's.

16. FIRST PERSON YOU'D CALL IF YOU WON THE LOTTERY: My sister, because she will be home from England on Friday and I more than likely will not win between now and then, seeing as how I'm not going to buy a ticket.

17. LAST TIME YOU ATTENDED CHURCH: I work there, so yesterday.

18. FAVORITE FAST FOOD RESTAURANT: Chick-fil-A

19. BIGGEST LIE YOU HAVE HEARD? Probably something like, "No, I really do care about you." Stupid boys.

20. CAN YOU COOK?: I am very adept at following recipes. :-) I just made a pecan pie the other night, actually!

21. WHAT CAR DO YOU DRIVE?: A pretty blue Honda Accord.

22. BEST KISSER?: I plead the fifth to avoid incriminating myself. But it is definitely the last person that I kissed.

23. LAST TIME YOU CRIED?: I teared up last night watching a little boy hug his daddy good night. Gets me everytime!

24. MOST DISLIKED FOOD: Squash.

25. THING YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT YOURSELF: My heart.

26. THING YOU DISLIKE MOST ABOUT YOURSELF: My constant failure to follow God and do what he asks me to do.

27. FAVORITE MOVIE? Hotel Rwanda

28. CAN YOU SING?: People say that I can.

29. LAST CONCERT ATTENDED?: Slow Runner and Scratch Track at 3rd and Lindsley in Nashville. Amazing.

30. LAST MOVIE RENTED: Rent, I think.

31. FAVORITE VACATION SPOT?: Anywhere exciting, cultural, and new!

32. DO YOU LIKE CHINESE FOOD?: Love it... both American Chinese food and authentic!

33. LAPTOP OR DESKTOP COMPUTER?: I have a laptop, but I use my parents' desktop quite frequently.

Saturday, March 25, 2006

My Top 8 Survey.

Okay, I never do these surveys, but I was bored and liked this one, so here you go! :-)

My Top 8 Survey:
[PERSON ONE]: Amy

1) How long have you known this person?: My whole life! She is my sister.
2) Where does this person live? Currently out of a backpack all over stinkin' Europe. So not fair.
3) What is this person's initials?: ADS
4) Why is this person in spot 1?: Because she's my favorite person on the whole planet, and my favorite thing in the whole world!
5) Where did you meet?: Probably the hospital in Florida where she was born.
6) How old is this person?: 21
-------------------------------------------------------------------

[PERSON TWO]: Amber
1) Is this person older than 18? Yes.
2) Have you done anything illegal with this person? I seriously doubt it. Maybe speeding. Is Alien Head Gear illegal?
3) What is this person's stereotype: Blonde cheerleader? Even though she claims to be brunette.
4) What song(s) remind you of this person? Anything prior to 1999 or some sappy love song that we used to listen to while crying about Ryan. :-)
5) Do you trust him/her?: Most definitely.
6) How did you meet?: Environmental Science class with Mrs. Fiddler and the leaf project of death. Fun times.
--------------------------------------------------------------------

[PERSON THREE]: Bekah
1) When did you meet this person?: We were roommates together starting our sophomore year at Union. I'm sure we had met before then, but that's when we became friends!
2) Does he/she have any tattoos?: No, which really surprises me as much as she's hung around crazies like me. :-)
3) What school does this person go to?: She graduated from Union.
4) Is this person athletic?: ha ha She bought a baseball cap to wear when she plays sports, so I guess so! :-)
5) What do you like most about this person?: Although she is often slowed down by her commitment to practicality, she is one of the best friends I have ever had in my entire life, and desires to know God and do His will in a way that constantly inspires me.
6) How often do you hang out?: Never. Sad.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[PERSON FOUR]: Brittany
1) Who is this person's best friend?: Me! And her sister. :-)
2) Why is this person on your Top 8?: Because she is one of my best friends and seeing her smiling face everyday makes me smile, too!
3) When's the last time you saw this person?: Way too long ago. The day after I got off my crutches, whenever that was.
4) Does this person have a crush on anyone?: Why yes, yes she does. :-)
5) If you were to go to Six flags would you take this person?: Forget Six Flags. How about China?
6) How did you meet?: Through her punk boyfriend, Dave, I'm pretty sure.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

[PERSON FIVE:] Jocelyn
1) What is your favorite thing about this person?: She isn't afraid of life and pursues happiness wholeheartedly.
2) What are this person's hobbies?: Dancing!!!
3) Does this person have a 4.0 GPA?: ha ha She's very smart, though!!!
4) What car does this person drive? One that is always broken.
5) How long do you want to stay in touch with this person? ALWAYS!!!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[PERSON SIX]: DJ

1) Have you seen this person's baby pictures?: No, actually.
2) What is one thing this person taught you?: That I am cool enough to be friends with the popular kids. :-)
3) What is one thing you taught them? I have no idea.
4) How old is this person?: Oooh... 26? 25?
5) Where did you meet?: We went to school together and our bands often played together!!!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[PERSON SEVEN]: Jason
1) Do you know this person's parents?: I know his mom.
2) What type of clothes does this person wear? Ones that are approximately 4 times too big for him. But he still manages to look cute. :-)
3) Have you been to his/her house? I feel like I practically live there.
4) What's your favorite memory with them?: He's my newest friend out of everyone in my top 8! But we've already made memories that will stay with me forever, and hopefully will continue to make many more. :-)
5) How did you Meet?: ha ha Funny story. In prison.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[PERSON EIGHT]: Greenwood
1)What is their favorite band? That's a funny question since they are a band!
2)Where does this person work? They are full time musicians, supported by their lovely, hard working wives. :-)
3) What do you like most about this person? They are some of my favorite people in the whole world! Talk about memories. I learned so much about myself and who I am from being with them. They will always hold a priceless place in my heart.
4) When did you meet this person?: My sophomore year at Union.
5 Where is this person right now? Just outside of Baltimore, MD.