Hello! I am so glad that you stopped by! Did you see My Front Porch? Isn't it lovely? My name is Christine (bet you guessed that already!), and I live in Houston, Texas with my wonderful son, Jason, who turned 6 on April 21st and started First Grade on August 12, 1998. I have been involved in a long term relationship for 5 years with a wonderful man named Mike. (I had to remove him from the picture to protect the innocent!) I work for a law firm in downtown in a division of our Information Systems Department. One of the reasons I love my job is because all of my co-workers are wonderful to work with. That makes it a lot easier to come in in the morning!

What's new at Christine's Country Cottage? I have added an all new page (What's New?) just to let you know! Be sure to check it out! I did decide to do something different with this page. I love the Graphics at Maria's Place - Graphics by Dreamweaver and I had to use this set somewhere on my site. I even named the set for her, "Country Home". Thanks Maria!

Hmmmm... what can I tell you about me? Well, for one thing I am opinionated. I won't even bother trying to hide it; if a subject comes up that gets me going, look out! And I have learned through wisdom that comes with age that I don't have to put up with things I don't like. I talked to a friend from high school one day, and after talking for awhile they said "You know, you are not as open minded as you used to be". In a very typical, diplomatic Libra fashion I said, "No, I am still open minded when it comes to other people; but when it comes to me, I have learned that life is too short to even bother dealing with things that you don't like." Guess so many years of trying to change myself to please others or trying to change others to please me finally taught me something. Sometimes I have to vent those opinions by climbing on My Soapbox!

As I mentioned, I am a Libra. Some people say that that Horoscope stuff is for the birds, but I have read many descriptions of the typical Libra, and every book may as well change the title of the chapter to "Description of Christine". Oh, just in case you want to send me gifts, cards with money, a new car, or anything else - my birthday is September 27th.

Aside from working on my website & designing graphics, I enjoying cross-stitching. I have several pieces hanging in my house that I have done, and my pride & joy is a large Paula Vaughan design. It is gorgeous - I will try to photograph it someday so I can post it online for you to see. It is hanging over my couch in my Living Room. I also enjoy taking pictures, although I don't do it as often as I used to. I took Photography classes in High School, and it was such a wonderful creative outlet. If you would like to see some of my pictures, Click Here. The photos of my son are mainly from photo studios, although a few are mine. All of the pictures of Europe where taken by me!

That brings me to an interesting part of my life - I was married in August, 1990 and in November, 1990 we moved to Illesheim, Germany. It is a little town, but it was close to so many wonderful places. If I could go anywhere in the world tomorrow it would be back to Germany. While I lived there my husband was deployed to Turkey; at the same time Jennifer, who I have known since I was 4 years old when our mothers became best friends, was coming over to Germany to ride the trains across Europe & then study at the University of Heidelberg. When I found out that she was coming I offered to meet her & the other two girls from the University of Illinois that were coming with her at the airport; they stayed at my house for a few days while we travelled locally and then we took the trains across Europe and back. It was a once-in-a-lifetime time that I will never forget and will probably never have a chance to do again. I don't think I could spend the night on the train and the day sight-seeing with a child! Since then Jen married a man that I introduced her to (he was also stationed at the same base), and they now have a son. Rick, my husband, and I have divorced, but after losing touch for awhile (he was in Germany, Bosnia, the States, Bosnia again) we write via e-mail. He is stationed at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, which is where we first met.

I am a Christian, and somewhat active in my church. I even designed a webpage for the Young Adult Catholics of Northwest Houston to help bring them into the Technology Age. I have thought about creating a "testimonial" page for this site, but I still have not found the words. Someday, when the time is right I will. For now the best way for me to express my beliefs is this: "Preach the Gospel at all times; when necessary use words" (St. Francis of Assisi) I was raised with a subtle faith, even while attending Catholic schools for over 8 years, and moving from the north (Illinois) to the bottom of the Bible belt was quite a shock! But over the years I have learned a lot and really grown in my faith. I think that the influence of other religions has been a good one. I have come to the conclusion that faith is one thing, religion is another. Faith is what you believe in your heart, what you feel is true, how you perceive God. Religion is nothing more then a vehicle to express your faith. Nothing more. I could "be" any religion - my faith will still be my faith, and nothing will change that core.

The most recent things going on around here? Jason's played soccer this spring during April and May. He really enjoyed playing soccer, and did pretty good! (Of course, I have a biased opinion.) Also, on May 16, 1998 the Y-Indian Guides held their pine car derby, and Jason received a trophy for 3rd place in the Kid Built category! He is so proud! It is a rather typical summer in Houston - HOT, HOT, HOT! Guess I should be used to it by now. We had NO rain at all during the month of June! Jason has started first grade now. He was pretty excited until I told him the morning of his first day of school that now he has to learn how to really read & write!

Gee, did you make it all the way to the bottom here? Sorry, guess I got a bit long-winded. I tell you what. (*G* That's a southern thing... they never tell you what, they just tell you they will!) Hope you still have time to view the other portions of my Cottage! Hope this satisfies all of the questions you might have about me!