Hey! I’m Christine. It’s so nice to see you here at Great Oak Circle, once my childhood home and now my home on the web. I’m a huge fan of 1/2 marathons, eating clean and paleo, cupcakes (not paleo), adoption, instagram, adventures with my son, time with my husband and my sweet friends! I think Matthew 28:19 is where it’s at!!
Why Great Oak Circle?
Great Oak Circle is my childhood home. It is here that my design dreams began, with chalk and the big rock in my front yard. That’s me and Dad on the rock, I lost him in November 2009, and miss him like crazy. He bought me my Great Oak Circle and will forever be what I remember as home.
I always wanted to be a designer:
When I was in middle school I broke a bedroom window while attempting to rearrange my room for the millionth time. In high school I was unleashed and allowed to paint my bedroom whatever color I wanted. I chose lime green, the kind of lime that makes your face pucker. When I moved out, the room was painted before I could make the last trip to my new apartment.I went to college and learned a bucket load of design principles, computer design, history, and practical knowledge. I earned a Bachelor’s degree from a top notch design school and have since worked in residential and commercial Interior Design, designing and managing projects, contractors, artisans and installers.
I also stretched my design skills with work in film and theater, designing and painting sets and working on-site for worldwide TV and feature film productions.
Experience in social media, web&graphic design:
I went back to school for graphic and web design, so I can hand code a website from scratch. While I don’t often do that anymore, knowing these skills allows me to customize and re-work websites and WordPress and Blogger platforms. In 2008 I joined a sweet company and launched their entire Internet division, handling advertising, social media and search engine optimization. I hired and trained a staff that ran campaigns for loads of small and large businesses. My job involved client education and strategy planning for social media, as well as training their in-house management team on websites, blogs, and SEO.
Why I started Great Oak Circle:
In 2011, my husband and I adopted the sweetest baby boy God ever created. We believe James’ words about care for orphans, and we know God has called ALL BELIEVERS to this blessing in one way or another. You can learn a little more about my commitment to adoption here. I’ve been blogging for years, but started designing for my friends and family, and more friends, and friends of friends, until I realized God was blessing our family and my desire to stay home with Levi through GOC. I dedicate my life and work to His glory, and I’m so thankful for the blessing that this biz has been to all of us!
What I believe:
I could not let you go without telling you that I breath each day to serve my Creator. I love the Lord and would love to tell you why. He has given me so many things, but above all He has given me forgiveness…and grace…and love…and peace…ok I can’t just pick one! But what God has truly given me is Himself, the only thing I really need.
{photo by Rebecca Long Photography}
