Breana Crist – Bio & Blog

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Where were you born and raised? I was born in Overlake Hospital in Bellevue, Washington on October 15, 1987. I was the baldest baby born that day. I lived in DuVall, Washington until I was almost five years old. We lived in a little yellow trailer. The entrance to the trailer park was a steep hill and I remember my dad would pull my red wagon up to the top and we would both speed down the hill in it together. I also remember that the first time I ever watched the show “Saved By the Bell” was across the street at my neighbor, Shannon’s house. The summer before my fifth birthday we moved into a three story house in Bothell, Washington. This is where all of my childhood memories (save for the wagon rides) took place. I loved that house and my schools and my neighbors and the spontaneous trips to 7-11 to buy loads of candy. I was a kid there and I had a blast. Then, in the summer of 2004 my family and I moved across the country, away from civilization as I knew it, to Maynardville, Tennessee. I’ll be honest, for the first year and a half or so I hated it. However, now there is no place I would rather live than in East Tennessee. And I can say that because I’ve seen most of the country J

 

Tell us about your family- I have a dad. His name is Richard but most people call him Rich or Richie. I call him Fajh. We are very close. Sometimes we get really mad at each other but somehow we always manage to apologize, talk it out and move on. My dad is a great leader and I am very proud of him.

 

I also have a mom whose name is Lisa. Most people call her Lisa. She is an absolutely incredible cook. She also gives good advice. She talked me through many a childhood problem as I was growing up and to this day I still ask her how to handle some tough situations. My mom is also a very loyal person, just make sure you don’t say anything bad about her family or you’re gonna get it.

 

My younger sister, but not youngest, is Jackie or Jac or sometimes Nacky Noo. She is my best friend. When we were little I was really mean to her. Sorry Jac. But after we moved to Tennessee and we realized we didn’t have or know anyone else we became incredibly close. We’re actually twins it’s just that she was born 24 months after me.

 

My youngest sister is Valerie. Valerie can make anything. This Christmas she made fabric dolls (without a pattern or any instructions) for our girl cousins and they were beautiful. She is also an incredible artist. Jackie and I often complain that Mom and Dad saved all the good genes for Val. But more than her creativity Valerie is a beautiful example of what it means to be a Christian. I’m blown away by her unshakeable faith and her ability to see the good in awful situations. She may be my baby sister but I look up to her.

 

What are your favorite places to eat on the road? I was raised in a family where, rather than eating Mac’n’Cheese on the nights we didn’t want to cook, we would eat burritos. So, needless to say, my favorite restaurants on the road are for the most part, Mexican. I also enjoy eating at little family owned restaurants or non-chain restaurants that are recommended by the locals of wherever we happen to be that weekend. I think that’s one of the really neat things about travelling. We get to go to some really awesome places that a lot of people will never experience.

 

What are your interest/hobbies? Things I love doing include hiking, swimming, wakeboarding, playing volleyball, reading, some scrapbooking, going to downtown Knoxville, spending time with my perfect boyfriend!, video games and playing with my Great Dane, Coraline.

 

What is your personal Testimony? I was raised in a Christian home and we attended church regularly. I also went to a private Christian school until my 7th grade year. Though I knew what being a Christian was about my faith did not become my own, rather it was just to keep up with appearances. Near the end of my 8th grade year I began to seek out what the world had to offer and began a life of secrecy dabbling in drugs and drinking alcohol with my friends. In 2004 my family felt called to enter into full-time music ministry and God led us to Tennessee. My double life continued until October of that year when one night God revealed to me my hypocrisy and need to really place my trust and life in His hands. I surrendered my life to Him and asked that He help me live for Him from that day forward. From that day on God has taught me that Christianity is about having a personal relationship with Christ. When my relationship with God is right I know that everything else will fall into place.

 

What is your musical history? I grew up around music and would travel with the Crist Family Singers when they did the part-time singing ministry in Washington State. I remember at the end of the concerts the four of us kids (Jackie, me, and my two cousins who traveled with us at the time) would run up on stage and hold hands with our parents or Aunt Meme (Tami Crist Starkel) and sing the last song with them. I also sang in school choirs from 2^nd grade to 8^th grade. Oh and I played a mean clarinet in 5^th grade… you’ve never heard Jingle Bells sound that good.

 

What are your future ambitions? I believe God has called me to a life of full-time ministry and I’m excited to see what new doors He opens in that area of my life. I have a strong desire to work with youth and I believe one day God will work that out as well. I am going to college through Liberty University Online and I have really enjoyed doing that. I have two more classes before I receive my Associate of Arts in Religion. I will probably pursue a Bachelor’s degree but I don’t want to do it just to have a piece of paper. I will just pray that God leads me to the classes He would have me take. I hope to one day (maybe soon) to be married and have a family. I’d like four or five kids! I would also like to learn to sew really really really well and then sell super cute and modest clothing online.