Sunday, December 23, 2007

White Christmas



We had a bit of a blizard in Kansas yesterday. It finally stopped snowing and blowing and I went out to see how deep it really was. We started the digging out process and my back hurts from all the shoveling. Fun times!

Friday, December 21, 2007

it's Christmas time in the city

Decorating the tree!! We ran out of working white lights for the tree close to the top; Rene and I had to go on a mission to find more and were able to recover the last box of plain white Christmas lights (of the more than 20 per strand variety) in all of Wal-Mart. YaY for adventures! ^_^

Thursday, December 13, 2007

done, done, done, Done, DONE

I am officially done with the fall semester of my Sophomore year at LeTouneau University. I am SO ready to be DONE! Praise the Lord I'm still alive. It's really been a killer semester, but God is so good. I really think it's impossible for us to comprhend His awesome goodness. Now, I can go home and SLEEP! Yay.

1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the defense of my life; Whom shall I dread?
2 When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh,
My adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell.
3 Though a host encamp against me, My heart will not fear;
Though war arise against me, In spite of this I shall be confident.
4 One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the LORD And to meditate in His temple.
5 For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle;
In the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock.
6 And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me,
And I will offer in His tent sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD.
7
Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice,
And be gracious to me and answer me.
8 When You said, " Seek My face," my heart said to You,
"Your face, O LORD, I shall seek."
9 Do not hide Your face from me,
Do not turn Your servant away in anger;
You have been my help;
Do not abandon me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation!
10 For my father and my mother have forsaken me,
But the LORD will take me up.
11 Teach me Your way, O LORD,
And lead me in a level path Because of my foes.
12 Do not deliver me over to the desire of my adversaries,
For false witnesses have risen against me,
And such as breathe out violence.
13 I would have despaired
unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD
In the land of the living.
14 Wait for the LORD;
Be strong and let your heart take courage;
Yes, wait for the LORD
Ok, so kind of long, but God deseves a lot of praise for how He's held me this semester!
Merry Chrismas All!!!
~Rene

Friday, November 30, 2007

I have the greatest roommates!

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Drugs.

"Taste Thai... Get High."
recent observation made upon opening the envelope in the Thai noodle package that contained white powder of unknown origins. Upon closer observation, Laura proclaimed the substance to be coconut milk powder so our hopes of euphoric homework sessions were dashed.

Saturday, November 24, 2007

Snow in Kansas!

YAY!!!! We got to have snow! God has blessed us far beyond again!! Isn't our God wonderful!?!

Saturday, November 17, 2007

Concerning Psychology

LF -- “It’s all relative to the chemicals in your head.”

RT -- “No, actually it’s relative to the chemicals in the professors head.”

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Quote from Andy

"That was the most frightening moment of my life!!..........the attack of the lipstick."

Saturday, November 3, 2007

Flower again



Here is a close up picture of the flower....maybe I just don't know enough about recognizing flowers. I do appreciate the feedback from those of you who want to help. ^_^

Saturday, October 27, 2007

Can anyone identify this plant? It grows in my backyard in NC, but we have no idea what it is.

Sunday, October 14, 2007

Longing....


I very much enjoy mission reports. Today, Bolt and Fjord gave a report on their trip this summer to Cameroon. I couldn't help coming back to my room and looking at pictures from Swaziland. I so long to return....
In a way, reflecting is distracting from all the homework I should be working on, but at the same time, hearing how much having an education to share can help further God's kingdom and seeing faces of those I have personally met to whom I could be used in their lives for God's purpose, gives me a great deal of motivation to keep working. A goal to strive for makes college have purpose; to give God glory and further His kingdom. God has put me here in preparation for something, and I can't hardly stand waiting. By God's grace, my life has a direction, and by the same marvelous grace, I follow in faith, not knowing where I am going. God is so patient! God is so gracious!

Monday, October 8, 2007

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weakness, in insults, in hardships, in persecution, in difficulties. For when I an weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Thursday, October 4, 2007

Bible classes

Did you know, God always makes excellent grades on Bible test?? Our weakness shows up when the pencil doesn't write quick enough to get all the information down before moving on to the next question. So, basically....God has been taking my test for me. I know I can't remember everything I need to...it's a fact, yet somehow, when I go into a test, the answers (not all of them granted) come flooding in so fast I stumble terribly trying to keep up.
God is making it very obvious that I'm supposed to be at LeTourneau. YAY!!!

Friday, September 28, 2007

Living by Faith and Caffeine

So I went to bed an hour ago, yet here I am. There comes a point in life where you find it is not worth moving on. The fine line between life and insanity has been long crossed. Madness has taken over and the brain has stopped making it's electrical connections. When you lay down and immediately lose feeling in your body yet your brain won't shut up, this is insanity. All you need is sleep because you have gone to bed before the sun comes up and woken up before the same sun comes up and expect to feel rested and refreshed. Those few hours between the rising sun are a daze and your not sure if you are asleep or awake.

But through it all I can still smile because God is faithful. Everyday I find myself alive by His grace. This week I feel like a tree in the middle of a great drought. I am dry and dying but I know that the Great Gardener loves me and will not let me die. He will bring the rain in his timing. When I have nothing left to offer and can only lay face down. I find just enough strength to lift my head and cry out to God "Help." I can feel him reach down, pick me up, and set me on my feet once again and say "I love you and have called you to this. You can't do it on your own but I know everything you need and will provide it for you when you need it." When I am weak He is Strong.

Now that I have written this out, which may not make any logical sense at this time, maybe I will attempt once more to get the sleep I so desperately need and awake tomorrow knowing that God has given me another day and I will live it to the fullest, praising Him.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10
Living by Faith and Caffeine

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

LSM Chapel


So, did anyone besides me, really like chapel today? Ghillie, Copper, and Frizbee, y'all are great! Thank you for letting God speak and work through you!!! ^_^ Micheal DeGroat's message today was also a blessing and definitely something we need to be reminded of often. I can't help rejoicing in how much God has blessed this campus and how many men and women here are sincerely seeking God and letting Him use them. Praise God for all His wonders!!!

Saturday, September 8, 2007

Work!

So, basically....I love work!!! Over working myself is bad, granted, but I love the blessing of work anyway.

Thursday, August 30, 2007

Are we sane? You decide...

Here's a conversation we had yesterday in our suite:

Andy (doing statics homework): let's see... alpha? what variable am i using?
Laura: how about epsilon?
Andy continues to do homework
Laura: do you ever use epsilon?
Andy: well, i suppose if you have that many variables, you should just commit suicide.
(Andy, Laura, and Rene laugh histerically)
Andy: i'm sorry guys, i'm really not suicidal
Laura: that's good. because if you are, i'm supposed to be helping you, and i'm just laughing!
(all continue laughing histerically)

It is going to be an interesting semester to say the least.

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Spare time is our dream date!
-- Kelsey

Monday, August 27, 2007

Summer... Sigh

East to West - Casting Crowns

Here I am Lord and I'm drowing
In your sea of forgetfulness
The chains of yesterday surround me
I yearn for peace and rest
I don't want to end up where you found me
And it echoes in my mind
Keeps me awake tonight

I know you've cast my sins as far
As the East is from the West
And I stand before you now as
As though I've never sinned but today
I feel like I'm just one mistake away
From you leaving me this way

Jesus can you show me
Just how far the East is from the West
Cause I can't bear to see the man I've been
Come rising up in me again
In the arms of your mercy I find rest
Cause you know just how far the East is from the West
From one scarred hand to the other

I start the day the war begins
And less reminding of my sin
Time and time again
Your truth Is drowned out by the storm I'm in
Today I feel like I'm just one mistake away
From you leaving me this way

Jesus can you show me
Just how far the East is from the West
Cause I can't bear to see the man I've been
Come rising up in me again
In the arms of your mercy I find rest
Cause you know just how far the East is from the West
From one scarred hand to the other

I know you've washed me white
Turned my darkness into light
I need your peace to get me trough
To get trough this night
I can't live by what I feel
But by the truth your word reveals
I'm not holding on to you
But your holding on to me
Your holding on to me

Jesus, you know just how far
The East is from the West
I don't have to see the man I've been
Rising up in me again
In the arms of your mercy I find rest
Cause you know just how far the East is from the West
From one scarred hand to the other

This is my 2007 Summer Song. God usually gives me a song that really sums up my summer. This song was exactly what I needed this summer. I felt like the italicized lines about every third day this summer. The bold lines are what God taught me. A lot of grace. A lot of mercy.

So now I'm at school... ready for a new adventure I suppose. Am I ready? Only God knows.

Dear Lord, I can only pray that You hold me tightly as I strive to please You. I've learned this summer that I am... well, an ugly sinner, and am unable to please You by myself; but I've also learned that You're bigger than anything that I do and are able to be pleased with the wayward child You've created. Thank You for being wonderful. You make everything ok... really

-Amen

Friday, August 24, 2007

Where are the Beds?

Suite D now has the Power! Coming this fall....suite D has a power suite sandwiched right in the middle of things. Andy, Kelsey, Rene, and I are roomies. Four desk in the big corner room and four beds in the other. (that wasn't a complete sentence.....oh well) So, this silly sophomore girl will now get the brand new experience of living in very direct, close quarters with three other sophomore girls. Perhaps, I have mentioned before the bit about my having four brothers and no sisters. I know this new challenge will be a splendid adventure! However, I would not be adverse to the company of reasonably well breed and behaved guys coming to visit during open dorm hours........just so I am not smothered by all the femaleness.
Seriously though, I am looking forward to sharing my next two semesters at LeTourneau with three of my beautiful, encouraging, hard-working sisters in Christ. God has truly blessed me.

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Summer Update

Hey everybody! Guess what! I didn't fall off the face of the earth! I am finally back home from camp and have internet once more. I really want to thank everyone that was praying for me this summer. I saw over 14 people give their lives to Christ this summer. Even we hadn't seen any response it would have been worth every minute knowing that we were bringing God glory.
I would love to say that I enjoyed every minute of this summer but I have to confess that there were days when I didn't want to wake up and run a day of camp. There were times when I struggled with a bad attitude. When I get tired and hot, it gets much harder to be motivated to passionatly minister to middle school and high school students.
Looking back I had an exellent summer. I wouldn't have missed a day of it. I have so many stories to tell about how God worked this summer in my life and in the ministries I was involved in.

Friday, July 27, 2007

Two is Better Than One

I couldn't just leave one lonely post all by itself for the month.....
Daffodils in our front yard last March.

Sunday, July 22, 2007

Less than a Month....


So, I was the only one to post in June and appears I shall be the only one in July as well.......oh well.

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Strolling on....


So, summer continues on....
Nothing terribly exciting to report, I just thought another post would be nice.
The picture is of the sunset over the Tennessee River in Knoxville, looking down from Cherokee Bluff where my aunt and uncle live. Hope everyone is having a splendid summer!

Tuesday, June 5, 2007

Crazyness at Home


Question......
Am I the only one who has crazy siblings?
This is my youngest brother, Philip.

Saturday, May 19, 2007

Large Ridiculousness

Okay, so....
I just got back a little while ago from working in the kitchen for a large wedding reception. Next week, I will be working for an even more huge one. I'm talking around 250 people today and planning for about 350 to 400 next week. This is just the receptions!
So just for the record, large weddings are completely ridiculous and extravagance is pointless. Now, don't misunderstand me: weddings are wonderful and wanting to share the joy of the occasion is good, usually, but often they are far too over done and well, plain ridiculously impractical. For those who don't know me very well, I might as well just tell you: I'm extremely practically minded. I get in trouble for it many times. Honestly, if you have so many guest that once you finish greeting it is time for people to start the farewells, I believe that would be an excellent indicator there are way too many. After all, isn't the whole wedding stuff and thereafter supposed to be about the bride and groom, not the guest feeling comfortable and included?
But what do I know? I've never planned a wedding.
So, what do y'all think? Is it more important to include everyone and make it large or focus on the couple and invite just the close friends and family? How would you determine a good balance?

Sunday, May 6, 2007

Summer


So the summer has officially started and I am home. Although I came back home to thunderstorm after thunderstorm. May family and I are fine but keep Greensburg in your prayers. A tornado tore through this town and it has ceased to exist at this point. I went to camp this weekend for a Peru retreat but I was late getting there because of weather. I was delayed getting out of Longview on Friday which in turn delayed everything else. When I did get to the retreat, I greatly enjoyed seeing my team again and continuing to unite with them as we prepare to travel and minister together. We did pack up camp early because of weather again but it was still a encouraging trip.

Tuesday, May 1, 2007

And God is Still Good

all the time...

Sunday, April 29, 2007

Psalm 30:1-5

I will extol You, O Lord, for You have lifted me up,
And have not let my enemies rejoice over me.
O Lord my God,
I cried to You for help, and You healed me.
O Lord, You have brought up my soul from Sheol;
You have kept me alive, that I would not go down to the pit.
Sing praise too the Lord, you His godly ones,
And give thanks to His holy name.
For His anger is but for a moment,
His favor for a lifetime;
Weeping may last for the night,
But a shout of joy comes in the morning.

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

There is a light...

It's Wednesday... Wednesday... almost there. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: anything that gets done this week is all God's doing. On Sunday, I did not even have enough energy to stand in Church during worship. Since then I have taken three tests; I got an A on one, and I believe I got As on the other two. I'm also nearly done with all of my duties for ACL. Miracles, I tell you; I had nothing to do with it. I'm believing God for a few more miracles this week and next... Just wanted to give Jesus a little praise. Yay for Jesus.

~Rene

Saturday, April 21, 2007



When is this school going to stop winding me up and let me start unwinding. I think I might explode.

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Two Weeks...


It's so hard to believe....we have a little more than two weeks before we have to travel back to the other world, commonly known as home. Yes, my home is geographically more beautiful than Longview, Texas, however, I rather like living here with all my new found friends and family. Readjusting will be an interesting challenge. When I left home in August I had still not readjusted from being in Swaziland; going back now will be even more odd...
I know I've changed. I also know my family has changed without me. My family and I have finally begun to diverge paths, but they still expect me to be just like I was before. If anyone is reading this I ask that you might take a minute sometime today (whatever day it is when you read this) to pray for all the college students and their changed relationships with those back home, wherever that is for them.

Wednesday, March 28, 2007

Something about You

Where do I begin?
How do I say what's on my heart with paper and a pen?
How can I describe
The God of all the universe and make it right?
I just wonder if it's worth
Painting You with so few words,
With so few words.

Why do I even try?
If I could speak the tongue of every man, I'd be still tonge-tied.
What can I say about you
When all I have won't do,
It it will not do?

As long as life runs through my veins
I will live to praise your name,
But if a hundred years I live
I won't even scratch the surface!

Still, there's something about You
That keeps me in persuet of who You are,
And I will spend my days finding ways to praise
the glory and the grace of who You are.

~"Something about You" Mercy Me

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

And Spring Break is Over

Sleep, good food, rest, relaxation, hanging out, talking, playing games, watching movies, and not feeling guilty about doing any of it because you don't have to get anything else don that day. Breaks really do spoil me fast. I almost think it would be better for me not to have any breaks longer than a 3 day weekend straight through until I'm finished with college. We would be done quicker and the trying to come back problem simply wouldn't exist. Of course if I could have a three day weekend every week to keep myself caught up, would be wonderful. Oh well......
Real life. We are always doing things that are fun or feel good at the time, why don't we ever think and plan ahead enough to avoid problems such as not having our homework done after an extra week to do it? Crazy people we are. Sometimes though, we do have a sufficiently reasonable excuse for not looking ahead. Example: when you are a Christian and you have no idea what direction God wants you to take. I've had this trouble before and even somewhat now to a slightly lesser degree. It can be so frustrating. The word "Why" keeps festering in my mind. Bother that old word!

Friday, March 9, 2007

My Great God

It is SO spring break. I can not express how incredibly relieved I am that I don't have to think about school for a week. One week... man, I'm excited!! This week was so long though. Wow. I can honestly say that I know that I wouldn't have made it through this week with out my great God.

The beginning of this week was so brutal. On Monday morning, I knew that I had one test scheduled for Wednesday. Throughout the course of the day, I learned that I had another test, two quizzes and an ACL run all scheduled for Wednesday. The ACL run did not only mean that I had something else to do on Wednesday, but it meant that I had to do prep work on Tuesday which really cut into my test/quiz studying time. On Tuesday, I had classes and meetings planned from 8:15am-9:45pm. However, God is amazing, and a few of my meetings got cut short so that I was able finish all of my necessary homework for the day. Wednesday... was amazing. First, God gave me flowers (aka those white trees that bloomed in like 3 hours flat). After that, I was less and less prepared for each successive test/quiz I took. My first test was fine because I studied enough for it. My second test was fine because it was easier than I expected. My first quiz, which I could have potentially failed, was fine because Mrs. Rispin gave us a word bank (she never does that). My last quiz, which I went into cold, was fine because it was Calc. After that, the ACL run wasn't bad. Our machinery actually all worked for once, and I was only there for three and a half hours (as opposed to the six and a half that I was dreading it would take).

Like I said, God absolutely got me through this week. I would just like to take this small portion of your computer screen to praise His amazing Name.
Yay for Jesus!

Negation Field


From Rene who got this in an e-mail from the big man Dr. G himself!
Quite ironic, we think.

Thursday, March 8, 2007

Just Another Friday

Tomorrow is the last day before Spring Break! I don't think I have ever looked forward to a break like I have to this one. It's pretty amazing actually. I can't wait to sleep when I want and how much I want for more than one day in a row. I of course will have stuff I have to do, but for most of the time I'll get to hang out with friends, read a book of my choice, and SLEEP!! You know I find it rather interesting how college reduces the seemingly intelligent student into the equivalent of a caveman; we long for and hunt down good food, more sleep, and company to talk to. We are being forced to stuff tons of facts, complicated processes, and analysis strategies into our heads and develop new skills all at the same time that we are struggling to satisfy our most basic needs of food and sleep.
Yes, I am turning into an animal who lives everyday under self-inflicted stress. I think the tarsier's reaction to life fits well with how I've been feeling recently, not to mention how most all the other college students around me have been feeling as well.

Okay, Andy, Rene, now one of you needs to post something up lifting.........

Sunday, March 4, 2007

My grace is sufficient for thee

"My grace is sufficient for thee."2 Corinthians 12:9
If none of God's saints were poor and tried, we should not know half so well the consolations of divine grace. When we find the wanderer who has not where to lay his head, who yet can say, "Still will I trust in the or, when we see the pauper starving on bread and water, who still glories in Jesus; when we see the bereaved widow overwhelmed in affliction, and yet having faith in Christ, oh! what honour it reflects on the gospel. God's grace is illustrated and magnified in the poverty and trials of believers. Saints bear up under every discouragement, believing that all things work together for their good, and that out of apparent evils a real blessing shall ultimately spring--that their God will either work a deliverance for them speedily, or most assuredly support them in the trouble, as long as He is pleased to keep them in it. This patience of the saints proves the power of divine grace. There is a lighthouse out at sea: it is a calm night--I cannot tell whether the edifice is firm; the tempest must rage about it, and then I shall know whether it will stand. So with the Spirit's work: if it were not on many occasions surrounded with tempestuous waters, we should not know that it was true and strong; if the winds did not blow upon it, we should not know how firm and secure it was. The master-works of God are those men who stand in the midst of difficulties, stedfast, unmoveable,--
"Calm mid the bewildering cry,Confident of victory."
He who would glorify his God must set his account upon meeting with many trials. No man can be illustrious before the Lord unless his conflicts be many. If then, yours be a much-tried path, rejoice in it, because you will the better show forth the all-sufficient grace of God. As for His failing you, never dream of it--hate the thought. The God who has been sufficient until now, should be trusted to the end.

-Spurgeon's Daily Devotional

Friday, March 2, 2007

Home of the Tarsiers

"When caged some tarsiers have been known to injure and even kill themselves because of stress." -- Singapore Zoological Gardens Docents