now the sky could be blue..

...i don't mind/but without you it's a waste of time...

the picnic happened!
and i played strawberry swing while eating a delicious ham on wheat sandwich!

peace.love. and. politics.

One week until I leave for Washington D.C.!

It's my first trip to the Capitol, and I'm counting down the days 'til our plane leaves with great anticipation.

Late last semester, I got the opportunity to join the UH Honors College Model Arab League team. As we represent Iraq, I've gotten a chance to learn more about politics and foreign policy in Arab nations. As a member of the Iraqi environmental committee, there has been some interesting finds in my research regarding water problems and energy alternatives for the Middle East. Best of all, it's been helpful in me developing a more global view of politics.


Besides the conference, it will also be fun to tour the capital and hang out with fellow delegates and good friends :))

Tonight, I am attending a dinner with some fellow UH honors students to hear the former Governor of Massachusetts, Mitt Romney, speak on "The World and American Leadership".
I'm so glad to have the opportunity to hear from a potential 2012 presidential candidate. Spring break has given me some free time to do a little research on the 2012 arena for possible presidential candidates. Research is pretty much one of my favorite things to do; it's a little bit of my academic life I can do wherever and whenever!

i need a perfect day

People moving all the time
Inside a perfect straight line
Don't you wanna curve away
It's such it's such a perfect day

So I have declared a need for a picnic. As soon as this drowsy, gray weather blows through, I am going to grab my siblings and some fixings and eat out in the backyard. I'm NOT an outdoorsy person at all, but I want a change of pace and something thing new. Spring Break is a time for new things, right!? I'll bring my laptop and I can play this song by Coldplay.

I honestly am ready for school to start again. I'm not being too productive at home. I enjoy my family and even the chores?? But I like living a more scheduled life :)

paperback writer

Dear Sir or Madam, will you read my book?
It took me years to write, will you take a look?
-the beatles.

pen and paper. two essential communication tools that become more and more obsolete in the age of e-mail, texts, online newspapers, and Amazon's Kindle .

not too long ago a friend and i were discussing the specialness that is a handwritten letter. in a world of computers and type, no longer are our deepest thoughts and sentiments painstakingly written onto a white sheet of paper with pen.
instead, love and war are speedily sent through a facebook message or text message, often times with not much thought or deliberation.

i believe that the speediest form of communication is detrimental in how we treat and react to people and situations. when one must write their feelings on paper, they are required to spend a longer time with content and form...therefore, allowing more time to for the author to review his thoughts and delivery. this then translates into fewer misunderstanding and a stronger bond between writer and reader.

i cannot promise that i will be stamping and mailing you a letter anytime soon, but i hope that when the time comes...i would slow down and give you my best.

swallowed in the sea

And I could write a song/A hundred miles long/Well, that's where I belong/And you belong with me.

So maybe I can't write you a song, a hundred miles long, as the Coldplay song says, but surely I can spend 10 minutes a day typing out an update of life!?

Spring Break seems the perfect way to get back on track.

Hello again Blog World.

college. hello!

So, the day has finally arrived. Me posting? Eh, not that specifically.
No.
The day I move in!

Tomorrow morning I will be moving out of my house and on campus at the University of Houston.

A BIG change, that is slowly hitting me as I clear things out of my room.

I've always been around my family and we spend a lot of time together, so not sure what I'm going to do when they're no longer a stone throw's away.

As I think these things...and figure out things in life, in between each sentence of my thoughts I mentally have to tell myself, "The Lord is good!". And it helps. a lot!

This summer was beautiful in it's own weird way. I don't have the normal summers of many vacations, lazy days by the pool, or even devouring a long book list!

Instead I:
rediscovered my Savior, Jesus at NEXT,
grew closer in several relationships,
found friendships in people I never would have discovered on my own
spent time with people from church, especially women older than me, trying to learn and grow
saw Coldplay in concert!
rode on an helicopter
earned my associates degree
saw two friends marry
earnestly began to think of Law School
read many articles at http://www.boundless.org/
ran the preschool program at my job
struggled to trust God with my life.

It was good, I learned, grew, and am still learning and growing

Now it fall and my life is about to go into full force ahead!
I'm excited about what God is doing in my life and am grateful those events, thoughts and people He uses to do His work in me :)

Now to more things about school:
School begins August 24.
I'm still pursuing a degree in Political Science, if I can keep up my grade point, I hope to graduated with honors!
I am taking 15 hours this semester, my classes include: Spanish, Comparative Politics, Honors World Lit, and a Poly sci class about Liberalism
I am temporarily working at the UH bookstore, just a few hours a week :)
I am living on campus in the Honors housing, though I haven't meet her, my roommate seems really sweet!
One of the best things about going to school in Houston is the ability to continue to attend church with my family! So I'll be there every Sunday, but I'm going to miss caregroups.

Not sure when I'll post again, but I thought I'd put a few thoughts down :)

4th of July pictures

Here are some pictures from the Hern's party, last night!! Loads of fun laughing and watching the wonderful fireworks display!



Chilling out until the fireworks start! Emily, Jessica, Sarah and I:


Taylor and Michael:


Alison and her lovely flag cake!


Allyson and Alison :)

happy birthday, America

Gosh! It's July 4th, already? Not too sure how I feel about this time-flying-by thing!

I hope you have a super-dee-dooper Independence Day and take a minute out of your festivities to remember totally awesome guys like :

George Washington

Thomas Jefferson

Patrick Henry:

Happy Birthday to the Land of the Free and Home of the Brave!

Now off to party at the Hern's!!

mother/daughter tea

Our girl's discipleship group had a mother/daughter tea. It was neat cause not only did we partake of some delightful fellowship and goodies, but we also heard from a wonderful speaker regarding modesty and beauty. Also, we did a couple of activities where we discussed beauty and mother and daughter relationships.


My friends Michelle and Marianna came and showcased their E-Boutique, Bellissima! Everyone enjoyed shopping for beautiful new outfits! Marianna gave a wonderfully presented talk on modesty and beauty.

I personally was blessed by the time with all the mothers and daughters. Many, many thanks to Pam, Melissa, and Claire for the way they serve us in the discipleship group and for putting together the tea!

summertime, and the liven' is easy...

OK, maybe the living isn't easy, but I kinda like that song....

:)

So Orientation was a blast, and I'm all registered for the fall. I'm taking 15 hrs and two of my classes are Political Science!!! I've had to play around with my schedule since, my original class planning, but I think I'm pretty happy with what I have.

Brenda and I flashing the "Go Coogs!" sign at lunch.

Right before Check in!

mj: 1958-2009

orientation

UH orientation is tomorrow!

I'm going with my friend Brenda, here we are at her graduation party.

We had a lovely time celebrating her graduation from Cy-Fair . Brenda, Vanessa (check out the picture below!) and I took a biology class together last fall and we've become great friends.

next pictures!

Allyson put this slideshow together for some of the picture she took at Next:





Enjoy!

where does one begin?

Ok, let me apologize: I was sooo going to update for during the conference...but I accidentally deleted the number that I was suppose to send my text too. :/

So I get to give you a full "after-the-fact" update. Over several days maybe?

I was very blessed by my time at Next. God revealed things to me from messages by Josh Harris, CJ Mahaney, D.A. Carson, Kevin DeYoung, and Sinclair Ferguson. But that wasn't all, through the breakout sessions by Dave Harvey, Jared Mellinger, and Carolyn McCulley...the learning and blessing continued. As I interacted with people at the conference: God revealed my need to rest in HIS plans and revealed sins that I will be looking to be held accountable for.

God was also gracious to deepen my desire for heaven and eternity. I long for the day when Christ will call those he has saved home. I pray that this will further a passion in me for the Lost and that my boldness to declare Christ to those around me would be evident.

No words can describe the feeling that you get when you are around so many strong young brothers and sisters-in-Christ for four days. I can't help but see it as a small taste of how heaven will be.

These are just a few thoughts. I will be posting more in upcoming days. I'll leave you with a few pictures:

More coming soon!

Love, Adrienne Renea

NEXT UPDATE! We just landed in Baltimore! We're riding the light rail to the hotel as I type. I almost walked into a pole and Stephanie and I ran through the airport :)

NEXT UPDATE

Next Countdown: Reilly

Check out this music video from one of the bands, along with Bob Kauflin, that will be leading a session of worship at Next:

Less than two days!

delightful times

Allyson and I hung out this morning with one of our dear friends, Mrs. Yohe. Think Titus 2:3-5 :) She's my second mother and I'm so fortunate to fellowship with her through church and our caregroup!

The ladies hit the spa!

Thank you, Mrs. Yohe for a lovely time!!

NEXT Countdown: Sinclair Ferguson

Wonderful clip from one of the speakers at Next, Sinclair Ferguson.

He relates how, " God counts to us the righteousness of Jesus Christ".

(HT: Josh Harris)

and the beat goes on

I like bullet points so here it goes:

• God was gracious and I finished this semester with all A's!! He is very good :)




• Summer school will start in a week or so and I will be taking a computer class and world literature(yay!) class. I'm not looking forward to the computer one, but world lit should prove to be interesting :)




• My little brother graduated!!! Check it out at Allyson's blog! Congratulations, Chris!




• Chris and I will be going to the University of Houston this fall! He in Engineering(Chemical, I believe?) and I will be getting my Political Science degree!




• I think you should go check out Allyson's blog. She has become quite the photographer!




• Work is going well, I am now working with Junior Kumon, which is another department of Kumon that works with preschoolers through I love it! It's a challenge working with some of the more rambunctious ones, but one that I enjoy. I can't wait to have my own kids to teach :) I am sad that I will not be able to continue into the fall, but I've loved (almost) every moment there :)



• The family has been gardening!! They've got some squash, peppers, tomatoes and a host of other yummy stuff out there!



• In three days, Allyson and I are leaving for Next! I will be updating my blog from my phone :) So check back for updates! Pray that God would do a mighty work there!!

That's all for now! I'll be back soon! :)