Prayer request

Well I apologize for my last post, as I'm sure many of you (or rather, both of you) thought it was incredibly corny. Anyway this post is something much more serious and I really need prayers about it. The particular person I had this conversation with, I am confident would not mind me revealing his name, however since I did not ask for his permission to do so before posting this I will hide his IM and replace it with the lovely word "Anonymous." I emailed this conversation to a few people, and then thought, this is something I cant just email, I need to post it to everyone. Although I am rather ashamed about some of it, I really need these prayers from everyone. Well I'm still in doubts about this (like some others) post and whether or not I should be posting it on my blog, so if anyone feels as though it should not be posted please IM me or email me at joe444477@hotmail.com and let me know and I will remove it ASAP.


joe444477: i received some pretty upsetting news this weekend that i'd like to ask u for a prayer request for
[Anonymous]: okay
[Anonymous]: what's the news?
joe444477: my cousin is in jail right now, awaiting trial for "unintentional manslaughter"
joe444477: (thats a felony charge, btw)
joe444477: actually i dont think its "unintentional" but nonetheless it is officially manslaughter
[Anonymous]: wow
[Anonymous]: I will be praying
joe444477: he was drinking and driving, with his g/f, and his friend and his friend's g/f. he got into a wreck, both the girls were ok, but his friend was killed
[Anonymous]: that's too bad
[Anonymous]: Although I hope he gets punished, I'll be praying that the Lord will change his heart
joe444477: yea, i think he deserves a good 5-10 years at least, and some serious counseling, or maybe this is a time for him to find God in his life, maybe he needs revival
[Anonymous]: yep
joe444477: me too, i havent seen this cousin in about 2 years
joe444477: he lives in Jacksonville, FL
joe444477: we'll theres sort of some more bad news too
joe444477: my grandfather is in VERY poor health, and has been on oxygen for about 5 years now
[Anonymous]: I'll pray for them both
joe444477: my uncle got into an argument with him this weekend, and stormed out of their house. i think from the pressure of the argument, when my grandfather stood up to get into his wheelchair, my mother and grandmother noticed his oxygen level was at 59 (which is unconcious level), he was still concious, but had he passed out, that would have been his life
[Anonymous]: wow
joe444477: my mom and grandmother were worried to death right then that night, they were holding him and try to relax him, this was taking place all at about the time we were at Collierville on Sat. night
[Anonymous]: Does he live in FL, also?
joe444477: no, this was in Florence, AL
joe444477: both of these people are on my mom's side of the family, we're not going to tell my grandfather about the situation with my cousin getting arrested, for fear of what might happen, after that episode this weekend
[Anonymous]: I can imagine
joe444477: i'm very concerned about some of my family on my mom's side, a lot of them are well... very wordly, a lot of them dont even believe in God, and those who do are a different denomination, none of them are P.B.s
joe444477: i pray for them so much
joe444477: this has just been very stressful, along the situation between me and ***** that i'm sure u know all about by now
[Anonymous]: Well, trust in the Lord
[Anonymous]: and he will see you through
joe444477: i am, its hard, by i am giving it every effort i can managae
joe444477: manage*
joe444477: i need prayers though


I couldnt think of the word during this conversation, but the charge on my cousin is "involuntary manslaughter." So anyway I'm sure nobody that reads this knows my grandfather, but if for some strange coincidence you run into him, PLEASE DO NOT SHOW HIM THIS CONVERSATION!!!!

This whole situation has been very stressful for my mom especially, she definently needs prayers as much as anybody mentioned here. Thanks.

God Bless,
Joe

ECU/Memphis game

Well this weekend was a rather interesting one. On Saturday I went to the East Carolina/Memphis game with Andrew and Na-will (I guess thats his official nickname...). Well we got there an hour before the game and sat down at the very bottom of the student section, about 3 seats over from David Tombs (the big guy at all the football and basketball games, that takes off his shirt everytime the Tigers score a TD). And of course we sat right in front of some really obnoxious students (whom I can safely assume were drunk for pretty much the entire first half). They were talking about women in a very perverted way, it sort of brought me back to my high school days. They were even yelling stuff at the U of M baton twirler Jessica Wade (whom I dont know personally, but went to my HS, and was in my ENGL 2201 class both times we took it, lol) when she walked down the stairs in front of us onto the field. So the game went well in the first half thanks to some powerful Moffense for the U of M, with our big 3 runners, Mo, DeAngelo, and Joe (Doss). We were up 17-0 at halftime. But then ECU came back in the 3rd quarter, and Memphis barely hung on after some scrappy play in the 4th to win 27-24. So now we're 4-3 and possibly bowl bound, if we can win just 3 more (well 2 to be eligible, but 3 to be realistically there).

Anyway outside of football, I've been thinking of what possible nicknames could be, or have been, used for me (like TBone and Nawill). The two finalists appear to be OJ or JT. If anyone has any suggestions which one they think is cool for me, or one that is not either of those 2, please comment what you think. Or if you think its stupid that I even have a nickname at all, thats cool, just mention that in your comment, thanks.

God Bless,
(whomever I am to be referred to as)

Cincinnati meeting

The Cincinnati meeting was a real blessing. I didnt really know many people there, so I pretty much hung out with David Freeman most of the time. We got to know each other a lot better, and he is becoming a very close friend in my life and I am so blessed that we were able to share the time that we did at the meeting. I met his sisters and his family, and he introduced me to some other people. It was great meeting everybody. And I want to thank Brother Pierre and Sister Chrissy Collet and their beautiful family for letting me stay in their lovely house. They were all very warm and welcoming to me and I cant say enough about how humble I felt by how wonderful they were to me. Everyone at Cincinnati were so friendly, God has really blessed their church so much. Hopefully I will be able to make the trip up there again next spring during their meeting.

God Bless,
Joe

Business of Hospitality class

Well, I guess I'll start this out talking about my weekend and then get into my unusually interesting Business of Hospitality class this evening. This weekend I went to Alabama as I do often these days, to visit my grandfather who is getting worse and worse off health-wise. I'm just praying he makes it another month. I really don't know if I'll ever see him again, but I really praying for him and my grandmother, and my mom, and just pretty much everyone that knows him, loves him, and is trying their best to take care of him. My dad came from Nashville where he was on a business trip, and me and my mom came Friday afternoon, so we had 2 cars down there. My mom and dad were planning to stay until Monday, and I had class Monday morning so I had to come back Sunday afternoon. So I drove my car back the entire 3 hour-drive home, passing the Poe's new home on the way (I didnt actually go by it, but I went through Walnut, MS on 72). I came home to an empty house, with 2 newspapers in the driveway, and mail in the mailbox on a Sunday evening. And my cat pretty much paid attention to me the entire evening, I think she was craving attention and I was the only one present to give it to her.

So anyway, next day. Monday was an interesting day today. Usually I have 2 morning classes, then about 6 hours to go to the library and study and keep up with reading in all my classes, and then my night class, Business of Hospitality, in the Holiday Inn just north of campus. However, after my 2 morning classes today I went to pick up my new glasses, and then went to Oak Court Mall to walk around to kill time, I went to Aeropostale but cannot mention what I bought (Christmas present...). Then I went to work from 1-5pm, because of a shift I previously picked up. At work I had the pleasure of seeing Rebekah Guess (whom had left her cellphone in the lab), and Andrew B. After work my Business of Hospitality class did not meet in the hotel, instead we were to meet in the FedEx Forum downtown (home of the Memphis Grizzlies). So I drove there and parked in the parking garage next to the FedEx Forum (which was free, thanks to my teacher), and walked to the front of the building. Once meeting up with my class, we took a guided tour through the building, and all the back rooms and everything, and trust me it was much more impressive than just the areas most people see through walking around the lower-level corridor. The club level was absolutely beautiful!!! There was a huge restaurant in the cooridor, with dim-lit lights, and we even walked into the arena part to see plates and glasses layed out at the seats where people there could eat while watching the game (those were $350 seats). Well anyway we toured everything from the terrace level all the way to the ground level to the visitor's locker room (we couldnt tour the Grizzlie's locker room due to training camp). The tour lasted about 2 hours, longer than the normal hour and a half of class. After we all left, I went and parked at a meter off of Union and Riverside Drive (meters are free on weekends and after 6pm on weekdays) and walked up to Peabody Place Mall. I just walked around for the most part. All I bought was some chocolate covered marshmellows at the Chocolate Shop.

Well that about concludes the interesting part of my day. I have nothing more left to say (well thats interesting). So I will leave yall with pictures of my lovely unnamed cat.

Yesterday

(Keep in mind before you read this that I broke my pair of glasses right before leaving for Jackson on Saturday. And they are currently held together by tape)

Well yesterday I did stuff besides school, work, and study so I think I'll talk about it. Well first I went to my morning classes. And then I went to the Library as I usually do between my big gap in between classes, to study. But then my dad called and had me setup for an eye appointment in the early afternoon. So I read a chapter of Marketing, and didnt have time for much else. Then I drove to some vision place on Mt. Moriah in between Park and Poplar. I went in, filled out forms, waited, they called my name and I went and got that fun puff-of-air-in-the-eyes. Then the doctor came and did a bunch of tests and stuff with my vision, and after that I went to go pick out a pair of glasses. Then my mom came in and helped me pick out a nice pair. After that I had about 2 hours until my night class so I asked my mom if she wanted to go to Oak Court Mall and get something to eat, and shop for a birthday present for dad. She had nothing to do, because she took off work early, so she said yes. We went to Oak Court and ate some Chinese food for Suncher (Lunch-Supper, it was about 3:40pm in the afternoon). And then went to Aeropostale, and found a nice shirt but couldnt make up our minds to get it for my dad for his birthday. So we went to Gap, and didnt get anything for my dad there, but I just had to pick out 2 shirts that I liked and bought them. One was a button-down green long-sleeve shirt, the other was a button-down Purple-striped shirt with strips of pink and some other colors. So that was pretty much it, as far as my halfway-interesting day.

I cant wait for the Cincinnati meeting in a week and a half. If anybody knows which hotel everybody is staying at, or how to get there, please let me know. I need to make a reservation, or figure out if anyone is staying in the room with me or how it all will work out. I wont be able to make it down there until Friday (the 14th) evening.

Also this weekend I'm going to Alabama (again) to visit my grandparents. My granddad is still in poor health and still slowing declining, I appreciate all the prayers for him.

God Bless,
Joe

This weekend

This weekend me and my parents had a garage sale on Saturday morning. And umm we sold stuff....... because thats what you do in a garage sale. And then we went to Jackson, TN in the evening to meet Grace and her boyfriend (Dustin) for dinner at O'Charleys. We got there a little late though and Grace and Dustin were already seated. So we walked in and walked around the entire restaurant looking for them. We finally found them, sat down and umm ate stuff. And then at the end, we heard all the waiters and waitresses coming around the corner clapping and singing a happy birthday song. I thought they were just coming around to some table in our section, but they come right up to ours and sing to my dad (his birthday is October 6) and they gave us a cake. So after dinner we went out to my car, and Grace gave my dad his birthday present from her (since she wouldnt see him for another 3 weeks) and then we left and headed back to Memphis, and Grace and Dustin left back to UT Martin. So it was a fun Saturday, even though I missed the exciting Memphis win over UTEP. Here's some pictures from Saturday:


Grace and Dustin (isnt that lovely?)














Me and dad. I insisted on doing something while this picture was taken, and the food had not come yet, so my drink was all that I could use. (yea its pink lemonade, so what?)














As you can see the trunk for the lovely red car is partially open. And its parked correctly and perfectly in its space, and not too far out. O and btw I think theres some people in the picture too, Dustin, Grace, Mom, and Dad.

Collierville meeting pictures

Here's some pictures from after the Collierville meeting, at Wendy's.

Lydge, Ryan, and Tyler, are they just the perfect siblings (no fighting).













Hehehe, I caught them off guard leaving Wendy's.