Meningitis, oh my!

Ok so that's not all chapel was about today, but it has got to be topic of the day!

So today some I.T. guy gets up, gives a schpeal about the new technology we are getting so that we can register online next semester! Awesome right? Well, next thing I know, some man in a lab coat jumps on stage after the presentation and grabs hold of the microphone.

"Ok ya'll, listen up. We have a nation-wide epedimic sweeping across every campus." Thats right, meningitis. What is it? Well he didn't get into ALL that, but according internet research, the physical symptoms are rashes on the body(that appearantly do not turn white while pressing them!!)

Other symptoms? Vomiting, headache Drowsiness, High Temperatures, Joint Aching/Pain, Stiff Neck, Dislike of Light, (In children?--> high pitched moaning, dislike of being handled, aching back, blank staring, difficult to wake up, fever, cold hands/feet, refusing to feed, pale/blotchy. --- I don't know 'bout ya'll, but this is what I'm like when I wake up every morning.

So, most hysterical, I'm listening to guy say "...so this girl went on Spring Break, and the next day SHE'S DEAD!" (propaganda against 'spring-breaking'...much?) Then without missing a beat, I hear "hey,...dad. Did I get a meningitis shot?" I look over at my hunched over chapel-mate trying not to get caught talking on his cell phone while he makes a desperate plea to his father. "No dad, for real, did I get the shot? No? ok well i need to get one. No, I don't have it, but this guy says there's an epedimic and it's important I do...ok,... bye." Again, without missing a beat, the doctor guy announces "oh...and the shot is $70." The guy who just panicked to his Father made this hysterical face and shouted "SSHHHYEAH!! Ya'll can FORGET THAT!!!" Ya'll, everyone was picking me up off the floor. It's like church, once you start laughing, it only gets worse!

It's always a blast in chapel... Like Monday, we had a fire drill in chapel. That's right, just in case the gates of hell open up in Loyd Auditorium, we'll have our act together and make it out in 3 minutes flat. Everyone knew it was coming, so when the alarm went off, the people's scream reminded me of the movie Titanic, NO JOKE. Like, the screams were taken off the film, and put in chapel. I started looking for lifeboats letting someone else besides women and children onboard. I had to laugh.

--Potter

Sleep, does a body good

So, sleep, right?

I never knew what sleep meant to me until I got a whole slew of it this morning. You know, I always thought that when I was without sleep, I was just tired. But I just recently discovered that I get moody and testy also. I actually myself self in constant hate mode and my self-esteem lowered a whole lot. But all day today, those feelings weren't there. Actually, it was a good-ole, normal, opitmistic, jolly Potter day!

I made a lot of money delievering today, so that's good. Ok, well go get some sleep, it's good for the body and soul.

Potter

Field Trip!!!...and dead cows.

So today, I went to a "premier" window and door manufacturer. That's right, I went to Marvin's windows. Ok, with a name like "Marvin's windows" you would think of a mom and pop shop where "buck tooth" Bill works, but surprisingly it is a top-of-the-line window and door manufacturer for half million(+)dollar houses around the world. The tour was about how the plant was organized and how the company trained employees and was on it's way to be ISO certified... and then I found $5...(My friend Hollie said that you can also make a story interesting by adding that). So I didn't find $5, but I did get a free shirt at the value of $15.

So on the way to Ripley, TN (pop of 8,000) we were held up in traffic forever in Jackson, TN. What was the issue pray tell? A cattle truck had turned over due to bad weather we have had this week. That's right, it took us 40 minutes to tavel 1.5 miles and we approached the scene to see a 18 wheeler on its side with dead cows everywhere...

After the tour, I got back just in time to take my Physical Science test, which I think I did fairly well. Just as I was walking out the door afterward, tornado sirens were blaring! A tornado had just touched down 10 miles from Freed. I was trapped in a basement with others for 45 minutes until the all-clear was given.

I got my suit nice and clean for my interview tomorrow. Please pray for that to go well for me! God Bless!

Because of His Blessings,
Potter

Procrastination

Ok, so I'm suppose to be studying right now for Science, but I'm not.

Today, it stormed like none other. We have been under a tornado watch for sometime. However, not to sound ignorant or arrogant, I'm not sure if God would strike down Freed-hardeman. If He does, that will be a definite sign for me to get outta dodge and head to Abilene...

I'm suppose to do my very first dorm devo tomorrow, although there is some confusion as to if I actually get to do it (scheduling conflict). My conviction is to give an inspirational, uplifting, admonishing prayer thought to these guys. Day in and day out, the religious atmosphere surrounds constant judgement and convicition. It may not really be that bad, but in my head it is! I don't know what the guys in the dorm would do if I busted out with Max Lucado or Rick Warren material. The guys have jokingly labeled me as "liberal" and ask me from time to time, "were you filled with the spirit today?", "Is the Holy Ghost going to pay us a visit during your dorm devo tomorrow?" LOL, I never knew displaying love, encouragement, and joy could get such recognition.

Growl... stupid science test. I have a field trip to some plant tomorrow so I need to study now. God bless and keep you!

Because of His Blessings,
Potter

It's great, like chocolate cake

Mom's surgery went well!

Mom had exploritory micro-surgery to find out what in the world is wrong. It ends up that she has a few cycsts and pollyps (sp?) to take out of her abdomen. Come to find out that some if these things kept her from getting pregnant after me. I wonder if God used the same methods to keep women in the OT like Sarah, Rachel, and Hannah from having kids temporarily. Probably not, but it's somewhat of a sobering thought to me...somehow.

During the weekend, I had the priveledge of visiting with friends, physical family, as well as church family. I have friends, who use to go to Freed, live in Searcy, AR so I drove there to hang out there overnight. Then they drove me to the Little Rock airport so I could save on parking, not to mention the flight fare was cheaper than anywhere close. Thursday I stayed by Mom's side and Friday was the surgery. Granny and Gramps took us to the hospital and she was in at 9am and out by 4pm. A lot shorted and less complicated that I thought it would be!!! The extrapilation only took about 40min and nothing appeared cancerous. God has been amazing. I thank Him for listening to the prayers of the many prayer warriors who lifted her up! Saturday, she was feeling excellent so that evening, I drove down to Alvin to go to the Spaghetti dinner and silent auction that the church was putting on. Ofcourse, I went with no intent on spending anything, but I walked away spending 35 bucks on a set of Star Trek plates, (loser, right?). Hey, they are supposedly worth $120.

On the way, I got to listening to my audio bible that I bought from Sams last year. Take a gander at Jeremiah chapters 1-4 (that's as far as I got). There's some real good thoughts and reflections in that book. It will tell you God's two biggest pet peeves, why abortion is wrong, and that evolutionist aren't the first ones to credit nature to the rise of man. Great Book!

Because of the High Priest,
Potter

Be like Charlie...

Dr. Powell is great. He makes me smile. I think of good thoughts when I think of him now.

Dr. Powell is one of our Bible faculty that is very passionate about the Bible and Christ. His voice is very calm and soft, like that of a story-teller. And for some reason un be-knownst to me, he prounces some of his 'd's as 't's.

Weird,... but he delivered a great prayer thought today. Friendship. He points out the scriptures Proverbs 18:24 ("A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.") and John 15:13 ("Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.") As you can tell, Dr. Powell emphasized the friendship that Christ wants to have us. He even laid down his life for us as a friend! He had powerpoint pictures to go along with his presentation complete with a video clip from "Hidalgo" (sp?) Ok, so it's true, I had a little condensation form in the eye during the clip. The 5 minutes shown displayed the friendship between a man and his horse. Haven't seen it? Then you can watch it with me because I haven't either.

As a finale, Dr. Powell presented... "Charlie." Who is Charlie pray tell? It is his four pound yorkie/chihuhua (aka yorkiehuhua). As he showed several pictures, he explained how much he loved charlie. Charlie is always the first one to run to him at home, ears down, toungue out, and tail awaggin'. If you have a dog, you know this? There have been times Dr. Powell tripped over Charlie, or kicked him, or sat on him. Charlie became scared and hurt, but somehow charile always quickly forgave him. What a wonderful love! Christ's love is the same as this. Not that I'm calling Christ a canine, but dog's reflect the love of Christ. Usually unconditional and unbiased. Thank God for His Heagape!

Because of the High Priest,
Potter

Psi Mu is great!...

... It's better than chocolate cake!

Oh but the yes, those were the words I was cheering over this weekend! I joined Psi Mu which is a co-ed fraternity. We went down to Sardis Lake Christian Camp in Mississippi and let loose. I have never found a group of people I have related to so well. A group of christians with the same child-like mentality. How do I define child-like? Games: four square, volleyball, "poopdeck", kiss and tackle, ultimate frisbee, "parking lot", "singled-out", "Big bootie"; talent shows, no-sleep, devotionals, campfire singings, "pass the pig", singing to a guitar with a friend(s), FOOD FOOD FOOD. Omgoodness, four square, do you remember that game!?!?!?! I haven't played that since 8th grade. GASP, and I even became champ and had a winning streak for about 10 rounds!!!! Amazing I tell you! Absolutely GREAT!

I've got to meet a lot of great christians over the weekend and even made myself known to others! People know my name now! I'm no longer that weird kid with great shirts! God has blessed me with a good group of people! Thanks!

Because of the High Priest,
Potter