It's time for another edition of Poe's Pals! Today I'd like to introduce to you, Ms. Coronado*:
We've known Ms. Coronado for just over a year now, and our lives are much more full of energy because of that. A high school teacher and JV volleyball coach, she's super peppy and outgoing. Ms. Coronado's fluent in English, Spanish, and French, enjoys fashion and all things girly, and loves the Lord (her dad actually preaches for the Spanish congregation that meets at Embry Hills).
Ms. Coronado is always up for hanging out, even if her busy schedule often forces her to change her plans (like that time she organized dinner at Ihop and then couldn't come *wink*). We love her very much and are so thankful to have her in our lives!
*Photo Credit: Ms. Coronado
It's time for another edition of Poes' Pals! Today I'd like you all to meet a very special person, Mr. Gates:
We've known Mr. Gates for about a year, and in that time he has been such an encouragement to us! He truly lives for the Lord- a truth that is evident even during his most physically difficult times.
Despite spending his entire life with an extremely rare heart defect, this Temple grad has had his artwork shown in Rome, Berlin, and New York (to name a few). He has spent the past six months hospitalized in Florida waiting on a heart that will not be rejected by his body. During this long, painful period, however, he has spent a good deal of his time speaking to others in the hospital about the gospel.
Mr. Poe and I would encourage you to keep Mr. Gates and his family in your prayers. If you'd like to learn more about Mr. Gates, his condition, and what you can do to help, you may do so here.
*Photo credit
It's time for another edition of Poes' Pals! Today I'd like to introduce you to another of our friends from the big city, Mr. Morgan:
A fantastic graphic designer, Mr. Morgan graduated from the Creative Circus in December and has since been working for several companies and organizations on various projects. His artistic talent, however, is not what he's best known for- it is his focus on spiritual things. While in school, Mr. Morgan frequently sacrificed sleep in order to attend and help with Bible studies, as well as to spend time encouraging others- things he continues to spend his time and efforts doing.
Mr. Poe and I appreciate Mr. Morgan's attitude and example so much, and we are so thankful to have him in our lives!
*Photo credit
It's time for another edition of Poes' Pals! Please meet Mr. Chinnis*:
Mr. Chinnis is another of our new friends from Atlanta. He got his chemical engineering degree at Georgia Tech, and he currently works in the paper business. While he's definitely a very intelligent man, what impresses us the most about Mr. Chinnis is his love for the Lord. He is a fantastic role model of serving God with everything you have. He has helped numerous brethren who needed a place to stay, and he has privately funded his own mission trips to various places in Africa and South America...and those are just some of the things that we actually know about. Mr. Poe and I find Mr. Chinnis to be such an encouragement to us, and we are so happy to know him!
*photo credit
It's time for another edition of Poes' Pals here on the blog! Today I'd like to introduce you to the Jones Family:
We've known these folks for about a year now, and we absolutely love visiting with them (especially when Mrs. Jones is cooking)!
Mr. L. Jones is an anesthetist, deacon, family man, and practical joker, and he takes each of these roles seriously. He is also a fantastic Bibles student and teacher. I've already alluded to the fact that Mrs. Jones is amazing in the kitchen, but she is also an incredibly selfless and serving person. She's a stay-at-home-mom, and she spends her time taking care of her family and her church family, constantly making sure that everyone gets the love, encouragement, and anything else that they need.
Ms. Jones is currently a student at Florida College, and she is very much interested in speech pathology. While we haven't been able to spend as much time with her as we'd like, we always enjoy catching up when she's home from school. Mr. T. Jones is a senior in high school and will be attending FC in the fall. He's a track star, a good student, and a terrific role model for dating Christians everywhere.
I hope the next time you're in Atlanta that you get a chance to meet these wonderful people!
Good morning to all! For the next edition of Poes' Pals, I'd like you to meet another couple here in Atlanta, the Barclays:
While we're all members of the same body of Christ, Mr. Poe and I have really gotten to know the Barclays through a Tuesday night home Bible study this school year. Mr. Barclay is a recent psychology graduate of Georgia State and is currently in the process of grad school shopping. Mrs. Barclay is almost finished with a degree in early childhood and special education (also at GA State).
The Barclays make such a great couple! They share a deep love for the Lord and for children; they both are diligent and hard working and have fantastic taste in both clothes and music. Their annual Christmas Mix CDs are a wonderful example of the latter (that may not mean much coming from me, but the fact that Mr. Poe requested I bring them on our Christmas travels should say something).
Mr. Poe and I have really enjoyed our time with the Barclays, and, though we'll miss them if they move away after they wed, we hope they will have many more happy years together serving the Lord wherever life takes them!
Welcome to another edition of Poes' Pals here on the blog! This post is a bit different than normal, but I hope that you'll enjoy and find it helpful (particularly those of you in the metro Atlanta area). Please meet our friends at Lowe's:
As you probably know if you're a frequent reader, Mr. Poe and I have recently purchased our first house. A foreclosure in need of some cosmetic work, we've been painting, de-wallpapering, and flooring for the past several weekends. With all the painting over the upstairs carpeted areas coming to a close, we decided that the time had come to order new carpet.
While we had looked at several stores in the area, we decided that Lowe's had the best deal* on what we wanted. While the management and staff at every store we visited seemed extremely knowledgeable about their products, the folks at Lowe's went above and beyond to ensure that we were satisfied customers.
If you visit this location for flooring, be sure to visit Mr. D. Rosser. He helped us through the whole carpeting process, calling the factory to give us a better estimate on when the materials would be delivered to the installers, setting us up with some fantastic installation guys, and even taking the time to patiently and cheerfully re-entering all of the order/dimensioning information into their system after I made a mistake and canceled the order the first time.
We'd also recommend the staff we've dealt with in the paint department, the management, and various other folks that have answered our miscellaneous questions throughout the store.
Note: We have not been paid or provided any free/discounted service/materials for this post.
*Throughout the month of February, Lowe's is offering a promotion where you pay $0.01 to have them come out and measure the areas you want carpeted with no commitment from you to purchase flooring from them. They also are currently offering basic whole-house carpet installation for $97.99.
It's another edition of Poes' Pals here on the blog! Today we present to you another new friend of ours from the big city, Mr. LaGrone:
Mr. LaGrone is a funny, intelligent, and spiritually-minded guy. He graduates this semester from Georgia Tech and will begin a two-year stint in the Teach for America program beginning this fall. While we are sad that we will have only been able to spend about a year with him before he leaves, we are encouraged by his example to leave home to help others. His leadership in the congregation will also be missed, especially among the younger children that he has helped to teach the Word. We have been very thankful for our chance to know Mr. LaGrone!
For the next edition of Poes' Pals, I'd like you to meet some of our new friends, the Broadwells:
Mr. Poe has known Mr. Broadwell for a long while; both attended the same summer camps and Bible studies when they were younger. The oldest of four sons, Mr. Broadwell returned home to Atlanta after school.
Mrs. Broadwell is a new addition to both our lives; she moved to the big city shortly after we did. A speech pathologist currently employed by a local school system, she enjoys working with children.
We have greatly enjoyed the friendship of this wonderful couple. Mr. Poe has particularly appreciated discussing history and execution of Psalms and songs with the very knowledgeable Mr. Broadwell. I have liked talking with Mrs. Broadwell about teaching children (among other 'womanly' things). The Broadwells are true servants of Christ, and we look forward to many more years of worshiping with them (Lord willing)!
For the next edition of Poes' Pals, I'd like to introduce you to the Halls:
The Halls are some newer friends of ours; although, we first met Mr. Hall when he came to Starkville to hold a gospel meeting for us. These folks are some of the nicest and most genuine you will ever meet and true servants of Christ. During the past year they have worked locally and as far away as Zimbabwe to help encourage brethren and further the spread of the gospel.
Mr. Hall hales from the great state of Alabama and is a hard-core Auburn fan (Mr. Poe likes him in spite of this fact). Although he has a degree in political science, he has chosen evangelism as his profession. Mrs. Hall comes from a Yankee family of all girls and has spent a lot of time in NYC helping to spread the Word.
These two are such an encouragement to us, and we highly recommend that you spend some time with them if you ever find them in your neck of the woods!
For the next edition of Poes Pals, I'd like you to meet another friend of ours from Starkville, Ms. Long*:
We've known Ms. Long for many years and have had many adventures with her. A recent graduate of MSU, she is currently teaching English and working on a masters degree. Ms. Long loves everything about English- words and spooky stories in particular, and H.P. Lovecraft is one of her favorite authors. We wouldn't be surprised if her own work was published one of these days; she's a great writer, even though she tends to keep her stories to herself.
Ms. Long also has a goofy side that makes for a barrel of laughs. She loves the Lord and her family, and is very close to her mother and sister. We look forward to the opportunity to visit Ms. Long and the rest of our Starkville family soon!
*Picture taken by Ms. Long's cousin, Ms. K. Davis.
Welcome to the next edition of Poes' Pals here on the blog. Today I'd like you to meet some of our new friends from Atlanta, the Goins Family:
We first met the Mr. and Mrs. Goins when we moved to the big city a few months ago, right before they were wed. They are such a sweet couple, and they very cute together! Mrs. Goins brought a furry 'child' into the family- a fluffy bunny named Rascal; he does something to make us laugh every time we visit their place.
Mr. Goins enjoys trivia games and UGA football. Mrs. Goins currently works for a local insurance company. In her spare time, she loves to experiment in the kitchen (which she does very well) and to look at pictures of puppies. They are both very hospitable and eager to serve the Lord. We consider ourselves blessed to have them in our lives!
Good morning to you all, and welcome to another edition of Poes' Pals here on the blog! This week we're featuring another family from Starkville, the Bullingtons:
We have known this family for many years, and they have been such an inspiration and encouragement to us! Dr. Bullington (yes, this Dr. Bullington) is a professor in the Industrial Engineering department at Mississippi State. While neither Mr. Poe nor I have ever had him for a secular class, we have both been in several of his Bible classes and can attest to the fact that he is an amazing teacher with a multitude of knowledge and wisdom. Mrs. Bullington is pretty fabulous as well- successfully home-schooled all of her children, possessing so much Bible knowledge (paired with a desire to teach others...especially children), and being the couponing QUEEN.
Mr. W. Bullington and Mr. A Bullington are some fantastic guys, who are also some of the most spiritually-minded (particularly for their ages) that I have ever met. They are very capable song leaders too. Ms. S. Bullington is sweet and hilarious with a great work-ethic. She loves to read, is an amazing Bible student, and will make a wonderful doctor one day. The oldest, Ms. A. Bullington*:
is another dear friend of ours. We almost always sat with her during Bible classes, and she was such a great help to me when I first started singing alto. She graduated in 2010 with a double major in Music and Industrial Engineering- she is one smart, hard-working cookie! She's currently working on a masters in IE at UAH.
As you've heard me say before, we love and miss our Starkville family very much. And If you ever get a chance to get to know the Bullingtons, take it!
*Photo Credit
It's time for another edition of Poes' Pals here on the blog! This morning, I'd like to introduce you to another wonderful family from Starkville...the Rudes:
We've known the Rudes for approximately seven years, and we can attest to the fact that, contrary to what their last name might suggest, they are some of the most caring and friendly folks we know!
Dr. Rude is a professor in the Animal and Dairy Science at Mississippi State University (Mrs. Luke actually had him for a class; she and others have told us that Dr. Rude is a great teacher and his classes were enjoyable and informative). He is also a great Bible teacher, presenting material in a way that encourages participation.
Mrs. Rude often teaches French at East Mississippi Community College (we've heard great things about her and her teaching from friends too). She is one of the most selfless people I've ever met, constantly being aware of the needs and desires of others and striving to help out in whatever way she can.
Ms. Rude may come across as shy when you first meet her, but she is a very spirited, fun-loving, and spiritually minded young woman. One of my very fondest memories of her is when she went with Ms. K. Davis, Ms. M. Davis, and me to a ladies Bible study in Birmingham- oh what a great time we had!
As you're probably tired of hearing me say, we miss our Starkville family very much, and we hope that if you're ever in the area you'll have an opportunity to meet some of the fine people there!
For the next edition of Poes' Pals, I'd like you to meet the Davis Family:
We visit the Davis family every time we go to Starkville. They are fantastic people, and we love them very much! Mr. G. Davis and Mrs. Davis just built a beautiful house that they allowed me to invade during my last business trip to MSU. Mr. Poe and I have greatly appreciated their example and advice; they are wonderful Christians who have raised some great kids.
Ms. K. Davis is one of our dearest friends (and our "adopted" sister and daughter). She helped us move to Atlanta and has been on many a road trip with us; we talk almost daily. We hope to persuade her to join us in Georgia when she graduates in Graphic Design from State in December. Ms. M. Davis is such a sweetie as well- during my two week stay, we shared many a breakfast, car ride and evening together. She just started her first year in pre-nursing at State this fall, and we know she will make an excellent nurse! Mr. J. Davis is like a brother to us. He and Mr. Poe love to talk sports, and we all love to trade jabs and jokes when we get together.
As with the Holleys, we suggest you take some time to visit the Davis family next time you're in the Starkville area- we certainly look forward to it!
For the next Poe's Pals segment, I'd like to introduce you to Ms. Hopkins:
Mr. Poe and I have known Ms. Hopkins for several years, and we enjoy visiting with her when we return to Starkville. She is a driver for the MSU transit system, and one of the most friendly people you will ever meet.
Ms. Hopkins loves her job and the people it puts her in contact with every single day. If you ride with her just once, she'll remember your name forever. She'll talk with you about your day and your life with a genuine concern for you...she'll talk with you about Jesus with a genuine concern for your soul.
Over the summer, she also started driving students without cars to the store or wherever they needed to go on her own dime. When questioned about it, she gives all the credit to God for the blessings He's given her to help others in the ways that she does. She truly loves the Lord and cares about everyone; she is a very special person. If you're ever on campus, you should take a ride on the blue route- tell her the Poes sent you.
If you're a frequent reader, you may recall the name "Holley" used quite often in my Theology Thursday posts. This week's Poe's Pals will reveal for you the face that goes along with the name. Meet the Holleys:
Although we've only known these folks for over three years, it feels like we've known them our whole lives. We first met Mr. T. and Mrs. Holley when they came back from Argentina to visit family; shortly after that, they decided to make Starkville their home. It has been such a blessing to get to know this wonderful family during the time we were in school!
Mr. T. Holley is the preacher here and one of the most knowledgeable and dedicated Bible students I know. Mr. Poe and I have learned so much from him- both directly about the Bible and about good Bible study habits. Mrs. Holley is his fantastic counterpart. She is so friendly and hospitable to everyone she comes across, welcoming them into her home and cooking them wonderfully delicious food. Mr. S. Holley is a great, puzzle-loving friend to us as well- he helped us move, sledded with us on our birthdays, and has given us his bed on more than one occasion. Ms. Holley is also one of our firends who always loves having us over for visits- when we leave, she sees us to the door with a big "thank you for coming!"
We look forwarding to visiting the Holleys every time we come to Starkville, and I suggest that you stop by when you're in the area too!
Welcome to another edition of Poes' Pals here on the blog! Today I'd like to share with you some new friends of ours, the Granthams:
If you're a frequent reader, these faces may look familiar to you- Mr. Poe and I attended a Braves game with these folks several weeks ago. While we did know the Granthams before the game, we had only met them for the first time a few short months ago when we moved. They are one of many young married couples that are members at Embry Hills as well as avid University of Kentucky fans, which, though perhaps not ideal, is much more tolerable than being a fan of Ole Miss or Auburn (we're not hatin'...just keepin' it real).
Originally from Tennessee, Mrs. Grantham now works in the metro-Atlanta area as a dental hygienist. She is a fantastic cook who makes one killer cheesecake. Mr. Grantham LOVES cheesecake and works at CNN. He also knows every sport stat in existence (it seems like it at least), and he gets great pleasure from scaring his wife. As Mrs. Grantham and I frequently joke about, we are very quiet and shy when compared with our husbands. Like Mr. Poe, Mr. Grantham never finds himself short on conversation material; he is very animated and employs fantastically hilarious impressions sprinkled throughout. When the menfolk get going, the four of us often find ourselves closing down the church building.
Joking aside, the Granthams are a great encouragement to us in their devotion to the Lord and service to the church. Both try very hard to be good examples, particularly in the areas of teaching and hospitality. Each works to do his/her part to serve the congregation, helping where, when, and in whatever way is needed and ensuring that all are included.
This post wouldn't be complete without at least mentioning the Granthams' two furry babies- Penny (a cat) and Lou (a dog)- both of which are exceptionally cute and have very funny personalities.
For the latest edition of Poes' Pals, I present to you Ms. Nowell:
Ms. Nowell is another friend from Mississippi that Mr. Poe and I have known for several years; we first met her shortly after she moved from the great state of Texas. She is a joy to be around, and we greatly admire her desire to serve the Lord and her drive to work hard at any task she begins.
Often Ms. Nowell invites her classmates to Bible studies and shows hospitality by gathering fellow students to the home she shares with her grandfather- I remember many an enjoyable evening of Rock Band and karaoke there. She has also had to make some difficult choices in order to better align her life with the patterns found in Biblical examples and teaching, which is a great encouragement to all who are around her. Currently, Ms. Nowell is participating in a nursing program in which she is doing quite well. When she finishes, I know she will be such a blessing to the babies and families she'll work with wherever she chooses to get a job!
If I've said it before, I've said it a million times, Mr. Poe and I miss Ms. Nowell and all of our Starkville family very much!
Special thanks to Ms. K. Davis for use of her fabulous photography skills.
For the next installment of Poes' Pals, I'd like to introduce you to our friend...Ms. Looney:
Unlike her name might suggest, Ms. Looney is not crazy. She is, however, a very kind, intelligent, and godly woman. We met her during our time at State when she came to services with another friend of ours. Our friendship has grown over the years; although, I wish we could've spent more time together in Starkville.
One of my favorite memories of Ms. Looney is from the summer I started a knitting circle with all the young women of the local congregation. Of all the ladies that came, I think Ms. Looney is the only one who continued knitting after the summer ended. She was quick to pick up the art, and, although her projects began with scarves, they increasingly grew in difficulty.
Knitting is certainly not all Ms. Looney is about, though. Whenever a Bible study, singing, or general get-together with Christians is happening (and her busy schedule allows it), Ms. Looney is there. She's quick to invite others to Bible studies too- both with the congregation and the Holley's Luke study. Not only that, but she just finished her masters degree in Speech Pathology from the Mississippi University for Women, and with her degree, I know she will help lots of folks in a way that few others could.
We miss Ms. Looney and the rest of the gang from Starkville, and highly suggest that if you're ever near the area, you pop in for a visit!
