The Joel and Michawn Story - Part 3

So, I saw Joel for the first time. I thought he was beautiful. But, I had undergone that transformation, so that was it...that was the end of my thought processes concerning Joel at that time. Guys are very visual and can, at times, be tempted by what they see visually, even after just a glance. If they dwell on that, well...not good. Girls can be but aren't necessarily tempted visually, but when a thought comes into their heads, they have to really guard themselves. "Beautiful guy playing keyboards -> bet he's a great Godly guy since he's on stage playing in a praise and worship band -> he looks like he'd be so sweet too -> he must be smart and really on his way to do something for God too since he goes to LeTourneau -> bet we'd make some really gorgeous kids -> I wonder what his last name is...bet it'd go good with my name -> I hope he starts going to this church so we can get to know each other better." Blah blah blah. If a girl isn't careful, she's already married in her mind before she even meets the guy.

Thankfully by that point (it had been 3 years after all), I had learned how to guard my mind. My key verse during those years was 2 Corinthians 10:5 "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." At first I was taking thoughts captive left and right. It was hard work. :) Accountability was key in that too. And, of course it wasn't just in the area of guys/relationships. If I had a bad or scary thought, for instance, something horrible happening to someone close to me...quoted this verse. There are all kinds of things that can enter your mind that are NOT obedient to Christ. We have to take those thoughts captive.

So, being as my mind was trained in that way at that point (thank God...wasn't easy), my thoughts about Joel when I first saw him ended at the "he's beautiful" part. I didn't meet Joel that day. I did meet him the Sunday before he left Longview for the summer (picture taken the day I met him). I met him...that was the extent of it though.

During that summer I became really close friends with the guy who would actually become Joel's roommate that following fall. Ahh Fuller...fun times. Fuller was also really good friends with my roommates at the time. So, that fall when everybody came back for school, me and my roommates started doing lots of stuff with Fuller and his roommates (as I said, Joel being one of them). We, in this big group of friends we had from Life Challenge, were SO not interested in hooking it up with each other. Sure, there were possibilities there we thought at times, but nothing that we even acted on or let our minds go with. We were all guarded and of one mind concerning the guy/girl relationship. Truly, it was a rare group and a rare time...very special. I know that not all college/career groups are like that, even if it's the goal. But, we had just received such great teachings that spurred us on so hard for God...we were all so hungry for Him...we just weren't distracted by such things. I think, in a small way, it reminds me now thinking back on it of the early church in Acts. I mean there weren't any flames of fire in our house, but we were just all really close with genuine brother/sister relationships, really seeking God...no time for distractions.

Anyway, me and my roommates and Joel and his roommates spent alot of time together. They spent a lot of time at our house hanging out with us (picture of them at our house...Brian Boyle, Joel, and Alan Fuller). I truly had no interest in Joel other than a friend. He wasn't even a possibility. Why? His desire was to be a missionary. :) Not the life for me I thought. Not even close. So funny.

In the spring of 2000 things began to change. More on that in Part 4.

And, more visuals from that time period...

Practically a part of our accountability group. :) John and Nicole's daughter, Hannah, who would later be my little flower girl.
Awww.
Seriously probably my favorite vacation ever (other than Joel vacations of course). It was terribly impromptu...I think we decided to go the day before. Fuller flew me, Sanja, and Carrie to Pensacola. It was perfect.
Me and Sanja.
Fullerama and Carrie May.
If you have to rent a car at the beach, you might as well get a convertible, right?
Celebrating my 25th birthday at Red Lobster (one of the celebrations we had).
Tracy, Teresa, Amy, me, Brock and Amanda...Olive Garden (this is making me hungry). :)
Fun times at the casa. Amanda, Sanja, Leeana, Johan, me, and Joel.
Amy, Alisha, O.L., and me at the Dennis Jernigan concert. We drove to Oklahoma for the day.
Happy Birthday Marcus! at Superior.
A crew of us at Applebee's.
Skydiving with Danny.
Paintballing with friends.
O.L., Joel, and Chucky.
Dan, Joel, and Daniel.
At the beginning of the school year that fall ('99) we had a 70s party at our house. SO! FUN! Also, this was really the first night that Joel had hung out with us.
A little 70s groovin'.
Fuller showing some (fake) 70s chest hair.
Our friends Eriik, Justin, and O.L.
Me and the guys.