Hi friends,
We appreciate your prayers. We’ve arrived home and are probably destined for an early bedtime because of the exhausting last few days.
Tomorrow and Friday will be designated to study and prep for the upcoming revivals. We love and appreciate your remembrance of us!
John

Thank you for your continued prayers. I’m grateful for the time I’ve had with mom and dad but it is very difficult seeing him shrinking away both physically and mentally. There are times he does pretty well and can even carry a bit of conversation but for the most part those days are gone.
He struggles with muscle function. That is as noticeable as anything and just as difficult to witness. The brain just is not communicating with his muscles in every aspect which makes dignity come into play on a regular basis. I’m grateful for this time I’ve been here but it is a must that I get home and continue my preparation for the 3 upcoming revival meetings I have in March, the first beginning on February 29th.
Mom seems to be holding up pretty well and her attitude (which has a “smidge” of denial in it) is helping her day in and day out! She wants to keep dad here at the house as long as possible knowing that he will do much better here than anywhere else.

Tomorrow we will drive home so we appreciate your prayers on all fronts!
Blessings,
John

A wonderful day began with a sound check at 8:30 and just ended. The people of First Baptist may be fewer than in past years but they are sweet, gracious and receptive. It was several years ago when the church ran over 600 in Sunday School and then International Paper closed down. This took many professional jobs as well as workers. Many, being young couples, moved on to find other work and now the church is running a fraction of that number but they are very dedicated and striving to find new ways to grow and reach the community.
The morning service included one of my friends early then I played my horn for the offertory and sung for the “special”
Tonight’s banquet was well attended and fun as the Church Lady and the Professor showed up.
Tomorrow we will go to the Senior Adult Luncheon tomorrow and speak followed by a trip to Yazoo City to check in on parents. We sure appreciate the prayers as we continue our schedule and try to attend to parents.

Blessings,
John

Last nights banquet in Poplarville, MS, was a fun event and well attended. We enjoyed our time with friends there and after completing the program and loading up we headed to our nights lodging to ready for Saturday’s travel.
We pulled out this morning and headed to Bastrop, LA, north of Monroe about 25 miles. We arrived at 4 p.m. and moved equipment into both the sanctuary (for the a.m. service tomorrow) and the family life center for the big banquet tomorrow night.
Keep in touch,
John

We’ll be heading out this morning for the first of 3 stops this trip. We are headed to Poplarville, MS, (close to the gulf coast of MS) for a Valentine Banquet. We will spend the night there before heading on to Bastrop, LA, on Saturday. When we arrive in Bastrop we will set up then get settled for the evening. I will be participating in the morning service then doing a church wide banquet Sunday evening. On Monday I will speak at the senior adult luncheon before loading up and driving to Yazoo City.
We’ll be checking in on parents and helping where we can for a couple of days before returning home.
We appreciate the prayers. Looks like we’ll be driving into some storms today!
John

I was a good night tonight with the “I Love My Teacher” banquet at Hillcrest. For a number of years now, the Children’s Ministry has recognized school teachers in the area by asking our kids (family church members) to invite their favorite teacher to a night of good food and entertainment. Just a fun night.
I was asked to provide the entertainment this year so I put a few things together and although some of the material was “so-so”, most of it was fun and the teachers were responsive and appreciative.
I’ll spend the next couple of days in preparation for the upcoming Valentine banquets and revivals, then we’ll head out first thing Friday morning.

Nothing new to report from parents. Everything is about the same.
Sure appreciate the prayers.
John

It was a good day today as we headed to Dothan to set up and perform for an UPWARDS basketball program. It was a really good group and the auditorium was almost full by the time the families filled in after the teams and cheerleaders.
This week proves to be very busy as I prepare the banquets I have coming up and begin working new music and sermons for the heavy revival schedule coming up.
Nothing much new to report on the home front. Dad is continuing a downward trend and mom is doing everything she can to help him and keep him going.

Thanks!
John

Today was spent in prep for my upcoming event in Dothan on Sunday. Lots of planning and media preparation that I hope will make everything come together for a great program.

Of course, now that Patty has made it back there were some immediate “honey do’s” that had to get done as well. So, all in all, it was a productive day.

Not much else to tell in the way of parents. Dad continues to struggle and his decline seems to be more noticeable day by day. Patty’s dad is doing really well and we are so very thankful.

Appreciate your thoughts and prayers!
John

I drove up to the MS delta this morning to speak for a senior adult associational meeting. There was a nice crowd there and Gladys the Church lady, Vern the bird, and the Professor all made it a fun day. I got packed up and headed back to Yazoo around 2 p.m. I arrived back just behind Patty and her dad.
He went to the cardiologist today. He received a good report so Patty is excited that she may be able to get back to Enterprise by the end of the week. It will be the first time she’s been home since Christmas day.
I’ll be taking dad to the dentist tomorrow morning then heading back to Enterprise. Got some prep work for Sunday’s presentation in Dothan to do.

Sure appreciate the prayers,
John

I drove mom and dad over to Jackson for his cardio/pacemaker exam. Ordinarily done by phone, mom was hoping that the computer would reveal something. That didn’t happen but hopefully the decision to reduce one med will result in a slight elevation in his blood pressure thus giving a him a little more energy. We’ll see.
I’ll be pulling out for the delta of MS at 8:30 for a luncheon engagement then will head back to Yazoo for the evening.
Patty will be taking her dad to his cardiologist appt tomorrow at noon. Lots of ministry opportunities going on.

Thanking you for your prayers!
John