A bit of an unusual day today but nice nevertheless.  Everything began with an early tee time with some friends.  I decided to give the ole contact a try today on the course.  I’m pretty comfortable around the house in the normal day in, day out functions but haven’t tried it out there.  Not really sure I’ll be doing it again for a while.  Things were kinda “swimmy” out there, for lack of a better description.

By hole 13 I was pretty much tired of it all so I packed it in.  I came in to do a little “house” stuff and got it accomplished.  Of course, “Little” is the operative word. Ha ha.  From there it was time to review this past weeks efforts on the VBS music and motions.  So, I took care of that the better part of the afternoon and now am just chillin’ with a ballgame.

Tomorrow I’ll be up early to make the 8 a.m. orchestra rehearsal and the 2 services before coming home and doing it all over again.  Except the golf part. Not tomorrow!

We sure appreciate your prayers as we dedicate these next 2 weeks to final preparations.

Blessings,
John

It’s going full blast now.  The prep, that is!  Technically, we’ll start leading VBS in June but for now I’m spending a great part of the day learning music and familiarizing myself with the music.  It’s going pretty well.  My “lofty” goal for this week was to learn 3 of the songs with motions too.  That’s done and now I can go onto the next 3.  Thanks for the prayers.

Patty has been extremely busy trying to do household stuff as well as yard work planting lots of pretty flowers.  To her, that’s therapy.  For me…I would need the therapy after the fact!  There are also some things that the house needs in upkeep that we are trying to knock out as well.  You know, when you are home for a short time, things are really busy to get these type things done as well as the preparation for ministry.

Both my mom and Patty’s dad are doing very well.  Patty’s dad got a great report this past Wed with his oncologist administering his “once every eight weeks” chemo and telling him that his xrays look super and he won’t need to come back until July.

We will continue this pattern of life for a couple more weeks then “off we go”!!

Blessings
John

Ha ha ha, those words were, ironically, never said in the same sentence when I was in school.  This morning I went to Enterprise Prep Academy Elementary for an end of the year program.  The kids were fun and responsive so things went well.  Following that we stopped by the church for a funeral visitation of a Godly saint.  We were able to spend about 30 minutes with his widow and son and are blessed to have done so.

The bifocal in one eye seems to be doing pretty well.  I’m thinking I would like it a little stronger if possible but its so much better than last week.  I feel like I’m going in the right direction now which of course, last week, I couldn’t say that.

We will go to our mid week service tonight then get back on the VBS Music train (or this year…Airplane) as soon as I get home.  Not much else to report.  Things in Yazoo are continuing to be fine.  Patty’s dad got a great report today and his xray was completely clear.  The doctor said she wouldn’t need to see him again until July!  Praise the Lord!

Mom, as well, is doing just fine.  Sure appreciate all the prayers and remembrances!

John

Hi gang,

The adventure continues with my eyesight.  I went back to the doc today.  I was scheduled as a followup to my “trying out my contact for a week” and when I described my sight to him he said we definitely needed a different direction which of course I agreed with wholeheartedly.  He has elected to go with a bi-focal contact in the left eye only and I’m to try this for a week to see if my brain will adjust.  It was better immediately upon insertion but still not perfect.  I’ll try this and go back next Monday to go from there.  He has other options and says we’ll get this worked out.  I know he will and am grateful for him!

After some lawn work I settled in for some VBS study.  Got lots to do for sure with learning 6 different songs and motions as well as planning an “End of the Year” school program at the local private school here in town.  Also, our new Worship Pastor (as of Feb) asked if I might be available to lead worship on Wednesday the 23rd and choir practice that follows.  He will be driving up to join his family, who are finishing up the school year in the town he moved from, for his son’s graduation.  So, I’ll be needing to get that order of worship into the music office by the end of the week.

Patty’s dad is continuing to do very well.  He does have his 8 week chemo coming up this Wednesday so we would appreciate your prayers on his behalf.  Mom is doing great! She’s traveling just a bit having just gone to Starkville, MS, to see my little brothers’ sons play in their little league games.  Then she drove to Clinton, MS, yesterday after services to have lunch with my sister and her family.

Lots going on.  I know you do to and appreciate, very much, you checking in on us and this ministry.  You are a blessing!

John

Hi gang,

The morning was spent in a little exercise then some time with the new VBS music.  It takes me a while to learn it all, along with all the motions that go along so I try and begin early in May.  Lord willing, I will have it all done by the time we head out in June.

This afternoon we took some time off to go to the new movie, “The Avengers”.  We enjoyed it…fun movie.  Now back to the grind.  I called this blog; “another fuzzy day” because that’s what it has been.  This is really getting frustrating…the dr told me that it would take some time but, man, I’m tired of having fuzzy vision.  I’m sticking with it and praying that we’ll know something for sure by Monday, whether this is going to work or we’ll be going in a different direction.

Thanks for checking in.  I guess if I had any type of prayer requests for now it would be that I will be able to “focus” in two areas.  ha ha ha   I need to learn this music as soon as possible. (the better I know it, the better it comes off in front of the kids) and I need my eyes straightened out so pray for this whether it involves adjustment of my brain over the single contact, or we have to do something else on Monday.

Thanks!
John

It was a really good day.  When I do these Associational Senior Adult events, organizers always say the same thing.  “We don’t know how many will show, we just pray that a good group will show up.”  Well, it wasn’t a huge group but was a really nice one.  They were very kind and responsive and things went well.

We also had the great experience of a kind group of church members.  The host church had a number of people that had volunteered to help in various areas so, to our surprise and delight, there were several men that had us unloaded in a matter of minutes.  Same thing when it came to loading after everything.  That was wonderful!  Thanks Ramsey Hill Baptist volunteers!!

We’re home now and back to the grind.  Patty will do her errands, yard work, and household stuff and I will continue my work on the VBS material.

Blessings,
John

Well, things weren’t exactly 3 D anymore but certainly a bit fuzzy.  I’m not exactly understanding everything yet.  For example, I can close my good eye and the one with the contact that is supposed to be for close up (nearsightedness, I guess) is, instead of being really clear, is  really where I can’t make out anything.  Without the contact, I can still read from that eye if the lighting is right and such.  In other words, seems a great deal worse WITH the contact.  Still waiting on my brain to adjust and thinking that since there wasn’t the bad 3 D effect today that maybe things are getting better and what’s happening.  At leas that is  what we’ll hang on to until next Monday when I go back to the dr.

Tomorrow we will head to the gulf coast of MS.  We will spend the night there so we can be at the church in Vancleave, MS, early Thursday morning to set up for the Jackson County Baptist Association Senior Adult Conference on Thursday.  The program goes until noon then we’ll drive back to Enterprise following lunch.

Appreciate the prayers for travel and strength!
John

Wow, what an unusual day. No…I take that back. Weird! That’s the word that best describes it! It began with a visit to my eye dr. I’ve felt my eyes weakening over time and thought I might go to contacts. Right now I only wear glasses to read. Well, he checked me out and thought we could try ONE contact for close/reading vision. So he put a contact in the left eye for this purpose. Said that about 90% of people trying this are able to continue as their brain will adjust. Really a weird feeling as my vision took on a 3D type feel. You ever been to a 3D movie and out of curiosity, slipped the glasses off just to see what the screen looked like? Thats what I’ve been experiencing all day. Wow!

The dr said to be patient and stick with it and next week I’ll go back to him to either discuss other options or continue. Right now, I’m seeing better out of my left eye (the one with contact) when the contact is removed than when it’s in. My brain has always been a little slow so maybe things will clear soon.

From that to a business where I responded to what I suspected to be a scam. I had done some business with mom and received a letter informing me that the company needed a copy of my drivers license as well as SS cared. Since this was done when I was with her, I was very suspect. It all worked out but the good citizens of Enterprise don’t need to know that someone with my “special vision” was driving all over the place!

After getting everything straightened out, I headed home and spent some time in the yard. Looking forward to a good nights sleep.

Just put the finishing touches on my program for the Senior Adult program on the Gulf Coast on Thurs.

Thanks for checking in!
John

The retreat went well.  Whew, 96 holes of golf can be mistaken for a bit of purgatory.  Had my “fill” for a little while.  The services we nice although we found ourselves getting a little later start each night than originally planned.  That makes it tough sometimes to keep the energy up for worship but all in all things were good.

I’ll be applying myself in two major areas this month (not counting the individual bookings I have throughout the month).  I’ll be working on dropping some weight, Lord willing, and concentrating on the VBS music and Bible Study that will begin in June.

We appreciate your prayers and ask your continue remembrance as we change our direction and focus!

Blessings,
John

Hi friends.  You bless me by checking in on this site and reading this blog.  I appreciate your willingness to follow us in this adventure and your prayer support is GREATLY appreciated.

Last nights banquet went pretty well.  We had some sound issues throughout.  It seems some things had been adjusted after my final sound check so I fought “feedback” all night.  You know that time when you are right on the edge…you can hear it coming…but it never really fully comes?  That was it.  Arrrrgggg

Anyway, I fought feedback in two different ways.  The second was that I was scheduled to perform while dinner was being served.  This doesn’t usually happen but due to the time constraints, this was the chosen form.  As a result, there were about half of the audience that had their backs to me simply because they were seated facing their meal.  Made things a little difficult.  I received several positive comments following so I guess some things got through.

After lunch today, I will drive down to Panama City and set up my equipment for the Men’s Retreat that begins tomorrow.  First Baptist in Panama City has graciously opened their facilities to us as a meeting place for our worship and Bible Study.  Thursday there will be golf for some, fishing for others.  Friday……..rinse and repeat.  Each day will close with Worship and Bible Study.  I’ll be leading the worship both nights…others will be speaking.  Things will wrap up Saturday morning with a final round of golf then we’ll head home.

On the home front, mom seems to be doing well adjusting to life alone.  She is staying active and will be finishing up teaching piano when, this Friday, her pupils will present their year-end recital.  Patty’s dad is continue to improve.  We are so grateful.  That last episode was quite disconcerting and we are so thankful for prayers, neighbors, Sunday School teacher, and ministers who got to him and did what was needed.  He will go this morning for his 8 wk CT Scan with his oncologist so we are praying for the “All Clear” sign.

Thanks for the thoughts and prayer!

Blessings,
John