I was in the midst of my nightly call with mom last night when she said; “You know, it was this time last year” and I assured her, I was well aware.    I was preaching a Wednesday through Sunday revival meeting in AR when mom called on Thursday to tell me dad had suffered a stroke and was in the hospital.  Knowing the answer before I asked, I wondered if she might want me to leave the meeting and head on to Yazoo City.  She, of course, said no and requested that we come on after the meeting closed.  We were on our way home on Monday, March 5th, when I got the call that dad had “gone home”.

We got there as soon as we could to begin all the preparations of the service and all that goes on with that.  For me, it was more the business end of everything.  That was the way I helped mom most.  Dad had done the business of the house while mom just kept things going so she really was unaware, for the most part, of the business end of it all.

I’m thankful for the heritage and raising that’s been a part of my life.  I’ve always thought that dad and mom had peach trees for separate reasons.  Mom loved the fruit and from it came peach preserves, peach jelly, fresh cut peaches on oatmeal or cereal, or maybe just some slices with a little sugar.  Yum!  Dad, on the other hand, enjoyed the peach tree switches!  Owwwwww

Now that I think about it, there was pain involved in many home tasks.  There was always the brutal summers and push cutting a large yard while dad rode the side lot on the Snapper then there was our assistance, always needed, when it came time to rob the bee hive.  That’s another story for another time.  ha ha

In church before I ever remember being there, it was an inevitable thing for me to one day come to Christ.  I can still picture where I was sitting in that large tent at the area wide crusade that one summer.  I can picture dad’s followup with me as we sat in the bench swing on our swing set and he made sure I understood what God was wanting to do in my life.

Not always vocal in his praise to us kids, there was never a time when I wasn’t aware how proud he was of what God was doing in and though me.  Yes, I’m grateful for the example he was and the opportunity he gave me.

Continue your celebration, pop!  One day, more sooner than later, I’ll see you again!

Patty’s dad seems to be continuing a positive move toward his recovery.  He’s responding to the physical therapy and although he attempted to stand up from the shower chair this past week and found himself on the shower floor, it was a valuable and not very costly lesson.  Things just ended with a few scrapes (skin tears the nurses call them with geriatrics) and bruises and a commitment from him that he will not attempt that again.  Praise the Lord!  The call we received at 10:20 that night was one that you don’t really ever hope to get.  Patty’s brother was able to drive in to Yazoo City from Atlanta to spend a few days with him and check on him to give Patty a break.  We will head that way next Sunday, do a quick check, then bring mom back to Enterprise for a visit.  She’s been wanting to do that for years and has been unable to do so.  Patty will take mom back to Yazoo on Thursday the 14th and spend some time there with her dad at that time.

I’ll be spending this next week preparing for upcoming events.  I know I won’t be doing much of that the week mom is here.  The balance between work and parents is continuing so, as always, we thank you for your prayers.

Blessings,
John

Hi Friends,
We appreciate you checking in on us and praying for us. Services at Ephesus Baptist Church in Forest, MS, went well. It’s a sweet fellowship and we saw God work and move throughout both the a.m. and p.m. services. In the morning service I used music and a couple of “friends” then brought the morning message. The evening service was a concert that consisted of horns, friends, and congregational praise and worship. There were even a few other churches in the area that brought kids and students to the service.

Patty’s dad is doing better. When I last reported to you, he was struggling a bit with not wanting to be where he was but rather wanting to be in his own home. Certainly understandable but not an option right now. He had some visitors over the weekend and his spirits are somewhat improved. Patty’s plan right now is to head back to Yazoo in a couple of weeks or so and check on things.

We will finish our time here in Forest tonight with an UPWARDS Award program then we will head to Dothan Tuesday for a teachers banquet!

Blessings,
John

Hi friends,

We are headed out in the morning for a family day in Forest, MS, Sunday and an UPWARD Awards night on Monday.  Looking forward to seeing what God is going to do.

Patty made it home Wednesday night after a 21 day road trip to be with her dad and get him settled.  Of course, I was back and forth some of that time but she was there the whole time.  She is trying to get back in the swing of things here but is having a fair amount of difficulty switching gears.  I encouraged her to stay home this weekend and continue things here for there are many things (bookkeeping and all) that need her attention but she really wants to go so she will be with me in the morning when I pull out.

Her dad hasn’t had the best of days today, in fact the last few days.  I think the place is getting a bit old…actually not being in his own home is getting a bit old.  The place he’s living right now is very nice but “there’s no place like home”.  He’s down so we’re trying to keep his spirits up as best we can from here.  We are not scheduled back through there for a couple of weeks but Patty’s brother is headed in the 1st of March.  We would appreciate your prayers just for the Lord to comfort his spirit and Patty’s too, actually.

Thank you friends.  We appreciate you checking in on us and keeping up.

Blessings,
John

Hi gang,
Well, driving 6 1/2 hrs., setting up the equipment, doing an hr. presentation, then tearing down the equipment is not for wimps! Haha, at least not for old ones!

The banquet was well attended and everything went well. We will head back to Yazoo City tomorrow and be there a while, meeting as many needs as we can for parents. We appreciate the prayers as we continue the balance!

Not much else to report. I’ll keep you up and again, thank you for thinking of us!

Blessings,
John

In Yazoo City visiting parents.  Mom is doing pretty well.  I took her and Patty out to eat last night for Valentines.  We had a nice visit and now I’ll continue my prep work for the upcoming banquet in TX.

Patty’s dad is continuing his adjustment period in the swingbed/phys therapy home.  We’ve noticed he seems to be responding to the therapy.  He’s not so sure.  We are certain because they are really working him.  We had no real idea what the dr meant when she said that she was going to set up “intense physical therapy”.  I would think that for someone 91 years, any therapy could be labeled “intense”.  Bless his heart…he is a gamer and will do whatever they tell him to do.  So, go POP!

Thank you for your continued prayers.  We have many decisions that we are making now and many more in the future.  Looks like we may be in Yazoo about every other week for a time.  Lots of balance but God is faithful!

Blessings,
John

We had a great day at FBC, Saltillo, MS, today.  It was Kid’s Day so everything was focused on them and the Family.  The service began with a baptism which is always an awesome way to begin any worship service then the kids choir sang a song.  I took over from there playing my horn, using a friend then preaching.  God blessed the efforts.

Tonights concert began with the kids choir again then I played my horn and 3 of my friends made an appearance.  The church has a sweet spirit and they were very responsive.  Lots of fun and looking forward to being with the folks of Saltillo again sometime.

Patty is busy getting her dad adjusted to his current situation.  He seems to be doing pretty well.  She’s spent time eating with him and visiting a bit but now that a new week is starting up, he will begin physical therapy morning and afternoon so we’ll see how his “happy meter”  registers after the first couple of days.  Thanks for the prayers.

I will drive home tomorrow and do a couple of days work before heading out again.

Blessings,
John

Mr. Shurley is home!  Well, sort of.  He was discharged from the hospital in Jackson, MS, and received in a swing bed/physical therapy place in Yazoo City where he will be, most likely, for the next 20 days, at least.  We are so very thankful for all the prayers.  His health, other than some weakness, is quite good.  Patty, dropping him off and leaving, is in a different state.  Kinda hard but some of the emotion is from sheer exhaustion.

She will stay another week to make sure everything is in order then go from there.  I’ve been busy handling things at home and preparing for the road this weekend.

Thank you again!
John

It’s been busy keeping the household going and preparing for my upcoming engagements.  Patty’s been busy working with her dad in the hospital.  Here’s the latest.  He’s doing well and a swing bed/physical therapy unit is ready and waiting for his arrival tomorrow in Yazoo City.  They have to be there before noon so we’re praying there are no hiccups in getting him out of Jackson and to Yazoo.  We appreciate the prayers and I will try and keep you up on everything.

I spent the early evening at the photo studio getting new publicity photos of me and my “friends”.  We are excited about the new shots and appreciate, so very much, the work and talent of Tommy and Shawn Dunaway here in Enterprise.

I’ll continue, now, my prep work on this weekend and next!

Blessings,
John

Too much on my mind tonight/this morning. Can’t sleep so I thought I’d go ahead and give an update on Patty’s dad.  All the test results have been as positive as we could hope and for that we are very grateful.  The MRI was clear and the neck and back scan showed nothing more than age related disc issues. Nothing that needed surgery or, for that reason, would cause the weakness in his right side.  As well, the kidney function is considerably stronger than it was anytime this past year.

The main physician driving this train is, of course, the oncologist who has taken a great deal of personal interest in his care.  She sat down beside his hospital bed yesterday and said; “Now Mr. Shurley, you and I both know you can’t go home in your current state and take care of yourself.”  They talked and he agreed so there has been a plan put together to begin an intense physical therapy program and get him stronger.  He will be relocated to a swing bed/physical therapy area in Yazoo City where he will continue this therapy until…

There isn’t actually a time line on any of this.  After all, he is 91 years old.  Patty feels some relief in that at least he will be looked after for a while.  We haven’t been given an indication of when he will be released from Baptist Hospital right now.  There is a process that has to be gone through in order to make ready a patient for the swing bed facility and that process began yesterday with some testing and things.

Patty will stay with him, right now, for as long as it takes to get settled and I will travel with this ministry and keep things squared away at home for the time being.  We appreciate your prayers as we take this journey.

Blessings,
John

Hi friends,

It began as a “once every 2 weeks” consult with his oncologist.  Right now there is no treatment being administered, just monitoring.  As the Dr. is talking with him, he mentions that he has been feeling weakness in his right arm and thigh area of his right leg.  Next thing you know, he is admitted into Baptist Hospital in Jackson and undergoes and MRI.  The Dr. mentioned that there were several things that could lead to that weakness but she wanted to have a MRI on his brain to check.

Of course, the Dr. wont actually come in to see him until Monday morning most likely but we did receive some good news this morning.  The “hospitalist” came in and had read the MRI and told us that it was all clear.  No sign of stroke.  Praise the Lord!  Now on to the next thing that may be causing the weakness.  Right now, we’ve no idea how long his stay will be.

The learning of new music and such has been slowed dramatically but hopefully will pick up as time goes on.  We appreciate your prayers as this time in our lives continues.

I’ll be in touch,
John