Our New Home

We have been extremely busy with the move…I am sorry that I am just now updating everyone. The move went well. We had a couple of people helped us in Philadelphia load the moving van and clean the house(kind of disheartening but thanks to those who healped). We had a few help us unpack. It seemed like the flu hit the community of Munford pretty hard around the time of our move. Some were unable to help us due to that. We had a week to get ready for Christmas. It was a great one. The children had a wonderful time and it snowed on Christmas day. The first time it snowed on Christmas day in over 100 years. It made it real special. We have had many concerts…Julianna got a Paperjamz guitar and Cameron got a drum set.

We have had numerous brethren over in our home. Many have had us in their home. Many have shared meals with and visited with us. Not a week has gone by that we have not spent time with a brother or sister in Christ in our home. It is such a blessing.

Julianna started school on January the 5^th. It went well. She was so nervous. Her stomach was upset. The next day, I had to go to the school because she felt sick…it was nerves. Since then she has had her days but overall she is doing great. She is so far ahead of everyone that the teacher is using her to help in the classroom. In one month she has racked up over 50 AR points. Cameron is not going to school every day. They do not have a preschool but he is taking speech twice a week. They reevaluated him and said that he is so smart. They think he is going to do great in school. He has come a long way since his evaluation in 2009.

Jim has preached several times. He has spoke at the nursing home and assisted living home in Talladega, AL. He has been visiting with Cliff Goodwin. He will speak tomorrow at the Senior Community Center in Munford, AL. Jim will be speaking on a lectureship at the Ironaton church of Christ on February 6^th, Lord willing. This weekend he will be speaking at a congregation in Georgia. He is trying to do as much as he can.  We have placed membership with the Ironaton church of Christ. This is where Cliff Goodwin and Chris Clevenger work with the congregation. They have a very active congregation that practices church discipline and has real Bible classes. Brad Collins, one of the elders, teaches the best Bible class we have ever heard on Sunday morning. The enthusiasm and love for God and His Word is truly seen throughout the congregation and the work they do.

Many of you already know that Jim suffered another mini stroke on January 20^th. He was admitted to RMC in Anniston, AL. He urged the doctors to let him got Friday evening so he could make it to the area wide singing in Munford. He had been looking forward to this for some time. He did make it but felt terrible. He has been sleeping and sleeping.

We went to UAB yesterday the 24^th to see the Advanced Heart Failure group and to see his ICD doctor. The appointment was very sad. The mini strokes that he has experienced were thought to be a product of him going into Atrial fibrillation. His ICD could be set to correct this. Instead, we learned that according to his ICD history, it is not Atrial fibrillation. The doctors then talked to us about what was happening. His atrial baffle is so weak and his heart overall is doing so poorly that his heart is actually throwing clots. The blood is getting pooled up in his heart because of the scar tissue, the weak muscle and the hardening tissue that the heart is throwing clots that are going to his brain. This is very scary news. There is no procedure that can correct this except for heart transplant. He was put on more blood thinning medicine because what he is on is not good enough. The medicine has major side effects and he has to get blood work every couple of days now. The doctors are in a rush to get him on the transplant list since he received the Federal risk pool insurance (Obama care) on January 1^st. We met the transplant coordinator and he will be going through a battery of tests very soon. If he has a major stroke he will not be eligible for a heart transplant. We are asking God for more time.  We beseech each and every one of you to lift him up in prayer to the Almighty Physician that He will have time to receive a new heart if that is His will. We ask everyone to make sure he is on your prayer list at church, home, and work. Please pray for him. We are running against the clock. He has felt so poorly and I beg you to help me to petition God to keep my husband. He has more work to do and a great desire to continue to work for the church.

We will go back to UAB on January 31^st. We will see a neurologist, Advanced Heart Failure group, transplant coordinators, and have tests and blood work done. We are so glad to be close to family and so many of our brethren. It has helped already.

We still receive numerous cards, phone calls, emails and financial gifts. We are so thankful for all of these. Since he has received insurance, we still have medical expenses that are overwhelming. Balances on bills and of course we have co-payments, and deductibles to meet are all ways in which financial gifts are being used. We do have an account set aside just for the heart transplant. Many of you have ear marked gifts to go to that specific account. We are so humbled by the number of brethren throughout the world that have encouraged us and given of their means.

We pray that God will give us more time to be together to work in His church. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE PRAY FOR US! We love each one of you. To God be the Glory.

Our contact information:

Jim, Jennifer, Julianna and James Cameron Murrell

2890 McElderry Road

Munford, AL  36268

Home 256-315-9567

Jim cell 256-521-6500

Jenn cell 256-521-6501

themurrellshome@bellsouth.net

Please do not call Jim between the hours of 12pm and 4pm. This is when he is napping. He rests all the time but this is his set aside time after lunch to rest. Thank you and we look forward to hearing from you.