Dear All~

Bonjour, mes amis! Comment-ca vas? J'suis tres bien, merci beaucoup!

Allie Nichole Soileau here.  Sorry for not writing; have had a spell of surgery and sickness/recovery, but happily, those times are past.  I'm just about recovered and have gained just about all my strength (and independence) back.

Had bone growing on the ends of my stumps and it was poking out of my "little legs", so I had to get them shaved (OW!) and then had a subsequent infection afterwards: spent several months in the VA hospital until they got me all straightened out.  Had a case of MRSA come out of that experience too; it was NOT fun at all!

It was only by God's grace that I came out of that alive.  I am thankful, truly thankful, to still be here!

Now that I have full-time custody of my nieces (my sister's kids), I had to get wall, so I could be there for them.  Harmony (7), Hayleigh (12), and Hannah (10) have been legally and permanently adopted by myself and my beau, Trent Breaux, and so they are our kids for good.  We have become an instant family; we couldn't be happier.

Trant and I are engaged: we are getting married later this year (probably in September).  We got engaged on Christmas Day; it was the best possible thing that could have ever happened to either one of us.

That and my accepting Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour.  That's probably THE best thing, but our engagement comes pretty darn close, as does adopting my nieces!

I accepted Jesus Christ last year.  I haven't been sorry and now attend Christ Community Assembly of God Church here in Nashville, which is a nondenominational church where the Bible is taught (and preached).  People of all faiths are welcome to come and worship and I love the freedom that being a Christian brings.

Over 3,000 people call CCAofGC home.  Even the lady who was my nurse when I was recvoering from my war wounds goes here; I was never so surprised when I found that out!  Louisiana Sandusky and her beautiful family are major forces in my life and they have all been a very huge blessing to me.  I just love them all so much!  And get this:  they have 63 children now, but they are getting ready to adopt two more: a three-year- old little boy from Japan who has spina bifida and a six-year-old girl from Haiti who has Down syndrome!  So they will soon have 65 kids!!

WOW!!!!

I have also made a wonderful friend in Bwame Ottumbwe, who is originally from Africa.  He has severe facial deformities caused by a bug bite back in his native Africa, but the man has such a positive, upbeat way about his attitude and he is always smiling or laughing.  He and I write to one another every week (or call on the phone); he loves to check in on me just to give ma a word of encouragement if I am having a bad day or am feeling sorry for myself.  I love him as well.

This weekend, Harmony is trying out for America's Got Talent.  The child has such a beautiful, natural singing voice and has already sung two soloes since we started going to Christ Community Church.  She sang twice during the Christmas holiday season: during the children's Christmas pageant and again during the Christmas Cantata (adult musical ministry) a week later.  She brought the house down.  Harmony did a superb job!

Brent and I were never so proud of her as we were then!!

Unfortunately, not all the news I have here is good.  While most of it is, I am afraid I have some sad news about Amy, my sister.  She was off of meth, but has since started using it again and is currently in jail.  The last time I saw her (around Thanksgiving), she said she had come clean but then last week, we saw a news item where a woman had been picked up for selling meth and when I saw the picture, I knew in my heart that it was Amy.  I cried so much!  She really looks terrible: a shell of her former self.

I have been praying nonstop for her before she ends up in the gutter or worse, dead.  Maybe it's a good thing that her daughters no longer live with her because there's no telling what could have happened to Harmony, Hannah, or Hayleigh had they remained with their Maman!

Well, I have to go and get the girls from school, so I will stop here.  I will write again soon; sorry it's been so long since I last put pen to paper, but now you know why.  Just keep those prayers and well wishes coming, but if there's anybody who needs prayer the most, it's my sister, Amy!  She's messed up bad, and it breaks my spirit to see her like this!  I would greatly appreciate any (and all) prayers!  Thanks in advance!

Take care and God bless!

~Love, your friend in Tennessee, Allie Nichole Soileau (soon to be Breaux!).