December 24, 2011, Nashville, Tennessee, 1:05 p.m., C.S.T.~

To all my friends in Cyberspace~

Merry Christmas from myself (Louisiana), my husband, Bill, and all the little (and not-so-little) Sandusky Kids (as well as the animals)!

The year 2011 has been one of our better years.  Thankfully, no major hospitalizations for any of the children or any major sicknesses; I have been truly blessed.  I pray this continues.

The year 2011 has given me a brand new granddaughter: Little Miss Bella Thu Grace Sandusky (first child of my oldest son, Anh Kim Van, and his lovely wife, Thu Quynh Hoa) made her stage debut last month, in perfect health.  She is absolutely beautiul!!  This grandma couldn't be prouder!!  Only a month old, and she's already getting spoiled! LOL

We also gained a new daughter-in-law through marriage.  My precious son, Johnathon, who has exceeded far and beyond what doctors predicted, got maried on October 16th, 2011, here in Nashville, Tennessee, with many family members, friends, and acquaintances in attendance.  We have loved Rebekka Rachel for quite a number of years and we were thrilled when Johnny asked her hand in marriage, but even more so when Rebekka said YES!!  

The weddding was a grand affair; there was not a dry eye in the house.  

For their wedding honeymoon, Johnathon and Rebekka took a 2-week cruise to Alaska; they had a most wonderful time.  Johnathon has been to Alaska three times; this was Rebekka's first time there and she was entranced by the majestic natural beauty and the northern lights dancing across the Arctic skies overhead.  She is still talking about it two months later.

Ronee' will be getting married next year (probably in August or September, the way things look now, but things could change ...).  She has gotten engaged to a sweet-natured Jewish fellow named Michael Abraham Stinkowitz (he proposed to her at a college football game!!) and it is clear that the two of them are very much in love with each other.  He treats my daughter like a queen and has proven to be an excellent cook and a gentleman.

Ronee' is doing very well in her studies; she just completed her first year in college: next month, both she and Michael will start their sophomore (second) year!  Ronee' still wants to make music her career, but if that doesn't pan out, she wants to be a professional writer (writing Christian children's books) or working with kids with severe special needs.  She has such a love and tender spirit for children, especially ones who have special needs.

I just found out the other day from Richard and his wife, Karrie, that she is with child.  Their first one.  She is five months along; it is a little boy!!  His name will probably be Colt William (you can probably guess where the "William" comes from! :) ).  Starlight is also pregnant (her first one; she is pregnant with twins, both boys!).  In addition, Summer is pregnant with a boy.  So I will be gaining not one, NOT two, or even three, but FOUR grandchildren, ALL boys!!

WOW!!!!  I am soon to be the grandma to 13 grandchildren!!!  Life is indeed full of blessings!!

Healthwise, we are all well.  No complaints.  Even Todd and Jodie, the two members who require the most care, have managed to keep out of the hospital or getting sick.  They remain as healthy as they can be; I am truly grateful for that, because when Todd or Jodie get sick, they usually end up in the hospital for a few days to a week or two and my whole world seems to STOP.  I pray that they both STAY that way: healthy!!

Nobody knows this, but Bill and I are in the process of adopting again!! Sounds crazy, I know, but God has been whispering inside our ears to take in another child, maybe two.  So our family may be growing again, in more ways than one!!  We are currently having an argument with God, but if that is what God wants, then we have to do what HE wants, not what WE want.  

We are looking into adopting a child from Haiti.  Or a child from Japan. A little boy would do, but a little girl would be okay, too.  It's all up to God.  We have already started the legal process and the paperwork; if all goes well, we may have the child within six months to a year.  If the child is healthy, great, but if not, no worries: I have plenty of experience in my nursing and with caring for children with all sorts of disabilities!!

I dearly wish we were not thinking of adopting again (Lord knows we already have a full quiver of children!!), but God seems to have other plans and has thrown a new wrinkle into our (already chaotic) lives!  LOL  Oh, well: if He wants to bless us yet again, then it's HIS will, NOT ours!!  

Who are we to turn down a blessing from God?? That would be a very dumb move, if you ask me!! LOL

More excitement, more drama!! WHEE!! LOL

I just hope God doesn't throw seven extra children into our laps like He did after we first adopted Johnny and Ronee' so many years ago!!  LOLOLOL  We had gone from a family of four to a family of nine almost overnight, it seemed! LOL

I am still working at Nashville Mem (Memorial) Hospital; love my job very much (though the pay isn't nearly as good as what the physicians or specialists make!!).  I work Christmas Day (tomorrow), so we will probably have our Christmas tonight or on Monday (Johnny's 19th birthday; Ronee' 's birthday is tomorrow; she is also turning 19!).  Bill is off until after the first of the year; he took his vacation days in a way that he would have the last week of December/first week of January off and spend time with the family.

I have hired two woman to help me with my adoption community.  Even with most of the kids gone, the community is growing by leaps and bounds and I am counseling/encouraging more families.  The families I am in contact with keep in touch with me on a very regular basis.  Then you have my writing.  Six books published already, and am starting to work on a seventh.  The computer has become my second home! LOLOL

Well, the pumpkin (and pecan) pies are about ready to come out (they smell like they're about done baking; the smells enamating from the kitcen are HEAVENLY!!), so I'd best run along now.  I hope you enjoyed the news from Casa Sandusky; I pray each and every one of y'all have the merriet of Christmases and the healthiest, brightest, happiest of New Years!  God bless all of y'all!!

~Love, your friend in Tennessee, Louisiana May and William Sandusky (plus all the kiddos and grand-kiddos!). (And one or two children may be on the way!! HELP US!! LOL)

P.S.: It's snowing here!  We are going to have a White Christmas! I hope y'all have a white Christmas where y'all are at!  :)