Louie responds to her Finnish friend's latest letter after Sari has emailed her. She writes about Johnny and Barbara's trip to Alaska, the Grand Ole Opry, Rani and Arjun, their two newest adopted children from Sri Lanka, and other things.
Sunday, April 17, 2005, 4:15 p.m, C.S.T., D.S.T.~
Dear Sari~
Hai! Miita kuuluu? Kiitos hyvaas!
I was so happy to have heard from you. It sounds like you have been very busy lately. I am happy that you are doing better, but I am sorry to hear of your friend, Ilsa Rekkonen, having chemotherapy and that she is in the hospital. We have been praying for her at church and at home. Yes, we would love to meet her when you come to America; she seems to be a very nice person, according to what you have told me.
We are well, and Johnny and Barbara are back from Alaska. They got in yesterday afternoon, and after we left the airport, we went out to eat at the Olive Garden, an Italian-style restaurant that has extremely good food, and we then went to the Grand Ole Opry. We saw Loretta Lynn there, and we also saw Jimmy C. Newman and "Cajun Country", Little Jimmy Dickens, Alison Krauss, Joe Diffie, Collin Raye, Jan Howard, Jack Greene, Jeannie Seely, and Josh Turner, to name a few. We really enjoyed ourselves, especially when we saw Loretta Lynn and Jimmy C. Newman. It has been quite a while since we last went to the Opry, and we really enjoyed some wonderful entertainment! I hope you get the opportunity to see the Grand Ole Opry; people from all over the world go there just to see the big-name stars and hear some good ole country music! We have been to the Grand Ole Opry plenty of times; we have been there so many times we have lost count! LOL
Arjun and Rani are doing well; they are starting to fit in, and they liked the Grand Ole Opry last night. Even though they don't really understand much in the way of English, Rani seemed to like the music (she was rocking back in forth in rhythm to the songs, and she had a big grin on her face!), and Arjun was grinning happily too, especially when people said how adorable he was (and he IS!). I will most certainly give them a hug from you, and I hope you get to meet them the next time you can come to America! We would love to see you (or Nikky) again!
So I guess the next time we write you will be at Nikolas' house in Athens. I hope you have a safe journey to Greece, and I was happy to learn that Athena is doing well in her rehabilitation and therapy. That is super! She has certainly come a long way since being shot last year; she is definitely a miracle! :)
Johnny and Barbara were in Alaska for a week; they went and visited my friend, Sikik Grace Eegeesiak, who iives in Barrow, way up north, just inside the Arctic Circle. They had a wonderful time, but Johnny was homesick, and he didn't care for the food up there; but he still tried it. As for Ronee', she had an arthritis flare, but she is now completely over it, and she was sick for five days. In fact, she was in the hospital for five days; she got sick Easter Sunday night, and when I took her to her pediatrician the next morning, he immediately had her go to the hospital, where she was then admitted. The other kids are well, I will tell them that you were asking about them. They will be happy to know that you think of them; I know I appreciate it, snd so does Bill!
Well, Sari, this isn't much, but we have to eat, so we can go to church in an hour. We will probably get take out, that way, we can eat on the way to church. I will write a longer letter next time. Take care, and know you are always in our hearts and prayers! God bless you too, and again, have a safe trip to Greece! We will be looking for your letter once you have settled. Love and miss you so much! Give Nikky a hug from us, and tell him that we say hello!
(((HUGS))) and much love, your friend in America, Louisiana in Tennessee. :D
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Sunday, April 17, 2005, 4:15 p.m, C.S.T., D.S.T.~
