Louisiana Sandusky in Tennessee emails yet another person who has written to her. She got off work earlier than normal today because a co-worker decided she wanted more hours, so she is working in Louisiana's place.
Thursday, June 30, 2005, 12:30 p.m., C.D.T.~
Dear Jerrilyn (Jeri)~
I was so glad to hear from you earlier; thanks so much for writing! I am glad that you enjoyed my books, "A Family Made out of Miracles And Rainbows: The Sandusky Family Story--A True Story of Love And International Adoption" and "...And The Miracles Continue: The Sandusky Family Story, Continued"; thank you so much for the positive feedback! That is always so rewarding (not to mention, exciting) to an author when a complete stranger offers praise about his (or her) writing!
To tell you a little about myself, Jeri, I have been married to William (Bill) for fourteen years now (just celebrated our wedding anniversary this past Sunday, June 26th!). We had three children of our own (Aron Jakob, Pierre Armand, and L'Acadia Marie-Antoinette), but unfortunately, all passed away (two died while they were still tiny babies). We still miss them terribly now, but God has blessed us and helped us through our grief by bringing us children that were once considered to be "unadoptable". We started out with two children--Johnathon and Ronee'--, but then the rest sort of "followed thereafter"; and the children didn't seem to stop coming until just a few months ago, when we added two more to our already large family (Rani Kalpana and Arjun Ravi, both from Sri Lanka). Now we have FIFTY-TWO children, and...we are addign yet another one--a little girl, aged eight, from Romania, whose name is Janica Kryzstina! So we will soon have *53* children in our International Family! :)
Our children range in age from one year all the way upo to 23 years in age, and they came from places like Europe (Germany, the Netherlands, France, Bosnia-Hergozovina, Italy, Russia), Asia (China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, India, Sri Lanka, Vietnam), Africa (Kenya), Latin America (Mexico, Guatemala), Canada, and the United States of America (Ohio, Louisiana, Texas, Arizona, Utah, Connecticut, New York, Indiana, etc.). Most are what people consider to be "special-needs": disabled (physically, mentally, or both), older than the age of two years, part of a sibling group that for one reason or another cannot be separated, or racially-mixed (we have a child now that is part Native American, part Caucasian, part Hispanic, AND part African-American!). Their disabilities range from hidden, or "very mild" problems to severe, life-altering disabilities that require specialized medical care in order to give them some semblance of a "near-normal" life--or what is considered "normal" for them--, but they still have a very happy and rewarding life, and they live life to its very fullest. Now we will be soon adding a little girl from Romania to our family. She will be arriving in a few months, and as you can imagine, we ae past excited!! :)
Your boys (Peter, Miles, Daniel, and Nigel) all sound charming and wonderful, and I am sure that you and Doug are enjoying them in your home. You know the excitement of when a new child comes, and no matter how many kids you happen to get, the excitement never grows old! I would love to see a picture of the boys, and I would love to see a picture of you or Doug, too!
That is okay if you aren't a Christian. Not all people believe, but I AM a Christian, and church happens to be VERY important to me, my husband, AND my kids! I am sorry if you have had "problems" with Christian "evangels" in the past, but that is required of us BY God: to tell others about Him and His Love that He has for us. Not ALL Christians are "hypocrites", as you so put it, but some ARE, and unfortunately, a lot of people don't like us Christiana because OF these so-called "hypocrites" or their faith. But it IS what I know now, and my Christian faith is very important in my life! You may not believe, and you DO have that right; but I CAN pray for you! Can I do that for you at least, or will you get angry? Just let me know, and I will follow your lead!
I know you may find it difficult to believe in God when there is so much in the way of hatred, war, violence, disability, sickness, or whatever; but these things happen for a REASON, and ONLY God has the Answer as to WHY He allows such things to happen in our lives. Someday, we WILL find out the answers, but until then, we MUST learn to be patient and rely on God when times are difficult.
Well, Jeri, I will let you go. Again, thank you for taking the time to write to me and read my books, and yes, I would be more than happy to write to you again! God bless you always!
(((HUGS))) and much love, your new friend in Tennessee, Louisiana Mayrah. :)
P.S.: I am sending you some pictures of the family. Enjoy! I am also sending you a picture of our new child to be, Janica Kryzstina!
P.S.S.: Happy Fourth of July! Hope it is a SAFE and happy one for y'all!
Karen, I feel like I am reading a REAL letter about REAL people and you talk so naturally that it is easy to get totally wrapped in the whole situation. Your compassion, sincerity and graciousness shine! What wonderful characters you create and how inspirational they are. Makes me realise how wonderfully blessed I am to have none of the hardships you describe, and how important it is to come alongside those who do. Nothing is more important than loving each and every person for who they are, irrespective of our differences, be they visible or invisible. Bless you and thank you. Kate xx
When two men hit the reset button and decide to go out looking for the good in the world, they not only find it but also a lot more.
P.S. The title is listed on Amazon under Look for Something Good by Robert Drews (not by Robert H. Drews)
When two men hit the reset button and decide to go out looking for the good in the world, they not only find it but also a lot more.
P.S. The title is listed on Amazon under Look for Something Good by Robert Drews (not by Robert H. Drews)
Thursday, June 30, 2005, 12:30 p.m., C.D.T.~
