Louisiana is distraught to hear that that Maria lashed out at Keisha Mason, who is in a wheelchair because of muscular dystrophy; so she tries to comfort Maria's mother, who is all choked up inside about the situation that has wrecked her family. Audrey's two youngest daughters, Maria and Lacey, are staying with the Mason family while their older sister and mother recover at a hospital in Mississippi, where Audrey and her girls are from.
Tuesday, July 19, 2005, 10:34 a.m., C.D.T.~
Dear Audrey~
I was so upset to learn of Maria's lashing out at Keisha Mason and dumping her out of her wheelchair. That is too horrible to believe!! Whatever possessed a little girl to do such an awful thing??
Now I am more concerned than ever about Maria and Lacey, not to mention, you and Susie. Things have a way of spinning wildly out of control when you least expect them to, and it appears that that is what is exactly happening to you now. I wish I could be out there to offer you comfort or advice, but I have my own family to worry about, not to mention, my husband and my elderly parents. So my hands are tied right now. All I CAN do is pray for you, and suggest that you get the two little girls into immediate counseling because it is obvious by their impulsive actions that they are very angry and scared about what has happened to them; and it is beyond their control. In fact, I think you and Susie would benefit from counseling as well because of all this stuff that you have had to go through, on account of Jack and his abuse.
Oh, ye' yaie, what a mess y'all are in...I have been crying and praying, hoping for a sign from God or for an unexpected Miracle; so far, this hasn't happened, but I remain forever hopeful that something good might come out of this. I know it may sound strange or funny to you now, but things happen for a reason, and maybe, just maybe, your family will soon be reunited, and all of this "bad stuff" will soon be a distant memory. Oh, Lord, I hope so; it kind of makes me wonder about God giving us so much stuff to handle. It seems that some people are way in over their heads with "stuff" that God has given them, and then they wonder why they are so mad at Him because of all this excess "stuff" that they have to endure. I have had that happen to me more than I'd care to admit, but somehow, once we get through the seemingly unending storms, then it is all worth it in the end, and then we can thank Him for getting us through!
You won't believe some of the "stuff" I have had to go through: nosy or unkind neighbors, unexpected illnesses or injuries striking our kids when we least expect it, the demands of being a caregiver to an ailing husband (or child or parent), not knowing if a child is going to make it through a medical crisis, ever-mounting bills (it seems that the worst are the medical ones!), the deaths of my sister, nieces, brother-in-law, and my three children, the death of another child who was under my care (she had AIDS), caring for friends during their time of need, dealing with terminal or desperately sick patients (only to have them die on you), fighting with pompous, callous doctors who think they know it all, putting up with difficult patients and having them spit/throw up/shit/lash out at you, and so much more. All of this has made me a better (not to mention, more astute) person, but I don't like having to go through all this, and it has wrecked my emotional being, not to mention my physical being. Some of the stuff I have had to endure is absolutely unbelievable, and it would probably curl your hair if I told you!
When I was going through all this "stuff", yes, you better believe that I was mad at God! I wondered if He enjoyed seeing me so miserable, and I was starting to doubt Him; and it was such a scary time in my life! But then I became a Christian, and I learned that God does these things for a reason (to bring me closer to Him), and I have since done that; and I try to tell people that they will get through their own "personal storms" because I have been there, and God brought me back out! Now life is good, and I am praying that soon life is good for you and your family, and that you are soon reunited!
Maybe it would be better if you were closer to Maria and Lacey, but I don't know...you would have to talk to Deborah about that. I am not a counselor, nor do I claim to be one..I could give you advice, and it could only make the situation all the more dire; and I don't want to jeopardize things all the more! All you can do is pray and ask the Lord for direction; that is what I do whenever a pressing problem is attacking me, and I am not so sure as to how to handle it. He usually responds in unexpected ways, and so far, this is how I have been able to handle all the problems that I have gone through in my life. Yes, Deborah may be "hiding something" from you, and if she is, I'd try to get to the bottom of it and see what is really going on. There could be a conspiracy or something more sinister going on; it's worth a shot! But as for "advice", the only thing I can say about this whole sad situation is get the couseling that you so desperately need, try to get better (Susie too), do what is required of you in therapy, be there for Susie in her time of emotional need, write to your daughters and keep in touch with them, talk to them on the phone and tell them that you love them and wish that you could be together, and PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!
I am going to go now; I am crying again...seems that is all that I have done ever since all this first surfaced! God DAMN it all, I HATE crying like this!!
Please write back soon, and know that you, Lacey, Maria, and Susie are in my prayers more than ever now! Call or write if you need ANYTHING; I'll be here!
(((HUGS))) and much love, your (worried) Tennessee friend, Louie May Sandusky. :( >tears<
Children will enjoy reading and hearing about the silly antics of a puppy still learning how to be a good listener. This story is about Riley, a cute, little, rescue puppy who gets into all sorts of predicaments.
Tuesday, July 19, 2005, 10:34 a.m., C.D.T.~
