Tuesday, November 15, 2005, 10:30 a.m.~

Dear Louisiana in Tennessee~

I loved the letter you wrote to me; what a beautiful, yet newsy, letter! I hope that your elderly veteran father enjoyed his free meal at the Golden Corral; that sounds like a very nice thing that the restaurant is doing to honor the veterans! Wish more restaurants would do the same! But is it just the Golden Corral in your general vicinity that is doing the honoring, or is it ALL of the Golden Corrals across the country? I think that is a terrific idea that they are utilizing!

I loved the picture you sent to me of your family, and I also loved the picture you sent of your father. Why is he using forearm crutches? Did he have polio? For a man in his later seventies, I think he looks awfully darn good for his age! Your kids are all beautiful, and I loved that little tow-headed youngster in the wheelchair; he is so darned cute! He rminds me of  Kris when he was a little guy: he was a blonde too, and his hair was so fair it was almost white! Now it is a dirty blonde color, but he still has his youtfhful boyish face and the personality to match! I pray that he makes it through his time in Iraq without incident! I will keep you posted on his tour of duty; so stay tuned~ I appreciate the prayers and concern; you are a true friend!

I also loved that one little girl with the bushy black hair, the one grinning her head off! She is so cute! Is that Ronee'? I think you told me about her; but I am not sure. I see she is on crutches too, just like your father. Where is she from? Is she your natural child or is she adopted? In any event, she looks like she could be your very own daughter; she really resembles you in a lot of ways! I also loved the one in the wheelchair, the one grinning HER head off! What is her name, and how old is she? She is a doll, too!

Your family truly IS a miracle; how you and your husband can take in so many broken, needy children is amazing, but it is obvious just by looking at their happy faces just how very well cared for they are, and how much they are loved! That is so wonderful! I can learn a lot from people like yourselves, and I have done that by adopting the children we have! Our children are our very lives, and we are so blessed to have them!

How is the weather there? Here it is warm, but it is supposed to cool off sometime tomorrow. We may have a round of severe storms, including the threat of tornadoes. I pray and hope not; tornadoes always give me the creeps, especially if they cause loss of life or property damage! And here with no basement, we have more to worry about! Do you have a basement where you live? If so, I am moving up there! LOL So be prepared to make room! LOL

You will have to tell me about the turkey that you tried to wash in the dishwasher! That is too funny! LOL I am all ears on that one! LOL

Louie, that is so great that you can get around now without pain or without the aid of a cane or crutches! I bet you are really enjoying life now, that you are finally free of pain! That surgery sounds like it did the trick! How did you exactly hurt your back that you had so much pain and had to use a cane or crutches in order to walk? Were you in a car accident, or did you have a nasty fall? Back pain is nothing to mess with; I have back problems myself, but I just learn to live with it and go on. I have to, especially for the sake of my children! They need me, and I am not going to let something like a little back pain get me down!

Do you have a copy of your book, "A Family Made Out of Miracles And Rainbows"? I went to look for it at our local library, but they did not have a copy. Will you send me one? I would also like your new one, "...And The Miracles Continue". I hope you don't mind my asking, but I have heard some wonderful things about your book through the adoption community, and I would love to read one (or BOTH!). I will gladly pay you the price for both (including the postage!). Just let me know how much both books are, and I will send you a money order in the mail!

I am in the process of doing a book about my own family and our own adoption journey, but right now I am taking a break, darned writer's block has set in, darn it! But I will get back to it as soon as the inspiration hits me; maybe you can give me a few pointers or tips on how to combat writer's block?? *Grins* I have never done a book before, so this is entirely new territory for me. (How many books DO you have out?? How long have you been writing, and are your books available just locally or nationally? Where can you pick up a copy of your book? I would really like to know!! That way, if I read your books and I like them, I can then recommend them to friends!)

Well, Louie, I will go now, I have to take care of the kids. Seems like the two littlest ones are crying again; the little one has been sick with an ear infection, and I am afraid that the seoond youngest one is sick too; he has been coughing and sneezing a lot! I pray that they don't get sick, especially since next week IS Thanksgiving week~!  If there is ONE thing I do NOT need during the holidays, it is a bunch of sick kids!!

Til later, Louie, take care, and God bless!

(((HUGS))) and much love, your friend in Georgia, Donna Sue Oliver. :)