Saturday, November 19, 2005, 10:40 a.m., C.S.T.~

Dear Sari~

Hai! Miita kuuluu? Kiitos hyvaas! (I still have trouble remembering that, let alone, spelling that! LOL) I hope that this finds you and Nikolas well; you have both been in my thoughts and prayers!

Sari, I am glad to tell you that the tornadoes did NOT hit directly here, but the sirens sure were wailing; and the sky looked NASTY, to say the very least! We were holed up in our basement, hoping for the best, and thank GOD no tornadoes hit here! But it sure made for some scary and wild weahter! We have several victims from the recent tornado outbreak at the hospital where I work at, and I think that they will make it through their injuries in time. So far, they are doing as well as can be expected, but two of them (a woman named Guinevere and a man named Horace) both face lengthy recovery time. They both had horrific multiple injuries, and they may be facing the possibility of being disabled. Horace suffered a broken back and two broken legs, and Guinevere suffered a broken pelvis and lower back, as well as a shattered leg, among other injuries, both internal and external).

I am busy getting ready for the holidays. I will be off from work from Monday until Saturday of this coming week; it will be nice to spend some time with my family, and it will be nice to be off on an actual HOLIDAY! I worked Thanksgiving last year (and was off on Christmas), this year, the tables are turned: I am off on Thanksgiving, and I have to work on Christmas (but I AM secretly hoping that I get Christmas OFF this year; that would be sooo nice to have BOTH Thanksgiving and Christmas OFF from work!! I work at a hospital; so unfortunately, I DON'T get Christmas or Thanksgiving off unless the schedule calls for it, and I don't do my own scheduling. I DO the scheduling of the nurses who are under me, but the administration does mine; so what they put down is beyond my control.). I love this time of year: I love seeing the decorations going up and hearing the pretty Christmas tunes (but I DO wish that they'd play more of the carols, especially "Joy To The World," "O, Holy Night", and "Silent Night"; after all, JESUS is the reason for the Season; it is because of His BIRTH that we celebrate a day like CHRISTmas!!)! I am in the thick of doing my holiday shopping; hopefully I will be done in a week or two, so I can get the packages that I am mailing out of state in time, so my friends and familiy who ARE out of state can get them in time for Christmas! Next Saturday, we plan on putting up (and decorating) our tree, and my sons will be putting out the icicle lights on the house and will be putting out the Nativity scene in our front yard. I also have to start doing our "Sandusky Family Newsletter", to let my family and friends know what has been happening in our part of the world. What are YOU doing for the holidays, Sari? I hope that your brothers get to come! And I hope that your friend in America gets to come, too; tnobody should have to be alone on Thanksgiving, let alone, on CHRISTMAS!

We are having our daughters who are living out of state come, and that includes my oldest daughter's family (husband and kids; so I am a grandma, six times!). I will also be having friends from Alaska (Jenna and Michael Doucet) and California (the Cohens) come; and hopefully Kendra Williams will come too (she lives in California, too). That would be nice, but now the trick is WHERE in the heck am I going to put EVERYONE?? LOL (I may have to spring for a few hotel rooms for them! LOL) But it WILL be nice to see everyone, and I will get to spoil my grandkids again, and I WILL get to see my daughters again, and that is ALWAYS the best part of all! :)

I am sorry that Nikolas is having a hard time emotionally with people who are disabled. I know that can make people uncomfortable, but what he NEEDS to concentrate on is the fact that Athena is doing well, even DESPITE her being paralyzed, and he shouldn't blame himself for what has happened to her! My goodness, that has been over a YEAR ago since that happened to her!! I will most certainly keep him in my prayers! And I will keep YOU in my prayers too, Sari; so glad to know that you seem to be doing better! That is TERRIFIC! :)

I LOVED the picture of the blue aurora that you put on your letter; that is STUNNING! Where did you get that picture? Did you take it or did you find it on the Internet? In any event, that sure is one pretty aurora! :) We haven't seen any, but aurora season should be starting up anytime; hopefully we will see some spectacular auroras this year, like we did last year! Last year, we saw some BEAUTIES!! :)

Well, Sari, I will go for now; until later, you have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and give my love to Nikolas! Take care, and may God bless you both during this holiday season! I love you and miss you both soo much!

(((HUGS))) As always, your friend in America, Louie May. :)