Wednesday, December 28, 2005, 11:28 a.m., Smyrna, Georgia~

Dear Louisiana~

I know it is past Christmas, but the holidays are still here; soooo...Merry Christmas (late!!), and I hope that you have a very happy, prosperous, and wonderful New Year! I am sorry for not writing sooner, but Bethlehem is still recovering in the hospital (SLOWLY, yes, but surely; every day it looks more promising for her; thanks for all the prayers and support!!), and it seems that I spend more time at the hospital than I do home. Poor Kip has been wonderful with the kids, but I know that the children miss their mama very much!

I wrote to your friend, Kendra Williams, in Soulsbysville, California, but I have yet to hear from her. I know she is busy with her OWN brood, and I know she has a new baby, so if I don't hear from her right away, I will know why. Still, I do hope she writes back to me. From all you have told me about her, she seems like a very nice person to get to know!

We had a good Christmas, but it would have been better hadn't Bethlehem gotten sick and ended up in the hospital, fighting for her life. Still, she IS a strong young lady, and I am still praying and hoping that she will get through this crisis that she is currently facing. She will also have a very long recovery period ahead of her, and I know that she will have to adjust to losing her legs to the bacterial infection, and living life with prosthetic legs or using a wheelchair (whichever will be easier for her). It will be a big adjustment on ALL our parts, not just for her, but I am hopeful that our faith will get us through this time of worry and uncertainty. I am glad that you had a good one (at least I am HOPING you did!!). Did you get any nice things? I did: I got a new diamond ring from my hubby, and the girls all chipped in and got me a new winter's coat. It is coolish here, but dry; we are in desperate need of rain! (Hear that Texas and Oklahoma are in far worse shape than Georgia: tinderbox conditions and rampant wildfires. Every day, we hear of the fires there, and I hope and pray that those people make it through this time of drought! I pray that they get the relief that they so desperately need!!) And too much rain in California: craaaaaaaaaaazy weather patterns this year! Makes me a tad uneasy!

So...did you find out the "Big News" from your daughter, Dwerlina? I hope it was good news! Let me know what happened and what she told you..I am ALL ears! :) I HATE being on the edge of my seat like this! LOL

How was your Christmas party at your job? Was it just primarily for the staff, or were family members invited as well? I hope you all had a good time! Did you make it to any Christmas services at your church? We usually go to church for Christmas services, but this year, we didn't (due to Bethie's being in the hospital). We attend Smyrna Assembly of God; in fact, church was where I had met Kip, and we "met cute" and eventually fell in love. Now we are married to one another, and we have this family of children to raise! God sure does work in mysterious ways, doesn't He?? I am glad that God has been so good to your family: you have had much tragedy, but you also have had much in the way of joy, and it is obvious just from your happy letters just how strong your Christian faith REALLY is; and that is so refreshing to see in this cold, cynical world of today!

Well, we are getting ready to head on out to the hospital (so we can see our daughter), and we will probably spend a good chunk of the day there. I will write again soon; hopefully the good news will continue to happen, in terms of Bethlehem's recovery from necrotizing fascitis (closer to your spelling, but still wrong, I am sure! LOL Those long medical terms still throw me for a loop! LOL); just continue to lift us up in your prayers! Have a wonderful New Year, and may it be full of hope, promise, and above all, joy and blessings beyond comprehension!

(((HUGS))) and love, your Georgia pal, Donna Sue Oliver. :)