Sunday, February 5, 2006, 3:52 a.m. (*YAWN!*)~

Dear Rosamunde~

Hello! I am sorry for not writing sooner, but I have had a backlog of emails (lately mostly from my friend in Georgia, it seems; it seems that Donna Oliver and myself have gotten into a game of "E-mail Tag"! LOL I bet she is wondering if I will respond today. I may and again, I may not; Sunday is always so hectic for our family, what with getting fifty-three kids ready for church services, wrestling with them to get onto our bus--that's right, I said BUS! We NEED a bus to transport THIS crew! LOL), loading up lids in wheelchairs, plus all the medical equipment--crutches, oxygen tanks, wheelchairs, etc.--, getting a light snack into their tummies, etc., well, it takes a while. It is always a good day if we are out the door BY seven, and at the Golden Corral (OR Fire Mountain) BY the time it opens at seven-thirty. (Of course, the crew is surprised at seeing a huge tour bus pulling up at the parking lot at that early time in the morning, but they know us, and they know that they have to feed a ravenously hungry crew! LOL)

Yes, it is true ! We ARE going on an ALASKAN CRUISE! We are going in October (during "Northern Lights" season!!). Of coures, it may be plenty cold up thataway by then, but I will make sure I pack plenty of winter clothes and besides, it's NOT like we are going to the Artic Circle! That is TOO cold for this hot-blooded Cajun maman! LOL BRRRRRRR!! LOL I got a free cruise at Christmastime from my supervisors at work, and I was PLENTY surprised, to put it mildly! The reason the entire family is going on this cruise in the first place is because I am celebrating their adoptions (particularly the adoptions of our three NEWEST Miracles, Arjun, Rani, and Janica, who came last year, and we have enjoyed having them in our brood! :) ). We are going with the Carnival CruiseLine (we went on a cruise several years back with them, and we were emmensely pleased; they treated us like royalty, even though my husband, myself, and two of my children are only commonfolk!), and we are going on the carnival "Spirit". I hope and pray that we have a very enjoyable vacation and that nothing goes awry.We had such a wonderful time the LAST cruise we went on, and I figured that this would be a perfect time to take ALL the kiddoes to see nature at its best. Alaska is that one place where nature is on display in a grand scale! :)

How is the weather there in England? Here it is clear, but we may get snow by tomorrow, according to the weather forecasters. It is supposed to get cold here by the weekend, and we may start getting it BY tomorrow. Michigan and Ohio sure got socked iwth snow yesterday, but now the storm is heading towards the Quebec providence in Canada. I hope the weather there is pleasant.

How is Angus doing? I certainly hope that he is feeling MUCH better by the time you get this! How are Brighton, Peter, Alastaire, and Millie? Give them all (((HUGS))) and kisses, and tell them all I say a cheery "HULLO:"! LOL I loved the picture of the children that you sent; they are all absolutely BEAUTIFUL! I am glad you liked the picture of my gang; it IS an adventure to try to get them posed and ready to "SMILE"! LOL We are a professional photographer's nightmare; you can imagine the chaos and confusion that erupts when the Sandusky Contigent comes to town! LOL

Well, I hear stirrings, so that means that the kids and my dear hubby are up. I will let you go. Again, I am sorry for the delay in responding to your last letter, but now you know  why. I have fifty-three children to take care of (PLUS my parents and my hubby! LOL), anad also the animals, and I also have my job and my writing career (PLUS the adoption business!) to tend to. So my life IS confusing at best! LOL Take care, and God bless you always!

Love, your friend across the ocean, Louie May in Tennessee. :D

P.S.: I put a pic of Loretta Lynn on this letter; after all, I DO live in Nashville, Tennessee, Home of Country Music! Loretta Lynn also so happens to be my favorite performer of all time; she is so genuine, and she is a true legend! :)

~Louie May. :D