Saturday, April 22, 2006, 5:10 p.m., D.S.T.~

Dear Journal~

Just a quickie note in here before we leave: we are getting ready to go to the Grand Ole Opry with the parents, my brothers and sisters, my grandparents, and of course, my girlfriend, Rebekkah, and her aunt, who are visiting from California.

This will be the second time to the Opry in as many weeks: we went last Saturday, and tonight, we are going again. I don't know who will be there until we see the Opry program, and I am hoping that Reba McEntire will be there. (She wasn't last time. Last time we saw Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, Little Jimmy Dickens, Jimmy C. Newman and "Cajun Country", and Keith Urban, among many others.

Poor Rebekkah and myself were rather disappointed that Reba wasn't there; we were hoping to see her there. Reba  happens to be our favorite country singer! :) )

I am doing well: my muscles have been behaving pretty good for the past few days, and I think having my girlfriend here has helped. She does feel sorry for me when I have to get turned over every two hours, get my catheter bag changed, or get suctioned if I am having problems swallowing. That really bothers her, and I feel bad for her because there isn't really anything that I can do about my situation except pray.

The weather was wild today, but it has started to settle down. Good. We don't have to worry about it storming on the way to the Grand Ole Opry. Before we go to the Opry, we are going out to eat at Shoney's, we haven't been there in a while. I don't think the Shoney's people will appreciate getting inundated with over fifty people in one party, but we won't be there TOO long! We will just eat and go when we get our food! :)

Jenna and Michael had their baby. They had a boy on April 12, four days before Easter. They named him Mattaq Michael William Doucet, and he was born several months premature when Jenna accieentally fell while getting up to go to the potty.

When Jenna fell, her water broke; an ambulance had to be called, and Jenna was rushed to the hopsital, where Mattaq was born about fifteen minutes later in the Emergency Room. He is doing okay, but he is fighting for his life, and right now things don't look too good for him. I will have to pray for Jenna, Michael, and Mattaq; if he makes it it will be a miracle!

The Easter Cantata at our church went well: nobody screwed up too badly, and quite a few people came up for the Sinner's Prayer when the Altar Call was given. We had quite a few visitors at our church, and the services were absolutely gorgeous! It was a very lovely time at church, and the spirit of the Lord was very evident at the Easter services! :)

After the Cantata, we went out to eat at Fire Mountain (we were there for over two hours, just talking, laughing, and having a wonderful time in the Lord), and we went home, where we had an Easter Egg Hunt. I didn't do too good: I only found sic eggs, but Rebekkah found sixteen while Jo-El, my little brother, found TWENTY! He did super!! :) Ronee' was mad: she only found three! LOL

Well, we are going to go into the bus; I have to be loaded up (as do all the kids in wheelchairs). Guess we are going to be heading out soon for the Grand Ole Opry! Hope we have a good time there; hope we see Reba McEntire!!

Have a good day, and God bless!

(((HUGS))) and love, your pal, Johnn-o. :D