Tuesday, Auguest 1, 2006 (my, a new month; won't be long before my kids are back in the classroom...*sighhhh*)~

Dear Kendra Mae~

Hello! It's Louie; thank you so much for your e-mail. I am sorry for not writing back in a few days, but I have been busy with the back-to-school shopping; sales out the ol' wazoo, you know...when you're the mamma to fifty children (and just about all of them being of school-age),  you have to take advantage of the specials.

This is when I stock up on school supplies, notebooks, backpacks, clothes, shoes, and whatnot for the gang. Everything is (usually) cheap; I have to take advantage of the sales, or I'll end up in the poor house! LOL

I am sorry about Maddy's situation; I will be praying hard for that little girl! That must have broken her heart to find out that she would not walk again. But I AM glad that the surgery was a success; that is a huge answer to prayer! At least that is out of the way; now she can concentrate on getting better! I will be praying extra hard for that little girl!

Well, I found out that Gabriel Abrahiam is to be OURS. We will soon have FIFTY-FIVE children!! Of course, it will probably be around Christmas or later when little Gabriel arrives to our family from Israel, but if the Lord has His way, he may come sooner, thanks to all the unrest there.

My, but Israel is in the news a lot lately these past few weeks--signs of the coming of the King of Kings, perhaps?? Could be; one can only hope---

We are excited beyond belief about the (impending) arrival of Gabriel. He is such a beautiful little guy with his dark, curly hair and wistful eyes! We have already fallen in love with the little guy, and we cannot wait until he arrives to our house--and our hearts!! :)

I have heard that it has cooled off there. Here it is as hot as an oven: ninety plus degrees with high humidity levels. The only relief we get from the heat is from afternoon pulse thunderstorms that pop up in the heat of the day and dissapate when the sun goes down.

Or we go to the pool and swim, or we stay in our home, where our ACs keep us comfortable. There's ways for us Sanduskys to beat the heat! :) We know not to overdo it when it's hot, and the kids who have breathing problems (Rhiannon, Johnny, etc.) tend to stay in because the air is so hard on their lungs.

Speaking of kids, Ronee' has returned from camp, covered in mosquito bites. They must have used her as a target. LOL She didn't get sick once during her week at camp (praise the Lord!!), and she had a ball! She is as brown as a walnut, and she was glad to see her friends again!

Now Johnny is at HIS camp, and I hope that he has a good time! I will have to tell him  that Rebekkah has been doing better; that will make him happy! Poor little guy has been so sad lately; my heart breaks for him; he is so vulnerable now...Please keep Johnny in your prayers; he can really use them now!

Oh, dear--I looked out, and there is an ambulance next door. I wonder what is going on at the Johnson place...I hope it isn't Opri--Opri (pronounced like OPRY) has had kidney problems ever since he was born, and he has had a kidney transplant twice. He has had a lot of health problems, and he has been in and out of hospitals since he (and I) can remember. I have taken care of Opri several times, and he is one tough little guy! I will have to pray for the Johnson family--

Now the kids are looking out, watching the ambulance next door. They are worried too, and I will have to try to quell their fears. Hopefully it is nothing serious.

I will keep you posted on Opri Johnson's status (if it is him); stay tuned~

I am taking a few days off work; this is why I am home. Nobody is sick here, but I needed a break. Yeah, I know I have had time off lately from work, but I have been pulling a lot of overtime, double shifts, and I am wiped. Doesn't help that I am the parent to fifty-million kids LOL, but it's my life! LOL I get so much in the way of satisfaction with my kids, and also with my patients at work! I love my jobs as nurse and mamma!  I am indeed blessed beyond measure! :)

I ought to have some pretty paychecks come payday time---THAT will be nice; I can get groceries, pay the bills, and still have money left over! :) Maybe I can even tithe more than I usually do at church! :)

Have you ever seen the movie "Left Behind" starring Kirk Cameron ("Growin' Pains")? If not, you should; it is really a compelling movie, very well acted, and faithful to the book upon which it is based. The sequel, "Tribulation Force", is just as good; you ought to check them out if you have some extra time! Just a suggetion... :)

Well, dear Kendra, please keep me posted on Maddy's situation, and also the goings-on in your world. I would also like to know how the Mason family is doing; please tell Jeff and Louisa hello from us here in Tennessee! Tell them we are thinking of them and that we are praying for them! Also tell Audrey, Rachel, and the gang over there hi; I will be writing to all of 'em soon! Just give me a few days is all I ask! LOL

Take care, Kendra, and may God bless you mightily! Don't worry about Missy; she will do just fine. My kids who are in college at the present time (Anh Kim, Dwerlina, Tanya, and Steffi) are doing wonderfully, and they love school! They will be starting back next month and are already looking forward to the new semester! I will pray for her as well!

(((HUGS))) and much love, your friend in Tennessee, Louie May Sandusky. :)