Monday, March 20, 2007, 5:05 p.m., D.S.T.~

Dear Journal~

I haven't felt much like writing; in fact, I haven't felt like doing much of anything. I have been depressed, very depressed, which is so unlike me.

I just found out last week that my friend Rebekkah Rachel Cohen and her sister Maddie were shot; both are now in the hospital (well, Maddie is; Rebekkah's now in a rehab facility). Anyway, it was touch and go for a while; it still is for Maddie; she may have brain damage, so she has that to deal with. As for Rebekkah, she is now a quadriplegic, paralyzed from the shoulders on down. She still has a strong sense of faith, she's the one who has been trying to bolster mine because lately, my faith has sucked.

I find it hard to trust in God when He allows such bad things to happen, things like wars, violence, crime, poverty, starvation, and whatnot. If he were the Loving God He claims to be, then why doesn't he just come down from the sky and roar: "THAT'S ENOUGH!!" or do something about it?? It would stand to reason for God to do this!

Poor Johnny doesn't know about it, but mamma is going to tell him either later tonight or tomorrow. I am scared for him. Johnny's health has been so good as of late I'd hate for something to happen to him; I'm afraid that something will once he finds out about Rebekkah!

Mamma has been sick with a sinus infection and a migraine; she didn't work either yesterday or today. She is feeling a little better now, but she is still snottin' and blowin'. She really looks miserable. She also has killer pain lines etched in her face; it mkes me hurt just lookin' at her! *OWWW*

Daddy is at work; he'll be there until six tonight. He'll be home within the next hour or so. Mamma is in the livingroom while some of the older kids cook supper, to give our sick mamma a break from the kitchen. It smells heavenly. Tonight it's Mexican night; we are having beef burritos, guacamole, nacho cheese, and corn chips, as well as choice of salsa. I love, love, looooooooove Mexican food! :) It's yummy!

Daddy did something kinda' stupid yesterday: he was mowin' the grass on the riding lawn mower, and now it doesn't work. He was the one who busted it. One of his crutches fell off, and he ran over his crutch! LOL It isn't funny, but then again, it is. It made a really pretty noise, according to mamma, and he nearly turned the air blue with his yelling. He didn't cuss, but he did make the neighbors wonder what was going on; they were looooooooookin' at him...*Giggle* Now the mower--not to mention, the crutch--are at the "fix-it shop". They'll be finished later this week, and daddy can get 'em back. :)

In case you're wondering, daddy is using his old pair of crutches until the one is fixed.

Now that I am writing about daddy, I suddenly feel like laughing, the first time in days. I haven't had much to laugh about this past week, what with Rebekkah and Maddie getting shot and all. It also helps writing to Rebekkah and having her (and Kia, my other friend; she's one of Kendra's daughters; she lost a leg to cancer, I think) give me encouragement by writing to me. I also heard from Eileen Weston, mamma's friend in Texas, still have to write to her.

Note to self--write to these people, andale, andale!!

My asthma hasn't bothered me ('course, I've stayed away from the stuff that bothers my breathing; that helps!), but my JRA--hooooooo-manh, that is another matter altogether! My hands are killing me; it's hard to type without making an un gros erreur! My body hates me right now. Oh, well, it will be time to take my evening pain meds soon, so at lesat I'll have some relief before I go to bed!

I do wish I could ditch my canes, but I'm afraid that isn't going to happen; at least I can walk, so I shouldn't complain. At least I am not on my crutches anymore! Those things were okay, but they were also a P* A* I* N*!! I couldn't hold on to nothing without risk of tripping myself! It was a pain in the REARRRRRRRRR! *meowing like a hacked-off kittycat* LOL

Well, I am going to go now; am going to read my devotions and then pray. I didn't go to church on Sunday because I was so bummed about Rebekkah; gotta' catch up on my God Time. Take care, dear Journal, and God bless!

(((HUGS))) and much love, your friend, Ronee' Le-Anne Reaux. (Dang. I can't even spell my last name; almost put Reux! LOL) :D