Monday, December 22, 2008, Nashville, TN, 9:46 p.m., C.S.T.:
Dear Journal:
Sopai! This is your friend, M'Buti Ayala Moore-Sormiento, writing. Sorry for not writing since September 11 of this year; it's just I've been incredibly busy with the children, plus my health continues to give me concern.
I am still arguing with my blood pressure being too low; have to be careful when I stand or sit up, or I can get dizzy and pass out when I least expect it. There's been times where I've cracked my head, nearly split it open, from falls; I have sported more bumps, bruises lately, from my falls!
Amazingly, I have not broken anything from my falling down; just have bruised my face, arms, shoulders, sides, legs, hips. Just about everywhere. I look like my husband, Roberto, has used me for a punching bag! LOL
The children, they are fine, growing like weeds. Jubaki, at ten and a half, is over 5' tall; he is going to take after us, his parents; we are both tall ourselves. The other boys are going to be tall, too; Eshe', the only girl, however, is going to be petite; she takes after my grandmother on Mother's side. She looks like a miniature copy of me; it's as though I am looking at myself as a child again. Very scary to see! LOL
Our animals are doing well: no problems with them getting sick; they remain healthy, beautiful creatures. We take good care of our animal friends, and they love us unconditionally.
Roberto is still in the Marine reserves every month; one weekend a month he goes to Memphis for continued training; he loves it. He still can fit in his Marine uniform; I look at him, and I think my heart is going to stop! LOL He looks so sexy in his uniform!
I am working at the newspaper, in the editorial department; I love it so much! It's not much pay, but at least it pays the bills, provides for our family, so I shouldn't complain (too much)! LOL Life is indeed good for our (big) little family!
I always get amused at the reactions we get when people see our family. There's us, the parents; then there's ten kids: nine boys, one lone little girl. People think we are part of a church group or a school group on holiday; when we tell them we're a family, they are so surprised! LOL (I now know how Louisiana Sandusky feels when her family is in the public eye!)
We are just about ready for Christmas. We got our tree up, and we got our presents wrapped without the kids knowing about it, which is something of a miracle! LOL Santa has been very good to them; they'd better like what he got for them, is all I have to say! The cards have all been sent out, as have the packages; I suspect we should be hearing from my brothers back in Kenya, Africa, any day now. They always call just before Christmastime.
I pray Keserian and Naiser are doing as well as we are; I always worry about them because they are so very far away! I wish they lived here in America, closer to us; that way, we could see them just about every day!
It is however a bit of a sad Christmas: I miss Mother, Father, Stephanie Green, Parnyombe, other acquaintances from here and far away. I wish any of them could spend time with us; we'd be more than happy to accomodate them! (Mother, Father, and Stephanie, we can't have them here; they're now in Heaven, with Engai; but the others can come if they so desire.)
I wish we had our cheetahs Sambeke and Sayidana; I miss hearing their happy purrs, feeling their rough tongues brushing against our skin, as they licked us in contentment. I also miss Shange', our lion, and our tigers; however, I know it is against the law to have exotic pets unless you have a special license, and besides, I am sure they are happier at the zoo; this is where they truly belong. Roberto did have a special license, but neighbors still complained, so he had no choice but to get rid of them; it about broke his heart in two!
If it were not for the above situations, Christmas time for us would be a much happier affair. I wish we could do more to make it happy, not only for the children' sake, but each other. We are struggling to keep our bills paid on time, and trying to be there for the children, not to mention, each other. I sometimes feel like a burden because of my ongoing health issues; I feel out of control a lot of the time!
We will try to do our best, though, to make Christmas festive. We always manage to pull it off, but I do wish my parents, not to mention, my brothers, were here to celebrate it with us!
So on that note, let me wish you and yours a very happy Christmastime. Remember the real reason behind Christmas, and let His love shine on in you, not only at Christmas, but the whole year through! May you also have a very happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year! God bless you all! I will try to write in here more often than I've done as of late! Take care!
~Love, your friend, M'Buti Ayala Moore-Sormiento. :)
