Friday, December 26, 2008, 8:10 p.m., C.S.T., Nashville, TN~

Dear Journal~

Johnathon here.  Sweet sixteen (and have been kissed, hee!), and nowhere to go!  LOL  Turned sixteen years old today, and I got spoiled rotten!

Let's see:  this is what I got:  new Braille books to "read" (Marley & Me by John Grogan, Eddie and The Jets by John Attanas, and The Chicken Doesn't Skate by Gordon Korman), new CD's by Brad Paisley, Ronnie Milsap, and David Cook, $200.00, gift certificates to Barnes&Noble Booksellers, Borders Books & Music, Half Price Bookstores, Olive Garden, and Golden Corral, blank CD's so I can "burn" new music on them, and a membership into a storm chasing group on the Internet.

I made out like a bandit!!  :)

I also got a jacket from the Weather Channel.  That was probably one of my bigger gifts; my mom ordered it for me on the Internet.  Now I look like I am part of the Weather Channel Team!  :)  And it's Gore-Tex, too; that's the good kind of clothing!

Rebekkah and I saw each other yesterday:  we went to the church to help feed the city's homeless/poor; it was a lot of fun.  Her triplet siblings are all getting big (they're a month old now I think; doing very well, I hear), and we even saw Kendra and her family; they now have nearly 40 children.

 Rebekkah looked good for all she'd been through recently; she's glad that she's on break from college.  She's still recovering from her recent lung surgery, so she has to take it easy until she gets somewhat stronger. 

I've been praying a lot for Rebekkah; must be working 'cause she's still here!  :)  I'm also her "boy toy" again; we are an item.  When we don't see each other on weekends, we see each other at church; she usually sits near me.  Sometimes we hold hands and kiss when nobody's paying attention.  *Hee*

Anh is now engaged; he proposed to his girlfriend, Thu, yesterday during the opening of our gifts.  Of course, Thu cried; we all did, I think.  They met in college; they are in some of the same classes together, and they fell head over heels in love with each other. 

Lightning (and her family), Dwerlina (and her family), Melizza, Dianna, and Steffi are home as well; it's so good to have all of them here!  I have missed them like crazy!!  It's fun playing with my cousins; they are all getting so big!

I talked to my brother Erick today; he called from NYC to wish me a happy birthday.  He is sending me something, but I haven't gotten it yet.  I told Erick I would call him and let him know when the package came from FedEx.  I was hoping it'd come today, but nope.  Air mail!  *Buzzzz*  Boo, hiss!!

I saw him on Thanksgiving; he wanted to come see me for Christmas, but his sister got sick and is now in the hospital.  She had appendicitis, had to have emergency surgery yesterday.  She's doing a little better, but she's still in Intensive Care.  (Her appendix popped.  Popped like a balloon.  She's very sick, but is expected to recover, thank goodness; it's just going to take a little time.)

I was disappointed at the news, but glad that Erick's sister is going to be okay.  I will have to pray for her, pray she gets bettter soon!

The weather here has warmed up a little; snow has just about melted.  We may get some rain on Sunday, but then get sharply colder with the prospect for snow.  Good; I love cold weather! 

At least we're not in Canada or Alaska, where the high temperature for next week is slated for -35 below zero!  That is NUTS!!  No, that is PAST nuts; it's INSANE!!  BRRRRRRRRR!!!

I like cold, weather, don't get me wrong; but that's a little bit too cold for me!!

Well, I am getting sleepy; evening meds starting to kick my a**.  I will write in here again soon, probably after the first of the year.  Until then, hope you had as good of a Christmas as I did, and hope your New Year is the best yet!!  Happy New Year and (belated) Merry Christmas!!  So long for now!

~Love, your pal, Johnathon.  :D