Monday, February 2, 2009, Groundhog Day, 5:43 a.m., C.S.T., Nashville, Tn.~

Dear Sara Rebecca Probst~

Howdy!  Thank you for taking the time to write to me, and also for reading my book; hope you are enjoying it!  Glad to hear it's available there in Iowa!

Your six children sound absolutely delightful; I'm just glad Icarus is getting the help he needs, in relation to his asthma.  Asthma is nothing to mess with; as the mother of several children who are asthmatic, I can relate whenever their breathing acts up!  Not a fun experience, as we both know, especially if they have to go to the hospital!

How do I cope with my own children's medical issues?  Well, for starters, I'm a nurse like you; however, I work at a hospital (have to work there today, within the hour); have been a nurse now for over 10 years.  I love it so much; I've met many wonderful people, and it's the children who remain my absolute favorites.

When probems erupt, I try to get a handle on them as quickly as possible.  I'm not always successful; however, God has seen me through some incredibly hard times, and it is only because of His sovereign grace that my kids are still alive today!

Being the mother to children with special needs, I have learned much; they are my greatest teachers. 

I wouldn't have it any other way!  :)

As you read in my book, our children come from all over the world.  Korea.  Japan.  China.  Vietnam.  Malaysia.  Germany.  Russia.  Romania.  France.  Italy.  Israel.  Iran.  Iraq.  Finland.  Africa.  India.  Sri Lanka.  Mexico.  Guatemala.  Canada.  The United States.  We could start our own United Nations!  LOL  Yet through the miracle of adoption, they became one; we can't imagine our lives without any of them; they've all brought us such joy!

I am a very busy woman.  Between raising our village LOL, working, church duties, writing, and being involved with an adoption community, I don't have very much free time; what free time I do have comes in spurts.  My friends (as well as my husband) jokingly refer me as the Energizer Bunny because I "keep going and going and going..."  LOL  And I do, too!

Believe it or not, I do sleep.  I am lucky if I get five hours a night; that's why I relish Saturdays so much (that is, if I don't have to work!).  On those days, I don't rise out of bed until 11 or NOON!  LOL

Thank God for the older kids as well as my parents and husband; they keep the younger kids under control while I sleep!  :)

It is incredibly expensive to raise as many children as we are.   Often we find ourselves short on green; however, friends/family have rallied during our lean times; we never lack for anything, plus God always seems to make a way whenever we need it the most.  We are not poor, but we are not rich, either, not by any stretch of the imagination.  We are working middle class too, just like most of America, and a lot of the time we struggle with bills (especially medical bills; those are the worst!!).

We didn't plan to adopt; it just happened.  I like to call our adopting a "happy accident".  We haven't regretted it one bit, even when we lost our foster daughter to AIDS or lost custody of some foster children we were in the process of adopting (but for some reason the adoptions failed; they went to other families). 

We did try foster care; we recently fostered a little six year old boy, but he went to a family in Colorado.  He was just too much for us to handle. 

We don't know if we will do it again; being a foster parent is too much to deal with.  You have them for a while; when you finally become attached to each other, then they go away, leaving you heartbroken.  It's too much. 

We would much rather adopt.  It may be more expensive, but in the long run, it's better for the parent as well as for the child (most of the time).

Well, Sara Rebecca, I've bent your ear long enough; I have to go get something to eat before I head out the door to go to work.  It was good to hear from you; please write back when you can.  I will get back to you as soon as possible!  I may not write as soon as you (or I) would like, but I will get back to you!  Guaranteed!  Take care, and may God bless you mightily!  Send us a piccy of your family; that way, I can see what y'all look like!

(((HUGS))) and much love, your new Tennessee friend, Louisiana (Louie) Mayrah Sandusky.  :D