Saturday, March 28, 2009, Nashville, TN., 8:00 p.m., D.S.T.~

Dear Journal~

Bill Sandusky here.  Hope this finds y'all well; I'm afraid I'm not feeling my best.  My arthritis is really giving me what for:  most of my body feels like someone's using it for a punching bag.  It really hurts!

The weather isn't helping matters any:  we've been under tornado watches/warnings since two this afternoon; we have a little under an hour left to go.  In addition, we're under flash flood watches here in the Nashville metro area. 

I sit here, in our built-in safe room within our basement, with my family; they are trying to find ways to amuse themselves until the "all-clear" has been sounded.  Johnathon wants to watch the clouds/rain; Ronee' is still scared more storms will come (she's stormphobic), and the babies are crying because they are hungry and are in desperate need of a diaper change. 

Louisiana is sitting on the bench across from me, texting her friend, Naomi, who is currently in the hospital, recovering from a stroke, and Roberto is rubbing his head against the wall like a cat.  Don't know what he is doing or why, but if he doesn't stop, he's going to rub a thin spot in his hair!  It's bad enough he chews on it or pulls it out when stressed!

Jodie and Todd are both sitting in their wheelchairs, sleeping like babies; they've been up since really early this morning, and they're zonked out.  Their day is through; they should be in bed.

We're waiting for Camey and Tammi to get off work; they should be home within the next few minutes (that is, if the storm hasn't held them up).  I pray they get home safe...

Next Sunday is our Cantata; we're still practicing hard for it.  We know our parts backwards and forwards, and I know there will be a good turnout for it.  Last weekend we had the Gaither Vocal Band perform; they put on a wonderful concert; everyone who attended really enjoyed themselves.

Our church still continues to grow:  in just ten short years we've gone from a congregation of just under 100 people to over 1,000; our building is getting full, especially with all the new families coming in.  So many new people to get to know!

We may end up having to put in a new addition to the sanctuary; we do know that we need to make the gym and children's building bigger.  That's how much our church has grown; it's been nothing short of incredible!

We are looking for a new associate pastor:  our current one is transferring to Alaska to start a church there.  (That's where his wife's family is from.)  Hopefully we'll have one in place within the next six months or so.

Next Sunday is Easter.  That is one of our biggest days for our church.  The crowds will be near overflowing; this is why we will be having extra services, so to accomodate the extra people.  We will be having one service on Good Friday, two on Saturday, and three on Sunday.  Hopefully people will get blessed when they come to our Easter Cantata!

After the second service on Sunday, we'll probably go out to lunch; that's what we usually do.  Then we'll head on back once we've let our food digest, and get ready for the evening service. 

We'll probably have the Easter egg hunt on Saturday, in the morning (that is, if the weather decides to co-operate!).  Sunday will be too hectic to have it; the kids'll have their Easter early.

Well, I am going to go for now; until then, this is Bill signing off!  I will write in here again soon.  Take care, and may God bless you always!  May you all have a wonderful Easter and remember the real reason why we celebrate it!

~Bill.  :)