Weds., August 26, 2009, Nashville, TN., 8:19 a.m., D.S.T.~

Dear Journal~

Louisiana here.  Sorry if I haven't been around lately; been busy working oodles of hours.  When I have been home, I have been wrangling with the kids; raising a family plus working so much doesn't leave me anything but exhausted.  I hope you understand.

Physically, other than being tired (and sporting sore muscles), I am doing great.  The extra hours sure helps with the paycheck; I am able to pay my bills online without too many worries, as I know they are going to get paid on time.  Hubby working too, not as much, but the extra money sure helps when we seem to need it the most (which is often, I'm afraid!  LOL).

I am looking forward to fall.  The long, hot summer is about to drive all of us crazy.  The kids are still on summer vacation; they don't go back to school for a few weeks, and they have been more active (or mischevious) than what is usual for them.  I'm about to wring their fool necks!  LOL  Poor daddy has been taking care of them when I'm at work; I feel like I'm cheatin' him out of some lovin' time or saddling him with the lion's share of the responsibility of parenting so many kids!  LOL

Aren't I the cruel one??  *evil laughter*  LOL 

Sorry, can't help that.  I work anywhere from 40 to 90 hours every week (sometimes even more than that); I don't seem to be home nearly as much as I would like.  Sometimes my husband and I are like two ships that pass in the night:  we hardly see one another.

I'm also looking forward to the upcoming holiday season:  Thanksgiving.  Christmas.  Our Harvest Festival (we don't really celebrate Hallowe'en in our family).  The holidays is what makes this house sing:  it's what I live for; I love going overboard with the fall, Thanksgiving, or Christmas decorations!  LOL  I also love getting the house ready for family that's out of state and then spoiling the kids when they do come home, as well as spoiling my adorable grandbabies! 

Fall signals busy times, not only for us:  our church gets in on the action, too.  The Harvest Festival.  Feeding our Veterans on Veteran's Day.  Feeding the homeless or poor a free meal come Thanksgiving Day.  Our fall editions of "Cleansing Stream" and "Heaven's Gates and Hell's Flames".  Concerts every month leading up to the Christmas Cantata.  Yes, even the church throws itself into the middle of the fall season!!

Speaking of church, I am happy to report that our pastor (Pastor Bilkey) and several other staff members made it safely back from Kenya, Africa, where they'd gone for a week (missions trip).  They made it through their time there without any problems; the only "problem" they had was when Pastor Bilkey's youngest child spent some time in the hospital after getting bitten by a tsetse fly.  (She's two years old.)

I am a part of "Heaven's Gates and Hell's Flames".  I am playing the part of an old Christian woman who has a heart attack and dies.  Of course, she ends up going to Heaven.  I get to use a cane and everything.  :)  (I am going to milk the part for all its worth!  *grins*) 

Our first play practice was on Sunday night.  Our second one is this coming Sunday, and for the next several Sundays after that, leading up to the dress rehearsal the day before the play, and then our presentation of "HGHF" for three consecutive nights, in the hopes of bringing in new harvest into the Heavenly Kingdom.

"Heaven's Gates and Hell's Flames" is a powerful ministry tool in making people think about where they are going to end up once they die:  Heaven.  Or Hell.  It's changed countless lives, for both cast/crew and those who come to see it live.  Once you see it you will never forget it.  I know I haven't; in fact, it is because of "HGHF" that I became saved, thanks to the insistent pleas of two of my children (plus my husband).

The hospital staff know how important church is to me, so they better not mess with my "HGHF" rehearsals, or I am going to be really mad!  LOL  (In fact, I know some of them who could come and see it; they need to!  *grins*)

Well, I am going to go now; am at work as I write this, and I'm fixin' to get back on the clock and work my happy little tail off.  Get off at seven tonight.  I will write in here again when I can; I promise you that!  Until then, this is Louisiana saying so long and God bless!

~Love, your friend in Tennessee, Louie May.  :D