December 2009~

Dear Friends~

It is that cheery time of year again, the time when we reflect on events of this year and see how far we've come.

We have had a fairly good 2009, considering the extenuating circumstances:  a shoddy economy, a president who doesn't seem to know what he is doing (I didn't vote for the guy), tension in the Middle East and elsewhere, and much in the way of tragedy, both here in America and abroad.  We're also at war with Iraq and Afghanistan; we don't know where that is headed.  I pray the conflict is resolved soon; right now, however, it doesn't seem to be the case.

All we can do is keep our military men and women in prayer, ask for God's protection, as they go about their business in trying to protect our country and ensure the freedom of others.

We can also show them our support and love when they do come home; if they are killed, we should reach out to the families and let them know that we care and that their sons/daughters, wives/husbands, mothers/fathers, aunts and uncles, etc., did not die in vain.

As for things here at Casa Sandusky (as we have christened our house), things are plugging away.  We are enjoying watching the children grow; our youngest two, our twins, Isaiah and Ian, just celebrated their second birthday this past month, on the 22nd; they are walking, talking, getting into everything!  They keep me hopping; they also remind me that I am not as young as I used to be!  LOL

Anh is engaged to be married; he and Thu, his fiance', are doing very well in Oklahoma, where they are attending college at Oral Roberts University (Anh is going into the ministry field to become an evangelist; as for his wife, she is going to be a teacher to children with special needs).  They were just here for Thanksgiving, and they look marvelous!  I was so glad to see them!

Steffi, who lives in Fort Worth, Texas, with her boyfriend, Tank Griswald, is also attending college (she goes to Texas Christian University; this was where she met "Tank"), and is still deciding what career path she wants to take:  she's not so sure just yet what she wants to do.  Tank wants to be a pastor/evangelist or at least work with high-risk teenagers.

Dwerlina and Andre', who live in Louisiana, are busy raising their two small daughters.  Dwerlina is set to graduate from college next year; in the meantime, she carries a full load of raising her children, working (at Mulate's Cajun Restaurant in Breaux Bridge), and going to school!

Deborah is in her second year of college; she is going to Tennessee State, where she continues to work towards her goal of becoming a teacher to kids with disabilities, even though she is seriously disabled herself; however, none of that has ever stopped her.  She also has a minor in music; if her teaching career doesn't work out, she would like to become a gospel singer.

Jodie had surgery back in August/September (on her feet) and has since recovered beautifully, without any complications.  She continues to discover and learn; life is nothing but a huge, neverending adventure for her as she learns to communicate more effectively.  We are very proud at how far she has come; for a child who is considered "profoundly mentally disabled", she has come a phenominally long way!

She is our resident giggler.  Anything and anyone can get her laughing when you least expect it; with Jodie around, laughing, one can never be sad for long!  She can be guaranteed to put a smile on your face!

Ronee' is still pluggin' away with her music; she has sung at several important festivals/celebrations here in Nashville; she even tried out for "America's Got Talent" (got cut once she got to Hollywood) and is planning to try out for "American Idol" right after Christmas when the auditions come here to Nashville.  I think she has a shot at it; be praying she makes it!  She would really love to be a singing star!  That is one of her main goals in life, ever since she was a very little girl!

She is driving now, which proves one thing:  she is definitely growing up!!  She has inherited her father's "Bug" and has enjoyed her newfound freedom.  Ronee' is a very careful and capable driver; we are very proud of her!  She has taken responsibility and pays part of the insurance prenium on her car every month.  To get it paid on time is extremely important to her.

Johnathon, amazingly enough, is still with us, surprising us with his courage and will to live.  As you know, he has Duchenne's muscular dystrophy:  he wasn't expected to live past the age of five years.  He's going to be seventeen in a few weeks.  A major miracle!!

Unfortunately, his health has deterioated to the point to where he needs a ventilator to breathe; however, he can still communicate quite well and is very busy with the deaf ministry at our church:  during services, he does ASL to the deaf members of our church and does extremely well at it, too. 

Other than a few minor setbacks (feeding tube put in to his stomach, having to use a respirator to breathe, having a central line installed, a round of the [regular] flu, etc.), Johnathon has enjoyed his best year of "good" health ever!  He's proven people of the fact that "what doesn't kill you in the end only makes you stronger"!  He is absolutely incredible, and we feel blessed that Johnathon is our son!

Barbara and Arjun are our miracle children:  while they don't have significant disabilities, the fact that they are still here is a blessing indeed.  A few months back, they got very sick with a bout of the swine flu; both ended up in the hospital, in Intensive Care.  For a while there, we thought we were going to lose them; they were in grave condition.  At the time things did not look good for them; however, God intervened, and they recovered without incident.  They are both enjoying renewed health and praise God every day for letting them have a second chance at life!

Lightning and her husband, Darnell, who live in Colorado, have been having marital problems; both are currently in couseling to try to move past their problems.  I pray it helps; I'd really hate to lose Darnell as a son-in-law!  He's proven to be a wonderful helpmate, husband, and father to her children!  He is one of a kind!  They may come for Christmas, along with their brood, but it hasn't been decided yet.  Stay tuned for further developments!  In the meantime, please keep Darnell and Lightning in your prayers; they could really use them!

Friend-wise, most are doing very well.  While I haven't heard from Audrey and Rick Callaway in a while (I only pray they are okay), Naomi Cohen and Rebekkah Rachel, Kendra and Michael Kent, Phoebe Pearson, Maddie and Greg Wright, Sari and Nikolas Constantinos, Tottie and Bobby Brighton, and others continue to live, grow, and enjoy life to the full. 

Meanwhile, others (like Hildago Aguilar, Wayne Wright, Rosamunde Alcorn, Gayle Richardson, Terri and Tovah Ben Ami, and Aasha Singh, to name a few) are facing unbelievable circumstances that are testing their faith, their strength. 

Hildago's health has gotten worse, while Wayne continues to battle complications rising from his spina bifida.  Rosamunde's husband has gotten seriously ill and she is often left alone to raise their children by herself.  Terri and Tovah lost their precious daughter, Nashi Danielle, to Canavan disease (she was only nine years old) back in March and are having a hard time dealing with it. 

As for Aasha, she still blames herself for the sad condition her five-year-old son, Sanjeet Raneesh, is in.  Two years ago, when he was nearly three, Sanjeet accidentally hung himself while he was playing with his older sister, Vida Chunarum, and is now severely brain damaged, unable to do anything for himself.  The stress/demands of raising such a severely disabled child took its toll on Aasha; soon she and her husband, Manjeet, had to make the painful decision of having their little boy placed into a home for severely handicapped children. 

All I can do for these dear friends of mine is continue to lift them up in prayer, which I do, every day.  I pray God gets them through their struggles and gives them a comfort or peace that passes all understanding; most of all, I pray for strength so they can get through yet another day; I also want them to know that they aren't alone in their struggles:  God is right there, beside them; He will never leave or abandon them.

In the meantime, we are all done with the Christmas shopping:  presents are wrapped, the tree is up and decorated, and we are ready to entertain guests when they come calling.  Christmas is an extremely busy (not to mention, exciting) time for us, but we wouldn't have it any other way.  I love Christmas; always have, always will!  :)

So on that note, let me wish each and every one of you the merriest of Christmases and the happiest, healthiest of New Years; and please take time to think about why we really celebrate Christmas!  It isn't so much about the gifts or buying:  it's about that little baby who was born in a manger over 2,000 years ago so He could save mankind from sin!  Please make Christ a part of your Christmas celebration; after all, if He hadn't been born, there wouldn't even be a Christmas!

God bless you all and Merry Christmas from Louisiana Sandusky and the crew!  I love you all so much!

~As always, your friend in Tennessee, Louisiana Sandusky and family.  :)