Thursday,  December 17, 2009, Nashville, TN., 5:40 a.m., C.S.T.~

Dear Journal~

Louisiana here.  Thought I'd write in here before I head out the door within a half hour to go to work, so here goes.

Kendra has been put on strict bedrest by her doctor; she's been under too much stress/strain lately, especially with Sophia falling ill.  Sophia may have cancer; it's looking more and more like that possibility.  I have been lifting the entire family in prayer; they've been through so much already ...

Rebekkah and her family are doing better, but naturally, she's worried:  after all, her mother and Kendra are sisters.  Rebekkah hasn't been in the hospital in nearly a year; that's been a record for her!  I pray she continues to do well!

Tonight is our employee's Christmas party, held in the hospital's cafeteria.  Children and spouses are welcome, so the cafeteria is going to be packed.  It's going to be a lot of fun; these parties always are.  I can't wait!!

Sunday is our Cantata; tomorrow night is the last choir practice before Saturday's dress rehearsal; then Sunday is the Cantata, for both the morning and evening services.  We've really been practicing hard for it; I pray it all goes well without any problems or glitches!

I work today and tomorrow; then am off Saturday and Sunday,  off Monday, and work the following four days, including Christmas Day.  Which means we'll have our Christmas Christmas Eve night or on Christmas Day after I get off work (whichever I decide). 

I know Johnny will like the computer we got him, and I know that Ronee' will be happy when she gets the cell phone she wanted!  I also know that Arjun, Sergei, Kwame', Vijay, and Vincente will be thrilled with their electronic cars, and that Opal, Emma, Enriquesa, and Janica will be happy with their new Barbie dolls.  Jodie will also love the new blanket, bedset, and clothes we picked out for her, as well as the new stuffed koala bear.

Of course, we got toys and other goodies for the grandkids; we shipped off Lightning's package last week, so it could arrive in time for Christmas.  They got their package yesterday; Lightning called to say it arrived safely, so that's one less worry to think about.  (Lightning and her family couldn't make it from Colorado because Lightning and her husband are still working out their marital difficulties.  Things are looking better, but they're not quite there yet.)

When the children get home from school today, we will have to get them (and ourselves) ready for the party; then we'll head over to the hospital and have our party.  Not much room for dilly-dally today; no, siree!!

Monday starts their Christmas break (I refuse to say "winter break"); they'll be off school until January 5, 2010.  I will be busy baking Christmas cookies (and trying to keep kids out of the kitchen while I do so), getting ready for the Cantata on Sunday, and getting the house ready for Steffi, Tank, Anh, Thu, Dwerlina and family, Melizza, and Dianna for when they arrive next week (Steffi and Anh come in Monday from Texas and Oklahoma, and Dwerlina and family come in from Louisiana on Tuesday; as for Melizza and Dianna, they'll come on Christmas Eve).

I'll also be running to and from the hospital, be it working or visiting Sophia Kent and giving Michael a needed break.

*Sigh* A mother's work is never done, especially around the holidays!  *Double sigh!*

The weather here is supposed to be nice today, then rain tomorrow, and a rain/snow mix on Saturday.  We may have a white Christmas, the way the weather people on the news are talking.  Will have to check www.noaa.gov and see what they say about this. 

I am also going to check out www.youtube.com and see about starting a page for myself.  I'd like to upload videos of my family to share with the world.  Haven't done it yet; there's so much in the way of bad stuff on that site, but I would make my page family-friendly.  I am sure there are many good people there; it's just having to get past all the bad ones to get to them!

I'd also like to join Facebook and see what that is all about.  My friends go there all the time, and they say it's a great place.  I will have to see this for myself.

I used to go to Myspace, but some of my kids' accounts got hacked there, so Bill and I cancelled their accounts, and we no longer go there.

When I get on the computer, it's to e-mail friends, catch up on the latest news from my adoption community, and do my blogging/journaling.  I do most of that at night, after the kids are in bed (that is, if I don't have any interruptions, in which I often do!).

I've also started writing another book; I'm writing a fiction story about a couple who adopt several children from Haiti and the pains/triumphs they go through in order to get their children.  I've gotten seventeen chapters completed; have at least that many more to go.  I'm about halfway through with this project.

Well, I hate to go, but I have to be at work in less than an hour (in fact, nearly 45 minutes from now!).  I will write in here probably Sunday night, the way things are going now.  Talk to you soon; take care, and may God bless you!  And above all, Merry Christmas; may it be your merriest Christmas ever!

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