Friday, June 17, 2011, Nashville, Tennessee, 5:32 p.m., D.S.T.~

Dear Journal~

Louisiana here.  Am taking a break from working out in the yard: weeding, planting some flowers in the beds, trying to avoid getting drilled by fire ants.  The fire ants have been really bad this year: just yesterday, Bill got his foot all chewed up; he must have at least fifteen bite marks!

The weather is sunny but hot.  Summer has finally come here to Tennessee ... albeit, a bit early: it is only June, and temps are already soaring into the upper eighties with higher than normal humidity levels. 

Note to self: make sure to take frequesnt breaks and drink plenty of liquids!!

The swimming pool is doing a booming business: the kids have been in and out of it all day, ever since noon, and they're still at it.  They probably won't stop until the sun starts to sink in several more hours; then they'll probably try to catch lightning bugs before the mosquitos chase them in for the night.

Talked to Ronee': she is not coming home for July 4th.  She will probably go to the Lafayette (Louisiana) Fourth of July celebration at Cajun Field with Britnee and Michael.  This will be the first Fourth of July we won't have her here; it won't be the same.  We miss Ronee' when she isn't here!  Same goes with the other children, but they have their own lives to live.  Besides, they will see us either on Thanksgiving or Christmas, so tht is something that Bill or I can look forward to.  We can also look forward to seeing the grandchildren.

Johnathon had to spend the night in the hospital: he needed to get his medication adjusted (his epilepsy medications).  He had a seizure, the first one in many months; it scared all of us because we weren't expecting it.  It happened at church last Sunday; he was in the hospital from Sunday afternoon utnil Monday afternoon/early evening.  Then he got to come home. 

Thank God for small favors!

Bjorn also had to go to the hospital: he fell down the stairs and gave himself a concussion; he did that two weeks ago.  We couldn't arouse him, so we had to call for an ambulance.  He was in the hospital for two days; he still has a trace of the goose egg on his forehead, and the brusing is just about gone.  It really frightened all of us!

Anh does NOT have cancer.  The biopsy stated that the results from his last test was inconclusive, but the doctors decided to give him several rounds of chemotherapy, just to be on the safe side.  He is very much relieved, as are all of us.  Talk about answered prayers!  We continue to rejoice even today!  

Jodie will be graduating from high school next year.  She will be twenty next month.  Hard to believe that she is a senior now.  Seems like only yesterday when we put her on that little blue bus on her way to kindergarten!  Jodie has grown into a beautiful, ever-giggling young lady with a gigantic pesonality!  She has overcome so much; she is our Miracle-Girl and resident giggle-worm!

Well, I hate to run, but the yardwork calls me to get back to my job.  I will write in here again (probably around the Fourth; we plan on going to our city's annual "Red, White, and BOOM!" Festival and Fourth of July Celebration.  We go every year; there will just not be as many of the children with us this time.  Our family is getting smaller and smaller as more and more children fly and leave our nest.

Until later, take care and may God bless; this is Louisiana saying so long!

~Love, your friend in Tennessee, Louisiana May.  :)