October 19, 2011, Nashville, Tennessee~

Greetings!  This is your friend, Slobo, writing.  Am off today from work, so I figured I would write in my journal before I go pick up my girlfriend, Ivanka Petrovich.  I am taking her out to eat; I am taking her to Olive Garden.  She loves Italian food.

Life continues to be good for me.  In a little over two months, Ivanka and I will be getting married!  Hard to believe that it is only weeks before our wedding when it used to be months!  Time is sure passing by very quickly!

Speaking of weddings, this past Saturday (the 16th), a dear friend's son got married.  The wedding was so beautiful; many people were left in tears, me included.  Johnathon Sandusky married his longtime sweetheart, Rebekka Cohen.  They are both very young (late teens), but they decided to get married while Johnathon's health still held.  (Johnathon has a terminal illness but so far has been doing quite well, much to everyone's surprise.)

After the ceremony, the guests went to the reception; it was a most marvelous affair.  Much music and dancing, and lots of laughter (and more tears!).  Then the guests saw the bride and groom head away to go to their honeymoon.  Johnathon and Rebekka went to Alaska for two weeks.  I hope they have a wonderful time; I pray for them both every day.  I love those kids so much!

I wish nothing but the best for Rebekka and Johnathon Sandusky!

The weather is beautfiul here in Nashville: a bit windy, perhaps, but much cooler than it's been.  Bright sunshine-y skies and very few puffy white clouds, very low humidity levels.  It's just perfect!  I am glad the heat of summer has finally passed!

My cousin Josefina who lives in Miami, Florida, called to tell me more great news.  She and her husband, Willie, are expecting their first child about the same time Ivanka and I get married: they are having a boy!  Josefina is nearly seven months pregnant and is so far doing wonderfully.  I pray this continues!  They are thinking of naming the boy after me.  They want to name their child William Slobo Cartier.  I said they should have picked a better middle name, like Stefan, perhaps?  :)  Still, I am very happy for them!!  I will have a brand new second cousin to get to know (and love)!

Ivanka is doing well herself.  She is still working at the store where I used to work at and loves interacting with the customers.  She was a sales clerk but has now been promoted to shift manager.  She is very good at what she does; I am very proud of my wife-to-be!

Well, it's about time for me to go to pick Ivanka up and take her out.  After our meal, we are going to see the movie "Courageous"; I hear it is very good and a friend recommended that we go see it, so we are.  I will write in here again soon; until later, this is Slobo Trbanek saying so long!  May God bless you always!

~Slobo. :)