Nashville, Tennessee, Feb. 2, 202, 6:53 a.m., C.S.T.~

Dear Journal~

Good morning!  Just woke up not even ten minutes ago: lying here in bed, waiting for my beautiful wife to arise from her slumber ... she looks so angelic lying there, snoozing gently upon her pillow ...

Johnathon here.  Hope this finds you all well.  I am doing better.  Last week I had a seizure; scared me, so my wife took me to the ER; was admitted to the hospital overnight.  Turns out the one medication I was on for my seizures wore out its welcome; needed something stronger.  That sometimes happens, but it is still scary, nevertheless.  

 Other than that, no other issues, really, with my MD or my heart/breathing.  Still kickin' ... well, maybe NOT kickin' so much, but I am DEFINITELY hanging in there!  Thank God for small favors; I pray every day for God to allow me to live another day and so far all my prayers have been answered.

I don't know what the weather is like; hang on ... let me check; be right back

Just checked; sunny today with highs in the lower sixties and lows in the thirties and forties (thirties in the outlying areas, forties here in town).  Not bad ... can find an excuse to enjoy the sunshine when i have my lunch break after class today at school.  Today is a short day: only two classes: one at 9:45 this morning and the other at two this afternoon, so that means I can have a few hours to kill between classes.

I need to start trying to get some sun, but am afraid I will get burned ... seems I hardly ever tan; if I do, I get a very light dusting.  My wife, on the other hand, gets dark easily, and some of my brothers and sisters (as well as my parents and grandparents) all turn a lovely shade of brown.  Know it's a sin to get jealous, but sometimes I can't help it.  I wonder what it would be like to go around sporting a nice bronzed skintone ...

Rebekka and myself are both settled in our new digs; we live in an apartment complex for adults with disabilities; we live several doors down from my sisters Dianna and Melizza.  Melizza works at Wal+Mart as a greeter; as for Dianne, she is working towards getting her degree as a teacher to blind children.  (Dianne is blind, so she can relate to the problems that these children have.  I'm legally blind myself.)

I still have my service dog, "Ginger", at my side.  She has been a godsend; she has saved my life numerous times.  I owe my very life to her.  She has given me my independence and is a terrific watchdog/seizure alert dog.  I don't know what I would do without her; I just love her so much!  

Rebekka has a dog as well; she has a German shephard that she has named Kissie; she and Ginger get along like old pals; it's as if they've alwayas known each other!

I don't know what this year will hold, but one thing IS for certain: both Rebekka and I plan on making the most of it.  We will take it one day at a time and take time to praise God for all the blessings that He has poured out over our lives.

Tomorrow is the start of Sabbath; we celebrate it by going to temple for prayer and services; then we go to my church on Sundays.  I am a Christian, but I also celebrate my wife's Jewish beliefs.  I have the best of both worlds.

I pray that Rebekka's health holds out.  She has had a time of it for a while.  Same with her mother, Naomi.  Naomi has a form of muscular dystrophy (I think; I never can remember!) and sometimes it keeps her homebound.  Doesn't help that she has a whole houseful of kids to take care of either.  (Hmm ... sounds kinda like MY family!! LOL)

Speaking of family, Mom and Daddy have both informed me that I am getting a new brother AND sister.  Mom and Daddy are adopting a little boy (3) from Japan (he has autism; his name is Akihiko) and a 6-year-old girl (Camille) from Haiti; they should be here by June or so if all goes according to plan.  I think it's great, but then again, I personally think that Mom and Daddy have a few screws loose: they have already adopted OVER 60 kids now!!  So what's two more?

Oy, vey!!  (As my wife would say ... LOL)

Well, I am gonna try to get myself motivated.  I have to have Rebekka bathe me and get me ready; then we both can go to school.  I will write in here again soon; pray that my (and Rebekka's) health continues to hold out.  We would both greatly apprecaite it!  Until later, this is Johnathon saying so long; may God bless you always!

~Love, your friend in Tennessee, Johnathon.  :)