Howdy from Nashville, Tennessee!

It's me, your friend, Enriquesa Maria Elena Sandusky!  I hope this finds y'all doing well!

I am thirteen years old now.  A bona fide teenager, although my size my fool you.  I'm not even the size of a six-year-old: I was born an achondroplastic dwarf, which simply means that I was born with an average sized trunk, but extremely short limbs.  Except in MY case, I was born without arms OR legs.

I wear prosthetic limbs to make up for what God forgot to give me when I was being formed inside my mommy's tummy.  I don't let the fact that I don't have arms or legs stop me: I cook, dance, dress/undress myself, feed myself, bathe myself, do my hair ... I am very determined; have always been!

In the fall, I will be in the eighth grade.  I love middle school.  I have many friends there and I have enjoyed my classes.  I love my teachers and I love how the fact that once people get to know me, they stop judging me and stop picking on me.  That is the greatest!

We recently had some bad storms roll through our city, but where we live, not much was damaged, and maybe one or two people were hurt.  We didn't have anything more than tree limbs down and a temporary loss of power.  I was grateful; God got us through the storms!  He always does!

Mommy is in the hospital, but will be home later this week.  I miss her.  Mommy has pneumonia.  She was feeling sick and seemed to be doing better, but then on Sunday, she started having problems breathing, so Daddy took her to the ER.  Mommy was admitted and was found to have pneumonia in both lungs.  She is doing better, but I still get sad when she isn't here.  I do plan on giving Mommy the biggest hug she has ever known when I see her come into the front door!!

Daddy has been taking care of the home (and us), along with Grandpa and Grandmaman, and the oldest kids left at home help out as well, so as to make things easier for Daddy (and Mommy).  Today was my turn to do the beds; I got 'em all done with plenty of time to spare before the buses came to get us for school.

I'm now at school as I write this.  I'm in study hall.  Next is History (BORING!!).  

I need to write in my journal more.  Last time I did, I was only nine years old!! Four years ago!! Hard to believe that all this time has slipped by!!

I am helping out with the little kids every Sunday at church.  I love it.  The teachers are great, and there are some adorable kids in our church family!  The kids (and the teachers) act surprised that I can help, even without having arms or legs, but I have taught them the meaning of perseverance in all things, and how it means to have a courageous spirit.  I am very proud of all that I have been able to do, even with being a congenital amputee and dwarf.

Well, it's about time for me to go to History, so I will let you go for now.  I will try to write more in my journal.  I can't promise, but I will try harder.  I will write in here again soon; until then, this is Enriquesa Sandusky saying I'm outta here! God bless!

~Love, your friend in Tennessee, Enriquesa Maria Elena.  :) 

P.S.: the picture of the storm clouds was taken by me before we headed to our saferoom/storm shelter.  Aren't they scary looking??