June 1, 2012, Nashville, Tennessee, 8:08 p.m., D.S.T.~

Dear Journal~

Bill writing.  Hope this finds y'all well and happy.  I am well; just have been working a lot and taking care of the kids when my wife, Louie, is at her job at Nashville Memorial Hospital; it's why I haven't written.  Plus I have my church functions and paying the bills that Louie doesn't.  (She pays half; I pay the other half.  Even steven.)

Just finishing up my shift here at Wal-Mart; worked later than usual:  it was very busy; usually is on the weekends.   

Things here at Casa Sandusky have been hectic, especially now that the kids are out of school.  Their last day was Wednesday, May 30.  They're outside in the backyard, playing in the pool, playing ball, or soaking up the sun and enjoying the nice spring weather.  It was in the middle to upper seventies today and tomorrow is supposed to be a repeat of today, albeit a little warmer, but still beautiful, nevertheless.  

Nice way to end the school year.

That was what Louie told me when I called her just a few minutes ago.  Now I am waiting for Loueva to come pick me up at work.  My van is in the shop; it's getting new struts and tires; this is gonna put me back for a while ... still, I'm not worried, as I know God will provide for each and every need that I have!  He always has and always will!

We usually go to Fan Fair, but this year we decided not to go.  We will be going to Kentucky sometime in September for the National Quartet Convention.  We also have a wedding to look forward to: Steffi and her fiance', Tank, are getting married in July; they are having their wedding here, right in our backyard.  It is really coming up quick!  So we will be seeing the kids again before too long.  Can't wait; Louie and I miss them terribly!

Well, I am a grandpa again.  Back in April, my second oldest son, Richard Merle Patrick and his wife, Karrie Sue, had their first child, a little boy they named Colt Wiliam.  He was born on April 14, 2012.  He is beautiful: he looks lust like his father.  He weighed 4 pounds and 5 ounces when born, but has since gained double his weight: he weighs nearly ten pounds; he eats very well.  Perfectly healthy: ten fingers and toes, no sign of defect or disability, which has been a huge answer to prayer.  

And my girls Summer and Starlight are expecting boys as well:  Summer is having a boy sometime in July; his name is going to be Phuc Hoanh Nguyen.  Starlight is due just after July 4, 2012; she is pregnant with twins, and she plans on calling them Miles Shane and McCullum Wade.  So we will soon have sixteen grandchildren, with the arrival of our three newest grandsons next month!  We last had a grandchild back in November of 2011, with the birth of Bella Thu Grace, who is now nearing seven months of age and is getting so big!  She looks just like her mother, Thu; she is gorgeous!

Recently, our daughter Rhiannon was in the hospital when she had bleeding from the lungs, but she has since returned home and is doing a lot better.  She's a little weak yet, but she feels much more like herself and is trying her best to manage her CF.  Such a strong young lady she is; we are both intensely proud of her!

Ronee' performed at the Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival last month and did a super job; she truly enjoys what she does and it shows in her performances.  We are very proud of all that she has accomplished in her fourteen year music career, but soon she will put that on hold while she gets ready for her wedding, which is in November of this year.  She and Michael are very happy and we have since made him an "honorary Sandusky"; we love him as though he had been BORN to us!  He is very good to our daughter; we couldn't ask for a better person for Ronee'!

Johnathon just finished his sophomore year at college (as did Ronee'); he passed all his final exams and is looking forward to enjoying summer with his wife, Rebekka Rachel, and trying to keep a firm hold on his muscular dysrophy.  He has done very well since having the trache put in nearly two years ago and having a live in caretaker help him (and his wife if she needs it).  

I pray he continues to enjoy good health; so much can happen, since he is so medically fragile.  I worry about him every day, but each day where he isn't sick or in the hospital is definitely a huge answer to our prayers!

Well, Loueva is here, so I guess I will go.  I will try to write in here soon; can't promise I'll do it, but I WILL try my best.  It's just trying to manage 60+ kids and my job here at Wally World prevents this; and then you have my church functions to add to the fun.  NOT that I mind (I don't!), but I need another vacation (and we just went to Galveston back in March)!  LOL  

Until I write again, this is Bill Sandusky saying so long; may God bless you as much as He's blessed me and my family!  Take care!

~Bill.