Tuesday, September 18, 2012, Nashville, Tennessee, 4:00 p.m., D.S.T.~

Dear Journal~

I sit here looking at the pictures that my friend Tom took of the wedding held this past Saturday and I can't help but cry.  My beautiful daughter, Ronee' Le-Anne Marie, is now married: she is now to be known as Ronee' Le-Anne Marie Stinkowitz.  She has grown up into a stunning, lovely young woman!

Seems like only yesterday when she was first placed into my arms as a baby; now she's in college and is working towards her degree in music with a minor in Jounralism/Language Arts.  And she's married!!

The wedding was held at our church and it went flawlessly other than Akihiko throwing a fit because he didn't get to be ringbearer.  That honor went to Isaiah.  And Isaiah performed his role beautiully.  Also the security alarms sounded when Roberto set off the alarm, startling all of us.  LOL

The reception was held in the gymnasium in the children's building; Ronee' and Michael had a Cajun band as the musical entertainment; everybody had a fine time dancing and pigging out on scrumptious Cajun (and typical American) fare; there was also Mexican food featured.  Michael promised that he would take good care of Ronee' and honor her; I somehow feel that he will.  Michael has always been very good to my daughter and has treated her like a queen.  And now he has the honor of being her husband!

Husband.  It just does NOT seem possible!  

Johnathon and Rebekka even came to the wedding, and poor Johnny had a time with his speech.  He kept getting nervous and his ventilator alarm kept going off, breaking his concentration.  I don't know what is the matter with that stupid thing: I swear the alarm has a hair trigger!  Johnathon is finally putting on some needed weight.  About time!!  Rebekkah and Johnny both look as if marriage agrees with them!  I am very proud of Johnny and Rebekkah for sticking it out; know it can't be easy at times!

Ronee' and Michael are currently in Israel; they'll be back on Monday; they left on Sunday.  I pray they are having a good time; I was nervous about them going, with all the unrest currently going on in the Middle East, but I am sure God is watching out for their safety.  The pastors at church prayed for them on Sunday prior to the wedding and so I know that Michael and Ronee' are covered in prayer, which helps tremendously.

It seems funny how the family is shrinking:  Johnny, Ronee', Steffi, Anh Kim, Richard, Starlight, Barbara, Summer Song, Camey, Tammi, Porter, Michael, Lightning, Dwerlina, Tanya, Dianna, Debby, Sylvia, Trude, Jamie,  and others have flown the nest and are now making new lives for themselves while Jodie, Todd, Roberto, Isaiah, Ian, Akihiko, Camille, Enriquesa, Sun Hee, Mario, Tran, Sergei, Abrahiam, et. al, remain here at home.  While we are still a very big family, it has in a lot of ways, gotten smaller, especially when it comes to the homefront, yet our family continues to grow as new kids are added (Akihiko and Camille) or grandkids join the ranks of the Sandusky Tribe.

Suddenly, Bill and I feel very old.  We have grandbabies to spoil and even most of them have since passed the stage of babydom and now are full fledged children exploring their horizons and are going on new and exciting adventures, such as school and church activities!

I don't know what the future holds for our family, but one thing is certain: God will certainly have the Upper Hand in it and life will never be boring or dull!  I just wish Ronee' and Michael a very long, happy life and a successful marriage!!  And I pray that I live long enough to see my grandbabies give ME great grandkids ... then the cycle begins all over again!  *Sigh!*

~Love, your friend, Louisiana Mayrah.  :)