Tuesday, August 6, 2013, Nashville, TN., 6:11 p.m., C.D.T.~

Dear Journal~

Louie Sandusky here.  I hope this finds y'all well and reasonably happy.

As for me, I consider myself blessed.  Very much so.

I have a loving husband who stands by me and supports me whenever I need him to lean on.  I have over 60 beautiful children that God brought into our lives after losing three of my own five children and a foster daughter.  I have a job that can be crazy at times, but it's a job I wouldn't give up for anything in the world: I love helping people and helping them on the road to health and recovery.  

I have over ten beautiful grandchildren to spoil and love.  I have neighbors and friends who have reached out to us in our time of need.  I only hope that I have done the same for them.  They are some of the best people found anywhere on this planet.  I sincerely and truly mean that. 

I have a church family who has embraced not only Bill and myself, but all of our children and grandchildren.  They pray for us and have given so much of themselves to ensure that we have all that we need, furthering bolstering my faith whenever it threatens to abandon ship.

I have several God-given gifts that I am proud to utilize: my compassion and empathy towards others, no matter how old, rich, poor, young, or color they happen to be, my writing ability (because of this, I have authored several books and regularly write stories or in my blog which I post online), my singing (I sing on the worship team at my church every two weeks; we alternate), and the ability to make or create meals that my whole family will enjoy, and sew.

I have a reliable van that the kind people at Christ Community Assembly of God gifted me with after I was chosen (and became) "Mother Of The Year" this past Mother's Day.  It is now August, and I am still pinching myself at times to see if it is still a dream.  The van is a light pearl/sea green in color, and it is so nice to have a van that actually RUNS without threatening to conk out every time I pull at a red light!

I am the mother of a US Marine.  Tanya joined the Marines over a year ago; she is stationed in Japan and is loving it.  She will be done next year sometime.  She Skypes me reguarly and sends me updates; it is good to talk to her or to see her pretty face.  I miss her so much, and I can't wait to see her again come Thanksgiving and Christmas! (She's already told me that she's coming home for a visit this coming holiday season.)

I am thankful to be living in Tennessee.  While we have had our share of wild weather this year, compared to parts of our country, Tennessee's weather is nothing.  Some areas are baking in triple digit heat with no rain in sight while other areas seem to be inundated with storm after storm after storm, causing flooding, hail damage, and massive headaches for all who live in that part of the country.  Right now our weather is delightful: temps in the 80's and lower humidity levels; it's giving us a slight preview of what's to come when fall arrives.

I am thankful that school is about to start in a few weeks.  While the kids haven't really been obnoxious, they do have their moments at times, and this mama is ready for a break!  LOL  I've gotten all their school supplies at great prices, and they are ready and waiting for the kids to take to school.

I am grateful that Johnny is over his latest round of depression.  He is on a medication that has seemed to have helped; he is a lot more pleasant and happier these days.  He is busy with his online classes; he still aspires to be a meteorologist.  

I am grateful that Ronee' 's twins are thriving; even Dean, the smaller twin, is now out of the hospital and is home with his parents and twin brother.  I am sure that Dillon is much happier about that.  I know Michael and Ronee' are!

I am grateful that I am still a part of the adoption community that I started online.  I still keep in touch with all the people I met through this group and we share each others joys, tears, and heartaches.  It's nice to konw that we aren't the only ones facing difficulties or delights!  

I'm also grateful for being a part of the special needs mommy group.  I go to the meetings once a month; we just talk and let each other know about how our kiddos are doing.  It's great to know that there are other people who understand what I have written about in the past or about things going on at the current time.

Well, I hate to shut this down, but I have an army of hungry people to feed and if I don't feed them soon, they may start gnawing on the table and chairs (or, God forbid, each other!).  LOL  I will write in here again soon; until later, this is Louie saying so long!  May God bless y'all as much as He's blessed me over the years!  Take care!

~Love, your friend in Tennessee, Louie May.  :)