Hello from Cali!

This is your friend, Courage Watkins, writing.  I'm now in English class; we have to write a little bio about ourselves.  The teacher will have the kids who did the best job read their pieces out loud.

I am now 13 years old.  I'm no longer in elementary school.  I'm in eighth grade at Redding Middle School.  I am doing fairly well, but reading and writing still causes me problems as well.  (I have learning disabilities.)

I am getting excited: on Thursday it is time for our church's annual Harvest Festival.  I am giong to dress up as Simon's Cat.  I absolutely adore those videos; it is so funny and so true to life!!  (If you have ever owned a cat, you'll know exactly what I mean.)

Besides dressing up, we get to have snacks and listen to Christian music, and play games and take part in contests.  This is the first year our church (Redding Baptist) is holding something like this, as an alternative to the more traditional "Halloween" fare, so we expect a huge turnout.  It promises to be a lot of fun!!

Last week, I became an aunt: my one cousin, Tara, had a baby boy; she named him Chase Storm; he is very cute!  He looks just like his mommy!  I can't wait to get to know him and hold him in my arms!  (My aunt and her husband ... as well as Chase ... live in Los Angeles.)

I have a bit of sad news: my one brother, Colvin Dexter, died earlier this  year; he had a bad case of MRSA and despite efforts from the doctors and nurses, they couldn't save him.  His death hit all of us hard, but especially me (he and I were very close) and of course, our mom and daddy.  We are not looking forward to Thanksgiving or Christmas; it's going to be very hard for all of us.  But we are going to try to go on as best as we can; it is what he would have wanted.  Calvin loved the holidays.

We've gotten past the worst of the grief, but I know it will come roaring back once Thanksgiving and Christmas come around.  We will just have to rely on God and trust in Him to get us through this period.  It's all we can do.

The only comfort his death brings is knowing that Colvin is with Jesus.  He accepted Christ about two weeks prior to getting sick with the MRSA; it was his Christmas gift to us.  We know he is no longer suffering and that brings us much hope.

Well, I hate to run, but class is about to end.  I will write in here again soon; take care and God bless!  Sorry it's been so long in writing; I'm a horrible letter writer!

~Courage.  :)