November 1, 2013, Nashville, TN., 10:24 a.m., D.S.T.~

Dear Journal~

Louisiana Sandusky here.  Am on break at work; have an hour for lunch, so I have time to write in my journal.  Hope all is well with you all; as for us, we are getting excited because our new daughter, Tsehi (who will be called Loretta) will be here within the month!

We got the confirmation letter from our adoption agency that we are working with (Holt Children's International) a few weeks back; the adoption was APPROVED!!  Ever since, we've been getting the house ready!  So there will be a new face in our International Family!

In addition to that, we have to get Casa Sandusky ready for Thanksgiving (and then Christmas) and have church business to tend to (Feeding of the Veterans on November 11, which is, appropriately enough, Veteran's Day, Feeding of the Homeless and Downtrodden on Thanksgiving Day [and also on Christmas Day], our adult and children's Christmas Cantatas, etc.), as well as call our kids who are living away from home, to see if they care coming for Thanksgiving and/or Christmas.  We also have to get our Christmas family portraits done and I have to do our annual Christmas Newsletter.  *WHEW!*  And that is on TOP of taking care of the kids, my husband, and my parents!  Not to mention, working full time!

Whee!!

We had a great time last night at our church's annual Fall Festival Family Celebration; it rained, but by festival time the rains cleared and everyone was ready to celebrate and have fun, family style.  Many of my kids still here at home dressed up (as did Bill and myself); I was "Super Mom", and Bill was a mafia style ganster (sans gun, of course!).  My kids dressed up as witches, princesses, ballerinas, angels, or mermaids (the girls), Super Man, Spider Man, The Incredible Hulk, He Man, a tornado (Johnathon), or zombies or vampires (the boys).  The kids made out like bandits in the candy department; they'll be hopped up on sugar for MONTHS!! LOL

There was a huge crowd and everyone was thankful that the rains had moved on.

I can't believe that in a few weeks to a month we will be welcoming our new daughter into our family!  It just seems funny how God spoke into our hearts to take in another child, but the more we talked (and prayed) about it, the more right it seemed to be.  We thought that we were past the point of adopting more children into our family, but God, obviously, had the last laugh.  He had other ideas!

I can't wait until our sweet, precious Loretta is home, safe, in my arms!  I am really looking forward to being her new forever mama!

Well, I hate to go, but it's time for me to eat, so I can get back on the clock and work my shift (I get off at three today; it's my short day).  Until next time, this is Louisiana Sandusky saying so long and may God bless y'all as much as He's blessed our family!

Love, your friend in Tennessee,

Louie May.  :)

P.S.: Don't forget to turn your clocks back an hour Sunday morning at 2:00!