November 26, 2013, Nashville, TN., 5:11 p.m., C.S.T.~

Dear Journal~

Louisiana Sandusky here.  Thought I would write in here to wish my friends and family a very happy Thanksgiving and upcoming Christmas season.

I am doing well, but our celebrating this year has been tempered by the recent passing of my father, Armand P. Moliere', who died on November 10 of this year.  He died peacefully in his sleep; he was 90 years of age.  I still can't believe that he is gone; it doesn't seem possible, but it is.  It's as if I've entered a nightmare that I can't wake up from.

I know the kids miss their grandfather.  They have been hanging around the house, their faces wreathed in sadness.  My heart breaks for them; they were really close to him, and he loved spoiling them.

Poor Maman (Terese, my step mother) is lost without her soulmate.  She is a walking zombie.  I feel so bad for her.  I wish there was something I could do to take the pain away!

But there is some good news to share as well, to make the holidays without my daddy a lot easier to bear.  We adopted our newest child, Loretta Tsehi Lynn, who is 18 months old and is as cute as a bug!  She came from Ghana, in Africa, and she is perfectly healthy.  Smart, too, if a little shy (but as soon as she gets used to us and her new surroundings, she should open up more).  She arrived a few weeks ago, and we have really enjoyed having her in our lives!

For Thanksgiving, we will be helping out at our church, Christ Community Assembly of God.  The church is having a free community-wide Thanksgiving meal for all the Veterans, service men and women, poor, and homeless in our community (though anybody is welcome to come, if they so choose).  We have gone out for the past several Thanksgivings (usually to Golden Corral), but this year we are helping out with the community Thanksgiving Feast.  I am sure there will be many in attendance.  I hope they get their fill, and I hope that we can be a blessing to them as they dine and fellowship!

We will probably have our Thanksgiving tomorrow, a day early.  The entire family will be in attendance.  It is good to have the kids (and even grandkids) home, and it is great to see that everybody is looking so well!  I pray this continues!

We also can be thankful because earlier this year, my daughter, Camille, nearly died from MRSA, as well as a blood infection; but miraculously she survived.  We had so many people lifting her up in prayer.  She hasn't had any more problems and has recovered beautifully; she is back to her old self again, and we couldn't be happier! So Thanksgiving has a deeper meaning for our family this year; we are indeed thankful for the miracle that we were granted!

Johnny has managed to stay well; he is healthier now than he has ever been.  I worry about him especially during this time of the year because of his having MD; if he were to get a cold, or the flu, it could put him in ICU or worse, kill him.  I pray for him harder this time of the year than any other time (and I pray for him every day!).  Rebekka, his wife, is doing great too; she hasn't had any problems with her pain insensitivity disorder, and I am praying that continues.

Ronee' and her husband, Michael, are going to take a cruise to Alaska next fall; Ronee' has been to Alaska on a cruise several times, but this is her husband's first time.  He is really looking forward to it, but then again, so is Ronee'.  She really loves Alaska, and she has recently been dropping hints that she and Michael are thinking of moving to Alaska; they want to live in Fairbanks.

Well, I hate to run, but I have to get some of the food in the oven so it can be ready for tomorrow, plus the kids want to watch Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer, which is on television tonight.  Yes, the Christmas season is starting in earnest!  Speaking of, we will be in the middle of the Black Friday Madness come Friday; we always go because that;s when the biggest sales are, and I want to take advantage of some of the bargains.  Take care, and may God bless you always!  Again, Happy Thanksgiving, y'all!  And don't forget to be thankful for all that God's given to you; I know we are!

~Love, your friend in Tennessee, Louisiana Mayrah.  :D