Tuesday, December 24, 2013 (Christmas Eve), Nashville, TN., Christ Community Assembly of God Church, Nashville, TN., 7:12 p.m., C.S.T.~

Dear Journal~

Merry Christmas!!!!

It is hard to believe that it is nearly Christmas.  In less than five hours it will officially be Christmas Day (and I will be celebrating my 22nd birthday!).  

It seems as if it were only June yesterday.  Now six months have gone by, and I find myself counting the many blessings that God has bestowed upon me, including the birth of our twin sons, Dean and Dillon, who are now five months old, and are the lights of my life.  I also have a wonderful husband, Michael, who has been my rock and has been with me through thick and through thin.  I love Michael with all my heart and soul!

I find myself with an incredibly family: my parents, Bill and Louisiana, and over sixty crazy brothers and sisters, including the addition of my newest sister, Loretta Tsehi Lynn, who is 19 months old and a little cutie pie.  If it were not for Maman and Daddy, I would have never had the hope of a family or a home; I give God all the glory for allowing the Sanduskys to adopt me (and all my brothers and sisters) and form one huge fun-loving, adventerous family!

This year, I have seen some heartbreak, but mainly joy.  One of my biggest blessings (besides the births of my twin boys and the addition of my little sister, Loretta, that is) was when Michael and I went to Israel this year.  Israel was everything I could have ever imagined ... and so much more.  To think that I, Ronee', and my husband, Michael, actually walked where JESUS walked.  To think that we actually swam in the Jordan River and to see the places the Bible talks about!  WOW!!  I am still in awe over that one!! God has truly blessed us both and I am deeply humbled (not to mention, grateful!).

Now Christmas is nearly upon us, and we will gather together tomorrow and celebrate Jesus' birth and the joy of family and friends.  We will laugh and exchange presents and celebrate good times and thank God for all the blessings He has bestowed upon all of us this year.  This year has mainly been one of our better years and we have so much to be thankful for!  I pray 2014 is just as good as this year was!!

Well, I hate to go, but our 7:30 Cantata is due to strt in about five minutes, so I have to get off so I can be ready to perform.  I will write in here again soon; until next time, this is Ronee' Stinkowitz saying so long and God bless!  And most of all, I wanted to take time to wish each and every one of y'all the merriest of Christmases and the happiest, healthiest of New Years!  I love each and every one of y'all!

~Love, your friend in Tennesse, Ronee' Le-Anne.  :D