January 1, 2014, Nashville, TN., 7:15 p.m., C.S.T.~

Dear Journal~

A brand new year: a year full of possibilities, uncertainties, recollections, but above all else, hope.  Who knows what this year will bring, but I am open to any and all opportunities!  That's what makes a day like New Year's so exciting and fresh, because it IS, in so many ways!

This is your friend in Tennessee, Louisiana Sandusky, writing.  I pray this finds y'all well or happy (or at least feeling better if y'all partied a little too hearty last night).  We partied, but we went downtown, where they had a family-friendly celebration, replete with music, dancing, food and (non-alcoholic) drink, and of course, fireworks!  It was a very noisy, wild, grand time, and the children had fun burning off their excess Christmas energy and excitement.

Christmas was very kind to us.  This past year was mostly kind to us; it was one of our better years.  We got several new grandchildren, a brand new baby daughter (now nearly 20 months old) from Ghana, in Africa, and whatnot; yet on the other end of the coin, we had our time of loss, mainly my father, Armand, who died the day before Veteran's Day, on November 10, 2013.  He was 90 years old.  He is very much missed by all of us; the family just isn't the same without our Cajun patriarch.  He had always been a part of our lives; now he's gone, and everyone is feeling his loss quite strongly.

We also nearly lost a daughter (Camille) to MRSA and septicemia back in the spring; she was deathly sick.  For a while we didn't think she would even make it, but she fought hard and is now fully recovered.  Our son, Anh, was injured in a car accident but recovered nicely, and our daughter-in-law Rebekkah Rachel, wife of our son, Johnathon, nearly died while giving birth to her girls; it was touch-and-go for a while.

Happily, though, Johnny continues to beat the odds.  He is now 22 years old and even though weakened by muscular dystrophy that has left him dependent on a ventilator, he is still quite active in our church (he helps with the deaf ministry for those members who are hearing-impaired impaired).  He is also a very loving father and soul-mate to Rebekka.

Ronee', our daughter, also became a mother back in July to twin boys; they are the lights of her and her husband Michael's lives.  Ronee' has been doing great, healthwise, and lately she and Michael have been discussing the possibility of moving to Alaska.  I pray they don't, as they would be so far away from us, but if it is what they want to do, then I am not going to stop them from their dreams.  Ronee' has fallen in love with Alaska, and has shown a desire to move there, to start a new life with her young family.

Bill is still working at Wal*Mart in security; he has had several raises, so money isn't becoming so much of an option; yet with a family like ours, we still have to pinch every penny, to make sure we can pay the bills on time and take care of our burgeoning brood.  It is not cheap to raise 60 + children, even with discounts or coupons.  We have to use all the tricks in the book to make sure we don't end up in the hole.

As for me, I am still working as a nurse at Nashville Memorial Hospital here in Nashville; I have been doing this for over 20 years, and most of the time I love it.  It is challenging at best, and fullfulling, as I love the idea of helping patients get better when they are sick or injured (or die with dignity and hope if they aren't doing so well).  I love helping people feel better about themselves and trying to help them on the road back to health.  I also love sharing my faith in Christ with them and helping out at my church, where I am very involved with the women's and special-needs ministries and am a very active member of the praise and worship team.

I pray that this year is just as good as last year was (save the bad times mentioned above, and if there are any, I pray they aren't as monumental as the death of my father; that really threatened to knock me right off my feet!).  All I can do is pray and put my faith, hope, and trust in God to get me through anything, especially during the bad times.  

Well, I hate to go, but Loretta is crying; have to make sure she is okay.  I will write in here again soon; until then, this is Louisiana Sandusky saying so long; may God bless y'all as much as He's blessed me and my family this past year (and always)!

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