Saturday, April 19, 2014, Nashville, TN., 4:48 p.m., C.D.T.~

Dear Journal~

Happy Easter/Resurrection Sunday to all my friends and family who cannot be here!  He has risen!!  (He has risen indeed!)

This won't be long: we're in the process of getting everyone ready before we head on out the door.  We are going to an Easter Egg Hunt and then to special family communion at our church, Christ Community Assembly of God.  After that, we'll come home and vegetate until morning, where we will then have an early breakfast and then head back to church for a special Easter Celebration/Dinner on the Grounds.

Gonna be a very busy few days.  I have to get up early tomorrow because I'm singing on the praise team; I have to be at the church by 7:30; first service starts at 9:00 sharp.  Which means I have to get to bed by 10 tonight.

Then on Monday I report bright and early at work; I work from 7 AM to 7 PM.  (Good thing I'm off today and tomorrow; I needed it!)

The family is doing well, and we survived Loretta's second birthday party.  She did cry and hide from the people she didn't know, but it didn't take long for her to warm up to all the presents and especially the cake and ice cream.  Then she was bouncing off the walls.  LOL  Loretta really had a wonderful time!!

Johnny's graduation from college is next week.  We will be flying out to Oklahoma, where the ceremonies will be held; he is graduating from Oklahoma University.  Even though he did his courses online, he still has to go to the campus in order ot get his diploma.  It is going to be an exciting day, full of joy and I am sure more than a few tears for not only myself but for the graduate himself.  Hard to believe that he's come this far!!  I am extremely proud of Johnathon!!  This is a goal we'd never thought we'd ever see!  That he's survived a deadly form of muscular dystrophy is a testimony of God's miraculous grace!

Ronee' is slowly getting used to not having Michael around.  Michael is in Alaska, and he's already got a job!  He will be working at Denali National Park as a park ranger; he starts tomorrow in his training.  Ronee' is busy working herself, trying to save up enough money so when she does go to Alaska in October, she will have enough to get started on her new life up there.  She will also be going to New York City the last week of May for her audition for America's Got Talent.  So busy times are ahead for her too.

Jodie will be having surgery on her hands; they are starting to contract again, causing her extreme pain and discomfort.  My heart braks for her, but we know this is for the best for her.  She will be having that done May 1st.  It's coming up quickly; I pray she does well in her surgery.  (She's done well so far up to this point.)

Sergei got one week's suspension from school: he and another boy got into a fight and he hurt the other boy: gave him a broken jaw.  *Sigh*  The boy in question took Sergei's lunch money and this wasn't the first time; Sergei decided he had more than enough, so he decided to confront the boy, and he gave him a taste of his own medciine; only it led to his getting into trouble.  We see the school counselor on Wednesday, one day before we leave for Oklahoma (on Thursday).

*Sigh*  A  mother's work is never done .....

Gabriel is working towards getting his ham radio license; he has shown a real interest in ham radio operations and wants to be a disc jockey or a meteorologist; he also loves weather.  He is a very smart young man.  We are very proud of him.

Enriquesa, who will be fourteen this year, is competing in the Tennesee Miss "I Can" Pageant, where young ladies ages 8-25 will be competing.  All the contestants are disabled.  This is her first try at a pageant and for her talent, she will be singing "Let It Go", the song made popular by the recent movie, "Frozen" (of which we have already seen and loved!). That will be in July in Knoxville.  (She is one of the more involved contestants; she is a congenital amputee, having been born without arms or legs at birth.  She is also an achondroplastic dwarf.)  We are very proud of her as well.

Well, it's about time we get the kids to the van and head on out to Christ Community Church.  I will write in here probably next week sometime, before we go to Oklahoma.  Until then, take care and may God bless you this Easter season, and remember WHY we celebrate!  Yes, Christ has risen from the dead; He is ALIVE!!  And that alone is reason enough to celebrate!!

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