Well Phil,
Fortunately, Chris doesn't drive yet, and, if he keeps being stupid, he
won't be driving in the near future.  He doesn't have his license yet so we
have a lot of control over that and he will not get behind the wheel until
he passes a drug test, that he has to buy, and we insist on
monitering.    In Maine, he cannot get a license for at least six months
after taking drivers Ed. and he needs to wrack up 35 hours on a driving log
so even if he did driving in someone elses car, it wouldn't count because
we have the log and we're keeping track of hours.  The advice that he has
been getting from his friends is pretty dumb too.  He thought that he could
get emancipated within two weeks.  Haha'!  The probation officer dashed his
dreams there.  He thought that a G.E.D. would be plenty, but he's crazy if
he thinks that studying for that is easier than just buckling down and
getting your diploma.  He's just being a fool, that's all, but you already
knew that, right!
Maybe we should pray that he keeps finding stupid friends to hang with
rather than the street wise ones who can point him to all these little
deceptive devices that you described.  Pray too that we stay on our toes
and ahead of the game.  Sometimes, in a situation, the Lord comes to me and
asks, "have you done all you can?" When my answer is "yes," He just says,
let me take over now."  I am at peace with that.  I do believe that we are
doing all that we can do for now.  If there are things hidden, the Lord
still knows.  If we were sticking our heads in the sand, that would be our
sin, but we're not.  We're doing all we humanly can.  We're trusting God
for  the rest.
Kathy

At 02:52 PM 12/30/2004, you wrote:
>Kathy,
>
>Chris is being coached by his pals.  Gretchen began having this type of
>attitude and even about going to jail.  Gretchen was faking her urine
>analysis and everything she could and getting away with it.  They literally
>sell urine samples on the internet just for such purposes, too.  Their
>friends tell them just how far they can go and what they can get away with
>from their own personal experiences.  All the probation officer has to do is
>say he broke his probation and there will be a warrant out for his arrest.
>Of course, they only serve a bench warrant like that if he is stopped for a
>traffic violation or if he happens to get picked up in a drug bust or shop
>lifting or something like that.  Chris won't be able to afford a coke habit
>by working no matter how much he makes.  Gretchen was making drug
>deliveries, carrying the dope to buyers, and delivering thousands of dollars
>at a time just to make money for her own highs.  The rope is getting shorter
>for Chris.  I'm glad you and the lady you mentioned could share some time
>together.  That sort of support always is a big help.
>
>Phil.