Hi guys,

        Well, we've heard from Chris again.  He called yesterday evening
from his girl friends house.  We discussed plans for Christmas.  He
said that he would like to come home for the night, Christmas
eve.  He also said that he is willing to come to church with us for
our traditional Christmas eve service and he may also be interested,
or willing to attend church with us Christmas day.  He also
apologized, again for the way that he used to treat us.
          I know that all of this sounds good, but I'm not getting my hopes
up.  Chris can be a really smooth talker and very manipulative.  He
may be sincere, he also may be trying to sweet talk us into
something, or he may be in real trouble and is trying to smooth the
way before we find out.  He was suspended from school, for a day, on
Thursday, for swearing at a teacher and throwing around his
things.  I think that it is starting to get rougher out there for
him.  He doesn't have us to take his stress out on any more.  To my
knowledge, his wallet has still not been returned and that has to
continue to bother him as well.
        This must sound like such a sick and twisted message.  I guess that
most people would think that I'd be thrilled to have all my children
home for Christmas, and maybe all in church.  However, HallMark isn't
writing the script for my Christmas gathering.  "Anything could
happen and that's why I"m letting you guys know.  I need prayer that
my Christmas will be okay.  I mean, I think things like, if Chris
doesn't go to church with us next Sunday morning, do we let him stay
home alone with the presents?  What a mess!  I want to rejoice, but
it will take a lot of prayer and leaning on the Lord for this one.
        Pray that I will hold on to the belief and hope that this will be
another opportunity to show Chris God's love, as I did before he left
by washing his clothes and keeping his room neat and clean.  Please
pray that the Lord will protect the day, in our house, that the
prince of peace will truly reign here and that steps will be forged
toward reconciliation between us and Chris, and Chris and his
savior.  Wouldn't the repentant heart of a wayward son be a wonderful
Christmas present?
Kathy