Kathy,

It's sweet how the Lord worked it out for chris to take care of what he 
should have handled a long time ago.  Still praying for the boys adn for 
you.
JulieMelton
visit me at
www.heart-and-music.com
or subscribe to my podcast at
http://feed.feedburner.com/hmradio
Keep smiling!


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kathy Du Bois" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, October 29, 2006 1:42 PM
Subject: the latest from Maine


> Okay guys, You're going to love this one.  It's just too good!
>
> I know that you guys may remember a little of the background
> information, but it has been a while since I've posted about my
> prodigal, so I'll just try to tell the story from the beginning
> because it just takes less time that way.
> Last summer, Chris was arrested for hanging out in an abandon
> building with his girl friend.  He spent the night in jail and in
> court the next day received a fine for $250.  He worked out a deal
> with the court to pay it off $50 a week until it was gone.  Well, the
> first week he was faithful, but after that, well, there was the cell
> phone and, you know, other things, that teenage boys would rather
> have than pay off obligations, so he just sort of let it go.
> I did ask him once if he had paid the fine off.  He said, "yes," but
> I called him on it and he admitted that he had lied.  When I asked
> him the next time, he assured me that people go around all the time
> not paying fines and he asked me to stop bugging him about it.  So, I
> did.  I just prayed.
> Well, about a month ago, Chris received two letters in the mail.  His
> mail comes to our house.  One letter informed him that if he didn't
> pay his fine his license would be suspended on December 10.  The
> other letter informed him that there was a warrant out for his arrest
> if he didn't pay the fine.  You guys will be so proud of me!  I
> didn't say a word; I just kept praying that God would deal with
> this.  Greg talked to him some and Chris assured us that he was
> intending on paying his fine, but that's as far as it went.  I did
> mention to Chris that if paying the fine was a hardship, he might
> want to consider going back to court and talking to somebody to work
> out a new payment schedule, but he never had time, or had to do
> something else, you know, the usual avoidance tactics that people
> have when they don't want to do what they are supposed too.
> Well, Friday, before Chris left for work, he called me to tell me
> that he had bought a car.  His landlord was selling it to him for $50
> a week, but he had saved up enough so that he would be able to pay it
> off.  He told me that it was pretty new, a 1984 and it had a heater
> and a radio and everything!  I just congratulated him and he hung up
> and went to work.
> Yesterday, Saturday, I received a call from Chris.  "Uh, Mom, I've
> paid off my fine."
> "Oh really?  How?"
> This is the story and it's a good one!
> When Chris had called me on Friday, he hadn't actually handed over
> the money for the car yet, or the rent, which means that he left for
> work, at Burger King, with three, crisp one hundred dollar bills in
> his wallet.  After Chris had left for work, some guy tried to ditch a
> cab and he ducked into Chris's apartment.  The cabby and the police
> followed him into the apartment and the police started asking
> questions of the other roommates who were there to see if any of them
> were connected with the guy who ditched the cab.    They started
> inquiring, in general about who all lived in the apartment and
> Chris's name came up.  OOPS, they discovered the outstanding warrant
> for his arrest.  Well, Chris's roommates told the police where Chris
> could be found so, they found him.
>          I guess that Chris was actually working in the kitchen and
> the policeman walked up to the counter and asked for him.  When Chris
> came out, they just said, "let's go," and off Chris went.  They took
> Chris to the station and he handed over his car and rent money.  If
> this had happened one day later Chris would have already given the
> money to the landlord, but God is just so awesome.  The timing was so
> perfect.
>          The policeman that arrested him told him that this was a
> stupid reason to get hauled in.  He told Chris, "You know, if you
> couldn't make the payments, all you had to do was go to the court and
> see what you could work out!"  Perhaps the sweetest part of all this
> was hearing Chris say to me yesterday, "Mom, you guys were right.  I
> should have listened."
>          Chris is flat broke this week so I think that we'll be
> taking him over a little food.  It's his 19th birthday this Wednesday
> too, so that should help a little.
>          He's been coming out to the house every other week or so for
> a meal and just to hang out.  Last Sunday, he went with Greg to Home
> Depot and they were able to just have some nice guy time and some
> good conversation.  We're really pleased with how the Lord is working
> in his life.  He's trying to give up smoking again and he's getting
> antsy     to get his G.E.D. and move on.  He's not sure about the
> military any more, because he doesn't know if he wants to live under
> those conditions.  I'm just glad that he's off the streets and
> staying out of trouble, for the most part.
>          Matthew is struggling, but gaining wisdom as well.  He is
> still living with five other seminary students out in Grand
> Rapids.  He has finally landed a job at Wendy's and is usually
> getting around 30 hours a week, though he is still looking for
> better.  The students that he lives with are having a lot of
> conversations with Matt as well.  They are encouraging him to get
> back into college as soon as possible and, of course, there are a lot
> of spiritual discussions as you might expect, with five guys who are
> planning on going into the ministry.  Matt, too, seems to be settling
> down and reflecting on his life.
>          It's just a peaceful time in our lives right now and I am
> truly grateful to the Lord for the quiet moments before, who knows what 
> hits.
> Kathy
>