HI Guys,
        Well, any reasonable person would know that you are skating on thin ice
when you're acting disrespectful enough to make your probation officer so
mad that she throws you out of her office.  Yet, that's my boy!  I'm so
proud!  Groan!
        When Greg took Chris in to his first official visit with his probation
officer yesterday, he also brought in a list of all the happenings in our
house over the past few weeks.  I won't boar you with the details, but
let's just say that it has been dicy at least.  Chris came home drunk once,
has damaged a door frame and a wall and the list goes on.  He has
brandished knives and the whole bit.  Anyway, she basicly told him that if
we, his parents, make one more report of his outlandish behavior that he
will go to court and a judge will decide if he is out of control or
not.  Chris is basically calling her bluff.  He doesn't think that she can
do that.  Brother!!  He has mistaken her attempts to keep him out of court
and record free as a sign of weakness instead of a sign of grace.  I'll bet
that a lot of people see God that way too.
        Yesterday, it was pay day for him, Chris got picked up by somebody.  He
was gone for less than a half hour and then came home.  We know that he got
his pay check.  Matt confessed to us later that Chris told him that he went
somewhere to order cocaine, $35 for a half a gram, but that he isn't in
possession of it yet because someone still has to go and pick it up and the
transfer point is, supposedly, 8 hours away.  He's not expecting to have it
until late today or tomorrow.  Too bad that we didn't know that before the
probation appointment yesterday.  I scoured  Chris's room yesterday and I
did find a tiny bag of, what we think is left over pot and and what we know
is  the end of a roach.  Unfortunately, I didn't have that before the
meeting yesterday either, but Greg is going to try to stop by the probation
officer's office today to ask what we should do about it.  I pray that she
is in.  As far as this other tryst is concerned, I don't know how to
pray.  Of course, my most optimistic hope would be that Chris was just
bragging about nothing and full of hot air.  I could pray that the person
who is picking up the stuff is caught on the way back to Glenburn or I
could pray that they are all caught while sharing.  That would leave us out
of the picture altogether.  Unfortunately, we haven't been able to find out
anything through instant messaging yet and, if he is making phone calls, he
is using his track phone.  He bought one for himself about six weeks
ago.  He's not using the land line.  I know that we are doing all we can
and I am at peace about that.  I would really like to prevent him from ever
taking the stuff because I know that lots of people can get addicted  on
their first use.
        I have to say that despite all this, the Prince of peace has been reigning
in our home this Christmas vacation.  I suppose that that sounds crazy with
all that we have been going through, but it is true.  We have really had a
pretty quiet week.  I was really not looking forward to this vacation, but
with a lot of prayer and choosing not to pile on a lot of extra activities,
it has been okay.
        By the way, the Lord confirmed to me yesterday that Greg and I are doing
the right thing by letting others know what we are going through.  We knew
that this was important because we knew that we needed prayer, but
yesterday we also learned that we are setting an example as well.  I have
been friends, well, light friends anyway, with a lady here in Glenburn for
a long time.  About two years ago, her husband, who is in the national
guard, left for service in Bosnea for about nine months.  While he was
gone, their older  kids really started acting out.  I mean, the police got
involved at one point and everything.  Anyway, my  relationship with
her  coold and I didn't know why.  Last Christmas eve, she and her entire
family attended our Christmas eve service and she noticed that Chris wasn't
there.  She timidly mentioned that she noticed his absence and I told her
that we're really struggling with him right now.  I didn't give details,
but she agreed to come by this week for a talk.  well, she made good her
offer yesterday and came over fora cup of tea.    I shared with her what we
are going through and what we are doing about it and then she began to open
up as well.  She is having trouble with another boy now, she has 8 children
in all, and I was able to share with her some of the tips that Chris's last
counselor gave us along with the names of some resources.  She then told me
that she had been afraid to share any of her famly's struggles with anybody
because everybody else's family looks so perfect.  Well lot's of us look
that way from the outside.  For some reason, even our kids have some desire
to maintain that allusion.  Anyway, because I'm opening the curtain and
saying, come see my mess, take it as it is, it has encouraged her to open
up.  We've noticed that in some other instances as well.  Boy, if I had my
choice, I'd rather be carrying some other banner, but I guess that this is
the one that the Lord has asked us to carry for the time being, but I
couldn't do it without your help.
Thanks for being there Guys.
Love always and have a blessed new year.
Onward and upward, Narnia and the North!
Kathy  who will always remember the year 2004 as the year of the house!