Kathy, I'm praying for a wonderful Christmas for you and your family. I pray that Chris really repents for his sins, and that he will truly be sorry for what he's done in the past to you. I don't blame you for being skeptical. I certainly would be. The Lord will shine upon your house every day and He will truly bless you all. Have a wonderful and blessed Christmas. Love and Blessings, Pat Ferguson always saying Merry Christmas no matter what At 06:32 AM 12/17/2005, you wrote: > 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