Virgie, Yes, I did finally see it, but it sure is wierd to see responses before you see what you sent. Kathy At 03:14 PM 5/20/2006, you wrote: >Kathy, >Did you ever see your message? It came through loud and clear >here. He will shoose the good, he is just taking the sceenic route >to get there. Huggs and blessings, >Virgie and Hoshi >----- Original Message ----- From: "Kathy Du Bois" <[log in to unmask]> >To: <[log in to unmask]> >Sent: Saturday, May 20, 2006 1:44 PM >Subject: Re: The Latest from Maine > > >>Wow Virgie, >>You've received my message and I haven't. Strange. At least I >>know that it got through. >>Thank you for your prayers. Yes, there is a lot of good in Chris, >>but he has to choose to let it shine through. >>Kathy >> >>At 01:37 PM 5/20/2006, you wrote: >>>Hello Kathy, >>>I thank you for the update on Chris, it is a good start and I >>>think you and Greg are wise not to make decisions for him. As a >>>parent I know how hard that can be especially when you see your >>>child struggling and making some wrong decisions but it is the >>>best thing to do for Chris. Wewill keep praying for the Lord's >>>will to be done for Chris and that he will repent and change his >>>ways. There is obviously a lot of good in him and he is just a >>>little mixed up right now. I have faith that he will understand >>>the error of his ways and I do believe he will make the necessary >>>changes in his life. Feel free to share with us at any time we are >>>all here for you. >>>Virgie and Hoshi >>>----- Original Message ----- From: "Kathy Du Bois" <[log in to unmask]> >>>To: <[log in to unmask]> >>>Sent: Saturday, May 20, 2006 1:25 PM >>>Subject: The Latest from Maine >>> >>> >>>>Hi Guys, >>>> Well, It looks as though Eudora and Microsoft have declared >>>>a truce for the moment, allowing me to get a message to you from >>>>behind enemy lines concerning the state of affairs, better known as, >>>>life in Maine, at present. All troops are present and accounted for >>>>and conditions appear favorable. >>>> We had all the kids home for Mother's day last Sunday. Greg >>>>and I stayed at church for adult Sunday school, which happens after >>>>worship at our church, and Liz and Matt went to Bangor to pick Chris >>>>up and bring him home for the afternoon. After dropping Chris and >>>>Liz off at home, Matt came back to church to pick Caleb, and us up >>>>and take us home as well. >>>> By the way, in case you're wondering, we are back down to >>>>one car because that little fender bender that Matt got in to at the >>>>beginning of the month resulted in having the car declared "totaled," >>>>by the insurance company. Oh well, easy come, easy go. Too bad too >>>>because we had just invested in a tune up and new tires. Ouch! I'm >>>>sure glad that our Lord owns the cattle on a thousand hills cause it >>>>looks like we may need to sell a few, but that's another story. Back >>>>to family matters. >>>> When we arrived home, Chris had taken it upon himself to >>>>vacuum our living room and sweep our kitchen floor. I had made a pot >>>>of chili for dinner, but I hadn't had a chance to clean up completely >>>>before church, so he had also cleaned the counter and stove tops. It >>>>was really sweet. >>>> Chris has often complained, in the past about what a lousy >>>>driver Matt is, so Matt and I were both dreading what Chris would say >>>>when he learned about the car, but Chris didn't say anything nasty or >>>>critical at all. That in itself was a relief. In fact, the whole >>>>meal was pleasant and Chris is hoping that he can come out to be with >>>>us again some time during Memorial day weekend to have one more >>>>family gathering before Matt goes to Michigan for his summer job. >>>> Chris was open to talking about himself. He shared with >>>>Greg and me, privately, about all his confusing feelings about his >>>>relationship with Nicki. I asked him if he would be willing to read >>>>Doctor Laura's book, "The Ten Stupid Things Men Do To Mess Up their >>>>Lives." He said that he would be willing. We purchased it for him on >>>>Wednesday and Greg dropped it off Thursday morning. I talked to >>>>Chris for a bit Friday morning and he had already been reading it >>>>some and told me that he's seeing himself on the pages. >>>> He also asked Greg and I if we would be willing to help him >>>>study the bible. He said that he knows that we know a lot and he >>>>wants to learn. He also said that he would be willing to do whatever >>>>we asked, but we told him that he is an adult now and he needs to >>>>make his own decisions. I think that he was hoping that we would >>>>order him to break up with Nicki, but we won't. He needs to end the >>>>relationship because he knows it's the right thing to do, not because >>>>we want him too. It's kind of like getting to the point where you >>>>need to believe in Jesus because it's right, not because your parents >>>>told you too. We just keep respecting him as an adult and making him >>>>face the consequences of his decisions even though it is very hard to >>>>resist the impulse to reach in and rescue. >>>> He is being forced, by the life program that he is involved >>>>with, to go to the learning center at least twice a week to work >>>>toward his G., E.D. The program is putting pressure on him to look >>>>for full time work as well. He can get kicked out of this program if >>>>he doesn't cooperate. He knows this because his roommate is getting >>>>kicked out this week for continuing to keep a girlfriend and baby in >>>>the apartment that the program is providing, so I think that Chris is >>>>deciding to take the threat seriously and begin to get his life in order. >>>> Chris is also still interested in the military so the >>>>program is also arranging for him to talk with a recruiter as soon as >>>>possible. Now, for another interesting twist, Greg's youngest >>>>brother is already in the military and has been for 21 years. David, >>>>Greg's brother, called me this past Monday and pretty much ordered me >>>>to tell Chris not to sign anything until Chris talks to him >>>>first. David is stationed in Korea right now, but that doesn't >>>>matter because he uses phonage and is linked through his home phone >>>>in Missouri. So, I gave David Chris's number and I gave Chris >>>>David's number and I think Chris knows that David means >>>>business. We'll just have to see how this plays out. Chris has told >>>>us that his main interest in the military is to gain >>>>self-discipline. That is an interesting commentary on what he thinks >>>>of himself right there. >>>>One other thing that surprised us last Sunday was Chris's reaction to >>>>the fact that we are sending Liz to Florida for a music camp at a >>>>Christian college there, in July. At first, he sounded incredulous, >>>>but when I said that Liz has shown real self discipline by sitting >>>>down at the piano for the past nine years and practicing on an almost >>>>daily basis and how we had spent a lot of money on Him during his >>>>teen years, he backed down right away and agreed that Liz deserved >>>>this reward. I think that he knew that I was referring to all the >>>>time and money that we had spent on counseling for him and trying to >>>>help him chase his dreams when he was in high-school. This time >>>>though, instead of complaining that we had been stupid to spend the >>>>money, especially on counseling, which he had declared at the time >>>>that he didn't need, he just backed down and agreed with me and >>>>dropped the matter altogether. >>>> Wow! This has really gotten long. Sorry about that. I am >>>>just so grateful to the Lord that our relationship is beginning to be >>>>restored. I had to share it all with you guys because you have so >>>>faithfully prayed for my family. I appreciate that so much. I don't >>>>for a moment think that we are out of the woods completely. There is >>>>still the matter of Nicki and Chris is still hanging around >>>>questionable people, but I think that he is glad that things are >>>>better between us as well. He's always glad to hear from me when I >>>>call and that, at least, is a start. >>>>Kathy >