Thank you Vinny for asking.  God has been gracious to our family by
helping us to keep Chris busy this summer and that has reduced the strain
on our family a great deal.  In June, he landed a job at a convenience
store, doing odd jobs for the owner and that takes up about 25 hours a
week.  He took one summer school class in July, that he had to pay for
and that kept him busy in the mornings for a time as well.  He started
out doing really well, but as soon as he was pretty sure that he would
pass the class he started lapsing into old patterns of laziness and ended
up passing with a D.  Of course, we, his parents, were disappointed since
Chris had demonstrated that he was capable of doing much better, but
we're learning the hard way that you can't make a child care, no matter
how wise that would be.  He continues to have angry outbursts, but they
are much less frequent and much more controlled so I guess that that is a
big step forward.  I still seem to be the main person that he flares up
at, but then, we can also hug and I've told him that as long as we can do
that, we'll get through the rest.  Chris agrees.
        Chris has earned enough money to pay for drivers Ed. and he will
begin that this Wednesday.  He wants to keep his job.  Money is more
important than academics right now and we're considering just letting him
roll with it rather than fight him on it.  He knows what is more
important really, but he doesn't want to do the right thing so we're
thinking of taking Dr. Kevin Leman's advice and let Chris learn through
natural consequences of his choices.  It might sound kind of wimpy on our
part, but some day, he's going to wake up and regret chasing the wrong
things.  We all do eventually, especially if God's hand is upon our
lives, and I believe firmly that, whether Chris knows it or not, he is
firmly held in God's grasp.  I trust that God knows what He is doing.
        Perhaps the hardest time for me this summer with Chris is when my
oldest son, Matt, left for college.  Matt left Maine for Michigan the
first of August to look for work before school starts.  I had a real hard
time with his leaving, but harder still was chris's attitude of being
thrilled to finally have a room to himself and he just started pitching
out Matt's stuff and I had to go through it and try to salvage it before
it got lost or damaged.  Chris was in the type of mood where, if I cried
he would have blown up and I really had to hold it together to make it
through.  Of course, knowing that Matt still hasn't found work has been
real agony for me because I know how hard he's trying and Chris seems to
be totally oblivious to his older brother's struggles.  Chris could be
bluffing.  He does try to be the tough guy, but I just find the bluster
hard to handle at times.
        Well Vinny, I guess that that catches you up on chris.  Again,
thanks for asking, and for praying.  I really appreciate it very much!
Kathy

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