The year of the house I loke that hugs to you and yours.

Isn't it interesting what God calls us to do or how He calls us to help?


Lelia Struve email [log in to unmask] msn [log in to unmask]
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kathy Du Bois" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, December 30, 2004 6:46 AM
Subject: Maybe, not good for Chris


> 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!