O Kathy,
I don't think any of us would even think you are a whiner.  I don't believe
that for one second.  We are your family, and a family in the Lord doesn't
get tired of holding up the arms of one or more of its members.
I know you are weary, but know that we are supporting you, kathy.
We all know that your major test today may be our major test tomorrow.  None
of us have anything to say about the frequency or intensity of the test, but
we all must, throw ourself on the mercy and wisdom of the Lord.
I know you are doing this.
If I sound like I am lecturing, or minimizing your pain, please forgive me.
I  wait with you for God's answer.  AS the song says "Don't give up, you're
on the brink of a miracle.
With LOve and prayers.


        Vinny
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kathy Du Bois" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, June 23, 2005 4:22 PM
Subject: Re: how it went.


> Hey Vinny,
> No, I know that life isn't easy and I"m sorry for being such a winer, if
> that's the way that it is coming across.  Sometimes, I hesitate to post
> because my life just sounds so crazy compared to other people who are
> posting.  I really fear that other listers are going to grow tired of the
> drama here in Maine.  I know that there is no instant fix short of Christ,
> but this has been building for four years and I'm just growing weary.  I
> right to you guys to be my   Aaron, and Hurr, holding up my hands toward
> victory because I am growing tired in the fight.
> Kathy
>
> At 04:57 PM 6/23/2005, you wrote:
> >Kathy,
> >I have also seen where when God has his hand on someone, he'll just let
the
> >go for so long, until they come to themself.  God has a much longer range
of
> >vision than we have.  I'm sure Phil and Sandi would have liked to have
given
> >up on Gretchen along time ago, but look at her now.
> >No, it doesn't make what you are going through any easier, I know that,
but
> >then, (and I say this in humility) did The Lord ever say it would be
easy?
> >Oh, yes, the prosperity preachers and other false prophets have
conditioned
> >north American Christians to believe that all you had to do is to say yes
to
> >Jesus and there would be no suffering and then one day we would all be
> >whisked off to heaven.  Wrong.
> >
> >Much love and prayers for you all,
> >
> >         Vinny
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: "Kathy Du Bois" <[log in to unmask]>
> >To: <[log in to unmask]>
> >Sent: Thursday, June 23, 2005 12:07 PM
> >Subject: Re: how it went.
> >
> >
> > > Thanks Vinny,
> > > It is just so heart breaking to watch all this.  I can't imagine how
God
> > > does it so much with all of us:  watch us use our free will to be
stupid!
> > > Kathy
> > >
> > >
> > > At 02:53 PM 6/23/2005, you wrote:
> > > >Hi Kathy,
> > > >Well, I'm not a parent, and never have been, but frankly, I have to
say
> >that
> > > >I would continue to monitor and not say a word.
> > > >Kind of like what the Lord does with those he is trying to catch.  He
> > > >watches, and watches, and gives people more rope than they need to
hang
> > > >themselves.  You know the Scripture in Peter where it says that God
is
> >not
> > > >slack, as some men count slackness etc.
> > > >There is another scripture somewhere which begins "with the pure,
thou
> >wilt
> > > >show thyself pure. it ends that witht eh froward, God will show
himself
> > > >Froward etc.
> > > >People only think they are getting away with stuff, but it will catch
up
> > > >with them, for sure.
> > > >Keep diligent until he is 18, or till he gets in more trouble than he
can
> > > >wiggle out of.
> > > > From a non-parent.
> > > >Vinny
> > > >----- Original Message -----
> > > >From: "Kathy Du Bois" <
> > > >[log in to unmask]
> > > > >
> > > >To: <
> > > >[log in to unmask]
> > > > >
> > > >Sent: Thursday, June 23, 2005 5:02 AM
> > > >Subject: How it went.
> > > > > Hi guys,
> > > > >         Well, I told you that there would be twists and turns.
Chris
> > > >passed the
> > > > > drug test.  That really shocked us until we got home and monitered
his
> > > > > calls to his girlfriend and his druggy friend and learned that he
> >cheated
> > > > > and put water in the cup.  His girlfriends had told him to make
sure
> >that
> > > > > it was warm, not cold.  Chris followed her advice and got another
> >clean
> > > > > report.  Now he thinks that he's in the clear until his court date
> >July
> > > > > 12th.  Last night, I overheard him trying to meet up with another
> >dealer
> > > >to
> > > > > get some weed.  Chris is getting money because he is doing some
odd
> >jobs
> > > > > for our neighbor, who doesn't have the greatest reputation either.
> >this
> > > > > guy pays Chris in cash so we never see it.  chris doesn't tell us
how
> >much
> > > > > he is getting, so we can't put a finger on how much he has so he
can
> >keep
> > > > > trying to get weed, but pretend to be innocent with us.  It's
crazy
> > > >making.
> > > > >         I have to admit that, for me, yesterday was a real cricess
> >moment
> > > >in my
> > > > > faith.  I believe that we did all the right things.  We tried to
have
> > > > > him  hold Chris accountable and face the consequences of his
actions.
> > > >Now,
> > > > > I wrestle with the question of, "why?"  It's that same old
question
> >that
> > > > > God doesn't usually answer, but I'm puzzling over why God let
Chris
> >get
> > > > > away with this?  I'm feeling let down by Him!
> > > > >         Another issue that Greg and I are wrestling with is
whether or
> >not
> > > >we
> > > > > should let Chris know that he is being monitered so closely by us.
We
> > > > > began monitering when Chris started sneaking out in the middle of
the
> > > >night
> > > > > and not telling us where he had been or where he was going  and
> >refusing
> > > >to
> > > > > give us the names of his friends.  He never seemed to have any
money a
> >nd
> > > > > this was odd since he was earning more than $100 a week.     He
> >wouldn't
> > > > > talk to us so we started investigating on our own to try to get a
> >handle
> > > >on
> > > > > things.  We've managed to get a couple of people busted and we
have
> >been
> > > > > able to continue to be very aware of Chris's activities:
something we
> > > >feel
> > > > > is justified since he is still under our roof and we are still
> >completely
> > > > > responsible for him.  But, I'm interested in your opinions.  Would
you
> > > > > tell?  Have we fallen into the trap of being deceitful just like
Chris
> >is,
> > > > > or are we doing the right thing?  You know, in a way, I think
about
> >how
> > > >God
> > > > > knows everything  too, but He knows what He is doing.  He knows
what
> >is
> > > > > right.  I need to seek the counsel of others for in that there is
> >wisdom.
> > > > > Kathy
> > > > >
> > >
>