Brad,
         chris can't come home.  Not yet.  He would be lucky if he 
graduated from high school next year at the rate that he is going.  I 
have an idea that eventually he will end up on the street.  that's 
when I am going to need everybody's prayers for strength more than 
ever.  What parent ever wants to see a child go through that; 
especially when it would be so easy to rescue him from it, but 
Proverbs warns us that if you rescue a hot tempered man, you'll just 
have to do it again.  I want the cycle to break and that is what 
keeps me going.  Besides, I have peace in my home now and I don't 
want to give that up.  Protecting Caleb and Liz helps to give me the 
strength to continue saying "NO!"  But also, my love of Chris and my 
knowledge of what truly is best for him, is also a source of strength.
Thanks for praying!
Kathy


At 11:25 AM 2/10/2006, you wrote:
>Kathy,
>
>He is finding out his actions and decisions might be taken in stride by
>himself, but very serious by others around him. Personally? And this is my
>own view, before I'd take Chris back, I'd not even consider it until he has
>decided  he just can't stand it there no more, not one more day, let him
>really feel why that is, the lifestyle, the value system, everything, and
>then when he  has really had it, fed up to the gills? Then I'd  suggest him
>looking at his budget and how he can fund an apartment of his own or go in
>with some buddies on one, either that or learn to get along with Nikki and
>family.  From all I've been exposed to in the saga of Chris' ventures,
>which no doubt there are tons I don't know, I really can't see how Chris
>could possibly learn responsibility of independence and etc and to respect
>his family and provision, without having to have learned that for himself.
>This would be a great tool in getting him to the plate with  the bat ready
>to hit the pitches life has given him and the  game he chose to enter. He's
>got what four months until he is out of high  school? Provided he
>graduates... I'm not certain of your confidence in that based off your
>report of school. The long and short of my point is, take him back now or
>even if he looks like he has made some changes, and based off your passed
>recounts of his behavior, he'll be 25 years old and still living at home
>hanging with the guys. Desperation creates innovation. How many times in
>life have we been faced with very tough situations and decisions, many of
>which had nothing to do with our own choosing, and it was working through
>that situation which made us stronger and confident in life? Oh Lord,
>*looking upwards* don't take that as a plea for hard times for any of us
>hahahaah. But it is true nonetheless. I am in the midst of such a lesson
>with my son, but he is learning and showing signs of responsibility. I
>bailed him out once financially but not this time and he is forced to deal
>with those he  deals with, the bank, credit card, etc. How can they learn
>to appreciate the help they've been given if not had to fend for themselves
>first hand. That is my 1and a half cents worth.
>
>Brad