Dear Kathy,

You are welcome to rain on our parade anytime you feel the need.   It is so
wonderful to have others to rain on when our own umbrellas have turned
inside out from the winds of care and confusion tugging at them so
furiously.  I do pray for you, your family, your Chris, your church, that
God will perform miracle upon miracle on your behalf, and that you will
soon see the sun shining brightly in place of the clouds over you right now.

In Jesus' Love,
Helen

Earlier, Kathy Du Bois wrote:
>Hi Guys,
>Well, I thought that I'd just give a little update on how things are
>going for us in this neck of the woods. We met with Eric, Chris's
>counselor, this morning. We were able to share with him a lot of
>behavioral concerns that he isn't able to see very readily because Chris
>only displays them at home. It was good to talk things through. We've
>called the doctor and we are going to put Chris back on the Conserta.
>It's not an answer, but if it can help Chris pay better attention in
>school and control himself better at home, it is at least a help for now
>while we continue searching and exploring all our options.
>Another big area of concern for us right now has to do with our church.
>We, our church, just isn't able to keep the bills paid. The biggest bill
>is pension and medical insurance for us. With out that, our family would
>really be cut a drift. We want to stay. We've worked hard with this
>congregation and we've come a long way. We're hoping to finally get our
>house started in April, if all goes well. Our church couldn't pay our
>insurance last fall so our denomination stepped in and paid the churches
>bills for two quarters, but that grace has run out and the money stil
>isn't there. Part of the problem is the cost of heating fuel and the high
>electric rates here in Maine, but of course, part of it too is people not
>contributing enough for the church to stay a float. It's hard to have the
>churches finances and ours so tightly wrapped up. It adds to the stress,
>on top of the extra expense of what we are going through with Chris and
>the fact that our taxes will quintuple if we get our house.
>Please just pray for our family, our church and for Chris especially. I
>think about getting ajob outside the home, but I have no idea what I{'m
>good at any more. Maybe I'm just sensitive to the fact that it's raining
>outside and I want the spring to come. Anyway, thanks for letting me
>dribble on your parade.
>God bless,
>Kathy