Vicki, Helen and Lelia,  thank you.  I know that you are praying.  That's
why I keep telling.  There aren't any short fixes with this except for
Christ Himself and until Chris comes to Him in repentence, this is the
situation for our lives.
God bless,
Kathy

At 09:19 AM 12/17/2004, you wrote:
>Kathy,
>
>I am glad to hear that your computer problems have not been insurmountable
>and that you're learning Eudora.
>
>I'm glad to have the update on Chris and things there.  Glad for you keeping
>us up to date but my heart breaks with you for the news.  Covering you with
>prayers from Denver.  I wish I could say more.  There are others who've
>walked where you are.  Besides my prayers, I offer my love.  Asking God to
>be your comfort, strength and wisdom.  He promises to be a present help in
>time of need.  He's a God who keeps his promises.  Keep talking to us, we're
>here for you.
>
>Hugs,
>Vicki
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Kathy Du Bois" <[log in to unmask]>
>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: Friday, December 17, 2004 6:44 AM
>Subject: the saga of Chris continues
>
>
> > Hi Guys,
> >         Wow, I feel guilty writing this post and interfering with the mad
> > interpretations of Phil's dream and all, especially since we all recognize
> > that it may foretell serious consequences for our fearless
> > leader.  "GROAN!"  Phil, are there any places of refuge out in Denver,
>just
> > in case you need to get away for a few days?  It sounds like some of the
> > women in your life are cooking up something that may make you wish that
> > you'd never seen that freezer in the first place!  Ah well, Just be
>careful
> > what you eat for a while until this blows, or maybe freezes over; in
> > keeping with the situation.
> >         I would have kept you guys updated about our situation with Chris
>all
> > along, but, as you know, I've been trying to learn Eudora and that has
> > really put a damper in my communication with the outside world.  The deal
> > there is that Juno stopped pulling in e-mail to an inbox.  If I wanted to
> > view my mail I had to go on the web and at that, my box was severely
> > limited.  Also, Jaws and Juno never did work well together and when I went
> > on the web, it was next to impossible so I have switched over to my cable
> > account and am learning Eudora and life goes on.  I am liking Eudora
>better
> > than Juno, by the way.  It works well with JAWS.  Also, I like the fact
> > that editing is very similar to Microsoft Word so I will be happy with
>this
> > change.  It's just that I keep my handy little cheat sheet next to me at
> > all times while I am learning all the new commands and, as you know, some
> > stuff just isn't covered and that's when I panic and start asking
>questions
> > again.  Thanks so much for all your patience!!
> >
> >         Anyway, on to more serious matters.  The situation with Chris,
>well, I
> > don't know how I feel right now.  Yesterday, I was crying, Wednesday, I
>was
> > mad and humiliated.  I spend a lot of time next to his bed pouring out my
> > heart to God.  We began tapping his phone conversations last week after he
> > took off with someone that he refused to identify and, Phil is right, it's
> > sickening to find out more truth than you thought you could bare.
> >           Chris is using pot more than he will admit too.  He told us and
>his
> > probation officer that he had only used twice and that he didn't like it,
> > but that's a lie.  We've taken his driving privileges away until he can
> > pass a drug test.  We had a drug test in the house.  He knew it and last
> > Thursday night he ransacked our room while we were at bible study,
> > administered the test to himself and, of course, it came up positive for
> > weed.  We fir figured this out by reading some instant messaging that he
> > had written, but then, Greg went through the garbage and we found the
> > proof, though, of course, he had flushed the sample down the toilet so we
> > had nothing to send to the lab.  The drug counselor that he saw last
>Friday
> > wasn't much help if he only did what Chris says.  According to Chris, the
> > counselor offered Chris a phone number for a place that he could find help
> > moving out and getting a low rent apartment and food stamps and so forth.
> >         He skipped school on Wednesday which isn['g good because he faces
>the
> > possibility of expulsion.  His first meeting with the probation officer
>was
> > this past Wednesday.  On the way, Chris informed us that he had dropped
>out
> > of school.  When we asked him what he had done officially, he said
>nothing,
> > but when I don't show up for a while, they'll get the hint.
> >         Fortunately, the probation officer saw things differently.  She
>wrote up a
> > contract with Chris with four conditions.  1, he may be a target for
>random
> > drug testing.  2, he must stay in school, 3, he must participate in in
> > home,  family counseling and 4,  he must see her every other week for
> > starters.  The thing is that Chris is such a good actor, I'm afraid that
> > he'll be able to sweet talk, or shmoose his way through whatever hoop that
> > he is presented with and everybody will think that he has repented and
> > reformed, leaving us looking like crazed parents who are creating the
> > problem.  Chris was very cooperative at the meeting.  So much so that the
> > probation officer commented on it and thanked him.  What she didn't see is
> > how badly he behaved toward us on the way home. Someone has suggested
> > getting a good tape recorder and we may have to do this to be able to
>prove
> > how nuts this whole situation is.
> >         Yesterday, we had a meeting with Chris at school.  Everybody sat
>around
> > telling him that he is much more capable than he is letting on and they
> > asked him what they could do to help him pull up his grades.  He just kept
> > saying, "I don't know.  I don't know."  Then, we got in the car to take
>him
> > over to his Voc. Ed. class, at another school and he let us know that he
> > hates us so much that he'd kill us if he wouldn't go to jail for it.
>We've
> > let the special Ed. director know of this and she has encouraged us to let
> > the probation officer know, but so far, we haven't been able to get hold
>of
> > her.  Plus, we don't want to be frivolous in our complaints toward Chris
> > because she might get sick of us and let him off the hook, so we aren't
> > sure what to do at this point.  The probation officer did tell Chris that,
> > as of this point, he would never be emancipated so, at least that is
> > something.  It was just such an ugly scene.  The probation officer wanted
> > to know who chris' friends are and he refused so we had to name
> > names.  It's just not good right now.
> >         We've also learned two more things that are just making us heart
> > sick.  Chris', so called friends, know when pay day is for Chris.  Sure
> > enough, on Wednesday, right after getting home from our appointment, a
> > friend called wanted to know if Chris wanted to party.  Chris told him no
> > because he'd have to play it straight for a while, but then the friend
> > offered Chris a ride to go pick up his pay check and then asked Chris if
>he
> > could lend another kid $25 until Friday.  Yeah, right.  Anyway, Chris
> > offers his money liberally to whoever wants, just for rides and who knows
> > what else.  Have you ever heard of a more real life version of the
>prodigal
> > son?
> >         The other thing, we just learned last night and this is the most
>heart
> > breaking part of all.  There is a lady who has a son, Chris's age.  They
> > used to be friends and even sat together in church.  I think that I've
> > mentioned before that Chris no longer attends church.  I had also
>mentioned
> > a while back that I was bothered because this other boy appears to really
> > want to grow in his faith wile Chris seems determined to run away from it
> > as much as he can.  I had been concerned about Chris being a stumbling
> > block to the boy.
> >         Anyway, after the church break in last month, the two other boys
>who were
> > with Chris went to this fourth boy's house.  His name is Jeremiah.  There,
> > that should make this telling a little easier.  Anyway, Jeremiah didn't
> > think that what Chris and these two boys had done at church was right and
> > said so.  After the break in, when the other two boys had charges pressed
> > against them as well, these two boys stopped associating with Chris
> > altogether.  We were thrilled.  A short time later, we got a call from
> > Jeremiah's mother saying that a neighbor had just brought over a flier
>that
> > had been left in his newspaper box that accused Jeremiah of being a child
> > molester.  They had signed it with a police officer's name and everything.
> >         Jeremiah's mother assured us that she was pretty sure that Chris
>had
> > nothing to do with it since these other two boys weren't associating with
> > him any more.  She called the police, but they are having a hard time
> > finding evidence.  Well, last night, while Greg was reviewing Chris's
> > messages of the day, we think that we found, not only evidence that can
> > help her case, but that implicates Chris in the slander as well.  When we
> > present this evidence, Chris will be hit with more charges,.  He will know
> > that we have been doing, at least some spying and who knows what he will
>do
> > then.  Please pray for God's wisdom in all this.  Pray for our protection
> > and that we do what is right.
> >         You know, in Isaiah 42:16, when the Lord says that he will guide
>the blind
> > down many paths that they do not know, I had no idea that this was what He
> > meant.  We're still praying that we can convince someone that a
>residential
> > program would be best, if for no other reason then that I need a
> > break.  Yesterday, Greg took me out for breakfast, after Chris had
> > threatened to kill us.  He was trying to be so sweet, and I just sat there
> > blubbering in my coffee.  I'm clinging to the Lord so tightly now and to
> > His promise of being a refuge and comfort.  My walk with Him has become so
> > incredible, but physically, I struggle.
> >         Thanks for letting me go on about this.  Now, I pray that I can
>send it
> > without messing up.  GRIN!
> > God bless,
> > Kathy
> >