Jouster

The Teen Challenge Choir came to a local church to perform (and fund raise). Teen Challenge (not only for teens) needs to fund raise (in addition to each person's monthly tuition payment) $1000 per month per person in the program. Going to churches provides them with the funds they need to continue running their program. Jouster is in the front row, third from the left. The group performs and individuals share their testimonies. Some of them were heart breaking...years and years of lives wasted on drugs and alcohol. Jouster shared that the greatest thing that had happened to him while in the program was that his relationship with his family had been restored. I cried as I watched him sing and heard him speak. He took my breath away when I first saw him on stage. I have never seen him in a shirt and tie, and in that outfit he looked like a man. I guess he should, he's nearly eighteen. But in my eyes, I still see him as my little boy.
I LOVE this photo of my oldest and my youngest. Are they handsome or what? There is a gentleness to Jouster that I have not seen before. He is more patient and no longer easily angered. I believe that God is working on his heart, and I continue to pray that he will totally surrender himself to his Heavenly Father.

He has completed 6 months of the program and has another 8 to go. He does not want to stay once he gets his diploma. (He thinks he can finish school by the end of August.) Once he turns 18, we can't force him to stay. I fret when I think about it, but then I have to give it to God. There is nothing I can do except continue to pray and praise God for the wonderful changes we have seen thus far.

Thank you, Lord!

New Photo

I thought you might like to see a photo of The King and I. (Photo courtesy of Maiden.)

Conversation with Duchess

While sitting in our vehicle in the grocery store parking lot:

Duchess: "MOM!! MOM!! Look, that guy has a smoking thing!!!" (A cigarette.)

Me: "Yes, he does."

Duchess: "Why do people smoke?"

Me: "It's a bad habit that people start and have hard time stopping. I hope you never try it. It's also bad for your health. Smoking makes some people so sick that they die."

Ducess: "Yeah, I know. It gives you breath cancer."

Math Whiz

Scribe was sitting in the living room one morning doing math. He had decided to do it on his own. I was impressed....finally he had become a self starter. Usually I have them do their math at the table, but this day I allowed him to remain in comfort. Why not? He was self motivated and that certainly warrants a little leniency from mom.

He sat there intently. I couldn't believe how long studying mathematical concepts was holding his interest. As I moved from room to room, he was still engrossed in that math book. Nearly an hour later, the boy was still studying his math. I was so proud.
Until I became suspicious. He had no pencil in hand and I began to wonder.....

Since when do math books contain "Far Side" comics? I think my self motivated boy is becoming a little sneaky.