I was most surprised to receive a call this afternoon from Ryan. Truly didn't expect him to earn that privilege for a while yet! He said he was "doing good for the most part", was enjoying the new house (they moved since he was last there), and was getting along well with the guys. I told him I hoped he really tried this time as we only want the best for him. He asked what was going on here and I told him that we were praying for him as a family each night at dinner, what his siblings were up to, what we'd done over the weekend, etc. He asked if we were visiting on Saturday and I told him that was up to the Director; when he said we could visit we would.
School is almost over and I'm actually happy about it! Connor has his Ticket-to-Play physical Thursday night and his 8th grade promotion party Friday night. We're looking into a couple art and horse camps that Kelleigh is interested in doing this summer and they've decided they want to do another road trip for our family vacation this year. We were surprised at that one! They loved the Winchester Mystery House and the boardwalk at Santa Cruz and asked to go back - works for us!
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Friday, May 27, 2011
Decisions determine destiny
Update: We received a call from the program house manager letting us know Ryan was settling in and doing well with the other guys. He said his attitude this time seems different and more "beaten down" than when he came a year ago. I also talked to the detective yesterday and he was ordered to a drug intervention program. Once he has completed it, the charge will be erased from his record.
I also want to share something that happened yesterday afternoon. I picked the younger two up from school and told them we were going to go to Starbucks. I generally don't do the drive-through but, because I needed to tell them about Ryan, chose to. I placed our order and when it was my turn to pay, the worker told me that the gal in front of me had paid for my order. It was all I could do not to burst into tears. That woman has no idea how timely that random act of kindness was and I have no doubt she will be equally blessed by it.
We continue to be overwhelmed by the response of family and friends and ask for your continued prayers for Ryan. Thank you.
Yesterday morning Ryan was picked up and taken back to the drug residential program where he was until last November. Only a handful of people knew this was going to take place given he was a flight risk. He admitted to using drugs beginning in February and it has been a rapid decline since. Legal issues became a factor and on Saturday I filed a runaway report as he never showed up for work and wasn't home by evening and on Sunday I filed a criminal report for stealing money from us. This led to his arrest and processing Sunday night. We were hoping that being kicked out, running away, getting caught shoplifting, suspension from his job, etc. would make him realize he needed to accept help but it wasn’t enough. Since learning that he had involved his 12-year-old sister in his use, we knew that drastic measures had to be taken if we were to save any of them. Now he alone holds his destiny and I pray he will choose wisely. I will tell you that saying goodbye the second time around isn’t any easier! Now our focus turns to the other children and their needs. Thank you to everyone who has shown their support and prayed that these arrangements would be possible. God does answer prayers!
I also want to share something that happened yesterday afternoon. I picked the younger two up from school and told them we were going to go to Starbucks. I generally don't do the drive-through but, because I needed to tell them about Ryan, chose to. I placed our order and when it was my turn to pay, the worker told me that the gal in front of me had paid for my order. It was all I could do not to burst into tears. That woman has no idea how timely that random act of kindness was and I have no doubt she will be equally blessed by it.
We continue to be overwhelmed by the response of family and friends and ask for your continued prayers for Ryan. Thank you.
Yesterday morning Ryan was picked up and taken back to the drug residential program where he was until last November. Only a handful of people knew this was going to take place given he was a flight risk. He admitted to using drugs beginning in February and it has been a rapid decline since. Legal issues became a factor and on Saturday I filed a runaway report as he never showed up for work and wasn't home by evening and on Sunday I filed a criminal report for stealing money from us. This led to his arrest and processing Sunday night. We were hoping that being kicked out, running away, getting caught shoplifting, suspension from his job, etc. would make him realize he needed to accept help but it wasn’t enough. Since learning that he had involved his 12-year-old sister in his use, we knew that drastic measures had to be taken if we were to save any of them. Now he alone holds his destiny and I pray he will choose wisely. I will tell you that saying goodbye the second time around isn’t any easier! Now our focus turns to the other children and their needs. Thank you to everyone who has shown their support and prayed that these arrangements would be possible. God does answer prayers!
Friday, May 20, 2011
Been a while ...
Since it's been a while since I've updated what's going on, thought I would before I take Ryan to work. May brings Connor's lacrosse season to an end with his last game being Saturday. Hard to believe it's over but I'm looking forward to less to do each afternoon. Earlier this week Connor and Kelleigh had their Art Fair where some of their paintings and ceramic masks were displayed. They both love art and it was fun to see the variety.
Connor's team's chalk art from the movie "Despicable Me" ...
Kelleigh's painting ...
We received the approval for the boys to both attend Mt. Carmel next year. Today is Ryan's Change of Placement meeting and his schedule will be determined for next year. Both boys will play football and Ryan will attend Summer School. The kids get out of school on June 9th and both football and summer school begin on the 13th. So much for any breaks! C and K are both going to church camp for a week in July so Mark and I will have a chance to get away for a few days.
The challenges with Ryan continue. His behavior and choices continue to spiral downward and got to a point the beginning of May where I told him to leave. He packed up his backpack, took his Xbox and left. I am over being disrespected and told him not to return until he was ready to do things our way. I knew where he would go but told him I wasn't going to come after him. I took his phone and transfered the money from his checking account. He quickly realized he wasn't a street kid, slept in his friend's car, bought and used drugs, did a lot of walking, was hungry and tired by the time 48 hours rolled around and he called from a pay phone asking to come home. He slept in the backyard until we met with his drug counselor. He agreed that he couldn't make good choices on his own and was ready for help. That lasted about a week and we are quickly approaching the same point again. Prior to being kicked out he was caught shoplifting but, despite my request, they refused to press charges. So much for a lesson learned. To make matters worse, he knew that Kelleigh had been doing drugs for several months and didn't tell us. She is now being watched and knows she'll be put in a program if it happens again. Frankly, it's exhausting. At least he shows up and takes his job seriously.
I helped my dear friend, Jill, last Sunday when we had to take their dear cat to be put to sleep. He had kidney failure and was so very sick we almost didn't make it there. I got their family this sweet frame and put a picture of him in it to give them yesterday. I felt honored to be the only other person he would let be near him besides his family! He was a beautiful, and huge!, cat and I'll miss my visits with him.
Other than that, just the usual day-to-day stuff. Lots of driving, enjoying the warm weather, and trying to get some house projects done that I've been putting off.
Connor's team's chalk art from the movie "Despicable Me" ...
Kelleigh's painting ...
We received the approval for the boys to both attend Mt. Carmel next year. Today is Ryan's Change of Placement meeting and his schedule will be determined for next year. Both boys will play football and Ryan will attend Summer School. The kids get out of school on June 9th and both football and summer school begin on the 13th. So much for any breaks! C and K are both going to church camp for a week in July so Mark and I will have a chance to get away for a few days.
The challenges with Ryan continue. His behavior and choices continue to spiral downward and got to a point the beginning of May where I told him to leave. He packed up his backpack, took his Xbox and left. I am over being disrespected and told him not to return until he was ready to do things our way. I knew where he would go but told him I wasn't going to come after him. I took his phone and transfered the money from his checking account. He quickly realized he wasn't a street kid, slept in his friend's car, bought and used drugs, did a lot of walking, was hungry and tired by the time 48 hours rolled around and he called from a pay phone asking to come home. He slept in the backyard until we met with his drug counselor. He agreed that he couldn't make good choices on his own and was ready for help. That lasted about a week and we are quickly approaching the same point again. Prior to being kicked out he was caught shoplifting but, despite my request, they refused to press charges. So much for a lesson learned. To make matters worse, he knew that Kelleigh had been doing drugs for several months and didn't tell us. She is now being watched and knows she'll be put in a program if it happens again. Frankly, it's exhausting. At least he shows up and takes his job seriously.
I helped my dear friend, Jill, last Sunday when we had to take their dear cat to be put to sleep. He had kidney failure and was so very sick we almost didn't make it there. I got their family this sweet frame and put a picture of him in it to give them yesterday. I felt honored to be the only other person he would let be near him besides his family! He was a beautiful, and huge!, cat and I'll miss my visits with him.
Buddy decided to join Jake in his Bat Cave ...
Other than that, just the usual day-to-day stuff. Lots of driving, enjoying the warm weather, and trying to get some house projects done that I've been putting off.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Productive Weekend
This has truly been one of the most productive weekends in a LONG time! We got so many tasks inside and out completed and it feels so great. Two of my biggest jobs was finishing the new cabinet addition in my office and putting the new faucet on the kitchen sink. Both are done and I love them. The kids were great helping with outside trimming and the yard looks great. The weather all weekend was beautiful so that helped with the inspiration. Of course there were no shortage of trips to Home Depot!
Last week brought some new challenges with the kids between bad choices and unacceptable progress reports. I am very proud of how Mark handled the most serious issue with Ryan and can only hope that Ryan will learn from it and realize the seriousness of what he did. His regression since returning from New Life continues and will only lead to more bad choices until he realizes he needs to accept the help of those who continue to offer it.
Off to stir the spaghetti sauce that is cooking for dinner but first, check out these cinnamon rolls that Ryan made yesterday for his Foods class ... yummy!
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