Matthew's Comments

Homesick?? so you're in other places??.. Godbless you!

How are you Mat?? its been to long since the last comment i had from you. Just want to know if you're all right. Godbless!

I see it is your Birthday. Have an awesome day!
Matthew we might get old and pass from this Earth. But the freedom we know will last forever that we have found in Jesus.

Why didn't you write to me if you were upset? I never hear from you now. What's going on? I love you, sunshine, happy birthday! Mama

How did you "meet" her? I didn't want to embarass you or put you on the spot; I was simply curious. Tell her "hi" for me if that isn't too forward...LOL. God bless you, love, Mama

So, tell me about Felicity, honey. Love, Mama

Hi Mathew, I want to tell you that He is the voice of hope, Let this song bless you

hi, sweetness and sunshine, you have from birth been my sunshine, the events of the past year have not changed that. Please never forget how precious you are in my sight. I hold you up to the Lord daily (sometimes hourly, or minutely...not really words but you get the picture...LOL) I didn't write that message but came across it and I could relate to some of it and I thought perhaps you could too. We've all suffered so much, honey. Please pray for your dad; he is looking for another job as his contract is over in June and it's doubtful that he, or any of the teachers, will be offered another year as they have consolidated the program into the regular school program and demoted his principal to a teacher! They seem to want to be free of the whole lot of them. He has a principal in Cordele interested in him so that's good but he is also looking elsewhere for higher paying jobs. No, he hasn't cut the beard (I wish he would, it's long enough to be quiet messy if he doesn't brush it regularly. I don't mind beards at all, just messy ones...) but he says that he will if it will help him get a better paying job; I think that's a given but it's his face, so.... He is reading the Bible recently; actually reading it. He finished Ephesians in two days, Colossians, the same. He has actually read five books of the NT in the last week and a half...we're thrilled. Please pray that it sinks into his heart and softens him towards Godliness and holiness and creates in him a desire for God. We recently ordered six hundred dollars worth of homeschooling materials; Natasha went nuts trying to take it all in : ) She was funny. We got an art appreciation course, a classical music appreciation course, science courses and kits and computer helps for them, an algebra computer program, some games (we got Snapshots Across America again, as well as two others.) I got the little ones some things for their "school" such as stretchy yo-yo's and stacking blocks! They get an A for excellence in play! Actually Nicholas and Nadia are doing really well in their studies and so is Tia. Tristan and Natasha are almost finished, just tying up loose ends over the next few months. Tristan gets frustrated that he hasn't graduated before but then I remind him that he started school one year late and then he "failed" one year when he got lazy, and if we hadn't taken last summer off, he could have already graduated but that he wanted to take it off, as did the rest of you...and me...so he's doing fine.) He has credits out the wazoo, far more than he actually needs because he has done so much history and such, but still has to put the final touches on a few basic ones, plus he and Natasha really want to get this music and art appreciation down. Tristan has a 3.82 gpa and Natasha has a 4.0 gpa. I am thrilled! Samuel has a new friend whom he loves. Brandon is a good boy and has the prettiest smile. I love him, too. Samuel is turning into quiet the Christian. He is engaging in some deep Christian thought and is learning how to apply it. WOW! Keenan and Tia are doing good but coming along a little slower than the others. The new games are helping them to get geography and American history down so that's good. Keenan loves to read Creation Science books as well as biographies of missionaries so he's okay. He is trying to skimp on handwriting and math and history but we're onto him so it isn't working. LOL! Tia is learning to read (finally) and is thrilled. I think that is what has slowed her progress down but then, it happened with Samuel, too, and he did okay. Nicholas is really mastering his arithmatic and is thrilled! Yanni can really talk now and is his own little man. As usual, he and Nadia are the little power houses around here, although at church, Nadia still won't talk but she is up to smiling at her teachers, LOL, so that's a good thing. Her teachers, all of them, are so funny. They will try so hard with her, even to the point of bribing her. They they will look at me and say, "She smiled at me today! I think I am making progress!" Well, I have got the get my Bible study done (I am in Hebrews right now) and then I have to pay for some teaching cd's that I ordered from a lady and get everything else done...oh, for 30 hours in a day! But, if God had wanted us to have 30 hours then we would, wouldn't we? He wants me to be content with 24. If I didn't have to sleep, I could do everything that I "feel" needs to be done in 24 hours just fine, but since I need to sleep...oh, well, He's in control, not me, thank the Lord for that! I love you, son and sunshine! Don't ever question or doubt my love, and like, for you. I appreciate who you are. One day, you are going to be a great man of God! It's in Him that we live, and breath and have our being (find that in the Bible, can you?) Bet you can! I love you, Mama : )

I love you so much. Mama

A Light in the Window...

Fathers and mothers of prodigals have very much in common; and, incidentally, most all prodigals or wayward's are very similar in the sense that they, at some point in time, made a decision to go their own way. Either mentally, physically or both. Now, the ways or methods of prodigals may be very different, but most prodigals take their first step on the long, long prodigal road with a simple "you can't make me" attitude or action. In defying parents, the prodigals defy God.

The Wayward Road

The pretty lures of the world entice prodigals in different ways. As children grow older, the lure of radio, television, internet, friends, etc., etc., becomes stronger and brighter. Forbidden fruit is usually in the hand of a friend who is not likely fully welcome or accepted in the family home. The first steps are so innocuous that they're often missed or dismissed by trusting parents. These little steps over the line, in time, become giant leaps and it's often the giant leap that catches the surprised attention of parents. The impetus to these little side steps is so varied, but down the road, parents of prodigals look back and can generally pin point the beginning of the slide — the beginning of the wayward road.



Some wayward's or prodigals begin drifting into music, computer games, online communities, friends and so on. Then, once stepping outside the bounds of home and authority, they're lured by freedom and independence and generally a shroud of secrecy. Some are led astray by lies, by drugs — some by alcohol, and some by crime. They seem to emotionally disconnect or close out all Truth. And usually when this occurs, they've erected walls that seemingly cannot be scaled - either by them (to return) or by parents seeking to bring them back home. The pain is seemingly unbearable for the parents and even for the prodigal; though the pain for the prodigal is different: it's a gnawing, wasting pain.

I don't mean to sound harsh, by the way, that's not how I am feeling at all.