Hi folks, Haven't checked in, in a while...but I'm still here.....So, it is August, how time flies...this time last year, we would've been preparing for our son to go to college in the city.....wow, can't believe a year has passed.....

SO, my son did get a great opportunity a couple weeks ago as a tower climber for a communications company locally here. He worked his butt off all week, he studied, he climbed 260 feet up, he did all he was supposed to, although the guy that was their safety officer, was a really, well ASS HAT! come to find out he is a friend of mines brother, THEN I realized he IS a real ass! He knew nothing about our son, but he would make off color comments on different subjects like about cutters and how if his g/f was a cutter, he would call her fat and get her upset so he could watch her cut herself, etc...really? What the HELL? My son didn't say anything, shut his mouth, but the guy continued onto drug addicts and made some hideous off color comments, again my son said nothing....he said it was odd the stuff this guy would say, but he wanted the job, so said nothing to him, just did his job, on Friday that week, they were climbing and the guy tells him, 100 feet up, how he didn't have the confidence it takes to do the job and that he should just get down off the tower and call it a day and go back to washing dishes or go back in the Navy....so he did just that, he climbed down, a little dishearted and went to the office. He called me, I picked him up thinking 'oh god, please don't let him relapse'...he gets in the car and looks at me, I thought he was going to be upset and off the edge (as he usually would) but this young man says to me 'ya know, Mom, I did everything right, I know I did, I worked hard, I took my time to build my confidence and he just wanted to tear me down, I didn't let him, but decided come January, in the snow, I wouldn't be happy climbing 260 feet up and he was right, it's just now for me, but I tried it, made it and decided it wasn't good enough for me"....Hmph...if THAT didn't rock my world....LOL....So he came home, showered, got on his computer and sent out another 15 applications to other places.....I went upstairs, poured a cup of coffee, sat down and thought 'now THAT's what I'm TALKING ABOUT!"....strong, confident, even keel.....not letting it get to him....wow...

I think he's back! He is doing GREAT! He stopped smoking pot, I do notice he has a few drinks with his friends, but he comes home at decent hours, does what he's supposed to around the house, yeah he ain't perfect, but don't expect him to be....but we talk easier, he is not exploding all over nothing....he is amazingly prophetic at times.....

I'm thankful for his girlfriend, she is a blessing to him, he is SO happy with her and is seeing an unconditional love from her as well as us. He feels lucky he says, that he has had this opportunity, he looks at what some might call failures, as learning experiences....

Am I asleep and dreaming all this? LOL....I know in the past, the fall has been his 'depression time', so I'm fingers crossed that this fall will bring the beauty I know it has to offer to him as well.

He has some money saved for a car, he has his license back now, passed the 2nd test, so now he just needs a dang job......

I got a promotion at work, we bought a new boat....and yeah I know, I'm still sitting here waiting for the other shoe to drop and hoping it won't, but always weary.....

I just am thankful for every good day, which seems to be many now, that I have with him.

I keep you all in my prayers everyday! And hope everyone is having a good summer and some enjoyment along the way. Stay strong and hopeful!