A new chapter in my life started this afternoon!! Looking forward with happy, anxious eyes!!

In the spirit of how I would not hesitate to blog about what stress my son had caused me with his drug addled behavior, I am posting this blog.

However, today is different. The last time you heard about my son he had been busted for marijuana and felony possession of a Class II drug. The DA offered my son a plea deal. My son could go to what is called drug court (takes at least 12 months to finish!!) and when he graduated, his record would be wiped clean and he would be allowed to live his life as if nothing bad had ever happened. If he chose not to take the plea deal or if he failed drug court, he would have to serve time.

My son started drug court in Feb. 2010. He had three meetings a week, NA meetings, weekly drug/urine screens, random early morning drug/urine screens on weekends, weekly meetings with his PO, a weekly review of his case in front of a judge, as well as having to work a minimum of 30 hours/week. If he did not work the minimum, he had to fill the time with volunteer work. And if he missed a drug screen, it automatically counted as a positive! It was very hard for him, especially at first. But he kept his eyes on the prize. And learned a lot about himself along the way.

This fall, my son got baptized and accepted Jesus as His Savior. He has shown a lot of personal growth in ways that are hard to describe. (For example, he recently started reading "The Purpose Driven Life" by Rick Warren!!) He is definitely not the same person who started drug court a year ago.

And this afternoon, he graduated from drug court within the 12 months he said he would do it!! (And if I may brag, he did it without ever failing a drug screen!!) A lot of his friends were there to watch this exciting moment along! His best friend since 2nd grade got to say a few things about my son as part of the ceremony. I squeezed my MIL's hand as we watched the ceremony!!

Now a new chapter is starting for my family. I am so very proud of him and what he has accomplished but I also know what human nature is like, so I am a bit nervous about his ability to stay clean. The best I can do is to continue to love and support him and have faith in him that he can do this!!


I know I've used this picture before but I love it!!! He so does hold the world in his hands!!