From the Desk of Jill Keenon, Operations Director:

Our baby, Hillary, is engaged and she said and promised she would never leave home. Some cute boy comes along and it is "See ya, Mom and Dad!"

When our kids grow up it is fun to see them mature and want to live their lives for the Lord and what he has planned. We desire for them to be independent and able to stand on their own two feet. So, sometimes I think it is confusing for all of us with how DEPENDENT we are supposed to be on the Lord. The whole time we are growing up, the goal is healthy independence.

I guess the difference is it is supposed to be switching from dependence on parents to dependence on God. Not independent, totally self-sufficient. That is a fallacy. Even once we are independent we still would not be living without God. If parenting is done right, the transfer to God should be smooth. That means the rest of our adult life we are trying to fix what wasn't smooth in the transition.

Forgive your parents for their mess-ups with you and thank them for what they did do right even if it was only allowing you to be born. Forgive yourself for your mess-ups with your own children and become prayer warriors for them for the rest of their lives.

COLOMA PLACE:

We are having someone come look at the home to prepare it for selling. Pray for us to know what all should be done. Pray for the transition when the Dyers leave.

• Pray for Sue as she leaves too. She has a place to go. Thank the Lord.
  
• Pray for the house to have a buyer quickly.
  

QUICK HOME:

• I have not had a chance this week to talk to them but I know the prayer concerns are the same. Pat in school and the baby's situation with court.
  

KEENON HOME:

• We are trying to find a date for Melissa's parents to come out and talk about her situation. Prayer coverage is much needed for this situation. Pray for Melissa to keep trying to eat. It is still a battle and is very inconsistent. Also pray about her seizures. She went six days without one then had two in a row.
• It looks like Joel will be getting that new job. Pray for the final details to come together.
  
• Matt seems stressed. Pray for him to count on the Lord for his needs.
  
• Margie is doing well and the decision to go to school is shelved again. That is probably the best for right now. She is trying really hard to get healthy and still is having trouble losing weight because of her meds. Pray for her to have success in this area.
  

FAMILIES HELPING FAMILIES:

• One young man trying to join the armed forces is having a difficult time because of his past transgressions in society. Help him to know what the proper next move is: to try again or to look for suitable work. He needs to pay child support and is behind. We have known him and his family for many years, they are heart broken and stressed.
  
• Another family's son has experimented with self-mutilation, in this case cutting himself. I ,PJ, met with him and he has not had anymore incidents in the last week. Pray the photos and information he received and his mother's diligence pays off so he doesn't do this again. Friends on the internet encouraged him to do this to relieve pain.

Have a great week.

In Christ's Service for the Community,

Paul & Jill Keenon
Open Door for Teens, Inc.