Many have asked so, here it is.

He was here 4 days when he got a job. He papered this town and several others with his resume. He went to the orchard to ask about picking apples while he waits for his resume to kick in, and they took him on to do the mechanics of the farm. He loves it there, and they love him.

He stopped trying to contact Sticky Head after I had a long serious talk with him. He has been hanging out with several local friends here and doing things cheaply. He is still saving for that truck, and needs at least two more weeks before he can afford it, but every penny is headed at a newer truck for him.

He is doing a bible study once a week with some young men his age. He works on Sunday so no church, but he is studying.

He has a better attitude, a better mood, and he is looking tons better. He has gone from 117 pounds to 129. He no longer looks like a refugee or like he is a manorexic. He fills out his clothes better, and his complextion has cleared up. He still eats way too much sugar, but we are working on that. He is excited about being here now, and has stopped moping about what could have been. He is starting to talk about what will be.

Thank you for all your good thoughts, and prayers. It seems like he is doing well at rebuilding a nice foundation again. He is reading the books we put in front of him, and has done a great job at just breathing long enough to get thru one day at a time. He has not had any alcohol since arriving here (which disproves g/fs theory that he was a lay about drunk) and he has been very helpful round the house.

He wanted to say thanks to all who are cheering for him. He is on his way. Thanks!

That's great news, Dej! No matter how old our children are we're going to worry about them and their well being. Just part of being a good Mom.

yay! no more sticky head and sticky hand.

Nice to hear, Dej...Thanks..

Hey, Dej . I'm happy he's doing so much better. You may have told us before, if you did, I missed it. What does 'sticky head' mean???

I know what you're going through because I have two sons in their 20s. It is always such a worry but they seem to bounce back. It is hard for us nonetheless. Try not to worry too much, you know that you are a good mom.

Nice job Dej. You and he did good all around. What a Mom! Praying DS keeps up the fine work.

Son came home from work last night a bit early, seemed down. Ate dinner, showered and then sat and wanted to watch a movie with me, instead of going out. I pulled up a chair beside him and asked what happened.

He made friends with a local (semi local) girl. When he explained to me where she lived I explained that I didnt want to judge her based on her family, but her brothers have a horrible rep are always in trouble with the law, and the family has more than its fair share of trouble. I dont want to push that on your plate, but be careful, because if the law shows up, they will sweep you out the door with her brothers. So, he explained that he took her to get a gas station coffee, and they were sitting on the swings across from her fathers trailor. She seems stumbly and "off" He asked several times if she was ok. She kept saying she was fine. She fell off the swing and when he went to help her up, she REEKED of alcohol, and he saw what could be a "track mark" on her arm. He walked her home, told her to go to bed (she was extremely flirty, and he said NO!") and he would talk to her later. He talked for a while about how disappointed he was, but that he gave her a text message when he got off work to STOP calling him. She texted him 25 times during the work day to say "are you mad at me" and "did I do something wrong" and stuff like that. He said "mom, I just dont need that in my life, and it will do nothing but make trouble for me, so I am sad that I lost a friend today."

So...he IS growing up! Those on FB, dont spill that you know this happened, but he is working hard to pull himself up. He got a full paycheck yesterday and that helped. one more paycheck and he can get that truck he wants. A few more paychecks and his bills will be paid off. (he thought about bankruptcy, but in the end chose to pay them) and altho he is quite bored because we dont go ATV riding or Nascar hunting or do dirty, loud, fast things here, he will survive.

Im just so proud that he didnt try to rescue this girl. He has had a habit of rescue and that ALWAYS leads him to forgoe his dreams, and his goals to pick someone else up. That must have been so hard for him. Way to go Matt!

It's not a linear process, healing from hurt...but you can sing praise that he made a good decision for himself...

OMG a dream come true today! The man and woman who own a local car dealership do RACES! car races, ATV races, SNowmobile races, Quad races...she asked if my son would be interested in being a mentor for some other youth in this town. If so, they would provide him with the equipment and bikes and so forth, PLUS he would get the pick of cars off their lot for what they paid for it at auction. WOW! This girl is in the National Guard and is really about community service, giving back, and helping those who came from humble starts, while keeping your own head above the danger line. PERFECT! PERFECT! PERFECT! did I mention this is perfect yet?

So, my son is being gifted with a chance to not only give back, but to be able to help those less fortunate, and be given the chance to prove himself to the WGBY program (we got your back) and be admitted as a member of the RAD racing team (Racers against Drugs) so WAHOOO! Now he can go out and I dont have to worry about which dust head he will meet or trip over.

I have hope! i have great hope once again. Thank you God!