Greetings!

We have four more weeks of family summer vacation before the kiddos head back to school. July flew by in record time. I am fresh back from my summer vacation having reconnected with many of my former wife's immediate and extended family.

Teresa, Leslie, Derek, Kyle and now Josiah all enjoyed a week of fun, sun, play and food. Leslie headed back to India this past Tuesday to reunite with her husband and get on with her daily life. She has been in Maine for the better part of the last two months, spending most of her time in Portland with her Mom, as well as visiting us often at our camp in Palermo. Leslie has been especially helpful to me, as I have been dealing with several teenager issues. Leslie, being 34 years of age, is almost like having a generation between me and the boys. She reminded us all, that it wasn't all that long ago that she also went through those teenaged years.

I'm happy to say, that the boys and I are in a much better place than we were just a few weeks ago. I know it is tough being a teenager, but I know even better that being a parent of a teenager can be trying. I have always been up for a good challenge and this certainly has been a good one! I also want to thank all of you readers who have offered your support and words of wisdom. Believe me, I take it all in. 

I just learned this morning that yesterday was the third anniversary of the death of Josiah's Mom. He told no one in our house, instead keeping it to himself. I learned of it when I called him this morning and on my Blackberry popped up a message that he had posted on Facebook which read like this:

"Yesterday was my Mom's birthday and today marks three years without her here, three years still hurts the same as the first day. I love and miss you Mom more than anything and I still think of you every second - wish you were still here with me."  

My son Derek and Josiah played high school basketball together last year and are both headed to Thomas College in the Fall. Because of Derek's recent actions, he has been grounded and unable to use a family vehicle that has been assigned to him other than back and forth to work. Because of Derek's actions, Josiah has also been somewhat punished, because both their world's for the last two weeks have been back and forth to the Dine-ah from camp. I forgot to mention, Josiah also works at the Dine-ah in the kitchen and is somewhat stranded, for he has no vehicle and we have yet to put him on our insurance. I have not been in a hurry to add him to the insurance for we both are still "testing the waters" and quite frankly his behavior is typical of most teenagers. Lots of needs with little offers to help!

Today happens to be their day off and they had planned on spending the day out to camp by themselves. For most kids this wouldn't be a punishment but for these two, it truly is. They would much rather be on the road or in town visiting with friends. After I hung up with Josiah, making sure they were all set for the day, I couldn't help but think about how he was feeling.

I just had to call back and talk to him about his Mom and find out where she was buried. Josiah informed me that she was buried in Alna, in the area where he used to live. I was hoping that would be the case and I offered up the family vehicle, so that he could visit her grave site if he wished. He said that would be great and asked if I minded, if they picked up one of his brothers and took him down with him. Of course I didn't mind. As I write, this Thursday afternoon, I hope Josiah and his brother are having a good visit at his Mom's grave site and that his visit brings him some comfort. I told them to be home early because Derek is still grounded and is the designated driver.

I can't wait to get home tonight and talk with Josiah about how he is feeling and also to find out how their trip went. Although I try to be firm, consistent, and show lots of love, I thought this was a time, if there ever was one to bend the rules a little and give this young man something he desperately needed.