Brad S
Well-known member
You likely remember the Mormons buying the Star north of lakeside? Do they pay taxes as its merely an investiment vehicle to them.
YFZ Ranch
- Thread starter TXTibbs
- Start date
Mike
Well-known member
Monday, July 28, 1997
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Mormon Church is the most prosperous of American religions and is preparing to focus that considerable wealth on an unprecedented campaign of international expansion, according to a cover story in Time magazine on newsstands this week.
Time correspondents claimed "unusual cooperation" from the hierarchy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in researching the article, which gives what may be the most accurate financial snapshot of the church to date: a minimum of $30 billion in assets and annual gross income of $6 billion -- more than Utah's state budget this year.
According to the article entitled "Mormons Inc.: The Secret of America's Most Prosperous Religion," the church last year brought in $5.2 billion in tithings alone from its roughly 10 million members, who are asked to give 10 percent of their income.
If the Mormon Church were a corporation, that yearly revenue would place it midway through the Fortune 500, a little below Union Carbide and the Paine Webber Group, but bigger than Nike and the Gap.
"And as long as corporate rankings are being bandied about, the church would make any list of the most admired: for straight dealing, company spirit, contributions to charity (even the non-Mormon kind) and a fiscal probity among its powerful leaders that would satisfy any shareholder group, if there were one,'' the magazine said.
All of this, according to the magazine, is in preparation for a major expansion outside of North America. Church membership this year reached a watershed in that there are more Mormons living abroad than in the United States for the first time ever. The church is positioning itself to push that expansion to the next level which, according to one author cited in the story, could create a membership of 260 million in 83 years.
"The Mormons could well emerge as the next great global tribe," author Joel Kotkin told Time.
The church, the seventh largest in the United States, is growing at a rate of 4.7 percent domestically and nearly double that abroad.
To accommodate that growth, the uniquely American Mormon Church is ready to spend billions of dollars overseas to erect 350 meeting houses and add 15 more temples to its existing 50, the magazine said.
The story details just a few of the church's expansive holdings, including the world's largest beef ranch -- the 312,000-acre Deseret Cattle and Citrus Ranch outside Orlando, Fla. The ranch's land alone is worth $858 million.
The church also owns America's largest producer of nuts, as well as Bonneville International Corp., the country's 14th largest radio chain, and the Beneficial Life Insurance Co., with assets of $1.6 billion.
Time lists the church's assets as $12 billion in U.S. meeting houses and temples; $5 billion in meeting houses and temples in foreign countries; $6 billion in unspecified investments; $5 billion in ranch and farm real estate and $1 billion in "schools, etc."
Of its annual income of $5.9 billion, the vast majority -- $5.3 billion -- comes from tithing. Of that, $4.9 billion comes from church members living in the United States.
"There is no major church in the U.S. as active as the Latter-day Saints in economic life, nor, per capita, as successful at it," the story said.
The magazine said the church is also downplaying its differences with other Christian faiths. The Time writers, in turn, emphasized the church's social aspect -- its missionary program, its successful welfare system and a binding common purpose -- as the probable reason for its ecclesiastical and financial success.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Mormon Church is the most prosperous of American religions and is preparing to focus that considerable wealth on an unprecedented campaign of international expansion, according to a cover story in Time magazine on newsstands this week.
Time correspondents claimed "unusual cooperation" from the hierarchy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in researching the article, which gives what may be the most accurate financial snapshot of the church to date: a minimum of $30 billion in assets and annual gross income of $6 billion -- more than Utah's state budget this year.
According to the article entitled "Mormons Inc.: The Secret of America's Most Prosperous Religion," the church last year brought in $5.2 billion in tithings alone from its roughly 10 million members, who are asked to give 10 percent of their income.
If the Mormon Church were a corporation, that yearly revenue would place it midway through the Fortune 500, a little below Union Carbide and the Paine Webber Group, but bigger than Nike and the Gap.
"And as long as corporate rankings are being bandied about, the church would make any list of the most admired: for straight dealing, company spirit, contributions to charity (even the non-Mormon kind) and a fiscal probity among its powerful leaders that would satisfy any shareholder group, if there were one,'' the magazine said.
All of this, according to the magazine, is in preparation for a major expansion outside of North America. Church membership this year reached a watershed in that there are more Mormons living abroad than in the United States for the first time ever. The church is positioning itself to push that expansion to the next level which, according to one author cited in the story, could create a membership of 260 million in 83 years.
"The Mormons could well emerge as the next great global tribe," author Joel Kotkin told Time.
The church, the seventh largest in the United States, is growing at a rate of 4.7 percent domestically and nearly double that abroad.
To accommodate that growth, the uniquely American Mormon Church is ready to spend billions of dollars overseas to erect 350 meeting houses and add 15 more temples to its existing 50, the magazine said.
The story details just a few of the church's expansive holdings, including the world's largest beef ranch -- the 312,000-acre Deseret Cattle and Citrus Ranch outside Orlando, Fla. The ranch's land alone is worth $858 million.
The church also owns America's largest producer of nuts, as well as Bonneville International Corp., the country's 14th largest radio chain, and the Beneficial Life Insurance Co., with assets of $1.6 billion.
Time lists the church's assets as $12 billion in U.S. meeting houses and temples; $5 billion in meeting houses and temples in foreign countries; $6 billion in unspecified investments; $5 billion in ranch and farm real estate and $1 billion in "schools, etc."
Of its annual income of $5.9 billion, the vast majority -- $5.3 billion -- comes from tithing. Of that, $4.9 billion comes from church members living in the United States.
"There is no major church in the U.S. as active as the Latter-day Saints in economic life, nor, per capita, as successful at it," the story said.
The magazine said the church is also downplaying its differences with other Christian faiths. The Time writers, in turn, emphasized the church's social aspect -- its missionary program, its successful welfare system and a binding common purpose -- as the probable reason for its ecclesiastical and financial success.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rowdy Ranch
Well-known member
For every pain that we must bear, for every burden,every care,there is a reason
For every grief that bows the head, for every tear drop that is shed,there is a reason
For every hurt,for every plight,for every lonely,pain racked night,there is a reason
But if we trust God as we should,All must work out for our good-HE knows the reason
THY WILL BE DONE!
For every grief that bows the head, for every tear drop that is shed,there is a reason
For every hurt,for every plight,for every lonely,pain racked night,there is a reason
But if we trust God as we should,All must work out for our good-HE knows the reason
THY WILL BE DONE!
Tumbleweed
Well-known member
There is a book by John Krakauer called Under the banner of heaven that is on the morman fundamentalists. My sister got that book and I read some of it. I believe I read that the fellow that kidnapped Elizabeth Smart was a morman fundamentalist who had a revelation from god that he should take another wife so he took Elizabeth.
The mainstream morman church would like to distance itself from the fundamentalists who practice the real religion of Joseph Smith and polygamy but it is still a part of the mainstream morman religion. I believe the mormans had a revelation from god and stopped practicing it in order for Utah to become a state. They still teach if a man follows the teachings of Joseph Smith and enters the celestial kingdom in heaven he will be given many wives and will spend eternity creating spirit children with them to populate other worlds.
The mainstream morman church would like to distance itself from the fundamentalists who practice the real religion of Joseph Smith and polygamy but it is still a part of the mainstream morman religion. I believe the mormans had a revelation from god and stopped practicing it in order for Utah to become a state. They still teach if a man follows the teachings of Joseph Smith and enters the celestial kingdom in heaven he will be given many wives and will spend eternity creating spirit children with them to populate other worlds.
Northern Rancher
Well-known member
Soapweed I just got around to reading this set of posts and I can't imagine what you are going through. A neighbor girl my age went through the same thing just out of school and the family kidnapped her back. She's now happily married mother of one in her forties. It's a very hard call but I think if at all possible you should try and get her back-for all you know they might be drugging or brain washing your girl. On a Canadian note this isn't a whole lot different than the residential schools operated that the native kids used to be sent to up here-but I guess that was all right because it was the Catholic church running that show. It disgusts me when evil of any kind hides behind religion no matter which one it is. I just hope it all works out for you and your daughter.
TXTibbs
Well-known member
Like what tumbleweed said, the true mormans distance themselves from these "fundamentalists" that are in Eldorado, Texas. These people in Eldorado are a branch off the Morman church kinda and they don't really claim each other i don't think. Its a screwed up deal.....It sorta gives a bad name to the true Mormans, which isn't really right since these people arn't really that. anyway its crazy!
I haven't been checking out these other sections of ranchersnet often and just learned of your sad situation, Soapweed.
We absolutely do support you in prayer for a swift and happy resolution.
Does anyone have an thoughts or words of wisdom on how to teach kids to be wary of such situations....... and it seems to me that a family or group who virtually takes even a legal age person into their fold and refuses access by the family of that person has to be breaking some laws.
MRJ
We absolutely do support you in prayer for a swift and happy resolution.
Does anyone have an thoughts or words of wisdom on how to teach kids to be wary of such situations....... and it seems to me that a family or group who virtually takes even a legal age person into their fold and refuses access by the family of that person has to be breaking some laws.
MRJ
MRJ said:
It never even crossed my mind when we raised our three (all in their 30's now) that there could be such a possibility. We warned them about drugs etc. and tried to encourage them to have decent God-fearing friends, but we were completely naive about this type of problem and others.
One of our children tells us now that we gave them too much latitude and expected them to be too responsible at an early age and didn't protect them enough (from each other's comments). Yet at the time I thought we were doing responsible parenting :? . It hurt me to hear that.
But after pondering about our situation then as parents, our resources, health problems, energy levels, our own upbringing, etc. I've concluded we managed to NOT make the mistakes our parents made in raising us. (yeah for us). But we made our OWN mistakes. We weren't perfect parents, could have prayed more and listened more closely though at the time- we thought we were! Isn't hindsight great :? :roll:
One thing we DID correctly which seemed to help them develop in multiple ways was sending them to an overnight, well-run Christian church camp for a week every summer from about second grade on thru part of gradeschool. After that they had their own youth group activities, sports and scouts which occupied them. The camp was not run by our church so they did not know the other campers. Besides having fun, they learned they could survive homesickness, meet new people and situations and make do with the bad. We think this gave them an edge in independence. But we will never know for sure.
The first year of college seems to be a delicate time with the newly won independence coupled with fear which can send kids clinging- either back to parents or to a handy individual. Our son said when he went in the Navy he saw so many fellows marrying just after enlistment for that feeling of security. It was, of course, detrimental to a beginning marriage.
Perhaps we could warn our children and grand-children that fear is normal in new situations, but they can endure Fear.
Soapweed
Well-known member
My dear wife has been busy this morning writing a "pertinent parable" about our daughter's situation. Here is Mrs. Soapweed's "Story of the Lamp":
STORY OF THE LAMP
Once upon a time there was a lamp. No ordinary lamp, this lamp was skillfully designed and formed by a Master Craftsman. When cared for properly, it gave off a special glow and reflected the name of its creator imprinted on its base.
The Master Craftsman searched until he found just the right family that would care for this special lamp and bring forth its most potential. This family was delighted with the lamp and took their responsibility seriously. Daily they polished and cared for the lamp as the "owner's manual" described and the lamp shone forth its love and appreciation for it. The family took special care in the positioning of the lampshade so that it would direct the light to reflect the Master Craftsman's name and shine forth on the people around it.
Frequently a special occasion would come up when the family would share the special light with their family and friends. It was on one such occasion when a young man from another family first caught sight of the lovely lamp. The light gave warmth and illuminated everything in a delightful way. He was instantly mesmerized by its beauty and developed in his heart a desire to have this lamp for his own. But instead of using integrity and offering to purchase or work for the lamp in an honorable fashion, he developed another plan.
As the time had come for the lamp to be sent to a far-away refining center where the Master Craftsman would perfect some of the lamp's special qualities, the young man found it easy to work his plan while the lamp was far from the family. He slowly but gradually began to change the appearance of the lamp. He put marks on the covering making it appear dirty and rough and moved its focus a little at a time to shine more on his own family and himself. Then just when the original family was about to joyfully receive its precious lamp home again, the young man came in under the disguise of a repairman. He said the lamp needed a few repairs and would be returned as soon as the repairs were finished.
The young man took the lamp home with him and began to change its appearance so no one would recognize it. He changed the lampshade and put in a different bulb. He used the "owner's manual" to his own advantage, changing the meaning and intent to fit his own plan. He and his family painted its stand and base a different color and hid it from those who would recognize it.
Now the original family became alarmed and concerned at this thievery and attempted to retrieve its precious lamp. The lamp had already changed so much in appearance that they were confused and struggled with trying to put the right covering back on and scrape at the new paint but to no avail. They pleaded with the Master Craftsman constantly for help and read the "owner's manual" to know what to do in such circumstances.
The sons and daughter, friends and family who had basked in its glow missed the lamp fiercely and with one voice would take up arms to go steal the lamp back. But the Father and Mother, though they wanted to also, knew from the "owner's manual" that the Master Craftsman had designed the lamp to withstand such trials and that to take it forcefully may harm the lamp. They also knew from experience and the "owner's manual" that the Master Craftsman was very trustworthy and would handle this the right way.
The family came to trust the Master Craftsman and realize his plan all along was for them to shine forth the same light the lamp had shone and to reflect his name. Even so, the family should never cease to ask the Master Craftsman to hover over the lamp and restore it. He has not lost track of the lamp and though the thief may paint over his name, change its reflection and even break the lamp, his name is still there, engraved deeply in its base. The "owner's manual" describes how very good the Master Craftsman is at restoring his own pieces of art and that is their hope.
STORY OF THE LAMP
Once upon a time there was a lamp. No ordinary lamp, this lamp was skillfully designed and formed by a Master Craftsman. When cared for properly, it gave off a special glow and reflected the name of its creator imprinted on its base.
The Master Craftsman searched until he found just the right family that would care for this special lamp and bring forth its most potential. This family was delighted with the lamp and took their responsibility seriously. Daily they polished and cared for the lamp as the "owner's manual" described and the lamp shone forth its love and appreciation for it. The family took special care in the positioning of the lampshade so that it would direct the light to reflect the Master Craftsman's name and shine forth on the people around it.
Frequently a special occasion would come up when the family would share the special light with their family and friends. It was on one such occasion when a young man from another family first caught sight of the lovely lamp. The light gave warmth and illuminated everything in a delightful way. He was instantly mesmerized by its beauty and developed in his heart a desire to have this lamp for his own. But instead of using integrity and offering to purchase or work for the lamp in an honorable fashion, he developed another plan.
As the time had come for the lamp to be sent to a far-away refining center where the Master Craftsman would perfect some of the lamp's special qualities, the young man found it easy to work his plan while the lamp was far from the family. He slowly but gradually began to change the appearance of the lamp. He put marks on the covering making it appear dirty and rough and moved its focus a little at a time to shine more on his own family and himself. Then just when the original family was about to joyfully receive its precious lamp home again, the young man came in under the disguise of a repairman. He said the lamp needed a few repairs and would be returned as soon as the repairs were finished.
The young man took the lamp home with him and began to change its appearance so no one would recognize it. He changed the lampshade and put in a different bulb. He used the "owner's manual" to his own advantage, changing the meaning and intent to fit his own plan. He and his family painted its stand and base a different color and hid it from those who would recognize it.
Now the original family became alarmed and concerned at this thievery and attempted to retrieve its precious lamp. The lamp had already changed so much in appearance that they were confused and struggled with trying to put the right covering back on and scrape at the new paint but to no avail. They pleaded with the Master Craftsman constantly for help and read the "owner's manual" to know what to do in such circumstances.
The sons and daughter, friends and family who had basked in its glow missed the lamp fiercely and with one voice would take up arms to go steal the lamp back. But the Father and Mother, though they wanted to also, knew from the "owner's manual" that the Master Craftsman had designed the lamp to withstand such trials and that to take it forcefully may harm the lamp. They also knew from experience and the "owner's manual" that the Master Craftsman was very trustworthy and would handle this the right way.
The family came to trust the Master Craftsman and realize his plan all along was for them to shine forth the same light the lamp had shone and to reflect his name. Even so, the family should never cease to ask the Master Craftsman to hover over the lamp and restore it. He has not lost track of the lamp and though the thief may paint over his name, change its reflection and even break the lamp, his name is still there, engraved deeply in its base. The "owner's manual" describes how very good the Master Craftsman is at restoring his own pieces of art and that is their hope.
TXTibbs
Well-known member
Soapweed that is amazing. :clap: :clap: 
Jinglebob
Well-known member
Wonderful !
Big Muddy rancher
Well-known member
Great job on the story. I hope it helps educate others . As a father I feel for you folks and like your other friends would be ready to storm the place and take your daughter back. But will pray and hope in Gods infinite wisdom and with your daughters upbringing that her lightwill shine again in the sandhills of Nebraska.
Rowdy Ranch
Well-known member
Mrs. Soapweed and Soapweed,
Thank you for sharing this beautiful writing-that must be very diffucult to do,but I think of you and your family in prayers and know that it is in the Masters hands. What faith you have!
Thank you for sharing this beautiful writing-that must be very diffucult to do,but I think of you and your family in prayers and know that it is in the Masters hands. What faith you have!
Mudhen
Well-known member
Soapweeds great story.
Like I feel in the reading of story the faith is there and as long as the faith is there she will always be there. One thing I know is the creator will always be there. Never give up on the hope one day the marks will fall off and then will shine a new and brighter light.
May God bless your family and you all will be in my prayers.
Like I feel in the reading of story the faith is there and as long as the faith is there she will always be there. One thing I know is the creator will always be there. Never give up on the hope one day the marks will fall off and then will shine a new and brighter light.
May God bless your family and you all will be in my prayers.
A
Anonymous
Guest
Soap- I pretty much gave you my feelings and what I think will happen in the PM I sent you-- One thing I forgot and that is one of the things you really have to fight is the stage of wanting to blame yourself for what occurred- happens with all persons involved in some way with a traumatic incident involving a loved one-- What could I have done different? What did I do wrong? From your posts it appears to me that you have worked thru this stage...
A good book on handling emotions and stress is On Death and Dying by Kubler Ross...
While studying cancer and incurably ill persons they found that everyone goes thru 5 emotional stages during any stressful period....
These are
1. Denial and Isolation
2. Anger (against someone else)
3. Bargaining
4. Depression (self)
5. Acceptance
And they go thru these stages in that order- or they have problems and can be a loose cannon if they bounce back and forth- usually once you've move thru to the acceptance you can live with the situation the best....Even just being stopped for speeding and getting a ticket puts you thru those stages- sometimes so fast you don't even reallize it....
1. That cop isn't trying to stop me- I wasn't doing nothing wrong
2. Why was that d*mn cop on this road- too many highway cops anyway
3. Officer I was only going 10 mph over speed and my speeddometer is a little off- how about a warning
4. always me thats getting picked up- and I never get any breaks- now its going to cost me and I can't afford it
5. I just need to pay my fine and remember to leave 10 minutes earlier...
CIA and Police agents found that while interviewing suspects, the faster you can move them thru the stages- the faster you can get them to tell you what they know or confess....Or if they bounce around in the stages- watch out!!!
A good book on handling emotions and stress is On Death and Dying by Kubler Ross...
While studying cancer and incurably ill persons they found that everyone goes thru 5 emotional stages during any stressful period....
These are
1. Denial and Isolation
2. Anger (against someone else)
3. Bargaining
4. Depression (self)
5. Acceptance
And they go thru these stages in that order- or they have problems and can be a loose cannon if they bounce back and forth- usually once you've move thru to the acceptance you can live with the situation the best....Even just being stopped for speeding and getting a ticket puts you thru those stages- sometimes so fast you don't even reallize it....
1. That cop isn't trying to stop me- I wasn't doing nothing wrong
2. Why was that d*mn cop on this road- too many highway cops anyway
3. Officer I was only going 10 mph over speed and my speeddometer is a little off- how about a warning
4. always me thats getting picked up- and I never get any breaks- now its going to cost me and I can't afford it
5. I just need to pay my fine and remember to leave 10 minutes earlier...
CIA and Police agents found that while interviewing suspects, the faster you can move them thru the stages- the faster you can get them to tell you what they know or confess....Or if they bounce around in the stages- watch out!!!
Soapweed,
A beautifully written parallel. It occurred to me when I kept getting angry at the thief as I read it, that I should not only be praying for your daughter but also (and with more difficulty) be praying for the young man and his family's conversion to the truth.
Please folks, let's remember that groups praying can be a very powerful tool against craven, black-heartedness. Let's include that family of thieves in our prayers that they will make a turn-around.
After just finishing reading a book about all the problems George Washington faced early on in the Revolutionary War (too few troops against the huge British Army and Hessian Army, poor or misguided information, too few boots, poor or no food, terrible weather) it is so clear that God can take an "impossible" situation and turn it completely around to a good end. We are counting on that in the beautiful Lamp's situation.
A beautifully written parallel. It occurred to me when I kept getting angry at the thief as I read it, that I should not only be praying for your daughter but also (and with more difficulty) be praying for the young man and his family's conversion to the truth.
Please folks, let's remember that groups praying can be a very powerful tool against craven, black-heartedness. Let's include that family of thieves in our prayers that they will make a turn-around.
After just finishing reading a book about all the problems George Washington faced early on in the Revolutionary War (too few troops against the huge British Army and Hessian Army, poor or misguided information, too few boots, poor or no food, terrible weather) it is so clear that God can take an "impossible" situation and turn it completely around to a good end. We are counting on that in the beautiful Lamp's situation.
Faster horses
Well-known member
Oh, Soapweed and Mrs. Soapweed; :cry2:
It just is not fair. Our hearts are heavy for you.
May God bless you and your daughter in the days to come.
It just is not fair. Our hearts are heavy for you.
May God bless you and your daughter in the days to come.
Mrs. Soapweed,
thank you for sharing that story, I just had to go back and read it again as the first time you posted it I could not respond. Now I can. My daughter who is 23 now, went off to college, went off the deep end, could not face us after being kicked out of school for straight F's, just kept digging herself deeper and deeper. She even took me to court demanding that I pay her for things that she thought she was entitled to trying to get money to live as she had become so lazy and did not have a job. As true to her form, she fould herself a loser to "save" as she did all through high school. Only this time the loser got her pregnant. I told them that if they did not get married and give this baby a real home I would take it from them and just before the baby came they went down to the judge and got married.
They seemed like they were starting to grow up and become responsible, little did we know. I found them a house that was nearby that needed a caretaker so rent was real cheap, I mean free if you tried. I cosigned a note so they could have a decent vehicle to drive as I don't like babies riding around in junkers. They got evicted after only a few months because they were to lazy to do anything. They then moved into Laurel into a place that cost 3 times more, they stopped making payments of the vehicle, but they were still running around to every function in Billings like they were the jet set. The bank started hounding me so I started hounding them. They quit answering the phones, would not return messages, even if left at work with the boss. We went to their trailer to give them the paper work from the bank and the trailer was gone. That was June 5th.
We had no idea where they went to, nothing. About a week ago, we found out that they had skipped town and ran to his parents house in Oregon. The bank had a repo order on the Explorer and I was tired of them calling so I started doing some homework on this handy dandy computer. We got phone numbers but when you called his parents they said they did not know who you were talking about. We had repo guys go out there but nobody knew anyone by that name. Also found out that this wonder of a human being had taken out a title loan on his pickup and there was a repo order on it. Since it rained yesterday, I got on the computer and the phone, got a physical address, called the father in law and he answered and was in a situation where he could not lie to me. Found them. Then last night I called the office of the place where daughter, butt head and father all work and my daughter answered the phone. I asked "Who is this" but I knew, and she said "Who are you" but I know they have caller ID and she handed the phone to her precious father in law who said "If you ever call this number again, I have a bullet with your name on it and I will place it in your head, right between your eyes". I told him to have at it, hope he can shoot well at 1200 miles. He hung up. Got the explorer today, the repo guys drove in and were talking to my ex son in law who said he had no idea who they were looking for and there was nobody from Montana around here, when my daughter drove up in the explorer. End of story, end of lots of things, including relationship with daughter.
Anyway, the moral of the story is this, NEVER GIVE UP on them because some of them actually get it right after a time, God is testing us, I know. And for all of the bad, there is a equal or greater amount of good. I can say that because last week my errant 21 year old boy drove in. Had not heard much from him or even where he was for the past 7 months. Asked him what he was doing and he said, "well Monday I have to be in Butte, for a physical because now I am a Marine". You could of knocked me over with a feather. I asked why not the Air Force as he always has wanted to fly, he said "It is time for me to do something and if your going to do something like this you best do it right". Knock me down with a breath.
The thing that separates humans from the rest of the animals on this planet is we can have faith and if we have faith, we also have hope. I have one of my lamps where it should be, the other has a burnt out bulb, someday the light will come back on.
Have a great day
thank you for sharing that story, I just had to go back and read it again as the first time you posted it I could not respond. Now I can. My daughter who is 23 now, went off to college, went off the deep end, could not face us after being kicked out of school for straight F's, just kept digging herself deeper and deeper. She even took me to court demanding that I pay her for things that she thought she was entitled to trying to get money to live as she had become so lazy and did not have a job. As true to her form, she fould herself a loser to "save" as she did all through high school. Only this time the loser got her pregnant. I told them that if they did not get married and give this baby a real home I would take it from them and just before the baby came they went down to the judge and got married.
They seemed like they were starting to grow up and become responsible, little did we know. I found them a house that was nearby that needed a caretaker so rent was real cheap, I mean free if you tried. I cosigned a note so they could have a decent vehicle to drive as I don't like babies riding around in junkers. They got evicted after only a few months because they were to lazy to do anything. They then moved into Laurel into a place that cost 3 times more, they stopped making payments of the vehicle, but they were still running around to every function in Billings like they were the jet set. The bank started hounding me so I started hounding them. They quit answering the phones, would not return messages, even if left at work with the boss. We went to their trailer to give them the paper work from the bank and the trailer was gone. That was June 5th.
We had no idea where they went to, nothing. About a week ago, we found out that they had skipped town and ran to his parents house in Oregon. The bank had a repo order on the Explorer and I was tired of them calling so I started doing some homework on this handy dandy computer. We got phone numbers but when you called his parents they said they did not know who you were talking about. We had repo guys go out there but nobody knew anyone by that name. Also found out that this wonder of a human being had taken out a title loan on his pickup and there was a repo order on it. Since it rained yesterday, I got on the computer and the phone, got a physical address, called the father in law and he answered and was in a situation where he could not lie to me. Found them. Then last night I called the office of the place where daughter, butt head and father all work and my daughter answered the phone. I asked "Who is this" but I knew, and she said "Who are you" but I know they have caller ID and she handed the phone to her precious father in law who said "If you ever call this number again, I have a bullet with your name on it and I will place it in your head, right between your eyes". I told him to have at it, hope he can shoot well at 1200 miles. He hung up. Got the explorer today, the repo guys drove in and were talking to my ex son in law who said he had no idea who they were looking for and there was nobody from Montana around here, when my daughter drove up in the explorer. End of story, end of lots of things, including relationship with daughter.
Anyway, the moral of the story is this, NEVER GIVE UP on them because some of them actually get it right after a time, God is testing us, I know. And for all of the bad, there is a equal or greater amount of good. I can say that because last week my errant 21 year old boy drove in. Had not heard much from him or even where he was for the past 7 months. Asked him what he was doing and he said, "well Monday I have to be in Butte, for a physical because now I am a Marine". You could of knocked me over with a feather. I asked why not the Air Force as he always has wanted to fly, he said "It is time for me to do something and if your going to do something like this you best do it right". Knock me down with a breath.
The thing that separates humans from the rest of the animals on this planet is we can have faith and if we have faith, we also have hope. I have one of my lamps where it should be, the other has a burnt out bulb, someday the light will come back on.
Have a great day
Faster horses
Well-known member
Sometimes, ya know, ya just wonder why you ever had kids.
Man alive, they can disappoint you and some of them do it for YEARS!
I have some issues with our daughter, but after reading what has been posted here, it really doesn't amount to much.
I wish I had some words of wisdom, but your wisdom is already evident, sw. Faith and hope... :nod: And I guess we can never turn our backs on our kids, totally. But they sure don't make it easy at times...
I hope things turn around.
Man alive, they can disappoint you and some of them do it for YEARS!
I have some issues with our daughter, but after reading what has been posted here, it really doesn't amount to much.
I wish I had some words of wisdom, but your wisdom is already evident, sw. Faith and hope... :nod: And I guess we can never turn our backs on our kids, totally. But they sure don't make it easy at times...
I hope things turn around.
As the saying goes some have to really hit rock bottom to turn around. I've met with young women at the prison who in their late 20's and 30's are only beginning to see how and why they went wrong. Many women have actually said to me that prison was the best thing that has happened to them because it made them stop short and take stock of their poor choices.
When they get to that point there is opportunity for them to examine who was trying to help them years ago with time, money and love. But that takes a lot of humility for them to admit parents were right. It helps at that juncture if the hurt family is willing to re-establish some links. Not an easy process rebuilding trust but there can be a healing.
Of course no parent hopes to have an offspring in prison. However, it can be a needed wake-up call.
Soapweed's comment about leaving the situation and offspring in God's hands and getting on with our lives as normal filled with friends, work and happy activities seems like a perfect response to all of life's problems and disappointments. I'll be praying for you and yours,sw.
When they get to that point there is opportunity for them to examine who was trying to help them years ago with time, money and love. But that takes a lot of humility for them to admit parents were right. It helps at that juncture if the hurt family is willing to re-establish some links. Not an easy process rebuilding trust but there can be a healing.
Of course no parent hopes to have an offspring in prison. However, it can be a needed wake-up call.
Soapweed's comment about leaving the situation and offspring in God's hands and getting on with our lives as normal filled with friends, work and happy activities seems like a perfect response to all of life's problems and disappointments. I'll be praying for you and yours,sw.