Al’s Mom had a stroke in Jan. 1986. Al flew out to see her and his sister, Sheila, flew out from Delaware. Al’s Mom decided she wanted to go live with Sheila and her husband. Al came home and his Mom went to Delaware.

After three months, Al’s Mom decided she no longer wanted to stay with Sheila and moved in with us. At the time she was not well enough to work and not old enough to be on Social Security. She had no income.

We discovered that she was an alcoholic. One day while we were at work, Stephie called at about 10 AM. She was really scared. Grandma was lying in the floor and our children thought she’d had another stroke. I told them to call 911 and I would be there as quickly as I could. When Al and I got home, our Sunday School Teacher met us at the door. He was the EMT that answered the call. Al’s Mom was drunk and passed out in the floor. He and the nice folks with him had put her in bed and calmed our children down. He was very gracious about the whole thing. Needless to say, we made sure there was no alcohol in our home after that.

In July, she started dating. She would go with a friend to a bar, drink and dance. Scotch was her preferred drink. When she drank Scotch, she would become verbally violent.

Stephanie and her husband moved in with us. Stephanie was in a depression and her husband was an abusive, alcoholic and drug addict. Neither of them was working.

David had just graduated from high school and was trying to decide if he wanted to go to college or not. He had been offered full scholarships from MIT, A&M, University of Houston and Rice University. He was also supposed to be looking for a summer job. He hid out in his room. He had no income.

Al and I were working full time and making good money; but it took all of it to support everyone who was living with us. And with the exception of David, we were saddled with everyone’s problems. David and Stephanie did keep the house straightened up.

Al and I would come home and I would cook supper. He would clean the kitchen afterward. The dishwasher broke; but we could not afford to have it repaired. The money drain was tremendous.

In mid August Al remembered what the Bible said about a man not working:

My Mom came to visit for a couple of days. She prepared breakfast for everyone and Stephie’s husband informed her that he wanted his in bed. He got it in bed all right. She turned his plate of food upside down on his head. After that he decided it would be best if he came to the table.

We started going out to eat Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. We did not go to the Grocery store. After about two weeks, everyone noticed they were running out of groceries. On Thursday they asked, "Mom when are you going to get groceries?" I told them that I wasn’t because Dad and I did not eat there. Then I added that the Bible said if a man doesn’t work, don’t feed him.

The next day (Friday) my Mom called and offered to let Al and I stay at her house over the weekend while she and Harry were away. That way we could have some time alone. We took her up on the offer. We didn’t even go home. We called and told everyone we were going away for the weekend and that’s all we told them.

We stopped at the Texas Tumbleweed, had a steak dinner, listened to a live country band and danced one waltz. Then we were on our way to Livingston. As we were going down the highway, I started to sing "Amazing Grace." The tune was the same; but the words that come out of my mouth were different.

(Sing to the tune of Amazing Grace)

When I was just a little child my Lord was real to me.

He touched my heart and filled my soul with love & harmony.

As I grew up, He walked with me and carried every woe.

He helped me understand His ways and leads me as I go.

I drifted off the narrow road and wondered into harm.

He stayed with me and led me back with His all-loving arm.

Now I have children of my own and feel the pain He felt

When my own child wondered off and in the world she dwelt.

Now I know how Jesus feels when we His children fall.

His heart does break; His love is great; His grace abounds for all.

I had a whole new understanding of how God feels when we are wayward children. I think he gave us families so we could understand that. Also in spite of the heartache we endure with some relatives, we love them anyway. That’s the unconditional love that God gives to us.

Al and I had a wonderful weekend and felt refreshed when we headed home. We had decided to send his Mom back home to Florida because she was obviously able to take care of herself, tell Stephie and her husband they had to move and tell David he either had to get a job or go to college.

We got home late Sunday night and decided to talk to everyone after we got home from work the next day.

At 2 AM on Monday Stephie kicked her husband out and threw everything he owned in the front yard. At 7 AM Al’s Mom decided she wanted to go back to Florida. We packed her stuff and put her on an airplane before she could change her mind. By 10 AM Stephie and David had jobs. We thanked God that we did not have to kick anyone out or give anyone a lecture. God took care of it for us.