I have recently gotten in touch with an ex-girlfriend of mine who has done amazingly well for herself. I am very proud of her and very envious of her at the same time. She went from the girl who took me to my first rave party, and the girl who you could find any sort drug that you could imagine, to a successful military Staff Sergeant and mother of 2 beautiful boys. Her next duty station is either Germany or Japan, and the decision is left up to her. She also has a thriving restaurant that is paid off and doing great. This just shows me that you can come from the bottom and end up on top in the end. She is the same age I am and doing most of the things I have always wanted to do. This shows me that all it takes is to make the right decisions to move ahead. So now I have to figure why i all this time I have done nothing but make the wrong decisions. I have been given opportunities one after another an yet I still end up wondering in the end why am I like this. I swear its like I am purposely setting myself up for failure and I am not entirely sure as to why. I have learned a whole lot from my mistakes and also the accomplishments of people just like my ex. I just don't get why i continue to make the wrong choices over and over. As it stands right now as much as I want to leave Alaska and go somewhere else, I can't because there is a little boy who has captured my heart and my love and I cannot leave him. He is not my son, but there are times when you would think he is. The only time when I feel like I have done something right with my life is when he is sitting with me playing with his etch-a-sketch or putting the blocks in the wrong holes, well trying to anyway. When I come in the door his face lights up and my heart and knees go weak. He is one of the most captivating kids I have ever met. So I guess as it stands at this point he is the reason that i stay here and keep trying to make the right steps forward.
I haven't been to church since I moved up here until this past weekend. It was a great feeling when I walked out of that building after having my time to talk with God. He was for sure when i needed him the most. The night before I went to church, I had a few bad experiences and a really close call that could have very easily ended my life. Something kept me around through all that and kept me safe. The only answer I can come up with is that it was God himself that pulled me through. There is no reason for anyone to have went through what I did and still be alive to tell the story. I am not going to tell the story because its a situation that i am not proud of. But He knows what happened and He knew that I needed the help to get through and He was there to lend the hand. Thank you for all your payers and all your concerns of the past 1.7 years. They have been heard and greatly appreciated.
And for those of you who don't know who the little man is, his name is Joshua Blake Creek. And here is the latest picture I have of him.
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1 comment:
Dear Raymond,
Thanks for the picture of you and Joshua! I'll say, as I always say (and hope you're paying attention) ;), that we love you and are praying for you. With no idea what happened to cause such deep introspection, I'll also say that it sounds like you might be reaching a turning point. But don't stop at simply examining and diagnosing whatever problems you have in your life. Don't stop at wondering about your past failures OR successes. Don't stop at saying that God is the only One Who could have protected and kept you from the consequences of your decisions. Keep going. What are you going to do about it? And I'm not talking about moving away from Alaska or even dumping some of your so-called friends. Bad influences are going to be everywhere, no matter where you are. Whether you're in Alaska or back in NC or somewhere else, you'll have the same opportunities to make good or bad choices. What are you going to do about it? If you know me at all (and I think you do), you know where I'm headed. :) You know that what you truly need can only be found by turning to the Lord and letting Him help you to make the right choices and decisions. - at least, you know it in your head. I'm praying very much that your head knowledge will translate into the right action on your part, despite any unfavorable circumstances that might go on around you. We love you, Raymond. SO much. That's why we care about and pray for you. You're like a brother to us and an uncle to our kids. :) They still remember "Rain Man." It might be years before we get back to the States, and who knows if we'll even be able to see you then? But wherever we are, you can know that you're close to our hearts and in our prayers.
Hugs,
Cynthia (for Joel, Morgan, Aydan, Daniella, and Abigail, too)
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