Ms. Kate and I have long held to an axiom that you never know what goes on in a home once the front door closes. Some homes are indeed like the "Nelson Family" from the days of Ozzie and Harriet. Other homes, while the world believes have to be the most wonderful place in the world to live are actually homes full of tragedy, abuse, and fear. Have you ever looked at a friends home and thought; "Boy, I wish had their parents!" Did you ever think that just maybe those friends were looking at you and thinking the same thing?  ---- Where am I going with this, you may be asking yourself. 

Some days can start out perfectly normal and all of a sudden, one phone call can turn the whole world upside down. That was our combined Heumann family yesterday morning. We have been aware and dealt with the fact that our oldest granddaughter, Amanda, has over the last year become a drug addict. She is a beautiful twenty year old with all of the opportunities for a successful life in front of her. She was raised right, strong in her church, loved by all and yet plagued by bad choices in her personal life. Early this year she was involved in a terrible single car accident with her boyfriend. Her pain treatments and pain medications were strong but they came to an end.  Like so many people, she sought relief elsewhere along with her extremely bad choice boyfriend with whom she had moved in. A couple of months ago her parents found out that she had moved up to heroin. She went into detox and left that because "she knew she could handle it on her own". Of course she failed, and got to the point of being homeless, sleeping at friends and then in their truck. Wednesday night she showed up at her mom's house and her mom let her in to sleep in her old room. 

Yesterday morning, we got a call that she had over dosed there in her room. Her brother had been talking to her and she quit responding to him. He kicked in her door and found her unresponsive and no pulse. Matt had a neighbor call 911 and he performed CPR on her and literally saved her life. She is currently in the hospital and will be for a couple of more days. I pray she will be going to a detox facility and then rehab after that. However --- addicts are addicts for life. And a big part of her addiction is that she is also addicted a toxic relationship with her boyfriend. 

So, my friends, I tell you all of this because from the street in front of each of our family's house --- no one would know that these things are happening. Secondly, I'm not ashamed to tell people about it because this situation is not the fault of any member of this family including Lisa's parents. We are a family that is totally about loving one another and supporting one another. We are a family that fully believes in the power of prayer and therefore --- I'm asking those of you who read my blog to join our family in prayer that Amanda will accept the help that we are all trying to give. 

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and this is the season of miracles. I pray for a miracles for Amanda. Bless you as you celebrate your Christmas. Peace.