Good Parenting Part 2

One day, she was the meanest mom on the planet. The next: the coolest.
Jane Hambleton, 48, gained a worshipful parental following when news of a classified ad she'd placed in the Des Moines Register was picked up by the Associated Press. The text of the ad:
"OLDS 1999 Intrigue. Totally uncool parents who obviously don't love teenage son, selling his car. Only driven for three weeks before snoopy mom who needs to get a life found booze under front seat. $3,700/offer. Call meanest mom on the planet."
Sold! Hambleton, a radio DJ in Fort Dodge, Iowa, received some 70 calls from buyers. And other parents. And emergency room workers. And school counselors. And scores of others wanting to congratulate her for being so Dirty Harry awesome.
"I don't think you can print" what Steven, 19, said to his mom, she told the Register. But then they became instantly famous, and by Thursday morning they were appearing on "Good Morning America," which got the television booking wars started, as ABC producer Chad Parks recounted it. "Today" wanted them.
The Hambletons were about to book that when folks from "Oprah Winfrey" called, demanding exclusivity, so the family leaned toward that, Mom being a huge Oprah fan. But then Ellen DeGeneres called.
And while Mom likes Oprah, Steven loves Ellen, and Mom was inclined to give this one to her son, considering she had taken away his car and all.
They were going back to Iowa to sort it all out, and were unreachable Thursday.
All of which proved one thing: America needed this. Oh boy, did we need this kind of tough love, the kind that says: "I am not your friend. I am your mother. Eat your peas. Now."
The kind that says: "I don't care what the other mothers are doing. I am not buying a pony keg for your party, even if I take away the keys to make sure your friends don't drive home plastered."
For the record, Steven, a student at Briar Cliff University in Sioux City, told his mother that the alcohol in the car did not belong to him, but to a friend. For the record, Hambleton believed him. Nonetheless, it violated one of the two rules she'd set forth when she bought him the car at Thanksgiving: No Booze, and Keep It Locked.
Steven was originally "very, very unhappy," the Register reported, but he and Mom seem to have patched things up. It's amazing what a free trip to New York can do.
As for the car, it was purchased by another couple in Iowa who planned to give it to their 19-year-old son. Hambleton told the Register: "I told the kid when they were leaving, 'Do not have any booze in that car. And if you do, don't hide it under the front seat.' "

I applaud this Mom. I also applaud my daughters and son-in-laws. It is great when God shows you that you did something right. Our grandchildren are very pleasant, well-mannered children. I have often said that I would rather go out to eat with my grandchildren than some adults that I know. Our Children are raising their children Biblically, you reap what you sow, i.e. there are consequences for your actions. Our two oldest grandchildren know the 10 Commandments and try to live by them. (They are unsure of the adultery thing, that will make sense in time).

I would like to thank all of you again for praying for my Mom during her illness and passing. I do understand that it was God's timing but it was hard to see her and my father go through what they did. This was sent to me in an email and I think it has a good message for those afraid of death:
A sick man turned to his doctor, as he was preparing to leave the examination room and said, "Doctor, I am afraid to die. Tell me what lies on the other side."
Very quietly, the doctor said, "I don't know."
"You don't know? You, a Christian man, do not know what is on the other side?"
The doctor was holding the handle of the door; on the other side came a sound of scratching and whining, and as he opened the door, a dog sprang into the room and leaped on him with an eager show of gladness.
Turning to the patient, the doctor said, "Did you notice my dog? He's never been in this room before. He didn't know what was inside. He knew nothing except that his master was here, and when the door opened, he sprang in without fear. I know little of what is on the other side of death, but I do know one thing... I know my Master is there and that is enough."

Please continue to remember my Dad, Kim Russell in the loss of her husband Lee, our friend Hoppa dealing with his medications, our SS teacher Mark Gray, The Hill family, and all of our grandchildren's health.

We praise God for the year 2008, and the blessings of His work that is going to be accomplished throughout this year.