A SURPRISE TO ME... U NEVER KNOW WHAT..

Then on a dreary December night, we received a call from Erin's mother. A crisis hovered over us. Erin had locked herself in the bathroom, threatening suicide over an inappropriate relationship, which her mother had discovered. My husband immediately requested Erin stay with us, at least through the upcoming Christmas vacation. He left within the hour to be with her, pack her bags, and drive her to our home.

Erin arrived angry and full of rebellion. Turmoil decorated our home, not pleasant Christmas memories. Little did I know, I had just begun one of the most difficult seasons of my adult life. With her mother's grudging consent, Erin came to live with us on a full-time basis. As a blended family adjusting to a new member, we felt we were being pureed in a family-dysfunctional blender.
From that moment on, I worked diligently to win her confidence and trust. Erin stayed with us until she graduated from high school two years later.