A schoolmate of my kids drove from a neighboring state yesterday to see old friends.  This morning on a social network she posted she is ready to go back.  She is VERY disappointed at how much alot of these people have changed.  My kids for the most part had went all but 2 yrs. to this school in a neighboring town.  This particular young woman is finding out what my kids have known.  It seems that the bulk of their classmates are doing drugs as well as drinking.  My kids quit long ago hanging out with these others because of the drugs!  (RELIEF!! and VERY PROUD!!!)  It just saddens me how life can take these turns.  What is ironic the bulk of the drug users were the popular kids who came from nice homes.  They were the top sports figures of their classes, ect.  Alot went off to college and now have decent-well paying jobs.  They had been kids that frequented our home.  Liked every one of them!!!  And they all still speak to me about those times when on occassion I've ran into them. 

My children's father was an alcoholic.  And they did not have 'it all' growing up.  In fact at times money was very scarce.  They all drink.....yet at present not seeing abuse signs.  They all have married and two of them have children.  They all have decent paying jobs and nice homes.  I guess what I'm trying to say....blessings can come in the most disguised ways!  While it was heartbreaking at times that my kids had to be denied some of the extra pleasures of life.......it has made them who they are.  They've had to work harder and appreciate what they have!!  And ironically those drug users have made comments to me ......how they envied/envy my kids!!  Yes, blessings can be disguised!!!