It hadn't been an easy life and by no choice of his own. Steven was born the oldest child of missionaries. The mission field is tough for anyone, but especially the children. Born into a lifestyle that required them to grow up in a foreign country, speaking a foreign language, and constantly scrutinized by everyone who knew how missionary children should act. 

The other children had handled it better than Steven. He hated the things required of him.   Most of all, he hated singing in church. He had a beautiful voice and it was noted by many. He knew he sang well, but hated being forced to use his talent whenever his parents decided. 

 When Steven was twelve, his parents--rather his mother, decided that the mission field was no place for kids and the entire family returned to the United States. Steven was happy to be home, although he knew very little about it. He knew he was where he belonged. 

The transition to American education wasn't difficult because his parents enrolled him in a Christian school. Public school would have been too much. 

Steven was allowed to transfer to public school when he started high school. There Steven was introduced to all kinds of wonderful things. For the first time Steven saw how people lived when they had money. He liked what he saw and determined to one day live like that.

He was introduced to drugs, 

The GED class at The Hope Pregnancy Center was going well.  Students were coming on a regular schedule and working hard while they were there.  Class was almost over when Brittany walked in. 

“May I help you?”  Miss Carolyn asked.

“I’m here to sign my boyfriend up for the GED class.” 

“Does he know it?” Miss Carolyn asked with a chuckle in her voice.

Joan had been cooking for two days.  She enjoyed cooking for her family.  The pies had been baked and salads prepared.  The rolls had been steadily rising all morning and were ready to be put in the oven.  The turkey was cooked to perfection. 

Joan could hear the family laughing in the living room.  She smiled as she listened to the teasing.  There was always teasing when her grown children were together.  She looked around her kitchen and remembered the many meals she had cooked here. 

Tomorrow she and her husband would move