About two weeks ago my officer in MC sent an email to BC asking them if I was allowed to receive a letter that Abigail wrote for me. BC promptly responded, "No!"

As frustrating as that was, it wasn't a surprise. In the meantime we were still waiting on my therapist to send his letter to BC asking to begin the process of family reunification by first allowing me to send the children letters, then phone calls, et cetera.

When I talked to my therapist yesterday, he said he's still planning on sending the letter to BC, but that he wants to wait a bit longer because if he sends the letter on the heels of the aforementioned rejection, BC would likely simply say, "They just asked about letters, and we said no!"

Therefore, we're still waiting. It's frustrating to be in a holding pattern, but I'm very much encouraged by the fact that it's obvious to me that my therapist -- the guy appointed by the State -- is still very much for me and my family. He has sympathy and understanding for the pain I'm going through, and that's a rare thing in the world of criminal probation.

Most people might think, He's your therapist, of course he's going to be on your side. And while that's probably true in a non-probation setting, it's not something I've ever seen on this side of the justice system. Especially since I'm sitting here with two failed polygraphs. For the past eight years, my experience of their attitude toward failed polygraphs is complete incredulity on their part. It's always, "You're obviously lying about something, now tell us what it is." This time it's more like, "You obviously over-analyze certain things and it gives you trouble on the polygraph. We'll work with you on that." That type of attitude is nothing short of a miracle, and I'm thankful that God's given me so much favor.

Thanks again for all of your prayers and support. I truly believe that if it were not for the prayers of the saints, my situation would be much worse. As it is now God is teaching me as a loved son (Hebrews 12), and He's showing me how to commit my soul to Him as to a faithful Creator in the midst of all of this suffering (1 Peter 4:19).

These are merely light afflictions. The weight of glory comes next.