Divorce Court

I will be in court in 24 hours to testify on behalf of the kids and myself. The details of our divorce will be decided by the judge.
"those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength…" Isaiah 40:31

We have been separated for one year, since February 22nd, 2015. In that year I waited and prayed.

I waited for evidence of repentance and change while I continued to work on myself with my therapist and counsellor and support groups and prayer.

I waited for what Pastor Bob told us in March, speaking to Tyler: "you still have the choice to win her back", while I continued to raise our kids and encouraged them to spend time with dad and set up a schedule for him.

I waited for compromise and compassion, agreed to go to mediation in June, one month before our scheduled hearing for temporary support. I compromised details of his parenting time despite not receiving any financial support that month.

I waited for a willingness to provide financial support to me for at least the kids' sake and help with extra expenses like sports fees and medical/dental expenses. I was accused of only caring about the money. I had to rely a lot on my parents, family and friends to get through the year, opened more credit cards and stopped asking him for help.

I waited for reconciliation.

My lawyer told me yesterday, "I'm sorry Kari, he says he has reconciled and his lawyer is asking if you want to reconcile, but everything he is doing to you and the kids and his requests for the divorce, they are the opposite of reconciliation. His attitude towards you and your kids is reflected in part in his position regarding the sale of the marital home. Demanding it be sold without regard to the effect on his children who grew up in that home…I once tried a case (my lawyer tries A LOT of difficult cases and tends to share a lot of examples from other cases) the wife did reconcile once we got to court. But her husband had spent the time leading up to it actively pursuing her. He bought her flowers, he made sure she and the kids were taken care of financially, he supported her going back to school, he didn't fight going to court and he showed up apologetically, told her she had every right and she deserved to have what she wanted." big sigh, I wish. But good for them!

"But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently." Romans 8:25

"For your Maker is your husband - the Lord Almighty is His name - the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, He is called the God of all the earth.
The Lord will call you back as if you were a wife deserted and distressed in spirit - a wife who married young, only to be rejected, says your God. For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with deep compassion I will bring you back." Isaiah 54:5-7