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| Thanks for the prompt, Half Mom... It's true, I'm married. His name is Bill. We enjoyed many things about our wedding, but the highlight, by far, was having all our kids come see us at the same time! Plus a few honorary ones. The wedding itself was fun and relaxed. The ARtisan was rather full, with lots of friends and kids and family. Carly was the ring-bearer, escorted by Bekah! Can't wait to see all the photos. Found out we had extra photographers on duty! Thanks, Miss Ness! For the first time in a long time (or maybe ever!), I am feeling that it's an option to relax, knowing that life is not on the brink of falling apart. I feel safe enough that it would be easy to feel irresponsible! Someone besides me is on duty. The Artisan is doing well, under Laurie's (my partner's) able leading. My home is under control. Bill wants to keep track of all the finances with his on-line system. MorningStar is taken care of by the board, who now owns it, with Bill as the Executive Director thereof--so I'm an employee and not responsible for all it's health and survival. Carly still loves me and my flowers are still blooming. I can't remember the last time I felt so cared for and protected. And it seems solid enough to settle down into, such that my heart can rest. Trust in the Lord, oh my soul, for I shall yet praise Him. He has truly brought me into a broad place, where I do not have to fear falling into a crack or off the edge of the cliff. I think I can cavort here. And I am very thankful. Bill and I are doing some talking and working as a duo in November, which is fun. We also have a MorningStar open house coming up 11/4. Grace Encounter 6 is nearly finished, with only the 4th Journey yet to happen, also in November. Sounds like Nov is busy--not too much though. Once you get the wedding hype over, it all settles down. | | |
| Ok, a quarterly update is in order. Life is proving a challenge, on-going challenge, should I say? Of course, that's nothing new, but every time I encounter another set of circumstances in the on-going challenge, I am caught a little off-guard. I'm amazed at the One who is always ready for everything. I'm sure it would help if I was omniscient and knew it was coming, in all fairness. You know how our strengths are flip-sides of our weaknesses? It has come to my attention in a new and convincing way that my tendency to spread myself too thin is a problem. My available resources are stretched among the following: counseling and managing my counseling center about 40 hours per week, attending to leadership of the Artisan, functioning as the executive director of the MorningStar Foundation (until the board can find someone else to do so), helping to coordinate a fund-raiser for said Foundation, helping to lead a life-changing personal growth workshop, playing with my poodle, and remembering such mundanes as to take the trash out to the curb on Tuesdays. I must admit, it's a little much. The legal stuff is not finished yet. Tom's motion to modify has still not been ruled on. When it is, we'll get on to finalizing the financial/legal issues. In the meantime, the Artisan has run into some more tax issues and growing pains. We just received a contract with the Missouri Theatre to handle its concessions (including a cash bar) and catering when it reopens from rennovations in '08. It'll close in August of this year for about 8 months. Money will be tight, but our goal is to survive till then. Laurie promises that the business can operate in the black thru the rest of this year and till August. We believe that the Mo Theatre contract should immensely help our cash flow. Furthermore...I went ahead and purchased my house. I traded my leased vehicle in on a smaller, more economical car that I am buying (0% financing for 5 years!). Other news? My kalancho is blooming. I have one small (3" tall) daffodil blooming as well. God still reigns in the heavens, and He tells me that He is for me. I have felt overwhelmed at times from the clean-up from the divorce. Relationships are strained; finances are a disaster; trust is broken; business is recovering from a 2-year period of severe difficulty. And I cannot help but notice that the one who wanted the divorce is no where around to help with the mess he left behind. No wonder the Lord hates divorce. Anyone who has been thru it, from the perpetrator to the victim, knows why. May God be merciful to us all. And because He is both immensely gracious and patient, tomorrow will be good too. And because He will still love us. He said so. | | |
| Time to let you know the latest. Judge Holt has proved indeed eager to finish his judicial responsibilities and has announced his rulings. Actually I received about everything I asked for. In addition to the Artisan and MorningStar, I received all the debts corresponding to the Artisan, the small stock portfolio, and all the property I currently possess (including my wedding ring which Tom had requested). He was ordered to pay half of the house rennovation bill (about $2300), his share of the taxes (which are to be refiled, jointly for both '04 and '05 instead of leaving them as filed separately as Tom did), to relinquish my share of the tax refunds, and to pay $8400 of my legal fees, plus half of the court costs. Nothing was mentioned of the $35,000 he was asking me to pay him in exchange for giving up his claim to the Artisan. While I am making every effort to not allow my heart to feel disrespectful in 'gloating' over my victory, it's unmistakable to see that the Lord has defended me and has stood with me against the enemy of my soul, Satan, that is, who would cause me to fear on a dozen fronts. When I stand in Him, I am able also to see Tom as fearing greatly. I believe that fear motivates his greed and aggressiveness. I'm sad for him, but figure that he's the Lord's responsibility. When he comes to mind, I'll ask God to bless and lead him. I don't even know what else to rightfully pray. I would also ask you all to pray for him. In the meantime, I'm in Barcelona with my 3 younguns and Heather, Cynthia's Vermonter-friend, also a Peace Corps volunteer. We're enjoying balmy Barcelona, watching Pride and Prejudice, eating pastries and drinking a variety of spanish beverages. It's been wonderful reconnecting time. Though we keep close via email and phone and the traditional means, it's good to be able to hug and enjoy eye-to-eye connection. Cynthia's hair is sooo long! Tim's apartment is so cozy, if challenged, with the number of Chirstmas guests with whom he's blessed. And Bekah is sooo tired after 3 1/4 years of solid learning challenge. Thanks for the support, the prayer, and the concern over the last year+ as I've been faced with this legal struggle. I'm very thankful it's over and has been as successfully navigated as it seems. '07 holds much in challenge as well as opportunity. I'll be resting up for the surge of activity that awaits me as soon as I return to Mo. That's ok, "in all work there's profit," according to King Solomon. So I'll look forward to plenty of both, hopefully. Happy New Year to all! | | |
| It's time for my bi-monthly entry. Tomorrow I go to trial again to try and accomplish this divorce to end the marriage-that-won't-die. Tom left a year and 4 months ago. Our divorce has been pending for 13 months now. Though we had a full day of testimony, there is still about 4 hours worth of testimony and trial process to accomplish. I think the emotionality is spent. WHat is left is fatigue on his part and mine. We both have spent a lot of money trying to gain what we each believe is 'fair.' My request: (1) possession of the Artisan for the purpose of continuing it's work as currently established and to protect my mother's investment; (2) splitting our debts and assests 50/50; (3) protection and honoring of God's holy name. This has been a very expensive (financially and emotionally) process. I pray it's almost over. I'm speaking candidly and asking you to pray for me along the above-mentioned lines. I promise to let you know how it turns out in a couple of days. I have come to see 2006 as 'the year from hell.' Can't wait to celebrate the entry of 2007 with my beloved children (can you call adults "children"?) in Barcelona. May 2007 hold blessings and hope for us all. | | |
| O my. Time does get away. Here it is, October and I am feeling quite delinquent. Let's face it, my deficits have a way of showing up. Forgive me. For anyone patient and faithful enough to still care what happens to me... Ok, I'm still loving my house, and it feels quite mine, though it quite isn't. My divorce is not yet over. Yes, I'm doing very well, except that I'm still married. Tom has asked for 2 continuances, he has deposed me, and complicated things such that a full day's worth of testimony (10am -- 5pm) was unable to finish things up. I just received unofficial notification from my lawyer/ex-husband that I'm on the docket for Nov 9. Yeah. I just want to get it over. Tom first decided LAST Sept ('05) that he wanted a divorce. Enough is enough already. So I haven't been able to buy my house yet, or quit paying for his health insurance. In all other ways, I'm thriving and excited about life, the Lord, and my world. My world, not necessarily The world. God has surrounded me with such a bunch of wonderful family, friends (some of whom are offspring!), co-workers, ministry partners--so many amazing people who come alongside me SO amazingly and offer me comfort, support, encouragement, and even help with physical things that are too challenging for me alone. The weekends' activities just passed brought that to my attention in full force. It was a reunion of so many people who have been important to me and my kids over the last 8-10 years. Thanks, Derek and Ashley, for getting married and making this reunion possible! For recalling so many from Ca, Chicago, Spain, N.C., S. D., Kansas City, and other far away places. Such a sweet time of catching up and expressing love and concern, going in both directions, toward me and from me. I love being part of a community that I have helped create. I have never, in fact, been so aware of meaningful community as yesterday, watching Derek and Ashley include us all in the life they are commencing as we observe. Ok, the catch-up. Ministry: my involvement in the seminar, Grace Encounter, for which I am a primary facilitator, is going wonderfully. We see much fruit, as in people getting free from sin's deception and domination. Work: I've been invited to open a branch of MorningStar Counseling Center at the St. Louis Missouri Baptist Children's Home, an endeavor which is underway as we speak. The Poodle: fuzzy and classy as ever--consistently a source of wonder and comfort for me. My schedule: way too booked, such that I'm eliminating extra non-strategic activities, and 6pm appointments, and plan to pare down my case load from around 28-30 to around 22-24 clients per week; I'm delegating more; and I'm making more time to relax and play. All told, I'm thriving. Not happy about a 2nd divorce, but trusting God to use it for good. So, here's to Jesus, to His people and to the life He brings us--every one..... | | |
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