so sad you child wasted 7 years not being apart of your lives. why don't they ever learn. but at least better late than never . hope it stays going good for you all. and prayers for your poor hubby. i hope he gets fully recovered and your son stays in your life

Such wonderful news of Al coming home soon!!! I will keep y'all in my prayers for more healing all around!!! Have a wonderful weekend with your DH finally home!

Good news on all fronts Norske...keep it coming !!!!!!

AllK

Just wanted to let you know how much I have gotten from your sharing your hopes, your fears, your joy, your sadness and your faith during this recent series of events in your life. Words cannot express how happy I am for you. You know you will always be in my heart, my thoughts and my prayers.

Much love and hugs,
GuelsMom

sadandlonley64 - I wish I could take away the pain you are feeling. We on this site all know too well about the depth of pain and sadness felt when our EC turn on us.

I can tell you each day/week/month/year, for me at least, got better. A lot of praying and a lot of reading helped strengthen me. I also had to finally let God take over. At first I would pray and ask God to bring our ES back into our lives but then I would go do something like try to contact him on my own, etc. Finally, I had to say, God he is your son, you gave him to me to raise and now I give him back to you. Please soften his heart, take out the hate and replace it with love and forgiveness. Then let go.

I dug into other things, like work, moving, friends and other family and the pain eased, although I thought about him every single day and prayed a repeated prayer for God to be with him. We don't know what will happen going forward, but we are thankful for this reconnection. God is in control.

Amen, Norske. We come to the end of ourselves and after much pain and being affected (almost destroyed) on every level we look up and cry out to God. The enemy would love to see is destroyed through estrangement but that is not God's plan for us. He saved us for so much more. He is our example.

God bless you and your family as your DH returns home. Please keep
us posted.

Norske..sorry that I've missed this important news of what is happening in your life. Your situation with your ES is so similar to mine..I think your son is the same age as mine..the estranged son.

Why does it have to take a huge life changing event like the serious health problems your DH has endured to finally wake up the conscience of your ES?? I think it will be a similar type of disaster event with my DH, or one of my other two adult children for my ES to finally reconnect with us. I seriously don't think my ES will care about anything happening to me, as he had in past communication said that I was the problem person in our family..that he and his wife were "uncomfortable being around me". He never once blamed his Dad, or brother or sister (my DH, and two other adult kids)..that's why I've shouldered most of the blame.

So happy that God finally was able to wake your ES's heart and make him see how much he was missing your influence in his life. What joy you must have felt meeting your precious grandchild...this gives me such hope that some day I will be able to embrace my dear grandson who is now 3 years old, and who doesn't know we exist.

Isn't it like God to help us through and carry us when we live through such physical trials..sickness, accidents, etc...??
Thanks so much for sharing your personal journey with us..it truly inspires us and gives us blessings and hope for a breakthrough with our own family....

(((((hugs))))
Maddie

Norske, How has your DIL been through your recent times with her?

I have only seen my DIL once, when she and GD came with ES to the hospital. She hugged me and said "it's been too long" (I'm thinking, who's fault is that? but I didn't say anything). It will take awhile to really feel comfortable around her. I have to forget about how verbally abusive she was to DH and me 7 years ago. I will do this for my son, and God willing, we will both relax and appreciate each other.

DH warmed up to GD more than I did. She is adorable, but again, I think it will take some time and history. The next day my niece stopped with her son/daughter, who I have known since birth and feel closer to them. I am optimistic that our relationship will grow, guided by God.

Absolutely right, Norske. God has begun a good work. It os a miracle story. How is DH?

He's doing pretty good. It has been 6 weeks since the femur surgery and 1 week tomorrow since he had his kidney removed. He is faithful with his exercises (although today he pulled a muscle in his leg so is limping a bit). July 16 we meet with the kidney surgeon and hopefully the oncologist. I am anxious to get going on the targeted therapy/clinical trial.

Keeping him in prayer.

What a blessing! We never know how things will go but this is true happiness. God is good and does answer prayers. So glad your husband is doing well, praying he is picked for the trial and that your relationship with ES and family continues to grow. You give us all hope. May God lead us each to reconciliation but if not that at least to peace in our lives. Prayers are with you

I am so happy to read this today, Norske! May God continue to bless your family! :D

EJMA - God is still good and continues to bless our family; however, the visit from our ES and his family was short-lived. He was with us twice at the hospital and called or texted every day but now we have heard nothing from him. He and DIL are now reunited with her family (guess they had a little tiff for a few months) and he just posted a picture on fb of all them having a wonderful week at a lake resort. He did not tell us about that.

So, I am very happy he came to the hospital but not surprised he is gone again. I think he will continue to be in and out of our lives, depending on health issues and his feeling he needs to see us to clear his conscience. I might be wrong, but it sure seems that way. He couldn't even text to see how his dad's first week at home is?

Right now the most important thing in my life is holding on to God's word that he will heal my DH.