Hi everyone,

I haven't been on in quite a while so I thought I'd check in and give ya'all an update.

The X is still being an Ass but I guess I'll just have to learn to live with the new him. I finally guilted him into giving us at least $200 a month to help support his 2 kids. It's not much but it will sure help. He tried to say it was the start of my spousal support and I kiboshed that idea. I don't need his money to support myself. I just need help supporting our kids. So.....he blackmailed them instead. Since they wont see or talk to him he told both of them the only way he would give us money is if they come and get it directly from him. Pathetic. But, whatever. My son will get it, my daughter won't. She refuses.

Another little shitty thing he's done is his dad is not expected to live but maybe another couple of months. He didn't even bother to call and let me and the kids know. I was a part of this family for 24 years and this is his kids Papa and obviously we are not important enough for the family to even care if we know. This really hurt me. I sent the kids over to Nana's and Papa's yesterday to visit. I didn't go. I'm not welcomed there I'm sure. The only way the kids would visit is if their dad wasn't there. He was out of town....so they went. Again, pathetic. I will NEVER understand what happened to this man....this father. NEVER.

On the good side of things...... I found a house to rent that will be less than 1/2 of what I'm paying now. This house fell in my lap. A true blessing for the good Lord, I'm sure. The start of good things to come I hope. My financial problems will be on the mend for now. A one year lease and by this time next year, hopefully, things will be different. I am so excited about moving into this house and the kids are too. I can't imagine how it will feel to have a little extra $$$ in my bank account for more than a day. As most of you know, it's my financial life has been horrific since my X got laid off in October. Been supporting my 2 kids myself, working 3 jobs to do it. Now I only have 2 and we just were'nt making it with my income. This house is truly a God send. We move in before Sept. 1st.

Another good thing in my life is the kids and I are taking a vacation to Orlando FL. (Did you hear that Meg?) I got my 401K settlement and I'm using a little to give the 3 of us a well-deserved vacation. This past year has been pure hell and we need a little down time. A friend of mine has a time-share in Orlando that she is not using this year and offered it to us for $200 for the week. Another blessing that came my way.

I'm still singing Karaoke at the bar on weekends and I've made a few friends there. Something to do and it gets me out of the house. My kids are still being super supportive and our relationships are better than ever. It's not a great life just yet, but I still believe someday it will be. I still shake my head at least once a day, still not believing that he did this and this is my life now, but I'm making the best of it. Time has helped and keeping busy helps too.

I hope all of you are doing OK. I see a few newbies and I feel your pain. I've been where you are. It does get easier this I can promise but it sure is a long, painful journey until you get to this point. I still check in now and then, comment when I feel I can help, and talk to my close DS friends either here or other ways.

I will never forget DS and the friends I made here. You walked the toughest journey of my life with me and helped me every step of the way. I will never be able to thank you all enough.

Keep your chins up and your heart strong. Don't stop believing that good things come to those who wait and to those who deserve them. Our time is coming......I just know it is.

Love to you all,
Chrissy