Temporary Needs Hearing

Today was the hearing that I wanted to avoid. I wanted to have the divorce settled without the expense of two attorneys time for several hours.  But there was no reasonable settlement offer, I had bent over backwards, and that still wasn't enough to satisfy her.  So we proceeded.  The hearing was scheduled for 3:00, but the magistrate was running late, so we didn't get in until 4.   Two significant events happened while waiting. First, I opened my bible to calm myself while waiting. I looked up the word 'wait' and was directed to Psalms 27:14 Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD! This scripture really spoke to me, and when we got called in, I did feel strong, and confident. Thank you Lord!!! While I was reading, my atty went and spoke to her atty. He came back asking if I would agree to these temporary orders, as he and her atty thought they were fair. Actually they were better for me than what we had discussed earlier as my exposure, so I spelled out what I would agree to.  And she agreed to these terms! So the magistrate wrote down our agreement, and made us agree to honor these terms.  I will be paying alimony, a bit more than I wanted to, but within guideline.  We agreed on the split of the meager accounts left. She will stay in the house and we'll put it up for sale. I'll stay in the condo I'm renting. She'll pay for the house and its bills, and I'll pay for the condo and its bills.  But the big deal, she agreed that I will have primary residential custody of our 14 yo daughter, and she will get visitation. This means she will stay with me, and be with her mom one night a week, and every other weekend.  During the summer months she will rotate weekly between the two houses. The big deal is that when we go for a final settlement, it will be very difficult for her to get primary custody when she has already agreed to giving it up now.  Of course it is possible that she is dealing with reality and can see that our daughter does better, responds better, is happier, when she is with me.  This is not about me, its about our child, and I want what is better for her.  You should have seen the look, the smile on her face, when I told her today, she was so happy. She was so worried that she would 'be stuck' with her mom.  I again asked her, told her, tell me now if you would like to be with your mom. I want you happy, and if being with mom makes you happier, i will work it out. But she absolutely nixed that idea, and her smile, well, I'll never forget it, it was a moment of immense happiness that I was fortunate enough to witness.  I so love her.