C: Updates

Things were going along swimmingly...poor choice of words: all of a sudden we got soaked with a rain of trouble!  The showers began on Thursday, Sepember 3. I was in trial two counties away, car loaded with supplies from Sam's for V's son's rehearsal dinner the next night, wedding reception the following day. As I exited the courtroom, I was told my office was trying to reach me. My mother-in-law had fallen.

Now, understand that MIL is hale and hearty. A broken hip was the last thing we expected. She had been pulling her little cart around, adding to our burn pile and just suddenly "sat down." She did not feel any pain until she tried to get up. God was certainly watching over her because our carpenter was on duty, finishing up her new well house. He is a neighbor, and his wife came to help, loading her into the car and driving her to the hospital.

The nurses at the hospital were in disbelief that she rode to the hospital in a car, saying that the pain of the hip must have been tremendous. They don't know my MIL! She is a scrapper, to say the least; she will do what is necessary.

I am so happy to report that she is now home and working hard on her physical therapy, gaining strength each day. She is a person of deep faith in God, and she has been an encouragement to me throughout. (And she's the one with the broken hip!).

My sister-in-law has come for two weeks. I felt like the cavalry had arrived because I knew that she would take excellent care of MIL as she gained strength.

Of course, the prodigal returned...Remember my wayward husband who has barely spoken (maybe twice) to his mother in two years? You know, the one who kicked her off this place to begin with? Well, he began to visit the hospital faithfully. This, as you all know, is a mixed bag: there isn't a mother out there who does not understand how MIL must want a relationship with her son. And, yet, his past behaviors put the motives of his present actions into a cloud of suspicion...his present behaviors aren't so hot, either, as you will see.

As of this month hubby is seriously delinquent in his legal obligations to me. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I knew this drama was looming.  I have put up with a lot of social humiliation--at least until I realized it was not I who should be embarrassed!--but now he is impacting me financially without so much as the courtesy of discussion, which has been invited by me.  I began legal proceedings with my own attorney to enforce my agreements, and the paperwork was accurate but strong.  I had told my attorney that I wanted it to be like a Sherman tank.  It was.  (This post is taking on a military theme, isn't it?).  When the process server (whom I know) delivered the papers, it was his chippie who received them, after identifying herself as "Mrs."  The server asked her again, knowing it was a lie, but she reasserted that she was married to him.  (Could she think she is???).

Anyway, retaliation came, although it is weak--what does he have?  You won't believe it...early in our separation I had thought I would sell our little farm, finding the upkeep daunting.  This is reflected in the paperwork.  Later, by agreement, we changed that and he has signed a deed over to me.  But now he has sent me a certified letter demanding that I put the place up for sale and referencing the fact that I have "moved a mobile home onto the place," like it was for a stranger, and not his mother.  He has said in the letter that I should be ready to move it off should the realtor who lists the place demand it!!  If he were successful, this would be the second time he has kicked his mother out!  And, all the while, he is sucking up to her, wanting to visit her out here.  It really is more than she needs to be dealing with...he won't be successful, it's just all he can think of.

Oh, there's more, but this post is too long already.   As I have said, we have much to report, much to post!  I will sum it up now by saying these things:

• I have gone into some depression with this fight and have not felt like I had the time to post on this blog.  I am thankful that V and I had the weight of the overdue "contest" to bring us back around, because I know now that leaving this blogging thing is not a healthy thing for me to do.  V and I have agreed to push each other to write, because we need to.
• This episode has reinforced my understanding that life is, really, out of our hands.  One never knows what's ahead.
• But, then, it has also reinforced this: God is good.  Through all this, He has been with us--with MIL and with me.  He has provided means to care for her, quick healing for her, and LOTS of work for me to keep me more than occupied.  This has given me confidence that He will also see me through this next little trial with my spouse.  In spite of the rain of trouble pouring down, I contemplate the promise of the rainbow and know we will get through this!
  

V will be sharing as she can.  You don't have a clue yet all she is going through.  You will hear from her in a day or two; we are mulling over how much legally she can share, as she cannot break some legal confidentialities.  Suffice it to say that life dumped on us BOTH at the same time!  What's that about??!!

Thank you all for being there and for your e mails and comments of encouragement.  You are such cheap (and effective) therapy!!!  C.