SF, It's easy for all of us to sit back and give advice on what you should or shouldn't do, but my only advice is to take care of you and your children. It's tough on a family when a parent runs away again. I am glad to see he's in contact w/the children, even if it's just short messages.
Your faith is strong and it will carry you through the days to come. I pray that things will settle down once again and everyone can find a way to survive this latest turn of events.
I'm thinking of you today.
Sit quietly, the answers will reveal themselves when you least expect them to. The past is gone, the present is a gift and you need to focus on today, allow the future to reveal itself when it is ready.