Hi Shark, you don't know me, but I'm Sandi2. AmyC was banned from the board. I think FrankD is still around....haven't run into him or looked for his thread.
I don't know if you are asking for advice or giving an update, but as I see it, you best option is to drop the rope. This makes the second time you have been here, so either slipped in something in the DBing or you reverted back to your old self. I'm not sure what the deal with her BIL is that would break up a M. It sound more like an excuse to me and that she is determined this time to go through with it. You have a month that you can work on whatever DB path you decide to take.
Once she has a taste of the freedom, then she may change her mind after all the bills begin to come in, unless she can support herself and maintain her lifestyle that she is likes. Not knowing your past stitch, it is hard to really know what to say.
Do you have the stength to go through this again or how do you really feel about all of this?
It is not about what you feel should work in your M. It is about doing the work that gets the right results. Do what works!