Good (and bad) to see you're still around. I haven't looked at the piecing forum in a long time.
Sounds like you are in an ok place with your W. That text message she sent you back in May was pretty incredible. I would give anything for my W to say something 1/10 as nice as that to me.
It sounds like when you have a "talk" with your W, they go about the same way mine do.
Just keep doing your best not to push her and to be her friend...she is showing appreciation for you doing that...and that is a huge positive.
BITS M: 35 W: 35 T14, M11 D9, S6 ILYBINILY: June 09 Unofficially Separated (long distance): 1/2/11 W came home: 3/17/11 EE: July 2012 Dropped the rope: Oct 2012 Piecing: April 2013 Not piecing: April 2014 Stuck.