I don't know what to do actually. Yes, it is cheaper to go the uncontested route. However, I live to the standards of the Bible. God hates divorce. I have been told by my Christian friends to fight it out for the Lord.
I'm a Christian myself, but I have a different take on this than your friends:
First, it only takes one spouse to accomplish a divorce. So you cannot stop it, only delay it.
Second, if you delay it by fighting it tooth and nail, is that going to help or hurt your desired reconciliation? My guess is it would permanently harm your R with your wife.
Third, do you think a long, drawn out divorce battle will benefit your daughters? Let me say that when I was a young teen my parents went through a nasty D, and up until my own marital problems I always told people that was the worst experience I ever went through in my entire life.
Fourth, what will be the financial impact on you, your W and your D's of a long, drawn out battle? Only the lawyers benefit financially.
Personally my Christian values dictate that I fight as hard as I can for my marriage, but if my W insists on D then I can't stop her and I will make it as amicable as I possibly can for my children, for me and for my future chances of reconciliation with my W. Divorce does not close the door on reconciliation.
