here's what i've learned and had reinforced over this summer: i do not have to attend every fight I am invited to. I still have not responded to OW's two emails. I will not be responding to them at any point in the future. By not responding I am saving myself, and by extension, my son, probably another 20 years of grief and misery.

YOU get to decide what you want to participate in moving forward. Decide what is in your own best interests and proceed from there. It is ok to not answer, to walk away, to say, "thank you for your perspective. I will need to think about that and get back to you" or any other response that keeps you in control of your own life with as much peace as possible.

Congrats on the job. You can also point out in a divorce negotiation that you will need ramp up time. Just a thought.

Chickens are now starting to mildly bump chests and chase or crowd each other a little bit. They have more than plenty of room, but are going through their bratty teen years I guess as more facial changes emerge. I've done more work on the coop and run, from a decorative perspective, and am enjoying reading lisa steele's blog posts. Wish I could send you photos.

I'm proud of how you are handling yourself and your sitch. You are a woman of dignity and courage. xoxo

M 20+ T25+
S ~15.5 (BD)
BD 4/6/15
D 12/23/16

"Someone I loved once gave me
A box full of darkness.
It took me years to understand,
That this too, was a gift."
~ Mary Oliver