Hey Cathy, nitaf, DNO, Anney, Michael, Cheryl, Pam and DeB1 (As well as all who lurk!)

Thanks for stopping by and for the ongoing encouragement. My resolve to make this work is stronger for it.

Cathy - I follow your thread every time you update so I know that you are getting in some golf and fun time with your S (and your H!)
I know the baby steps will get bigger with time too!

Nitaf- I thought your were on the brink of your H coming home and staying there. I will have to catch up with you to see what is happening. I know that you are going to see a positive outcome though because you are doing the right thing for you. I'll have to see how the boundaries thing is working out. Remember I struggled with that, but just took the risk of opening myself up - and it paid off.

DNO - I have lurked a bit and will try to get some posting time later. I need to visit your old threads too.

Anney, Michael, Cheryl - I will check out your threads too but in the meantime I will just encourage you to continue to read piecing threads as the information you can glean from them is invaluable. These folks have moved past the initial shock of the post-bomb and truly have skills to be admired.

Pam - I am sorry I didn't leave the name of my newcomers thread, I figured it was at the beginning of one of the pieicing threads, but maybe not huh? So yea, I owe you - I'll give you more support as you make your transition to your new home! I can be one of your on-line decorating consultants....

Deb - We crossed posts this morning! You know that I am always thinking about you and your girls. I'll pray that your father has a peaceful journey to the end of his time here on earth. I am glad that your mother's death had a positive aspect for you in that you've detached like never before!

Update

Life is funny in that if you didn't know my H had been gone for 9 months (and mentally checked out long before that) you wouldn't know he had been gone. I am still getting used to the new and improved and happy version of my H. Surprises abound.

For example, this is a guy who has never really reached out to our neighbors - and a few weeks ago he went down and helped one paint their house. He stood and visited with another one the other night. Last night he said that we might host a pig-roast this fall for our neiggbors so that everyone can get together. (If you could have seen the look on my face at that one - I was beaming!)

Yesterday afternoon, my D9 was at a ballgame and the boys were down the block playing. I was in the kitchen straightening up when he came in. I said, what are you doing? He said " I am going into the bedroom to get naked and ML" - so needless to say we had a little afternoon delight!

Last night at dinner, he waited until I was done eating (mom is always last as I spend half the meal refilling kids glasses and stuff, but H grilled the meal so it is our tradeoff). THen we sat and just talked - no big deal to some of you - but for us it was a major milestone!

God is great - life is good! wonderful!

Wow - who would have thunk it? I'll try to journal some more later, but have to take the kids to swimming lessons. They start in 1 hour and I lost track of time on here so I haven't even woken them up yet! OOPS!

Have a great day everyone! After swimming, I am taking the kids to a pool party at my daughter's teacher's house...

totite "Accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative..."