Dear Ladies, so many of us are struggling right now. There is so much pain and I know that sometimes it seems unbearable and like it will never end. I felt that way myself only a short time ago but today I had a great day! The husband of my heart, (we've been divorced for 6 days now), is again out of town with the OW. This time the trip is 8 days, twice as long as normal, (no doubt due to all the celebrating that will be needed because of the divorce). But I am here to report that I was up at 7AM, at the gym by 8, home before 9:30 with the whole day ahead of me. (Granted, my youngest daughter was home from college and she serves as a really mean drill sergeant about getting me to the gym but I DID go). Then she and I drove to see my oldest daughter and my new grandbaby who is now cooing and smiling. He brings me so much joy as does her older son who is 5. The girls and I went to lunch where the older grandson had us laughing hysterically. On the way home I stopped and had my nails and eyebrows done. (a luxury I can still afford as we will be sharing finances until I get my first support check on July 1st). Then I came home and went to work. Our home has a gigantic living area that has been paneled with dark wood since we bought the house 16 years ago. I HATE that darkness and have always wanted to paint it but husband always balked at the work involved. Well, last night, I shopped for paint, choose what I wanted, bought all the supplies, (and didn't forget anything!!). I guess that probably sounds small but I have never done anything like that without consulting him which is exactly why that room has bothered me all these years. Today, I started on my project. Wow, what an amazing feeling I got. Something like "Female Empowerment!!! I can do anything I have to!!! I do not need him around to accomplish things!!!! And, it actually feels pretty darn good!!! I worked non-stop until 10PM.
Do not get me wrong, I still hurt. I am hurting right now very badly, (bedtime is always the hardest time for me for very obvious reasons). I am also still hopeful for a reconciliation, something that was looking more possible after the divorce papers were filed. But I have learned that the hurt will pass. And today gave me a nice glimpse of a possible future without him if my prayers are not answered and if I finally lose him for good. (he is still my husband in my heart and he himself said, the day he brought the papers home, that it was just a stupid piece of paper.)
SO ladies, hang in there. There really is a light at the end of this horrible road we are all on. If I can feel better anyone can!! I will continue to pray for all of us. Please add me to your prayers too!

Yay!!! I am so happy that you had a good day. And yeah it does feel nice when you do something you've always wanted to but were hindered. Congrats!

Cindy, you said "if my prayers are not answered". I think we all know that all of our prayers ARE answered, but not always in the way or in the time frame we want them to be answered. Sometimes they are answered in a most unusual way that we just don't see right away. You might have prayed for A, but instead got B. B turns out to be even better than A.

I don't know if this makes any sense. I have seen my prayers answered in very unusual ways and many years later.

I wish we could all see the new paint. That will help to brighten up your life as well.

Yes, you are right of course JustMe.

Garth Brooks has a beautiful son called Unanswered Prayers. It is a great song to listen to right now and it is about praying for something and finding out you got something even better that you didn't know you wanted. You should listen to it.

Cindy, that is the first step of many that will bring you great healing. I know. I have been preparing our home for selling it. It was sad at first, but as I have done all the necessary work around here--many things I have asked him to do for years--it has given me such a sense of accomplishment and power. I can do things I have never tried to do because I always looked to him to do it. Now I see what I am capable of. It's a great feeling.

What a great group of accomplished women the ladies of this forum are. It would be really nice to just want a man in our life but not need them if you know what I mean. Every human being is enriched by independence. Learning new things and conquering the things we never imagined we could do brings such a since of power. I just would like to congratulate you ladies. A better life is there just around that next bend so don't give up your journey. Thinking of you all this day.