This week has brought and continued several challenges. I received notice at work that my job is ending due to lack of funds. I have two more weeks there. I was encouraged to watch for openings there in the future. So, I'm job hunting again.
I received the paperwork on the CPS investigation and have started filling it out. I am requesting an administrative hearing because I know they did NOT do a thorough investigation, and I'm NOT okay with the potential long term effects of their "findings."
I received a response from the ex's sister to the Protective Order I filed against her. Basically, she is accusing me of harrassing them, of selling stuff secretly, and of lying about her voice message is September, among other things. Unfortunately for her, there is a police report about her message, and she will be hard pressed to prove I'm harrassing them since I'm not. I simply want them to leave me alone.
Anna told me that she told her therapist some things that will likely make things more challenging to me in my efforts to help her heal and to protect her from futher harm. I really hope her therapist will help us over come the misunderstanding that Anna has about my ability to read her mind.
Sunday School today was challenging. We were discussing the correlation between Cain and Abel. As the instructor added things to Abel's list and the opposite to Cain's list, I kept seeing parallels in my own life, inparticular, with the ex and myself. I haven't wanted to think of him as evil, but today I was brought face to face with the relization that, in a very reall way, he made choices very similar to those that Cain made. I am grateful to be able to say that my choices have been more similar to Abel's and I plan to continue with those types of choices.
On a more positive note, the Lord has continued to bless me. I took an exam for my Economics class and scored 79.5%. I'm pretty pleased. My car continues to run for me and I have made significant progress on the assignments due in my classes next weekend. I do truly enjoy my classes. I am grateful that I was able to enjoy a good visit with Anna. We were able to talk about some serious subjects without getting upset or shutting down. I am grateful for all the prayers said in our behalf. Please, include us in your fasts next week. Thank you.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Busy week
Last week was very busy. I worked about 40 hours and got caught up on my school work. I was up late last night finishing it so that I wouldn't have to work on it today, Sunday. I am determined to keep Sundays free from school work, and I know I will be blessed for doing so.
I received very good news from my therapist. He said, based on my scores on some questionaires that I have done for him, that I have reached the point where we can definitely start cutting back on sessions. I have made a lot of progress with him. He is a fabulous therapist and Heavenly Father brought him into my life.
When I arrived for Family Therapy Tuesday night, Anna came running to me and hugged me. She has only run to me for a hug once before, more than three and a half years ago.
We were in court on Wednesday. I was able to have a Protective Order served on the ex's sister. Anna freaked out when she saw her and started crying again when her husband entered the court room. He was quickly asked to leave by the Judge. I am hopeful that Anna will be able to come home when she finishes the program she is currently in. I learned that Anna has been calling her caseworker every day to tell her she wants to come home. Anna, also, had her GAL stand up and tell the Judge that she wants to come home to live with me. The Judge said she has to finish the program she is in first. Anna had her report card with her and was very pleased with her grades. She had straight As and insisted on showing the Judge.
Thursday night, I attend a support group meeting for victims of domestic violence. It was good and I look forward to attending again as my work schedule allows.
Firday, I helped with a flu clinic. We gave almost 70 H1N1 vaccinations that day and a dozen or so more the next.
Saturday afternoon, I was able to visit Anna. We had a good visit and played games for most of it. Toward the end of the visit, we were playing Memory and Anna started to try to cheat. I wouldn't let her cheat. She chose to get upset. As I was driving home, it occurred to me that she may have done that in an attempt to make the parting less painful for herself. The parting is the hardest thing about the visits. She did call me last night and we enjoyed a pleasant conversation over the phone.
I received a little story in my email this week that really touched me. I don't know who wrote it, but I'd like to share it.
Potato Chips with God
A little boy wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with a bag of potato chips and a six-pack of root beer and started his journey. When he had gone about three blocks, he met an old woman. She was sitting in the park, just staring at some pigeons. The boy sat down next to her and opened his suitcase. He was about to take a drink from his root beer when he noticed that the old lady looked hungry, so he offered her some chips. She gratefully accepted it and smiled at him. Her smile was so pretty that the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered her a root beer. Again, she smiled at him. The boy was delighted! They sat there all afternoon eating and smiling, but they never said a word. As twilight approached, the boy realized how tired he was and he got up to leave; but before he had gone more than a few steps, he turned around, ran back to the old woman, and gave her a hug. She gave him her biggest smileever. When the boy opened the door to his own house a short time later, his mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face. She asked him, "What did you do today that made you so happy?" He replied, "I had lunch with God." But before his mother could respond, he added, "You know what? She's got the most beautiful smile I've ever seen!" Meanwhile, the old woman, also radiant with joy, returned to her home. Her son was stunned by the look of peace on her face and he asked, "Mother, what did you do today that made you so happy?" She replied! "I ate potato chips in the park with God." However, before her son responded, she added, "You know, he's much younger than I expected." Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.
I received very good news from my therapist. He said, based on my scores on some questionaires that I have done for him, that I have reached the point where we can definitely start cutting back on sessions. I have made a lot of progress with him. He is a fabulous therapist and Heavenly Father brought him into my life.
When I arrived for Family Therapy Tuesday night, Anna came running to me and hugged me. She has only run to me for a hug once before, more than three and a half years ago.
We were in court on Wednesday. I was able to have a Protective Order served on the ex's sister. Anna freaked out when she saw her and started crying again when her husband entered the court room. He was quickly asked to leave by the Judge. I am hopeful that Anna will be able to come home when she finishes the program she is currently in. I learned that Anna has been calling her caseworker every day to tell her she wants to come home. Anna, also, had her GAL stand up and tell the Judge that she wants to come home to live with me. The Judge said she has to finish the program she is in first. Anna had her report card with her and was very pleased with her grades. She had straight As and insisted on showing the Judge.
Thursday night, I attend a support group meeting for victims of domestic violence. It was good and I look forward to attending again as my work schedule allows.
Firday, I helped with a flu clinic. We gave almost 70 H1N1 vaccinations that day and a dozen or so more the next.
Saturday afternoon, I was able to visit Anna. We had a good visit and played games for most of it. Toward the end of the visit, we were playing Memory and Anna started to try to cheat. I wouldn't let her cheat. She chose to get upset. As I was driving home, it occurred to me that she may have done that in an attempt to make the parting less painful for herself. The parting is the hardest thing about the visits. She did call me last night and we enjoyed a pleasant conversation over the phone.
I received a little story in my email this week that really touched me. I don't know who wrote it, but I'd like to share it.
Potato Chips with God
A little boy wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with a bag of potato chips and a six-pack of root beer and started his journey. When he had gone about three blocks, he met an old woman. She was sitting in the park, just staring at some pigeons. The boy sat down next to her and opened his suitcase. He was about to take a drink from his root beer when he noticed that the old lady looked hungry, so he offered her some chips. She gratefully accepted it and smiled at him. Her smile was so pretty that the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered her a root beer. Again, she smiled at him. The boy was delighted! They sat there all afternoon eating and smiling, but they never said a word. As twilight approached, the boy realized how tired he was and he got up to leave; but before he had gone more than a few steps, he turned around, ran back to the old woman, and gave her a hug. She gave him her biggest smileever. When the boy opened the door to his own house a short time later, his mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face. She asked him, "What did you do today that made you so happy?" He replied, "I had lunch with God." But before his mother could respond, he added, "You know what? She's got the most beautiful smile I've ever seen!" Meanwhile, the old woman, also radiant with joy, returned to her home. Her son was stunned by the look of peace on her face and he asked, "Mother, what did you do today that made you so happy?" She replied! "I ate potato chips in the park with God." However, before her son responded, she added, "You know, he's much younger than I expected." Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Week of Bombs
Every other day last week, I had another "bomb" dropped on me, from new battles waiting to be fought to old battles I thought I had won rearing their ugly heads. Gratefully, in the midst of these trials, I have been blessed tremendously. I am grateful for the friend and neighbor who keeps an eye on my house when I'm not home and takes such good care of Bella, our dog, while I'm at work. I am grateful for the home teacher who has made arrangements to give me a blessing whenever I have asked. I am grateful for all the people, professionals, friends and family who have pledged to support and help me however they can. I am grateful for the therapists who are working with Anna and me, individually and together. I am grateful for the friends who accompanied me to the city yesterday to make a difficult trip easier. I am grateful for the attorney who is working to free me from the oppression imposed on me by abusive individuals. I am grateful for my job and the people I have the pleasure to work with. I am grateful for all the hugs I received today. I am grateful for to have started my classes, working toward an Accounting Degree. I am grateful for my Bishop and his support and advice. I am grateful that I got to visit with Anna yesterday and talk with her tonight. I am grateful for the love and support of all of my family, near and far. I am grateful that my car continues to start with a battery that should be long dead. I am grateful for inspiration, for my Savior and for my testimony. I am grateful to be on the path of healing. I am grateful to know who I am-a beloved daughter of God.
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