Clarification

Lest anyone thinks I have thrown Brad in rehab, I must clarify.

Brad was married before me. His ex-wife is gripped in the throes of alcoholism. She is either gone for a year at a time, or in their face pitting kids against each other. Punishing is more important to her than healing or showing love. Makes for many a tear stained faces, confused minds and broken hearts. They hurt a lot from her mental and emotional games, with Brad spray foaming right now it has made it a little harder. We are grateful, so incredibly grateful, he is still working. Many here are not. It's just hard when he is only home for a few hours and out the door again. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. Spray foam isn't possible in extreme cold. Construction will hopefully kick back in closer to home. We miss him!!!
We are doing well though. We have everything we need and still able to share with others. We recognize still that even in the midst of adversity, we are still INCREDIBLY blessed. We see the love and unity continue to develop in our home and we see children learning to come to Christ with ALL their hurts and begin to feel relief.
I see many families in this same situation and it breaks my heart. It is such a helpless feeling when all you wish to do is stop the pain. You can't if your not causing it. It makes the creative juices flow when trying to restore puddles of emotion, and trying to prop back up that self-esteem that is cut to the quick with neglect and abuse. We are blessed to have a family rich in faith and we know where to place our hurts. We reach for strength to overcome and cleave to Him who can give us the wisdom to make the best decisions. We gather in Family Prayer every night and ask that her heart may be softened, that she may learn to accept the love shown her and if not that strength will be lent to endure. Nevertheless, His will be done as we try hard to accept it. It does beg the question at times, "How much can one heart take?"