My goodness, right after I posted this there was an email from exH. He asked me when was a good time for a meal out. Wow! He'd just dropped the boys off a half hour before sending the email, but didn't come in the house. That's fine. Haven't laid eyes on him in a week now, haven't spoken since Sunday.

I responded by email, as that's how he asked me, via email. If that's how he's comfortable right now, fine by me. I'd sent him an email on Sunday after our conversation, and tonight he responded w/ this meal day request. I'm so elated, when I read the email it was hard to contain myself.

He hasn't sent me an unsolicited email, period, ever!

We'll see what happens next with the meal out.
Thanks for listening and Thanks be to God!

HP

<small>[ December 17, 2003, 11:47 PM: Message edited by: hopeful_person ]</small>

h_p,

Great news!!!!

I wonder if your H will order humble pie <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" /> ?

God bless

H_P, it suddenly occurs to me that you may need some help with this dating thing, too! I don't know whether you're in touch with Cerri/Penny, but she might be a good person for this. It just strikes me that there needs to be a balance between your hopes and your fears.

Which is one thing that I caught from Older and Wiser's post that may be of use to you -- you sometimes go from hope to despair fairly quickly. It's totally understandable, and it also can be hard on your ability to move forward toward your goal.

Holy Christmas Pudding H_P <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Razz]" src="images/icons/tongue.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/wink.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" />

Fantastic news. I'll leave it to the experts for advice on how to handle it, and I'm in the middle of packing, but procrastinating as usual (I HATE packing!!). Glad I checked in on your thread before I went away.

All my fingers and toes will be crossed for a successful outcome for you and your XH.

Lisa

H_P, I haven't posted for a while but when I saw this thread I had to reply. Great news.
My only advice is to go very, very slowly. You have every right to be excited, but don't let your enthusiasum make him feel pressured in any way. Now more than ever before is the time for incredible patience. He is afraid and has told you so. As I have said before, he was burned once and still remembers. But he also remembers what it was like before that happened. Let your warmth and light slowly draw him back.

Thanks for your replies. I have to run so I can't reply much but I have good news. (That should be in bold!)

ExH emailed me and said he couldn't go out last night, but how 'bout Monday. (Weekend he has boys) I didn't check email til today. However, last night I ran into him (the second time in three years) at a local business. I was out just after he sent the email, and by coincidence, there he was. So I had brought up the email , and he invited me out for Monday.

This is all very good progress!! It was 1 1/2 years ago when he first asked me out, and changed his mind. It's been three months since he first mentioned dinner out again. It's been five months since he mentioned baby steps- there were some , and then nothing for months. I'm glad I called and 'confronted' him on Sunday. I guess it did get the wheels turning, shook things up a bit. You were all right about that!

Over three years after separating, things are looking good.

Thanks for bearing with my happiness/sadness. I know some of you have told me I 'swing from up to down', but I think that's natural in a situation like this. I'm a very emotional person, but I keep it hidden much of the time. I certainly don't show it to the 'real' world, this is my place to vent. Thanks for listening.

God bless,
HP