I have a day off today. Yay! It started off rough as I had great plans of crawling back in bed when H went off to work and the kids left at 7:30 for the bus....but 14 thought she left her homework at my office and sooooo.... [Linked Image from marriagebuilders.com]<P>I couldn't sleep when I got home so I caught a favorite Christian program I haven't seen in a very long time and decided to make today a prayer retreat as I clean house and spoil my family with an unexpected roast beef dinner.<P>With respect to those who read this and still are in pain, I wonder how I could cope right now if I still had OM in my life. I'm sure the lies and deceit and self-destruction would threaten to swallow me up whole and so I share a prayer poem of thanks...no, it's not the greatest thing I ever wrote but it's a prayer...and it reflects how I feel today.<P>For those in pain and working on rebuilding, there is hope. It comes in many forms..we have friends here who never see it in a recovered relationship and yet they do rebuild and learn....for those in recovery or hoping that's where we are, don't you just thank God for bringing you to this new place of restored family values??<P>Today I just have to say Thank You, Jesus.<BR>Thank You for 12's messy room<BR> That Polly Pocket and baseball stuff lay strewn<BR> As testaments of her twelve year old life<BR>Thank You for 14's call to prayer<BR> For letting me see and watch and share<BR> Our teenager transform<BR> An intercessor in my house is being born!!<BR>Thank You for giving all this to me<BR> Thank You for a day at home<BR> To realize treasures I feel are my own<BR> Are precious gifts from You<BR>Thank You for H<BR> The head of this house next to You<BR> For giving me a man of God<BR> Who believes in me and dares to dream<BR> Of my success as Your woman and his own<BR> And hopes for our success together<BR>Thank You<BR> Thank You<BR> Thank You<BR>Thank You for the liberty...the joy..<BR> EMANCIPATION<BR>Thank You for meeting me at the laundry heap this morning <BR> To remind me how much I have in You<P>I would not be here today if it were not for the forgiveness of Jesus Christ and my H and those who chose to love me despite my wrongdoing. I pray to spread a message of hope to those in similar circumstances and through prayer to see peace in the homes of our nations around the world.<BR> <BR>Just feeling "mushily" grateful to God today [Linked Image from marriagebuilders.com] <P>------------------<BR>Fresh Start