First of all, 'Merry Christmas', 2019!
Secondly, I want to thank family and friends who have been a great source of encouragement and love, during tough times I've shared. It's been a challenging few years for me, and loved ones. Your kind words, love, grace (giving and accepting), and prayers are elements of stitching us together, as humans. I don't dare attempt a list, surely I would forget someone.
As many of you know, I am 'dark' on Facebook ... and have been since early-September. It's a mixed-up year and holiday season for this gal, this year. Although the entire family is affected, I can only speak for myself. You know who you are ... heart-to-heart hugs ... love ... peace.
The last quarter of the year has had such an impact, it's the main focus of my entire year. It all started on Labor Day weekend. My birthday is August 29th, a few days before the holiday weekend. My daughter and I laugh because she seldom 'remembers' the 'exact' date ... so she adopted the habit of calling me (early or late, depending on what date she remembers) early in her day.
This year, a couple days passed; it struck me odd that I hadn't heard from her, this year. Something felt not quite right, but I tried to chalk it up to other family drama she was dealing with at the same time. Mid-morning on Saturday, the phone rang (yes, I have a landline). My caller i.d. reflected a phone call from a 'county' number (other than the one I live in), and it was a Saturday.
Generally speaking, most government-related offices are not open on Saturday. The voice was unclear, somewhat confusing to me. The voice spoke again; it was my daughter! When someone is incarcerated, there is always a 'gap' between getting the call and connecting to the inmate. For those who listen to their intuition, I knew 'something' was definitely 'amiss'.
She, shakily, uttered to me, "Mom, I need a lawyer; I shot him (in the knee)!" Unlike most mothers, I was sad, but not surprised. My daughter has been enduring emotional and occasional physical abuse, for nearly their entire decade of marriage. She felt, this time, she may not survive; she was in fear of her life. She was defending not only herself, but her children.
I've seen her take his abuse ... over and over, though the years. I knew, but she would always have an 'excuse', always defended him because she wanted to be a 'subservient wife' and keep her family together, continuing to withstand his abuse. Of course, as in any victim of abuse, they defend their abuser either out of fear or distorted 'love'.
I spent the entire Labor Day weekend trying to find a lawyer who would respond on a 'holiday weekend'. The only man of integrity and empathy to return my call was very well known in this valley; perhaps he returned my call because he's semi-retired. No matter, thank God for this man, this particular weekend. My main focus was Kama; on Sunday I did go to the church where I knew my grandchildren were with the pastor, and his family.
The beginning of this journey began on such a good note, considering ... however, since the domestic abuse situation, her attorney has passed on, so everything about the cases are behind. She had to retain a new lawyer.
... life goes on ... and, thankfully, with my daughter still alive. ~nrl
Secondly, I want to thank family and friends who have been a great source of encouragement and love, during tough times I've shared. It's been a challenging few years for me, and loved ones. Your kind words, love, grace (giving and accepting), and prayers are elements of stitching us together, as humans. I don't dare attempt a list, surely I would forget someone.
As many of you know, I am 'dark' on Facebook ... and have been since early-September. It's a mixed-up year and holiday season for this gal, this year. Although the entire family is affected, I can only speak for myself. You know who you are ... heart-to-heart hugs ... love ... peace.
The last quarter of the year has had such an impact, it's the main focus of my entire year. It all started on Labor Day weekend. My birthday is August 29th, a few days before the holiday weekend. My daughter and I laugh because she seldom 'remembers' the 'exact' date ... so she adopted the habit of calling me (early or late, depending on what date she remembers) early in her day.
This year, a couple days passed; it struck me odd that I hadn't heard from her, this year. Something felt not quite right, but I tried to chalk it up to other family drama she was dealing with at the same time. Mid-morning on Saturday, the phone rang (yes, I have a landline). My caller i.d. reflected a phone call from a 'county' number (other than the one I live in), and it was a Saturday.
Generally speaking, most government-related offices are not open on Saturday. The voice was unclear, somewhat confusing to me. The voice spoke again; it was my daughter! When someone is incarcerated, there is always a 'gap' between getting the call and connecting to the inmate. For those who listen to their intuition, I knew 'something' was definitely 'amiss'.
She, shakily, uttered to me, "Mom, I need a lawyer; I shot him (in the knee)!" Unlike most mothers, I was sad, but not surprised. My daughter has been enduring emotional and occasional physical abuse, for nearly their entire decade of marriage. She felt, this time, she may not survive; she was in fear of her life. She was defending not only herself, but her children.
I've seen her take his abuse ... over and over, though the years. I knew, but she would always have an 'excuse', always defended him because she wanted to be a 'subservient wife' and keep her family together, continuing to withstand his abuse. Of course, as in any victim of abuse, they defend their abuser either out of fear or distorted 'love'.
I spent the entire Labor Day weekend trying to find a lawyer who would respond on a 'holiday weekend'. The only man of integrity and empathy to return my call was very well known in this valley; perhaps he returned my call because he's semi-retired. No matter, thank God for this man, this particular weekend. My main focus was Kama; on Sunday I did go to the church where I knew my grandchildren were with the pastor, and his family.
The beginning of this journey began on such a good note, considering ... however, since the domestic abuse situation, her attorney has passed on, so everything about the cases are behind. She had to retain a new lawyer.
... life goes on ... and, thankfully, with my daughter still alive. ~nrl
