Divorce: supporting your friends and praying for God's guidance

I have a dear friend who is just beginning to deal with a cheating husband and a divorce. It's his third time cheating and this time she is done taking it. She is an amazing friend, a committed Christian and a loving mother to her three children and her husband's niece, since the girl's mother tends to disappear. She has spent the last 14 years loving him unquestionably, raising the children, keeping the house, caring for her elderly mother and, when she could squeeze some personal time in, attending the nursing program at BC to create a better life for her family.

And her husband, who has a really good job, took it upon himself to take a night job....a somewhat sketchy night job. She didn't like it, but she tolerated it. They needed the extra money. But 4 to 8 quickly turned to 4 to 9, eventually 4 to 10 and sometimes, he didn't come home until the wee hours of the morning. This could have gone on indefinitely if she allowed it. But that is not who she is anymore. She stood up and said "NO!" You can't be a part-time father, a no-time husband and someone who is a part of this family on his own terms. I'm not pro-divorce, but I am anti-walk-all-over-me-because-I love-you.

This isn't about me, but it makes my divorce (more than 13 years ago) very fresh for me. I feel her pain. I feel the roller coaster of emotions she feels as he comes and goes, seemingly unable to choose between his family and the new woman in his life. But mostly, I'm mad on her behalf and for myself.

So David (my beloved husband) and I want to do anything we can to help. This is where our "Mars and Venus" mix-up quite obvious. David (Venus) is the loving, nurturing, "let me hold you and listen to you person." I, on the other hand, am the Mars. My response is "alright, lets get down to business and divorce this sucker right now."

I think she needs both approaches right now. And both of us, having been blindsided by cheating spouses in our earlier marriages, need to help her. We were lucky. We had financial stability, close families to take care of us and, eventually, each other. She has no money, five people to take care of (not counting herself) and a growing fear that her husband is going to refuse to pay support and leave her homeless.

Through all of this, her faith is unwavering. She doesn't pray for God to heal her marriage. She prays for God to give her strength to follow whatever plan He has for her. I ask you, my readers, to pray for her too. It is hard to believe that in today's day and age, that a beautiful, smart, funny, loving woman can be left in the streets through no fault of her own. I believe we are all part of God's plan for her...a plan to help her survive and perhaps a plan for the rest of us to appreciate the gifts he has given us and the wisdom to use those gifts to help others as He did for us.

Bless you all and please, offer up your prayers for this family.

Cristy

Vintage Garden Chair almost finished! Lot of new barn-fresh finds from this weekend!

Hi all - sorry I fell off the radar this weekend. I spent the whole weekend feeling ill, not sick, but just not quite right either. I told my husband that if I didn't know better, I'd swear I was pregnant. But I DO know better....after our last one (unplanned but very much loved) we could off the major supply routes and closed down that factory!

Anyway, I'm feeling better today and wanted to give you all an update on the blue chair and a look at some of the great buys I made this weekend at a killer estate sale! So first, blue vintage garden chair. After I'm finished with this project, I will post a step by step guide on doing it yourself. But I've been so busy doing it, I haven't photographed or videotaped the project as I wanted to. So here is where we are pot chosen, hole in set cut to size, Talavera tile bought and smashed (my favorite part) and the mosaic completed on the seat. Today, the whole thing should be dry and I can plant the pot and it will be ready to dress up someones flowerbeds, patio or yard. So here are some updated pictures:

Blue garden chair, after paint treatment

Vintage pot waiting for its new home

Talavera tile mosaic seat.

Final photos and step-by-step-coming soon!

Here's a look at some of the great stuff I got this weekend that is on the upcycling list! Keep coming back for more fun stuff, great projects and advice on putting your finds to work!

Yummy, wool hand-knit cable blanket. Weighs about 10 pounds. The best part? It's reminds of the Love Plus One video from Haircut 100...cute boys in all white cable knit sweaters. $5

Paid way too much for this, but haven't seen too many this ornate in this good of shape, so I had to have it! $62.50

Vintage embroidery in butter yellow and linen white. Looking to reframe it to bring out the colors more. $6

Plaster rose heart frame. Thinking about painting this in a glossy black, silver or red finish. $1