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Let the Angels Camp Round About ...

CecilW

CecilW

Member
Real Person
Male
The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them." Ps 34:7

My family needs all who are willing to claim this promise on our behalf this weekend. Constantly.

Cindy and the children are partway to PA, to attend her oldest son's graduation this weekend. She is required to give her seriously crazy ex some visitation though the amount is unspecified and she can keep it quite short. He's already breathing fire and smoke and acting more nuts than usual. It seems as though he thinks that if he acts crazy enough, like a great ape throwing dust in the air, folks will back down out of a desire to pacify him.

He was doing better on his meds, but seems to be going seriously and out-of-control ape-s--t. Yet we are told to go forward, and simply call 9-1-1 if he makes trouble in person. Cindy is terrified. Her 13 year old son, the only one who will even consent to see him, wants to take a USMC issue Kabar along for self defense. Cindy and I BOTH have a very bad feeling about this weekend.

Add to that, the kids are giving her enough trouble themselves that she's got all she can do not to just tell them, "Phooey on it', cross the median, and head home -- which might or might not be best.

So, we need wisdom, courage, and above all -- protection.

Thank you in advance for your prayer support. I know many of you will be praying whether you respond hereor not. I will let you know how it turns out.
 
Will be praying for you and your family that the Lord will provide covering for all involved. I know some of what you are going through via my and Chaplains Rose's future sisterwife. Her ex is a sorry, no good **&%$%# something or other and her kids want nothing to do with him.
 
You have our prayers, brother. But on a positive note, congratulations to the son who is graduating. Wonderful. I hope they won't lose sight of that celebration in the midst of the exes' drama. Each child should feel special on their special day, whatever the occassion. If she doesn't turn around and come home, she will be telling her son that he is worth moving mountains for. That will thrill him even if he doesn't acknowledge it. My advice to Cindy is to go forward, but keep that cell phone handy, just in case. Her son needs her for this special occassion.

Much love and grace to her. When she has walked through the fire she will be able to see God's hand on her. Right now, she has only to let Him walk her through.

SweetLissa
 
I'm praying for your family.

Michelle
 
UPDATE:

Thu evening ... Family arrived safely. Comfortably ensconced in a hotel with interior corridors which might help a bit with security.

The ex continued hassling Cindy all the way up -- doesn't seem to understand that if he wants to see any of the children, he has to make HER comfortable that it is safe. All he is doing is the opposite.

Adding to the fun, the ex AND his mother are absolutely HOUNDING Cindy's 18 year old son, trying to pull him into the middle of things. He and his pregnant girlfriend live together nearby (at her dad's house) and are the original reason for the trip as they both graduate HS this weekend. (Another story.) Cindy is doing her absolute best to keep him/them OUT of the custody/visitation issue. Guess which parent they both respect?

Cindy tells me that they were both about crying, so glad to see her and the other kids. And the dog. Thanked her over and over and over again for coming up, despite the hassle. The girlfriend, in particular, really wants to spend some time talking with Cindy as she has developed a high respect for her and knows she needs a wise mother's advice, but her own mother is too busy carving notches on her bedpost to hold any of her daughter's respect.

In the meantime, both the ex and his mom have been making plans and announcing how the weekend is going to go without bothering to get Cindy's approval. And both Cindy's son and his girlfriend, who see the ex every so often, are seriously troubled about any visit occurring.

So, so far it's good. Everyone is safe, and there is cause for thanks to be mixed into our continued prayers for safety. Cindy says it is worth the trip, regardless of the troublesome ex.

Thank you all, again, for your prayers, whether constant or just in passing while reading this.
 
Cindy is obviously a wise and loving woman and mother. You and the kids are lucky to have her. It is amazing how children learn to see the truth in the midst of all the drama. The son and his girlfriend will treasure Cindy and they will appreciate her making the journey even more for seeing the difficulties.

I am so pleased that it is going well for the most part. She will be happy that she put the best foot forward. It all contributes to her growth and to her children's maturing. Seeing their parents go through hardship with grace will teach them alot about what God expects from his children.

I am so proud of your Cindy. I hope she knows what a wonderful example she is to everyone who can see her during this time.

SweetLissa
 
Cecil,
I hope you post another update. I'm assuming the trauma is past as the weekend is over, but as I read through the posts I will have to be praying for your family today. So please let me know the current status.

I have a friend who just went through a similar trauma the same weekend, again going to a graduation, and hopefully bringing 2 kids back with her out of a dysfunctional family life (not hers but her brother's). Please pray for them as well. The 17 year old has a boyfriend she may not have wanted to leave, and the younger girl is only granted one month...they'd like to make that more permanent or at least all summer. I'm waiting to hear an update from her as well.

Blessings,
Beta
 
UPDATE: Monday AM

Singing ... "Oh where, oh where can our Cecil be?"

This is gonna sound odd, but I'm so proud of God. And so proud of Cindy I could BUST! God has given her unusual grace and wisdom over this wewekend.

To the point that I was just a teensie bit jealous and asked, "Why didn't you give ME wisdom to know how to deal with this? I'm the husband and all that." Sounds 5 years old, I know, but I AM in touch with my inner child! ;) As best as I can tell, His answer was, "Cause it isn't YOUR fight -- it is HERS. And SHE needs to win it, with your support but on her own, for it to be her complete and healthy victory." Which of course took care of the teensie bit of jealousy and caused me to burst forth in thanksgiving and praise. Maybe a few tears, but we won't admit to that.

YEAH, CECIL, BUT W-H-A-T H-A-P-P-E-N-E-D ?!!!

All day Friday Alfred the Terrible kept pestering her. At the advice of our attorney, she was setting up an initial visitation that was less restrictive but similar to what he'd made her go through when she and I re-entered the kids life (a few years after he'd driven her off at gunpoint). He was opposing everything, demanding it be his way, whining about why couldn't he have his own way, threeatening her with further lawsuits and jail for disobeying the court order (she wasn't), claiming he'd already been in to talk with several judges and they were going to throw the book at her, etc. His strategy has been to get agitated and upset and threaten all kinds of stuff til folks back down. It has terrified her for 21 years.

This time, Friday, she said simply, "Take it or leave it." He kept blustering. She said, "Fine. The visit is off." He wrote back, "Fine, you win, for now." She said something like, "Off is off." (The visit had been scheduled for Sunday. She was intending to leave afterward and head back down to FL.)

Saturday night around 10p, he began furiously texting and calling her, trying to force her to confirm that it was still on for Sunday. At that time of night, tired, she ignored it.

Sunday AM, he started up again. By this time, we'd realized she was going to need to stay in PA another week anyway for other reasons. She finally got on the phone, stood up to him, and told him precisely how things stood and why like I've never ever heard her do before. Quoted from the court order right back at him, showing how she was doing precisely what she should to make sure the kids were safe. Told him how he'd brought about the current situation by his own choices and actions ... I mean to say, she was MAGNIFICENT!

And then God's grace kicked in as well. I mean, I wanted her to say, "Dude, you'll get another chance to try to convince me that you're safe to be around next time we come up. In another few months. Probably." Instead, she told him that Sunday was off and to give it up. But that she and the kids would be at a certain resturaunt tonight, Monday, 6pm EST, and he was welcome to join them if he wanted and would behave.

He tried to bluster and set conditions again, so she offered to change it to another town where he knows he is not very welcome and the police ALL thoroughly have his number. He actually got totally polite and said, "I'd rather not go there. Could it be somewhere else, please?" That may be the first "please" she's gotten from him in her life. Total shock.

So that is the plan. He's to join them tonight at 6 at this resturaunt. A further work of grace in her heart is that, if he behaves well, she'll allow him one or more further visits this week -- which he never would to her without the court forcing him. Her third child, Amanda, adamantly refuses to see him at all, and intends to wait out in the parking lot in the car. And he doesn't want to see his first child, Rosie, but I'm not sure what the plan is on that account.

Anyway, the situation isn't past, and I do request continued prayers. However, it seems to have undergone a major change since Thursday, and major thanks are also in order.

Beta: Could you give us first name? Friend and girls? I've begun praying for them this morning, but do like to be able to use names. Thx.

And thank you once again, one and all, for your effective prayers on this family's behalf. I truly feel that we have seen the Glory of the Lord at work.
 
Oh, oh. On the last count, the Glory of the Lord at work, I gotta tell you a further story.

Cindy's second child, Eddie, 18, graduated high school this weekend, soon to be a Daddy, has claimed to be an atheist since we got custody 3 years ago. In a way, it has been understandable though sad. If God is a Father and a Husband then, judging by what they'd seen in their lives, they wanted none of it or Him!

"But God ..."

For most of that time, there has been a lot of anger involved, if I even mentioned God, though I noticed that there seemed to have been a BIT of thawing when he was here in FL over spring break. Not much, but a little.

This weekend in PA, (another story, but through God's grace I was able to be there Sabbath and part of Sunday,) I saw a whole display of baby books at Walmart and got something like 15 of them for Eddie. The Pokey Puppie, Baby Animals, Thomas the Engine, and such. Saw one about the flood, one about the life of Jesus, and one about the miracles of Jesus and included them. Not pushing, just providing options. Told him, with a grin, that he had to start his family off right, with a good library.

Almost a joke for me, as I've got WAAAAY too many thousands of books in my own library, but he took it seriously. Said he's going to start reading the baby a bedtime story every night starting now. (Due date is mid-September.)

Last night, Cindy had the opportunity to have a private conversation with him for about an hour. As things go (or Father led, you decide) she had the opportunity to tell Eddie the circumstances of Austin's birth (the youngest and most problematic) and how God clearly and definitely intervened. Tears in his eyes.

Told him that whether he is willing to admit it or not, God DOES exist, and DOES answer prayer. Told him that I wasn't trying to control him or force anything down his throat by giving him the God books with the other baby books, just giving him the option.

He said, "I know. And thank you. I'll read those stories to my baby just as often as the others."

Does God work in people's hearts or what? And something about "A little child ...", even in the womb!

Further, without trying to take credit cause I don't think I'm doing that great a job, still ... Folks try to tell me that marrying an abused woman and being a father to her kids is no way to be helpful or bring about healing. Won't work. Leave 'em to the experts. That Patriarchal stuff, all about trying to figure out how God does it and do the same thing, just isn't realistic. Fantasy stuff. Just who do you think you are, anyway?

Well, God sure seems to be working through it in THis case, despite the marginal job I'm doing! What might happen if His people took up the practice wholesale? *shivers and goosebumps!*

I gotta tell you, moments like last night, hearing on the phone about that conversation, make every dollar, every fear, every move across country, every trip, every court appearance, every therapy session, every bitten lip and forcibly relaxed fist, every held-off desire of my own, WORTHWHILE!

Ok, I'm getting pretty maudlin all over my desk here, without even the benefit of a Guiness Stout, so shall shut up.
 
awesome, dude
 
UPDATE: Tuesday AM

Well ... the big meeting occurred last night.

Alfred the Ex showed up with his mom in tow. Actually, 'twas the other way around. G'ma showed up with Alfred in tow -- so chock full of drugs to keep him calm that he was pretty much "on the nod".

He was awake enough, however, to start demanding to have the kids every night this week. Not going to happen.

However, everybody is safe as off 11:30pm. Cindy is a bit ragged from stress and needs rest, but otherwise everything seems pretty good.

Thank you all, again, for your prayers. I truly believe they have been highly effective.
 
Cecil,
Your posts are an incredible testimony...never underestimate yourself when you're walking hand-in-hand with God, no matter what people say. For the record, I vote that the Father was involved in it.

The lady mentioned is (their aunt)Carla, the girls are Chelsea and Mallory.

While you're at it you can pray for my other son Matt, who needs to be saved too, and I think it's going to happen in the near future as I had a dream about that. And you can pray for me, I'm so fed up with the state of the Church it's making me sick....besides that I have a sinus headache that won't go away. I say AMEN to everything you said.

Thanks for praying,
Beta
 
Thank you, Beta. Got Carla, Chelsea and Mallory down on my prayer list, along with you and Matt. (Am I slow catching on, or mistaken? Is our sadanyagci your son?)

As to walking hand in hand with God ... I'm not sure I manage that most of the time. I'm reminded of Phil 3:14, "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." I suspect Paul might have felt the same way. How do you "press" towards the mark? What does that mean? Is that a polite way of describing what I do most of the time? Crawl along behind ...

The thing is, our sweet Lord is so incredibly patient, He doesn't put a timeclock on us and check us for speed. Just illuminates the next step ahead and waits for us to get there! Isn't He awesome?!

Wish I had good advice as to the state of the church. Hmmm. Maybe ... Look for a new thread entitled "Eyes on Me" ... Hope you're feeling better soon. Sounds like rest is in order. :)
 
CecilW said:
Thank you, Beta. Got Carla, Chelsea and Mallory down on my prayer list, along with you and Matt. (Am I slow catching on, or mistaken? Is our sadanyagci your son?)
Click to expand...
Yes, I am her younger son. Matt is my older brother.
 
I usually let my Cecil write on here! I'm not good with words like my hubby is . I just wanted to thank everyone for all the prayers this past week on our behalf.
Thanks again.

Cindy
 
For those who blessed us with their prayers, or simply followed this thread with interest ...

My Pussycat, the dog, and assorted teenagers (is there significance to the order?) made it home safely Friday evening. Many thanks to God.

It was quite a trip. 4 new tires in PA. New plugs, wires, and fuel filter (along with a sense that we'd involuntarily blessed someone with a bit more earnings than was deserved) in SC. Cindy and the kids got here, pulled into the parking lot of the motel where we were to stay for this last weekend, and one of the new tires promptly went flat. Yup. Quite a trip.

Lots of cause for thanks. Each incident happened where there were family or close friends nearby. None of them along deserted stretches of freeway.

Further, on this trip, we saw some real spiritual progress with Cindy's son. And the two youngest tend to follow him.

(What follows, follows with a big smile, and a 'tude just for comic effect. PLEASE don't take the 'tude seriously. ...)

What's more, I know that some of y'all knew that we moved out of our fine house in the better part of town with a pool, la-di-dah, at the end of last month with no idea where we were going to go, nor where we were going to live. I suspect that some may have even privately raised their eyebrows at what this foolhardy Patriarchal man was doing to his family. "And he thinks he wants another WIFE? Says God will provide and just DOES this?"

Well, I'm here today to tell you HAH! (Don't forget, there's a huge grin accompanying this!) We didn't NEED an official "house" until this week. The kids and Cindy were traveling, and God provided nice motels everywhere they went that even took in doggies. And I was perfectly comfortable at the shop.

And now that Cindy and the Kids got back Friday? Friday, God lined a place up for us that we can stay for the remainder of this job. It will be just fine for us. Has a lake instead of a pool. Cindy can hang out wash -- which we legally couldn't do in the la-di-dah neighborhood. Homeowner's Assn mows the lawn. Water is paid. (3 expenses gone!)

Rental Price? Under 25% of the former dwelling, with nearly no deposit.

Conclusion? (Ouch! Grinning so big it hurts!) You can TRUST God's leading. He's ALWAYS right on time! WHEEEEEEE! What an adventure!
 
CecilW said:
Conclusion? (Ouch! Grinning so big it hurts!) You can TRUST God's leading. He's ALWAYS right on time! WHEEEEEEE! What an adventure!
Click to expand...
Our King always provides, on His schedule and not ours. It's good to see someone trusting in that... and it's great to see Him work on every side of the planet.

*Sings*
God is good....
All the time.
He put a song of praise in this heart of mine.
God is good....
All the time.
Through the darkest night, His light will shine.
God is good...
God is good...
All the time. :mrgreen:
 
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