Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Tiny Bubbles

It's been a while since I wrote anything worth posting (in my humble opinion) on this little blog of mine. It occurs to me that I've been living in a bubble, provided by the state of Washington via a domestic violence protection order. Bubbles don't last forever....and sadly, neither do protective orders. So tomorrow, in the middle of a busy day at the office, I will go behind closed doors and wait for a call from the Family Court in Washington state. I know that my attorney will be on the other end, as will a Judge and a stenographer, and I expect that my evil ex-husband will be there as well.

You see, my beautiful little daughter Penelope turned three years old today....and for me, that means my days as of late have been filled with cupcakes and Dora bracelets and pale pink balloons...and after all of the party favors are cleaned up and everyone goes home, I wrestle with my fear into the wee hours of almost every morning.

Penelope has had a domestic violence protective order in place since the tender age of one. The state of Washington only grants protective orders of this type for one year at a time for minor children, in the hopes that the abuser will mend his/her ways and suddenly emerge as a model parent. If there were an icon for dripping sarcasm, this would be the place to insert it. So, August of 2011 was spent writing motions and wrapping presents.....and we all got the gift we wanted the most.....a swimming pool for Penelope, and a protective order for another year. Now here I am another year later, asking for another year of protection for my daughter. The financial cost of this process is literally smothering me. I expect to make a monthly payment to my attorney in Washington for the rest of my life. I cannot begin to describe the emotional toll that this process exacts.

I don't talk about this openly or with any sense of ease, as it is painful and yes, still shameful to me. But every year when I write a motion and beg the court to further protect my daughter, I am required to recall the past. I have to write motions and eventually give testimony about the war zone in which my kids and I lived, and that nearly breaks my heart. I was raised with the mantra, "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all." It makes me laugh now, remembering some paperwork that I had to fill out for the court in Washington two years ago....some idiot handed me a form that asked me to say something "nice" about my ex-husband. The only thing I could come up with was, "He is tall." I said something nice. Now I am speaking only the truth. And tall, short, or otherwise, he is dangerous.

If you are reading this, pray. Pray for my strength tomorrow, and pray that I am given the fortitude to say what the Judge needs to hear. Pray that Penelope passes safely from 3 to 4 years of age without being exposed to evil. Pray that I eventually go to bed and sleep. Pray that Roan and Posey are no longer afraid. Pray that the birthday wishes that I sent up on Penelopes' behalf are granted.

I have my notes prepared for tomorrow, and at the top of them is a verse that has been sent to me over and over.....2 Corinthians 3:12 "Since we have such a hope we act with great boldness."

I have hope. Pray for boldness.