Today, I am taking the girls to meet with the court appointed attorney. He will interview the girls and me together, then he will interview Sara and the girls together. It is his recommendation to the judge that will decide the outcome of this custody battle.
I have spent the last week in preparation for this day and I only hope this attorney can see the truth once everyone has spoken.
I visited Nancy on Saturday, and I told her that the judge encouraged her mother and I to try and work this out before it was taken out of the family law court?s hands and given over to the juvenile court, an 18 month nightmare for everyone. I promised Nancy I would do just that.
I spoke to Sara on the phone and promised her I would back down and cease the picketing if we could come to an agreement. I offered to withhold audio and videotape evidence that would be damaging to her case. I offered to forgive and let go of her slander and false accusations of child molestation. I said that I would not have the elders investigated and possibly prosecuted for not reporting child abuse. She only denied that she was coercive with the girls, denied any fault or wrongdoing. She blamed me for everything and made a big scene on the telephone since she was talking to me in front of her family. She was yelling at me and asking why I was "so mad", and to stop yelling at her. I was using my calm "indoor voice" the entire time. She was misrepresenting to her family the nature of my call, which is fairly typical of her. I could get nowhere with her and told her I would just see her at the attorney?s office today.
I saw Nancy again yesterday and explained what had happened on the phone with her mother and asked her to believe me when I say I really tried to work it out. Nancy said that she did believe me and that she can totally see her mom doing and saying those things because its what she always does. She was disappointed. She understands, I think, that her mother will not change on her own and she feels that mom needs some counseling and serious help. She said that she would compose a letter to the judge stating what she would like to see happen now.
So, I will let you all know what happens after it is finished. We go to court again on the 23 rd when the judge will decide. I'll fill you in after that.
Nancy is coming home tomorrow and we are so looking forward to her return.
Thank you one and all for your support!
Corvin