:bughug To so many of you who I admire so much for your strength, not only you strength in sharing your stories with us, but your strength in surviving and becoming the people you have. You are awesome and have my admiration and respect.

I hope that I don't offend anyone with what I'm about to share and I want you to understand why I am posting this on this thread. I want those of you struggling with hope to know that things can be different. I want to represent one story from the other 49%.

None of my grandparents were ever divorced. My Mom's parents were married for over 60 years before they both passed away. My Dad's parents were married for about 30 years before his father passed away. My Mom and Dad only had a couple of arguments that I can remember before he passed away when I was 15 (because of his death I relate to the feelings of being ashamed of my life because it's empty.) My father was loving but a workaholic and very much an absent father. He commuted out of town for years and I only saw him on weekends. He was never open with his emotions and I don't remember him once saying that he loved me though he did show it in other ways. I have been blissfully married now for almost 14 years to my soulmate. I realize that I am tremendously blessed and am thankful beyond words. My wife and I literally do not fight--we rarely even disagree and I apologize if I ever use even an inappropriate tone of voice with her. I love my angelic wife with all my heart and together we have 6 (number 7 due next month) perfect children. She was blessed with a similar family situation--strong loving marriages with both her parents and grandparents. I tell my wife and children daily that I love them and do all that I can to build them up emotionally and spiritually. We have been blessed with a strong legacy of faith and love that we pass on to our children. I do struggle with personal issues--trying to truly "be there" for my family and not be an absent father like my Dad was--trying to be wholly and sincerely interested and involved in my children's lives--never turning them away rejected and sad. It's hard to not be selfish and I do take personal time, but sometimes I take too much and leave my wife with too much work to do. I do know where my weaknesses are but I set goals for myself and try to be the best husband and father that I can. I believe that a marriage can bring two lives together to create a sum far greater than the individual lives apart. My wife completes me as a whole being. She is my best friend, my unspeakable joy, and my eternal companion. Again, I know that I am tremendously blessed and I am very thankful. I hope that you can all find the hope that marriages can work, and decide like Kelly has to end the cycle. You each know what not to do--there are lots of powerful lessons in this thread. I hope you can begin your own legacy of faith and hope to pass on to your children and grandchildren. My love to you all. :heart