this is by far the most painful part of this journey and likely the most painful period of my life. Shawnie's last court case quickly came upon us and as the shadow of this eventual day got closer it became harder and harder on Shawnie and next on me, it was not as difficult on our boys because even though this was challenging the foundation of love that we had created even though pressed never fractured in any real way. Shawnie went to even more AA meetings and did everything she could not to completely crumble. Her courage and faith to this day amaze me i am and well forever be so proud of her. Everything inside of me wanted to carry some of this burden for her but it was not mine to carry. I got my charge was to Love her and oh my God i love her more than even i can fully comprehend. So i was there through out and faithfully carried her lunch. My brave courageous little princess kept walking step by step no matter what she felt and just like when i first met her my tiny little princess trembling and afraid faced all things that stood against her unwavering and undaunted. Much earlier a few amazing women at church prophesied that Shawnie would not serve any time we faithfully held on to this for a few months, we wholeheartedly embraced this revelation. But the reality that She might still have to serve some time in prison was always present. through all this process there was the legal wrangling and the state did not want to give her a plea bargain. Finally the did offer probation on all the remaining cases, but this did not resolve this situation at all even with the states recommendation you still had to go in front of the judge and he had the final say and at this point could decide to give up to three years. which was a far cry from the twenty years she was facing when i first met her. up to this point one miracle after another allowed us to still see that he just might set her free. Eight months of doing the right thing meant something and it did matter. one man one heart stood in her way. still not an easy decision to make though because if this plea was excepted there was know turning back. So with a lot of prayer and plenty of reservations Shawnie decided to roll the dice. this court date was pushed back once and that did offer a bit of relief until a new date was set, but once the date was set a slow agonizing countdown ins sued. Finally we got to the week before and unexpectedly a real calmness came over us and the last week Shawnie spent a lot of time with all the important people in her life. then the morning of her sentencing arrived her i slowly got ready and i remember sitting on the bed next to her my beautiful princess looked right the eyes and calmly told me to make sure i told everyone no matter what happened not to be sad. A testament to the transformation of my Baby was evidence by the large turn out for this , all of her family our pastor and a number of people she knew from AA well over crowded into that court room. we all prayed together outside of the court room before we went in. As the proceedings began my little princess stood alone with her attorneys in front of all of us. as this all started my little princess all alone in front of everyone i raised one hand and prayed to god with every thing that was in me i did not stop praying, set my princess free i asked. our pastor and her brother-in-law spoke on her behalf and finally Shawnie spoke up on her own behalf her voice was cracking and finally she was sobbing in front of the judge and all of us in the court room. i wanted to run out there and hold her and shield from everything going on right at that moment. My heart was crushed. after all the statements were presented it was now up to the judge and he began his desertation at one point he mentioned three years and collectely our hearts sunk and then he reversed dierection and acknowledged that she had obviously been doing something right and even the prosucuting attorney concured. as we neared the culmination of his statements the thing we had all been waiting for came out of his mouth " it's clear to me that it would not serve anyone for her to serve any time in prison" we were on the edge of our seats i was holding hands with a man i had never met we were smiling and shaking our hands up and down. In my head i was repeating " yes yes yes ' hell i think i was saying it out loud. the judge finally concluded by saying i sentence"Shawnie Beth to one year in the county Jail" this is absolutely the worst moment of my life.