Update #2 - Captain America's Email

Sorry this got on here so late. Captain America thought he hit SEND last night. Thank goodness it was still in his DRAFTS folder! This update is from Captain America:

~Hilary

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Bethany was in quite good spirits. These last two visits I recognize the Bethany that I haven't seen for ...I don't how long. It is quite good!! She told me about the things of her day. I enjoyed very much listening to her. She talked about how she is eating more...the foods on her menu plan. It is tough to eat that only and get enough food, but she is doing a good job of eating foods that help her feel good. She realizes now that starving herself probably brought her to this point. And she said something like...I don't know why I quit eating...what a silly thing to do?! Yep, no doubt! Well, that is why they have mental health hospitals...because we all get off track from time to time! But she also recognizes that had she stayed away a few more days...of not eating...who knows what would have happened!!

She talked about how she is cold all the time. I brought her, upon request, more long sleeve shirts and warm socks, and another heavy hoodie. I also brought her a hair dryer and shampoo, lotion. She wants to make herself look and smell 'girly'. That is a real good sign!

I gave her this night's notes from the kids. They drew hearts and Eme drew a 3 drawings of horses for her mom. She told her to 'come back to me'. I thought that was cute. Eme & Joe miss her maybe the most and don't quite get what is going on. Jake and Tom are more absorbed into their self and Jimmy is just too short in the britches! Jake drew a soldier ordering her to come home and that he missed her.

She mentioned how she let one of the guys in her group read the Book of Mormon. He asked if it was a mormon bible, but she explained how the Book of Mormon is a companion to the King James version of the Bible. But in the Americas...another Testament of Jesus Christ. Good job on sharing something so great, Sweetie Pie! She mentioned how one of the guys in the group is having some serious relationship issues. And his wife wants him to stay in program longer instead of leave tomorrow.. He was devastated. There were two other women in the group and they all got together, held hands and said prayers with him for his behalf. That was really great I thought.

She mentioned some of the 'crazies' there...what they do and say. But those folks in her section are normal, but are simply having mental health issues...like she is. She said being there and listening to others' problems, she see that her life is pretty darn good. As they say in the Army, 'look left, look right...and know that those two are having it just as bad as you, but probably worese.' So that perspective is helping her a lot. Service to others...takes the pain of the issue off.

The other Bethany that was in her room prior is back in the group. They had some friendly banter about who was Bethany #1 (like Thing #1 & Thing #2 arguing about their names?!). She reasoned that not only was she older, but her last name ended closer to the start in the alphabet! Of course, she is always number one in my book!

She is learning in the group to choose to be happy. And she is striving for that. It is greatly contributing to her view on who she is.

Together we have an appt with a therapist at 4 pm. I'm looking forward to that. We read a little on three conference talks from the am Saturday session of General Conference in 2009. They are great talks. She is trying hard to feel God the Father's love for her. That is really the core issue...She at times doesn't feel worthy of his love...or even know if he knows her. So she is praying hard to feel that (please pray for her in this regard especially.

Wow, I"m really tired so I'm going to tie this up. Enjoy and I'll give you an update of some kind tomorrow.

-Captain America