Karen,
 
  Your post struck a very familiar cord with me, as I have been in the same situation within the past year.  So, I personally know how heartbreaking this can be on you and your children.  The Lord knows all your many needs, and I just wanted you to know you are not alone, we are all here for you.  I have been praying for you and your children; for the Lord to meet your needs in every way, according to His will. It's a bumpy road, but He will see you through it!  I can truly tell you that I came through it unscathed, in the end and not only that, blessed as well!  Since then, He has drawn me even closer to Himself.  It's harder on the children at any age, as they don't have the spiritual maturity to see the implications of spiritual warfare involved, they feel loss or anger and disappointment.  Just love them and minister to them, and the Lord will hold you all in the palm of His hand., and see you through it.
 
  
In my situation, I also lost a girlfriend (hint).  In addition to this, within a short span of time, my mother and two life-long friends died, and I felt so very alone.  But, I've discovered it's not what life throws at us, it's how we handle it that counts.  There are many tribulations in this life, and the closer we get to the Lord the more tribulation, trying and temptation can come upon us (hurt, anger, desperation, etc).  Just continue to put your faith in Him, and handle each instance as He would.  I am reminded of Abraham's test with Isaac, Genesis 22.  It helped me to look at the tremendous testing that all the Old and New Testament saints went through for their faith.  That humbles me.  They were refined in the fire, and found worthy by their faith in Him to deliver them.  God has promised to restore ALL that Satan has stolen from us in the end.  We just have to be overcomers!  Hang tough, you have many brothers and sisters in Christ that love and care for you.  I will continue to pray for you and your children.
 
  As a side note, I was reading a website yesterday by a post-tribulation/pre-wrath believer (survivalist) who plans to go to his wilderness retreat mid-tribulation, and actually claimed it could be a wonderful experience for those who are prepared, and that some who overcome may not see persecution.  The oil of the wise virgins to him meant food and fuel.  He referred to pre-trib believers as grossly deceived "babes" in Christ that were arrogantly expecting to be spared the coming tribulation, like we're nothing more than a bunch of big sissies.  I felt like reaching through my monitor and saying, "Honey, my LIFE is a tribulation story!   I have been bloodied and beaten up by instances in life that Satan has put me through that you wouldn't believe, and the Lord has seen me through every instance of it.  And I am living in victory!  Praise God!!!  My Bible says Jesus is coming for His bride and that the bride has made herself ready!  In life there is tribulation; some have seen more of it than others.  Each trial and testing is unique, and only God knows what is required for each of us.  The white linen that the bride wears is the righteousness of the saints.  All our works are as filthy rags to God, so it is ONLY the atoning blood of Christ's sacrifice that has washed us clean and made us ready to meet Him.  His love for us is what prevails; He does the choosing, we do the accepting, and live by faith.  As we steer our ship, and are tossed about through all the many tumultuous storms of life, He is the one who is guiding us safely home!  God has the ability to take every rotten thing that has happened or been done to us and turn it into something good for us.  I am humbled and dumbfounded by the many blessings he has bestowed on me following adversity.  I have not always been faithful to Him, but He has always been faithful to me!
 
   I thank Him for the worst thing that ever happened to me!  (nutshell version)  A man who had killed 7 women got into my house 30 years ago. For 3 hours, I was bound, beaten bloody, raped, and had a gun put to my forehead and cocked.  He planned to execute me as he had the others, and asked if I had any last requests.  I said yes, I wanted a moment alone.  He said "are you religious or something?" and I said, " yes."  He uncocked the gun walked away for a few seconds then came right back and put the gun to my head.  In those few seconds I simply said a 3 word prayer, "God save me."  As I waited for the gun to fire, I suddenly found I was watching this scene from about ceiling height.  I saw the whole incident as humorous suddenly in looking at it.  I KNEW that the joke was on him, because what silly little thing he thought he could do to me was a joke.  He could not kill me by shooting a gun into that body.  The real me wasn't there!  Yes, it was an out-of-body experience, and I thank God for it, because it changed my life!  It only lasted for a few seconds, and I was back, facing the gun.  Suddenly, HE became very afraid of ME, and became very nervous saying something about not wanting to have me on his conscience!  He pulled me up off my knees and took me to my daughter's closet and told me to stay there for 5 minutes or he'd finish the job.  I did, and he ran away terrified!  Three weeks later they found his 8th victim killed the same way as the others he had told me about, and had intended for me.
 
  I can read the story of the fiery furnace and know exactly what it felt like, as well as what it feels like to come through it unscathed.  I had physical injuries that my doctor said would take several surgeries to repair, and to go home and heal for a week so I could be examined better.  When I returned a week later, he could find no sign that anything had even happened to me!  Praise the Lord!  I was healed physically and emotionally!  I often think that with all that has happened (life's disappointments, etc) that I could have so easily made different decisions, or could have been deceived in these end times.  Oh, I've fallen many times too, but by His grace I've been able to get back up.  Other parts of my life since have been a real-life example of the miracle of the loaves and the fishes!  Not all experiences have had an answer.
 
  We can all be deceived by the world.  But, I thank God that he allowed that awful experience to happen to me because for the rest of my life, I know that I know, that I KNOW!  He is God, He can do ANYTHING!  He is real, He's alive, and doing untold miracles in our lives today. Some we see, some we don't.  That terrible incident gave me faith beyond measure.  In life, we will suffer tribulation.  In Jesus we find salvation and peace.  Hang in there, He loves you and your children more than any human ever could, and He will bring you through this.  I've often wondered, Why me?  Why did He choose to save me?  I was nobody special!  But, because of Him and what I went through, I realized how special I truly was to Him.  I owe Him my life, and I stand ready to give it anytime.  I reasoned for years that maybe I was spared because he wanted my other children to be born, perhaps He had some special plan for them to accomplish.  But, now I think maybe He allowed me to live through that supernaturally so that I could be a witness in these last days to someone just like yourself.  Just hang onto that little piece of the end of His garment, and trust Him.  You are going through a personal trial.  Be strong, be steadfast in your faith and look UP, lift up your head, because your redemption draweth nigh!!!
 
 Kay