That sounds good, Needinghelp.
When my husband got physical many years ago, the first thing I did was call a battered women's hotline. I was astonished that they didn't counsel me to leave right then and there!
I ended up leaving and going to my dad's with the kids--then my dad started talking about lawyers and taking him for all he's worth (which wasn't even two nickels to rub together at the time). I was really mad at my husband, but that seemed too drastic at the time. My husband called and agreed to go to pastoral counseling with me.
We did, and we were both appreciated as very hurting, struggling people who weren't locked into our destructive behaviors of the past. We got better, and my husband never laid a hand on me again.
We've been through illnesses and huge ups and downs, but we are much better off now than we were then, and we celebrate 30 years this August.
God bless you guys! Here's to a happy family life for many years to come!