The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
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information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
Today is is a make lemonade day...I am thankfully feeling somewhat better from being given some kind of horrible shots (not the Ned's they were supposed to contain!!!) by a pain mgt dr. I have some quite limiting medical issues that require med use and pain is a constant and horrible companion for me. Anyway, today is 2 months sober for AH (working his program) and I have ALWAYS wanted to take my daughter on s wonderful family vacation. Don't get me wrong, I have always made sure she was well traveled, but I could not go (due to health) and I could never trust AH to be sober for even a day trip, so he was of virtually no use in going anywhere...so her grandmother and (step) grandfather have taken her on many, many trips. I just won't agree to allow her to travel out of the country.
Anyway, bot she and I love museums, living history, and learning trips. We did do the Disney thing and have tons of pictures, but she has a very limited memory of that because she was so young.
AH is having a two week...non-paid..."time off" as part of his sanctions from the DUI (lTer reduced to failure to exercise due care) so now is the time to do it!!! We will be leaving later this month and boarding out dogs here with a lovely lady for $24.00 a day for all four inside dogs!!!!! Amazing price, isn't it?? Also, because he is a frequent traveler and has a ton of points from his travels, we only have to pay for one or two nights of a hotel (reservations are already made) and to keep costs low, we will be taking a great deal of the foods we prefer to eat.
I realize this isn't the ideal time to spend money for sure, since the DUI sucked up all the reserve funds, but I can not imagine sitting home with AH (not drinking) for two weeks and trying not to make each other insane. This may sound nuts to everyone else, but there is no time like the present for this trip! We are going to Luray Caverns in VA, so that everyone can see and hear the wonders of the caverns. There is no sound I remember as well as the stalag pipe organ they play. It is magical and I truly believe ther is a feeling in the caverns that the world is so much bigger than we are (internally and externally). It is a religious experience for me and I hope my family will find the same feeling of HP at work in their lives. Of course we will go several other places to enjoy the experience and I pray esch other as well.
i also pray HP will make this trip a time for healing and for learning how to enjoy each other again in some small way. Alcohol has robbed so many opportunities and so many possibilities that it is time to take back our lives...everyone..and to do whatever we can to enjoy some of the days we have. I thank God that AH is working the program and that he is leading us to where he wants us to be. I pray we continue to push ourselves to the ways we need to go to keep growing and that we stop allowing disabilites to prevent us from enjoying life as we were meant to.
So today, I will do my best to be a positive and encouraging person to all those I see...whether at home or away and I will try for today to make lemonade instead of complaining about how sour the lemons are.
Luray Caverns are really cool. I haven't been there in years. I used to go caving in VA a lot many years ago in caves that were not public and that you had to wear helmet lights and all the gear and mark your way in and out. Some of the squeezes were so tight you had to take off you helmet and push it out in front of you so you could get through. It was a lot of fun.
Keep it light, keep smiling, keep reminding each other it's a VACATION! Have Fun!!
Perfect approach for today - one day at a times certainly makes life simpler to deal with and process.
Your travel plans sound awesome! May your day and your days be as pain free as possible.
I see and hear a ton of HP trust, which is always a great way to move forward in our days - just makes all things better.
Prayers and positive thoughts sent your way and congrats. to your AH for 2 months sober! Awesome to make note of all miracles from this program and this is one.
Make it a great day - your plans sound as if you are on the right track for that to happen!!
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Practice the PAUSE...Pause before judging. Pause before assuming. Pause before accusing. Pause whenever you are about to react harshly and you will avoid doing and saying things you will later regret. ~~~~ Lori Deschene
I have been there Several Times Myself and have Always Enjoyed the Caverns... there are Some Others Not To Far from there as Well... All a Wonderful God Inspired places :)
I have Learned that For ME... Keeping My Expectations at Bay, Helps Me Truly Enjoy the Moment... When I Expect to Get something I haven't got yet I Tend to Over Project... So... From One Al-Anoner to Another... Go... Enjoy... Laugh... Smile... Breathe... and Embrace what ever Your HP Leads you do, So when You Return Home, You are Refreshed and ready to Face Life on Life's Terms :) Cause you Deserve Nothing but Happiness :)
Thanks for Sharing the Journey :) Can't wait to Hear how it Goes... and Yes.. AWESOME Price for Pet Care :) I have 3 Gr.pups and I'm Blessed to have My Momma Only 3miles away and She Loves them For Us when we are Out of Town :)