The material presented
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information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
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((MIP Family)) - I have missed all of you - it has been over a week since I have been able to get on line - and what a week it has been - just a brief summary of the chaos - medical issues for me, death of a dear Aunt, a 26 yr old niece in ICU because of her addiction - with only a 10 % chance of survival, our daughter relapsed because she "had" to take something to deal with her cousin being sick ???, travel out of town for funeral, family all fighting over niece's condition - dysfunction, dysfunction, dysfunction!!!!
But let me share how awesome my HP can work in the middle of this chaos - Saturday while our family was in the middle of the fussing & fighting my AH tells me "You know, if you had not had me committed 3 1/2 yrs ago, that probably would have been me in ICU if I would not have already died - I will always be grateful to you." He had never told me that - what a blessing. That night one of my sponsees cooked supper and invited us & other friends over for food & fellowship - a time to get away from the drama. Sunday 9/3 was my Al-Anon 3 year birthday. We made the 6 hr trip for the funeral & spent a few days with family and back home with no vehicle problems, traffic delays, etc. We were able to give my mother-in-law the love and support she needed at this time. My niece's survival rate is up to 25% - my AH's ex is one of the nurses taking care of her (and we have a great relationship with her) so we get first hand info on her progress. This weekend I get to go to Area Assembly, two days surrounded by people in recovery to help me keep my focus on me. Next weekend, I am a speaker at a Women's Retreat.
Yes, life gets so overwhelming at sometimes - we all know that the tough things never happen one at a time - it always happens in multiples - but by the Grace of my HP, the Al-anon program and my recovery friends (like you) my outlook can also see that blessings always come in multiples too.
Thanks so much for being here when I signed on my computer today!! - You added to my blessings list.
Love & Hugs to all,
Living life One Day At a Time,
Rita
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No matter what me and my God are going to be ok, even better than OK -
It was so good to read your post. As you said " ...life gets so overwelming at sometimes... " this reminded me of a saying I read in Courage to Change. " When it gets dark enough, you can see the stars."
Aloha Rital...and Happy Anniversary. Number 3 and you sound like you have been listening and taking suggestions and growin and passin it on and all kinds of great recovery stuff. At three years I was still as dumb as a stick and in so much denial. I was waiting for someone to come in and say "okay you're cured now, you can leave." God I'm glad that never happened. I have enough head stuffed with self...that one would have killed me literally.
I read your post and get an example of the saying, "living the miracle" and I am happy for you. I wish you many more great days, of course only one at a time, but many. I wish you many more anniversaries and hope HP only puts in front of you what you can handle. I smile for your sponsees with gratitude cause I can just picture how they are learning to change their own life. Kind a like a temp sponsor for me at the moment. I have a great sponsor who is always on the same page no matter when I am with him.
Mahalo Nui (Thanks so much) for the share on your miracle and anniversary. Now where did you say that piece of cake was?
What a wonderful post. I am sorry for all of the traumas you are going through, but you are so great because you are walking through these with GRATITUDE!!!! That is the key to keeping strong - and giving back positivity and your experience to others! Thanks so much for your post, it shows that no matter how many years you have been in the program or how much experience you have, we will all continue to have problems, fears, and crisises, and we have the possibility to grow like you are. To face these things with dignity, and gratitude, and less fear.
THANK YOU! And CONGRATULATIONS on your third year in Al-Anon. Wonderful, too that you are speaking and getting involved. That is what it is all about. There are so many of us in such emotional pain that it is just unbearable, and there are people like you to show us that we can grow emotionally, can give back, and can live in a hopeful way.
Thanks so much for the birthday wishes!! - My home group doesn't meet on Thursday nights, I am not able to access the on-line chat rooms, so that same sponsee & I went to an open AA meeting last night. We usually don't go to this meeting, but it was the closest and the only open meeting available.
Guess what my HP had the topic on "Gratitude" and "Letting Go of Control" - What about that? - Amazing how I'm always exactly where I need to be to hear the message I need to hear!!
It was an awesome meeting - I love open AA meetings - my sponsee & I were invited to participate in the meeting by sharing our e,s, & h and several members thanked us for attending the meeting and asked us to please keep coming back - they liked having the Al-Anon perspective in their group.
Gratitude, Gratitude - None of the family chaos has changed - but my gratitude still continues to grow daily - Thanks so much for giving me the words of encouragement.
Jerry - Here is cake for you & anyone else who wants some - hey I even hear it's fat free!!
Hope everyone has a blessed weekend,
Rita
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No matter what me and my God are going to be ok, even better than OK -
Rita: What a phenomenal share and what great example of the program working in your life. None of us who come from an alcoholic, dysfunctional home are going to have an easy ride.
I am motivated to be grateful and let go after reading your share.
I'm sorry to hear of your loss and recent trials. Stress can certainly make medical issues worse. I'm glad you are also taking care of you, halt, take those deep breathes and being grateful. An oldtimer once asked if we each layed our problems on the table, then got to choose, would we still take ours home, or would we pick someone else's problems to take home?
What a gift to have the family of Alanon in time of need, especially my sponsor, and even my grandsponsor. These people and HP who can do for us what we can't do for ourselves.
, travel out of town for funeral, family all fighting over niece's condition - dysfunction, dysfunction, dysfunction!!!! 
