Blessed Beyond Measure.

Because of God's Grace this holiday season will be the best one yet. As Thanksgiving creeps up on the calendar. I can't help but think of the year. The beginning was horrible. It left Mike and I saying in June that this was the worst year ever. We had been through so much drama. So much hurt. So much humility. We never thought we would end the year saying it was the best year ever.

My heart overflows now with the love of the holy spirit. I have always tried to do good things. Be helpful to those in need. I tried to be a caring wife, mother, and daughter. I guess at times I fell short. I left people around me wanting more than I could give them. Our always depleted bank account didn't allow me to be in the IN crowd because I couldn't afford to do the things my "friends" did. Once people realized I couldn't be like them they chose to move on and forget. So I turned to negativity.

But then there was this program called Celebrate Recovery. This amazing program has given me friends and encourager's who call me and email me every week. I am so blessed to have these new people in my life. I am finally beginning to understand what my aunt said all those months ago. Facebook did give me a false sense of who my friends were. Sometimes I fall prey to that, but I quickly realize that the only one true friend I can always count on is Jesus Christ. The great thing about that is I can never let him down. He is always there when I want to cry out to him. He is the miracle worker that saved my marriage.

It is so CRAZY. My husband has not looked back from day one! Soon he will pick up his 6 month chip for sobriety. He has had a few urges, but has not given to them. I can't imagine what it must be like to try and quit when everything else around you stays the same. Daily Mike would drive home and if he had money he would buy beer. EVERYDAY! His drinking was purposeful! His purpose was to be buzzed. To get into his happy place. It broke my heart that his happy place wasn't here with us. I believe he has been running from stress at work for a long time. Mike is the type of person who has never let me see him sweat! Very rarely have I seen him be worried about anything, maybe in the past because he covered it with alcohol so well? Life is so hard! We all find our ways to cope. Playing video games, escaping from reality. Turning to the computer and social media to fill a void of being unloved/unwanted. Turning to alcohol and drugs to numb the pain from the past. We all find our way to make it through the day. Something has changed though. A recognizable change to some! My heart feels overwhelmed with the love of Christ. Because it is His GRACE, His MERCY, and His Love that makes us who we are. Without this we are just flesh and bones, people of this world. What separates us from the evil in this world? God. He is the creator. The beginning and the end! Without him we are nothing. God has given me a beautiful family. I love my children more than words could ever express. The pride I feel in my husband is immense, and the fact that I am beginning to let go and let God is a testament to the fact that he is working in our lives! I am excited for the next year. to see what it holds for our family. To see what is holds for Celebrate Recovery! Thanks for allowing me to once again share my thoughts.