One Mom Talking: The ongoing story of one mom, three teens, and heroin.

One of the best ways to get our focus off of problems and worries is to turn our attention the service of others.  Here’s a list of simple ways to brighten other lives and spread some light in the world:

Click here for acts of selfless service for 2011

via Click here for acts of selfless service for 2011.

Hi friends.  I really like this list of rights that I saw on acoarecovery.worpress.com.  It was written for Adult Children of Alcoholics – but I surely believe it pertains to us parents of addicts, and anyone else who has an addict in their life.  I’m having trouble posting the actual list here, but here’s the link to the full blog posting:  MY RIGHTS – Questionnaire (25-48).  So check it out.  Good site!

It’s 4:30 AM.  This is the time when even bars are closed.  After hours.  But here I am.  I fell asleep easily last night at 10:30 PM.  I’ve been doing well with sleep — going to bed earlier, getting off the computer, deep breathing, staying away from the end-of-the-night glass of wine.  So I was pleased last night, dozing off without a hitch.

And then I woke up.  Bright-eyed.  I expected it to be early morning … maybe 4:30 or 5:00.  But it was only two; I’ve been up since then.

My first response was frustration.  Then worry – not about anything particulary – just that low-lying fog of worry familiar to parents of addicts, but of which I hope never to grow fond.  I played computer games.  Attempted to pray.  Tried meditation.   Watched the clock.

Finally, I decided to just be awake.  For tonight, three hours sleep might just have to be enough.  So here I am.  Instead of fretting the long dark night away, I might as well do something useful and visit my friends in the land of the blogs.  I know I’m not the only one up in the middle of the night.  And maybe someone needs a hug.

So here’s to you all – a big hug:  {{{{{{{Fellow Travellers}}}}}}}}.  God is with us and will carry us through.  And on the off chance I fall asleep 20 minutes before my alarm rings, I’ll try to stay grateful for a little gift called the afternoon nap.  Sweet dreams, my friends.  Sweet dreams.

Check out this review of a movie that we all might want to see:  Recovering Love.

LET IT RAIN!

Years ago, when I first surrendered my life to Jesus Christ, God gave me a wonderful gift of writing songs.  I had pretty much forgotten about most of them – many were simple and I didn’t do anything with them at the time. 

Today I came across a notebook with some of those songs scratched haphazardly on music notation paper.  The one that struck me most was called, “Let It Rain.”   Here is the chorus:

Oh Lord, let the rain fall down
Let it feed the ground ’til the flowers grow!
Oh my Lord –
I will cry my tears,
but I will not fear the pain:
Let it rain!

I am trying to maintain this same attitude now…trying to remember that nothing much grows without rain.  Remaining grateful, even in times of drawn-out difficulty, has to be a purposeful choice.  I’m doing my best to make that choice daily.  I hope that you are too.  God Bless!

I had a pretty bad day today.  It’s been three months since the move and I still don’t have work.  I’m almost out of money.  I keep praying and walking on faith but things aren’t coming together yet.  Not sure what to do.  I can make it about three more weeks and then, well, I don’t know.  I hate to move again, but might have to.  So I was in a funk today, unable to focus or accomplish anything.  I cried a lot.  I took a walk.  Somewhere along the way I remembered this song.  It helped me feel a little better and remember that nice word: “hope.”  Enjoy.