Awakening Through Love

Awakening Through Love

Showing posts with label holidays. Show all posts
Showing posts with label holidays. Show all posts

Happy Easter



Update on J:

Although he doesn't share much with me about his feelings, he is quite vocal concerning my driving.  It seems I'm a bit fuzzy headed when he's in the car and a few times have almost missed turning where I'm supposed to...I'm sure it has nothing to do with waking up at 3:30am to pick him up...having a new route to learn....or his surliness with me. 

I'm what you would call an "assertive" driver.  I have never had an accident that was my fault and no one ever has to honk their horn at me.  I got fed up with his comments the other day, so when he said, "I don't understand why you drive the way you do", I calmly said, "I don't understand why you seem to take your irritability out on me, not your father, your step-father, your girlfriend, just me!  I have been driving much longer than you have been alive and have never had an accident that was my fault, so if you don't like it, find another ride and just shut up!"  It worked like a charm, he's been much nicer.

At Court last week, he was sentenced to 20 days, $525 in fines and 2 years license suspension, retroactive from March 2009, for the DUI from a year ago...that was continued many times. The Judge gave him the option of serving the time in jail or rehab. He has his last Court appearance for the felony drug possession this week and depending on the outcome of that, will then go back before the other Judge to give him his decision. The rehab will cost $600, if he chooses that.  He didn't think it was worth $600 to avoid jail and I said it was a drop in the bucket compared to the money I've already put out and that he was worth it!  Later, after telling his father about it, he said he would pay for it.

Update on Sherry:

I volunteered to tutor a child on Saturday.  She's in 6th grade and smart.  We had 3 1/2 hrs. to go over reading and math.  Initially things were going well, but then she began testing.  She'd get up to sharpen her pencil...5 times...open the window...2 times...secretly start texting with her phone, until I caught on...argue about answers that were wrong, insisting they were right...talk loudly disturbing others in the room.  I tried to keep her focused and on task, but when that didn't work, I ignored her and then she had to get me to focus.  It worked!

I moved my computer out of the master bedroom into another bedroom, so I don't wake my husband since I'm getting up so early.  I bought a few new pictures for the walls to make it more homey.

I went to a new hairdresser this week and just love my hair and her!  As we got to know each other, she asked about my son and I told her about his addiction problems.  She then opened up to me about her sister's problems and how it has affected  her and her mother.  I told her about my travel adventures and she then shared that she has a fear of traveling too far from home.  She's in her 20's...very cute...and her boyfriend moved to Texas.  She was going to visit him this weekend and was afraid that once she arrived she would feel panicked that she may not be able to get back home...an irrational fear.  She said that just hearing about my travels...most of them by myself...helped her.  It's amazing how we can help people just by being open!

Last night, as I sat on the deck letting thoughts float through my mind, I had a sudden urge to go buy an Easter basket for my roommate, whom I barely know.  In the past four months, we've spoken a total of perhaps 10 minutes.  She's an engineer, 27 yrs. old, from New York...her family comes from the Mariana Islands in the South Pacific.  I've accepted the situation as it is...she doesn't want a relationship with us...even to the point of not saying "hello" if you're sitting in the living room and she arrives home and passes through to go downstairs to her space.  My husband thinks she is "bitchy, rude, and wierd". 

Anyway, I ran out and got a basket, a plush bunny, an organic chocolate bar, hummus, organic black bean tortilla chips, guacomole, burts bee body butter, and a small potted rose plant.  She was in her office when I went downstairs to give it to her and I said, "Here is an early Easter basket", she said, "I don't celebrate Easter" as she shook her head and the look on her face was priceless.  I said, "It's just a present then...to make you feel good".  She said, "You didn't have to do this".  I said, "I know, I wanted to".  So, she gave me a hug!

Happy Easter to those of you who celebrate and Happy Day to those of you who don't!

Struggling




I'm not sure if it is the jet lag or depression or a combination, but I have been struggling with sadness, sleeping a lot and feeling the urge to smoke again.  I'll get in bed at 6pm and sleep until 6am.  It's been 7 weeks since I smoked.  I wonder if being an addict feels like this, because my brain tries to trick me by saying, "What does it matter if you start smoking again and die a few years younger than you would have?", or "I can always smoke again and stop again".


I had a job interview on Monday and should hear something by next week.  I know that a lot of my problem is not having a job.  I keep thinking I should continue to look for something that I want to do full-time, long term, rather than just take any job to have something to do until I find something else, but I'm rethinking that for my mental health.


Today is J's birthday, he's 22.  He hasn't called me since Christmas Day.  I went and bought another $20 phone card for him this week.  Each 15 min. call is $2.00 and basically he calls his father, his girlfriend and me.  He said he's trying to make each card last and that his girlfriend was supposed to buy a card.  It concerns me that his girlfriend is still waiting for him.  I read what Lou said in one of her comments, that anytime a girlfriend waits it's usually not a good situation.  She was doing drugs with him before he went to jail and I don't know what her status is now.

I'll get to see him around January 9th and he's allowed to have 2 visitors.  He can 2 visitors once a week. I told my husband that he will probably want me and his girlfriend to come the first time.  Nothing against him, but they aren't that close so it makes sense.  Of course, its up to him who he wants to see.


I'm trying to live in the moment and not think too much about what the future will bring.  Also, I continue to pray that J is in God's hands and everything is as it should be!


My husband and I went to see the movie "Avatar" a couple of days ago in 3-D and it was great.  I highly recommend it!

We're supposed to go with my brother and his wife to a party tonight - probably around 30 people and it's only a 15-20 min. drive.  Tomorrow, we're going on a 7 mile hike with about 35 people that is a 1 1/2 hr. drive from here.


My prayers are with my family, friends and the following people (I hope I didn't leave anyone out):


Barbara and Keven; Renee and Zach; Lisa and Bryan; Annette and daughter; Madison and family; Chailatte and son; Mom and Heather; Lou and Andrew; Cheri and family; Tall Kay; Steve in Fl.; Debbie and Son; Dad, Mom and Son; and Bill and Son.


Gratitude: 


J is safe and sober
Free Will
My mother
Love


Happy New Year and Peace, Love, and Joy to all of you!!

I'm back...


 
Hi everybody!  I've caught up with your blogs and wanted to post a few pics from my trip.  I returned Christmas Eve and went to my brother's house Christmas afternoon.  My husband and I picked my mother up.  It was a small gathering - 4 of my sister-in-law's friends, my nephew (my niece was in Florida with her mom) and us.  


My husband said grace at dinner and got a little choked up.  His father passed away this year and also with J not with us we felt very emotional at times.  J got transferred to rehab while I was on my trip.  He called me Christmas Eve and said that it is much better than jail.  The nurse is allowing him to have seconds of food (he weighed 213 lbs when he arrived and has gained 10 lbs. in 2 weeks).  He wants to get up to 240 or 250 - he's 6'9" tall so that wouldn't be too heavy.  He's been working out also.


He sounded a little sad - he also called me Christmas Day.  He feels very grateful to be at the rehab and has been going to the church 2-3 times a week.  The pastor is from an area church and is a former crack addict.  J says he is very inspirational.  J said he prayed for my safety while I was on the trip and of course I prayed for him every day.


I haven't been as open on this blog as I could about how this has been affecting me.  I think for a variety of reasons - because I like to set a good example and let people see that you can have a life even if your heart feels like it is being ripped out - also because I believe that we have a choice to sit around and dwell on the bad things in our lives or get out and live!  I don't like to feel sorry for myself and do believe that most of our children will be able to live drug free lives.  I have always been perceived as the strong one but I cry most every day!  

The trip was very educational and busy.  We only stayed in each spot for typically 1 to 2 days.  There were seven of us - five women traveling solo and a newlywed couple.  The nationalities were German, UK, Canada and US.  Everyone was very nice!  We rotated on who we shared a room with each night - which worked out well.





 This was in Vang Vieng, Laos


 


I'm standing in the courtyard of our hotel in Vientiane, Laos


 

Halong Bay, Vietnam



 


While on a 2 day slow boat down the Mekong River, we stopped at two separate villages and took supplies that we had purchased for one of the villages.


 

Two village girls - it was their New Year's celebration







 Elephant Riding in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Hope you have a great weekend!

Veteran's Day and Christmas



My husband and I went out for dinner tonight at Applebee's. I got a free meal because I served in the Army for 4 years (stationed in Germany for 2 1/2 years).


Am I crazy....I put up the christmas tree and decorations today! I played Diana Krall's Christmas music on my Ipod while decorating. I have to admit I cried a little thinking about J. All of the ornaments bring back memories...especially the one he made with a picture of him when he was about 8 with glitter around the edges.

I'm having family here for Thanksgiving - they'll think it's a little strange having Christmas decorations up already - oh well!



Tomorrow is another court day. This one was for his "physical control" citation - passed out in his car at a gas station. The urine test came back positive for "benzos" and something else - the attorney doesn't have a copy of the exact findings yet. J was on a prescription for a "benzo" for his sleep disorder so I'm supposed to bring that.

There are two more continued cases next week.

Gratitude:

My son is safe and sober.
My girlfriend was released from the hospital.
Holiday decorations, pretty lights, etc.
The peaceful feeling I have right now.
Living in the USA.

Peace, love and happiness to everyone!!