Hello and Happy Holiday Season Everyone!

Every Christmas I ask everyone who is listed on the Miracles In Progress message boards to help me bring a awesomely memoriable Christmas to the many newcomers in the Miracles In Progress Recovery Houses by simply sending each house member a Christmas Card, and signing it with "Another Miracle In Progress, <your first name, last intitial> and geographical location". 

A man comes into the Miracles In Progress Aftercare Recovery House program and its his first Christmas clean and sober.  He feels alone.  Family has shunned him, wifes have left, there has been a long lull of communications with young children family members.  Friends are old using or drinking buddies, so there is no longer even communication with them.  Their world has become very small.  They enter the recovery arena like weeping willows, with not much more than a history of loses to reflect on.  Shame, guilt, sorrow, and depression set in as the rest of the world is engaging in holiday cheer. 

Rose, (my wife) and I can see it in the newcomers eyes. 

Rose and I purchase household Christmas decorations for the houses, trees, and put together a small christmas gift package for each house resident.  But it is met with the unspoken, and sometimes spoken shame or guilt that the gift given can't be recipicated due to the financial struggle they are faced with in the early stages of recovery. 

Then the Miracle of Miracles In Progress beings to take place.

Hundreds of Christmas Cards and even some books, dvd's, letter writing stationary, journals, department store or resturant gift cards, socks, winter gloves, knit caps, pull over jersey's, bath towels, candies, fruit baskets, personally writen letters, peoms, hygiene supplies, and basic care packages, board games, puzzles, etc. start arriving in the mail from all over the world, with the residents names on them.  Signed by "Another Miracle In Progress, <name with last initital,and...> <geographical location>."

The change in the residents that transpires as a direct result of your participation in this project is obvious.  Eyes brighten up, smiles and HOPE is inspired, feeling alone in the world vanishes. The Holiday Spirit comes to life in these men.  They come to know they are no longer on the outside, looking in, but are inside something so much bigger and better than they ever imaged.  That the world embraces their efforts to recover, and wants to share this holiday with them.

A few examples of what we have seen and heard as you showered these men with your gift of uncondtional love:

"I have gotten more christmas cards today, then I have gotten collectively through the course of my whole life".

A man's voice cracks as he reads a card and breaks down crying for the first time in many years, as he reads the ending of it..."I knew there was someone I sent a prayer up for each day, to find his way to recovery; it was not in vain if you are reading this card".  The warmth of this senders words melted this mans frozen emotional center.

We have seen your gift cards used in such a special way by these men.  To buy a box of christmas cards and sent to family members for the first time in what feels like forever, to buy a roommate a small gift for christmas, to send a child a prepaid phone card so they can call daddy whenever they want for a few minutes...etc.

Books you sent were read, and then exchanged with eachother, so that they got the opportunity to read several recovery related books.

What members of Miracles In Progress online community has done at Christmas time for our house residents over the past few years now, makes a difference that is truly beyond decription. 

Please, consider doing it again this year if you participated last year, and if you haven't done so yet, please consider doing so this year for the first time. 

No gift, even simly a card is recieved without having a absolutely positive effect on the men's spirit.

Here are the men's first name, last initial and address to send to;

Richard O.
Curtis H.
Jerry H.
Marcel W.
Lesley W.
Jason H.
Rick F.
Deryl B.
Dustin C.
Lance L.

at         
141 Hinton Ave., Wilmington, NC 28403
*************************************

and

Chip C.
Ervin W.
Ralph B.
Jimmy T.
Steve W.

at
413 Strada Street, Wilmington, NC 28409
***************************************

There is most likely going to be a few new men entering the Hinton Ave. House within the next week.  I will send out their names as soon as they enter the house, in hopes there is still time for them to get some cards from MIP online members before Christmas.

Thank you for your willingness to do this little something for them, which is a big something to them.

Happy Holidays, to each and everyone of you fine Miracles In Progress.

John F