The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
I had posted long ago about my alanon books being in a box in the closet. However when I went to dig them out they were an AA big book and AA Daily relections. At the time I thought what a bummer.
Last posting I noted my daughter was in jail. She wrecked her car and reported it stolen, there was also marajuanna in the car. The police came to her house and hauled her off to jail. Evidently the false report is serious. She also blew 1.8 but was not charged with a DuI. The car is totaled.
Her dad and brother bailed her out. They did not want her to be in jail for Christmas. I just could not participate in that and kept my purse strings closed with no regrets. She sat down and talked with me last night after she had seen her car and talked to her room mates who were not too happy with the late night knock on the door by the sheriff.
She is sick about the situation she put herself in and vows to knock off the drinking. Said she needed the familys help. My reaction was If you are going to do this it is on you. I can not do it for you nor can anyone else. She reiterated and said support.
Her birthday is Christmas eve and those AA books were sitting on the table by my bed. I reached over and picked them up and gave them to her. Said all the answers are right there Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas.
When I got up this morning the book was on the coffee table and she did read a couple of chapters before going to bed.
Me I am thrilled, and think what a christmas present. For today a step has been made and hopefully that will be followed by another tomorrow.
It is her journey but I am thinking HP works in strange ways. I had disappointment in finding the books were aa but grateful today that they were there by my bed. A little lesson on how I will never know what his plan is, but with a little patience it could be something I would have never dreamed of. Imagine that?
I am also not overly optomistic and think she is cured by any means. There is a huge amount work getting sober. My A brother always said a head full of AA and a gut full of beer just don't work out or something like that.
Heres to at least the first seed planted in hopes of her filling her head full of AA. Heres to me for coming back to alanon, I am starting to feel that peace that only comes to me with some alanon in my head.
I always want to tiptoe around when the start of a miracle is coming about; too afraid to disturb it and that's me. I see the start of a miracle in your life Fishmom; I see pieces of one and that always makes me hold my breath waiting for an AHA!!. You have been an instrument of HP's peace and your daughter maybe peeking into the other room and AA tools have been found and given to her at the right moment. Had she stayed in jail on her birthday might she have missed the gift for now? I don't know and don't pretend to know but I do know that HP works in strange and powerful ways to get us.
Merry Christmas and thanks for sharing this adventure with us. (((((hugs)))))
Wow, I agree with Jerry. I feel like holding my breath, waiting to see what will happen next. Of course she is not cured, but look at you. Putting her fate in her own hands where it belongs is huge for you. I think one of the nicest things I ever said to my AH was, "I can't save you from this. If you want to live, you know where to find help."
For your daughter, she may have many hard relapses to go, but one day at a time, one step at a time, she can do it. And if she makes it, you will get to watch the most beautiful of miracles first hand, and she will know she did it herself.
What a blessing for today, a step toward recovery.
__________________
~Jen~
"When you come to the edge of all you know you must believe in one of two things... there will be earth on which to stand or you will be given wings." ~Unknown
What a fantastic intervention on your part. I do hope your daughter decides to go to a program Maybe the court will recomend it and she will be forced to go to meetings for a while.
I'm glad you are reachng out for support. I highly recommend the book Getting them Sober, a small volume but a mind of information. Toby Rice Drew the author has a web site too.