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.
Sending you love and support, prayers to you and your family.
Hugs P
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Stepping onto a brand-new path is difficult, but not more difficult than remaining in a situation, which is not nurturing to the whole woman.- Maya Angelo
You are such a beacon here and i am so sorry for your loss and am so glad that you are here at MIP! Sending you all the love, support and prayers I have today!
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Sending you love and support on your journey always! BreakingFree
Al-Anon/Alateen Family Group Headquarters, Inc. 800-344-2666
" Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional."
"Serenity is when your body and mind are in the same place."
I am so glad you posted his picture. He may not have gotten your coloring, but he got your happy eyes and eyebrows and good looks. He's beautiful.
Quick reflexes--race car drivers are something else. So sweet that you put those pictures up, too. He'd be pleased, I am sure.
You must have had some wonderful times. I know he must have been a beautiful baby.
I know you wouldn't have missed having him for the world.
Blessings, and thank you so much for sharing. That is so generous. If I were there, I'd ask you to bring out all the pictures and tell me all the stories. And we would cry and laugh and celebrate his life. And your love for him.
Love, Temple
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It's easy to be graceful until someone steals your cornbread. --Gray Charles
((((Hotrod)))) ...Mahalo for the pictures and for the stories about Stephen and yourself. I will never ever be able to see another yellow Camaro without thinking about your two and letting you know. Might you tells us what the "little Victories" relates to? I'd just love to hear it. Prayers always ((((Hugs))))
I am so very sorry for your loss. I remember well you describing how devastating this time was for you and how hard it is from year to year.
I know when I talk to other people about mother loss (which I have experienced) I say there will never be a time when we don't yearn for a mother.
I am sure there will never be a time when you don't yearn for your son. I know you went to hell and back trying to get him sober and no body on any level could have done more.
Every day in so many ways I am astonished by the power addiciton has on some people. Many many people absolutely destroy everything around them their community, their homes, their childrens lives, their ability to make a living, everything is decimated by addiction. I think it takes such courage to really see and face that.
You survived an unspeakable situation and lived to talk about it. This terrible tragedy did not break you. You survived to lead others through such despair, anger and devastation. In fact you did more than survive you thrived. Your life is a celebration of Stephen not a lament of his terrible destruction by addiction. I know when I hear you talk about it you focus on what good he had, the fun you had with him, the things you loved and celebrated like the race car and the years of his sobriety. There is no way not to know the terrible, devastating decline he went through but you don't dwell there. I am someone who tends to dwell in the dark and you have certainly shown me the light on so many levels. I know I would be back there digging in the dirt to find something to complain about otherwise. And I can certainly complain, my life can be a litany of complaints but you showed me how to focus on the good rather than the bad.
I don't think there is ever a gift to tragedy. My own background in having had a family that was abusive, violent and really malicious used to swallow me up. I never did imagine that I would get to a place where I would find strength in that. I know these days I am independent on so many levels I never was before. I have to be able to take care of me and you dear Betty, really did push me to learn that. When I got here I was still convinced that one day I would find the right person to take care of me and you pointed out so gracefully that I absolutely did not want to take care of myself. The consequences of that were obvious.
I know your grace, dignity, beauty (your outfits are so bright, fun, full of joy and celebration), your dedication to the progam is such a help to so many people when so many of us are down there really feeling like we can't go another hour, another moment in this torment. None of us really want to come to al anon and I know so many of us wish we did not have to face these issues. I am so lucky to have known you through hard times and good times. I am so grateful for that experience.
Betty-They say the hardest loss in life is that of a child. I'm so sorry. I'm not sure how I would ever get through your situation. You are an inspiration, Lyne
Thinking of you. Glad you found al anon and MIP and that we have you.