The material presented
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It's been a whirlwind week!! Hubby came home from Alaska for his daughter's wedding last Sat. We spent the week getting suits for him and our son, getting fitted, buying winter clothes for hubby to take back etc. We had to buy new clothes because sober hubby is getting chubby..lol He has replaced vodka with ice cream :) Gotta love it!!!
We then had to drive to IN for the wedding. We left last Thurs., got about 50 miles from home and our car died on the HWY. It was the alternator ugh!! We had the car towed (which we have only had for 22 days). We waited at the dealership in some podunk town in IL for 5 hrs for them to tell us they couldn't get an alternator until the next day. We had to be in IN and it was getting late so we just rented a car and came back home and got hubby's car and left early the next morning.
When hubby was active this would have been a real good reason to get totally blitzed and mess things up even more. Instead, he joked about driving 50 miles to have lunch in IL. No one got upset, he said "the world is round, we'll get there, we're together, it's cool". Even though the situation stunk, we enjoyed eachother. My 16 yr. old wasn't too happy though..lol I hadn't seen hubby in over a month so I was just glad to be together.
We made it to IN on Fri evening just in time for the rehaearsal dinner :) The wedding was held outside at my hub's X's house on Sat.. She has a beautiful back yard with a pond where the wedding was held. I was surprised to find out I was included in the wedding. I followed the groom/bride Mom's and was seated with them. I've been the bride's "otha motha" (what stepdaughter calls me) for 20 yrs so I guess I shouldn't have been too surprised. Everyone commented on how healthy my A looked. I was really proud of my boys and how handsome they looked in their suits. My son was an Usher.
Hubby walked his daughter down the aisle and I could tell he was holding back tears as she walked toward him down the hill. What I was most grateful for was that he was sober and could walk STRAIGHT down the aisle with his daughter.
Everyone was partying and drinking at the reception afterward. Several times people came around offering champaigne on trays. I admit it!! I couldn't help myself, I watched A across the room to see if he would decline. He did :) It was our first really big party type function. I think I knew he wouldn't drink but there is still that little devil on my shoulder, I'm so used to 20 yrs of living with the disease. After a while I told myself to have a good time and quit thinking about it. Hubby was doing fine. He even made a toast w/his daughter, her with champaigne and him with a coke.
His daughter told him how much it meant to her that he was sober, and that even though it was her wedding day, him giving her away and sober meant more to her then the day itself.
We drove home Sunday, got in late, and I had to put him on a plane back to Alaska early this morning. For the first time in many years I teared up when he left. I sat in front of the terminal in the car and watched him walk away until I couldn't see him anymore. It all is still so unfamiliar to me. To actually miss him..lol I used to celebrate when he was gone. Soooo, he's doing great. It's his birthday today and in 2 days he will have conquered 8 months sober. Life is good and we're holding on to my miracle :) Here's a few pics .. Hubby walking daughter down the aisle.
Giving the bride away..
I think her dress was the most beautiful wedding gown I've ever seen, of course she is a beauty too so that made it even more spectacular..
Hehehe, don't leave a guitar laying around with my family!!
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If we think that miracles are normal, we will expect them. And expecting a miracle is the surest way to get one.
Okay as I sit here drying my eyes! Lord woman don't ya know to send me tissues when you do a post like that? A beautiful family. Where's the picture of the bride and you?
My sober hubby too has replaced vodka with ice cream! But I'd rather have a chubby hubby sober, than a skinny drunk hubby any day of the week.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO HUBBY! CONGRATS ON 8 MONTHS!
I've been tearing up when hubby goes out hunting. I never thought I would see him do that again. Glad you all had a great time. That little devil that keeps us wondering if they will drink helps keep us humble. Just a gentle reminder of what was, and what can be. Miracles can happen!
Love and blessings to you and your family.
Live strong, Karilynn, Hubby & Pipers Kitty
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It's your life. Take no prisoners. You will have it your way.