Glad to be Sober

[Sweetwater]

Oh Man, 336C, that is so true - one drink always turns into a bunch!!
 
Divorce, I hate it, though I've been through two of them. Both ex's used the kids against me and the first one succeeded. The 2nd ex succeeded in driving the kids to me as they became teenagers and now that they are adults, they really want to know "what happened" and have found that "Dad is not what they were told" - I'm very careful and tactful as I explain what went down 19 years ago, and I do not bad mouth their mother and correct them when they do. I can say that staying sober allowed me to stay cool when things got hot and heavy. There were times when I'd just walk away and go play my guitar or jump in the truck and ride the hills around Green River - God's Country.
 
I'm less than 30 days away from my 15th anniversary with #3. She is an angel and should have been #1 way back then, but I didn't know her then. She may be my 3rd marriage, but she is #1 wife though she is #2 in my life, right behind Jesus Christ!! We would never have made it without HIM!
 
Pray without ceasing. Tears are a language that God understands.
 
Regards,
Sweetwater

[hawkenman]

Thanks Sweetwater, I'm still hanging in there, day before yesterday I bought my son a nice ladder stand just because he needed it. My wife in return got him a new bow. I will not compete with her anymore and I only get things I think he needs. I can only stay sober for me, and hopefully it will expand to a better way of life for the one's I love.

[FourBee]

An old saying goes~ "A person's life affects 25 people."
So what one does for himself actually motivates others in a positive or negative manner.

[hawkenman]

Thanks FourBee, today I lost a friend of mine today that I have known since 1972, the first thing I want is a good stiff drink to take the edge off the pain. I can not promise that I will not do it, and I will have to give this thought alot of consideration. This guy never smoked nor drank and he died from panchreactic and liver cancer. He was one of these people that no body dissliked and I wonder why he was taken at 45 years old. Maybe the good lord wanted him because he was soo good.

[FourBee]

My condolences for your loss.

[Sweetwater]

I'm sorry for your loss, but I pray that your friend is in a far better place than he was here on earth. That was between your friend and the Lord. I will hope for the best for him and take the belief that your friend's work here on earth was finished and the Lord took him home to be with HIM. After all, we were created to fellowship with the Lord. We seem to have lost sight of that along the way. Truly, this is easier to cope with when we have a clear mind and sharp senses. Your friend's life should be celebrated at this time, sharing the great memories and telling the stories of all he did and was to his friends and family. My mom just passed away in August, just short of her 84th birthday. If I could not celebrate her life and give her a going away party, I'd be in tears daily and a total mess. BUT, I did give her a going away party and I celebrate her life every day and share the great times with the kids and grandkids and great grandkids and everyone I meet, as I have become the storyteller for the family. What better tribute to the life of a friend or loved one than to perpetuate them to others who may benefit from hearing about them.
 
Can't do any of this if we don't stay sober. We just become part of the sorrow. So, ......
 
Stay strong, my Friend!! Tell the stories!!
 
God Bless,
Jeff
NRA Life

[cowboy66]

Hawkenman, I'm new to this forum and just stumbled across this post. It sounds like you have gotten your act together. I know that can be hard but with God anything is possible. I have never been an alchohalic but have known a few, and did come close a time or two myself. It seems a loving family kept me from it. When my sister died in child birth I felt that I needed a drink, but forced myself not two take it because I knew it wouldn't bring her back, and would proabley put me over the edge. Same thing when my brother died at age 35, this time I had a good wife to get me through. I have always had a rule not to take a drink when I felt like I needed it. I am sorry for the loss of your friend but stay strong and honor his memory by staying sober. Sweetwater my friend I am also sorry to hear about your mom, she had to be a special lady. Jerry

[hawkenman]

Hanging in there, I'm still with my wife and my son and I are getting along better than I would expect. I still want a stiff drink but I can't. Have not got a deer yet but the season is still early, we have a bumper crop of pallmetto berries and acorns so the deer are nomactic until they eat all their resource, and then they will come to one of my feeders later on in the month. I've been going to AA and an out patience at a local alcoholic clinic and it seems to help. THANKS  guys for your input. hawkenman

[Sweetwater]

Yee-Haw!!  That's great news! You are being disciplined, and that can be the toughest part - just doing it because you know it's the right thing to do. Them's be the Lord's blessings you be reaping with your relationship with wife and son!! More congrats!! I'm having a hot cider at the moment. Totally non alcoholic and sugar free - works for me.
 
Jeff
NRA Life