Our new blog is up and running! I can't wait for you all to come over and check it out.
Please visit us at Life Sentences!
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
Whaddya Know? God Didn't Forget Us!
Thanks to you who commented in our time of distress!
Things are better here now. And we have to give all the credit to God.
Brad got laid off at approximately 2:30 on Thursday. By Friday night he had an interview scheduled for 7:15 a.m. the next morning. How, you ask? Well, the boss that had to lay Brad off called another Parks & Rec Director in a neighboring town and asked to help a guy out. And thanks to this, Brad had an interview faster than we could say, "Where's the unemployment office?"
So even though Brad had many issues with his (former) boss, we have to give him a big hooray for helping us out. In fact, Brad is writing him a thank-you note.
So, in less than 24 hours, Brad had been offered a job. Okay people, you know the news, the economy is not good, and finding a job is hard. So God had this in mind.
When I look back on my reaction to the news of Brad losing his job, I am somewhat ashamed. Not totally but a little bit. In the bathroom floor, crying my eyeballs out and telling my (almost) 4-year-old that we couldn't live in this house anymore. I was however crying out to my Lord. All I could say was "God, what are you doing?" "God, what are you doing?"
So, in my defense, I was sort of acknowledging the fact that God was in control. On the other hand, knowing now what I know then, how much more faithful would I have appeared if I would have calmly said, "Your will be done, Lord" and gone about my business without getting all blubbery?
Well, I'm learning. Learning to trust God more and more each day. Learning to surrender my life to his will. Learning to get off the bathroom floor and say, "God, I don't know what you're doing, but I believe you know best."
On a totally different note, I promise my new blog will be up soon. You know what has been the hardest part? Naming it! We have spent days and days going over names. We will decide on one eventually. In the meantime, I will keep up with you guys here!
Love each one of you.
Things are better here now. And we have to give all the credit to God.
Brad got laid off at approximately 2:30 on Thursday. By Friday night he had an interview scheduled for 7:15 a.m. the next morning. How, you ask? Well, the boss that had to lay Brad off called another Parks & Rec Director in a neighboring town and asked to help a guy out. And thanks to this, Brad had an interview faster than we could say, "Where's the unemployment office?"
So even though Brad had many issues with his (former) boss, we have to give him a big hooray for helping us out. In fact, Brad is writing him a thank-you note.
So, in less than 24 hours, Brad had been offered a job. Okay people, you know the news, the economy is not good, and finding a job is hard. So God had this in mind.
When I look back on my reaction to the news of Brad losing his job, I am somewhat ashamed. Not totally but a little bit. In the bathroom floor, crying my eyeballs out and telling my (almost) 4-year-old that we couldn't live in this house anymore. I was however crying out to my Lord. All I could say was "God, what are you doing?" "God, what are you doing?"
So, in my defense, I was sort of acknowledging the fact that God was in control. On the other hand, knowing now what I know then, how much more faithful would I have appeared if I would have calmly said, "Your will be done, Lord" and gone about my business without getting all blubbery?
Well, I'm learning. Learning to trust God more and more each day. Learning to surrender my life to his will. Learning to get off the bathroom floor and say, "God, I don't know what you're doing, but I believe you know best."
On a totally different note, I promise my new blog will be up soon. You know what has been the hardest part? Naming it! We have spent days and days going over names. We will decide on one eventually. In the meantime, I will keep up with you guys here!
Love each one of you.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
It Happened To Us
Brad lost his job today. I don't know quite what to say right now.
Please pray for us.
Please pray for us.
Monday, January 19, 2009
One Year!
Today is a special day for us! Today is Brad's one-year "clean" anniversary! No porn for a whole entire 365 days! I never knew for sure if this day would come, but here it is.
We are planning on going out for supper tonight to a tablecloth restaurant (I just learned that term, aren't you proud?) and yes we are taking the kids. After the horrendous stomach virus the two kids have had, I just didn't feel right asking anyone to babysit. So, as Brad said, his recovery was/is a family thing, so why can't the whole family celebrate? Now the kids won't know why we are going to a non-playplace restaurant, but Brad and I will. Oh, we definitely will.
I would like to say that this year has not been easy for my husband. He is still on a rollercoaster of emotions, but the ups are not as high, and the downs are definitely not as low. He still admits to struggling with the images in his head and the thoughts that bombard him each and every day. Hopefully one day even this will go away, but for now he is learning to redirect his thoughts and give his thought life to the Lord.
I am thankful for all the people who have helped Brad. First and foremost, God, who has never left us nor forsaken us. Next, to his accountability partner who talks to him at least once if not twice a day, and also to the guys in his group. If it weren't for them, I really, really don't know if Brad would have ever made it.
The last 2 years have been the hardest of my life. And I don't fool myself to think we won't have more setbacks, more disappointments, and maybe even more d-days, but as for today, I'm happy.
Now starts the countdown to 2 years clean!
We are planning on going out for supper tonight to a tablecloth restaurant (I just learned that term, aren't you proud?) and yes we are taking the kids. After the horrendous stomach virus the two kids have had, I just didn't feel right asking anyone to babysit. So, as Brad said, his recovery was/is a family thing, so why can't the whole family celebrate? Now the kids won't know why we are going to a non-playplace restaurant, but Brad and I will. Oh, we definitely will.
I would like to say that this year has not been easy for my husband. He is still on a rollercoaster of emotions, but the ups are not as high, and the downs are definitely not as low. He still admits to struggling with the images in his head and the thoughts that bombard him each and every day. Hopefully one day even this will go away, but for now he is learning to redirect his thoughts and give his thought life to the Lord.
I am thankful for all the people who have helped Brad. First and foremost, God, who has never left us nor forsaken us. Next, to his accountability partner who talks to him at least once if not twice a day, and also to the guys in his group. If it weren't for them, I really, really don't know if Brad would have ever made it.
The last 2 years have been the hardest of my life. And I don't fool myself to think we won't have more setbacks, more disappointments, and maybe even more d-days, but as for today, I'm happy.
Now starts the countdown to 2 years clean!
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
A Few Updates
I know I've been gone a really long time, and I hope you forgive me. Thanks to Zion, a new reader, who left a comment on my blog and reminded me there are still people reading it out there. So I figured I better get going again.
Where do I start? I guess I could start by telling you how sick Sarah has been this past weekend. We almost went to the hospital for dehydration but instead they gave her the IV in the clinic. A 3 1/2 year old getting an IV is not fun; I'm sure some of you have had that experience before! Anyway, she is SLOWLY getting better. Not as fast as I would have hoped, but at least there is progress. I think.
The holidays were great. The best we've had in a long, long time. The kids liked what Santa brought them, and then we were lazy around the house the rest of the day. Perfect Christmas Day!
Now to update you on Brad. He is still not in seminary anywhere, and we really do not know what the Lord is doing. I'm just being honest. We have no clue if or when He will show us His will. But at least now we are open and willing to hear it.
About his addiction, he is still clean, praise the Lord! Other than a small slip-up with late-night cable TV at his mom's the other night, he is good. I mean, he still struggles with his thought life, but I think it is tremendously better than it was a long time ago. In fact, January 19th will be ONE YEAR CLEAN for Brad! Yeah! I'm so excited for him! One year may not seem like a long time, but if you have a porn addict husband, you know what an accomplishment this is. He went from looking at porn almost on a daily basis to not looking at it for a whole entire year. Was this easy? No. Did it happen quickly? No. In fact, it took years. Is he completely clear of all temptation? Of course, not. But we are going to celebrate his one-year anniversary because I am so proud of him!!!!
Now to my readers, I am considering starting another blog. A more family-friendly blog. I do not want to completely abandon this blog as I feel it serves a purpose to wives who may be hurting. However, I would like to blog more about my family, my job at the preschool, church stuff, etc., and I just do not feel comfortable doing that on a "recovering porn addict" blog, ya know?
So, I may be gone for a while while I try to get my blog up and running. And if you have any suggestions, please let me know. I'm still not an expert at blog-building. I will let you know when it is up and running, and I want all of you to check it out, promise? But remember to check back here some too, as I will post pornography recovery blogs here.
Maybe I should try to have my new blog up and running by January 19th, sort of a one-year, we're-moving-on sort of celebration. Love you guys!
Where do I start? I guess I could start by telling you how sick Sarah has been this past weekend. We almost went to the hospital for dehydration but instead they gave her the IV in the clinic. A 3 1/2 year old getting an IV is not fun; I'm sure some of you have had that experience before! Anyway, she is SLOWLY getting better. Not as fast as I would have hoped, but at least there is progress. I think.
The holidays were great. The best we've had in a long, long time. The kids liked what Santa brought them, and then we were lazy around the house the rest of the day. Perfect Christmas Day!
Now to update you on Brad. He is still not in seminary anywhere, and we really do not know what the Lord is doing. I'm just being honest. We have no clue if or when He will show us His will. But at least now we are open and willing to hear it.
About his addiction, he is still clean, praise the Lord! Other than a small slip-up with late-night cable TV at his mom's the other night, he is good. I mean, he still struggles with his thought life, but I think it is tremendously better than it was a long time ago. In fact, January 19th will be ONE YEAR CLEAN for Brad! Yeah! I'm so excited for him! One year may not seem like a long time, but if you have a porn addict husband, you know what an accomplishment this is. He went from looking at porn almost on a daily basis to not looking at it for a whole entire year. Was this easy? No. Did it happen quickly? No. In fact, it took years. Is he completely clear of all temptation? Of course, not. But we are going to celebrate his one-year anniversary because I am so proud of him!!!!
Now to my readers, I am considering starting another blog. A more family-friendly blog. I do not want to completely abandon this blog as I feel it serves a purpose to wives who may be hurting. However, I would like to blog more about my family, my job at the preschool, church stuff, etc., and I just do not feel comfortable doing that on a "recovering porn addict" blog, ya know?
So, I may be gone for a while while I try to get my blog up and running. And if you have any suggestions, please let me know. I'm still not an expert at blog-building. I will let you know when it is up and running, and I want all of you to check it out, promise? But remember to check back here some too, as I will post pornography recovery blogs here.
Maybe I should try to have my new blog up and running by January 19th, sort of a one-year, we're-moving-on sort of celebration. Love you guys!
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
The Best Christmas Song Ever
I've always liked this song, but since I heard Kenny and Wynonna doing it, no other version even comes close.
Sit back and listen.
Sit back and listen.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Going Home
With all the commercialization of Christmas, Thanksgiving has slowly but surely crept to the top of my favorite holiday list. It's so much more laid back, just eat, sit around, watch football, and visit with the family members you promise to keep in better touch with throughout this next year.
I am so looking forward to getting home. Home where my momma and daddy are. The home I grew up in. Yes, I have a home here with my husband and my children, but sometimes I need, I crave, to walk back in that door where everything is familiar--the sights, the sounds, the smells. My whole childhood was in that house, and there is no better joy than to return there. To see my children enjoying it is a whole new kind of joy.
Talking about home reminds me also that no earthly home is our permanent dwelling place. We have a heavenly Father who is waiting to welcome us home. To sights, sounds, and smells we have never experienced, but that we will never want to leave, and in fact will experience forever and ever. I can't wait. Really. I can't wait.
Just a note, this weekend is the weekend Brad and I are going to Atlanta to work in the processing center for Operation Christmas Child (see previous blogs). We are so excited! However, Brad has been having a little trouble in his back. He's tried the chiropractor and has another appointment there today. I sure hope he feels better by Friday morning when we leave.
I hope and pray you take a few moments to pull your kids close and talk about everything you are thankful for. And by the way, I am thankful for you.
I am so looking forward to getting home. Home where my momma and daddy are. The home I grew up in. Yes, I have a home here with my husband and my children, but sometimes I need, I crave, to walk back in that door where everything is familiar--the sights, the sounds, the smells. My whole childhood was in that house, and there is no better joy than to return there. To see my children enjoying it is a whole new kind of joy.
Talking about home reminds me also that no earthly home is our permanent dwelling place. We have a heavenly Father who is waiting to welcome us home. To sights, sounds, and smells we have never experienced, but that we will never want to leave, and in fact will experience forever and ever. I can't wait. Really. I can't wait.
Just a note, this weekend is the weekend Brad and I are going to Atlanta to work in the processing center for Operation Christmas Child (see previous blogs). We are so excited! However, Brad has been having a little trouble in his back. He's tried the chiropractor and has another appointment there today. I sure hope he feels better by Friday morning when we leave.
I hope and pray you take a few moments to pull your kids close and talk about everything you are thankful for. And by the way, I am thankful for you.
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