MR says: Everyone who knows of someone struggling with addiction should read this. What a heartbreaking and miraculous story of recovery through the light and hope our Savior brings into our lives. I love this quote from the story:
"Are we perfect? Heck no. Do we still have moments where our old habits try and resurface? All the time. But the difference today is that we know in our hearts that Christ can redeem us from all of our weaknesses and sin that hold us back and keep us sick. I have learned that the Atonement is not something that we apply at the end of our lives, in hopes that we will be redeemed. It is meant to be applied minute by minute so that at the end of our lives we know that we did the very best that we could. Even on days when it's just getting out of bed. Christ will indefinitely make up the rest for us, he already has. We just need to learn how to ask Him."
I have had some very strong feelings lately that I need to tell my story. I am at a turning point in my blog where I need to decide if it is about me, all of me, or about my awesome home decorating skills alone. I have decided that what you read here . . . is me 100% love it or leave it. This will be a story that’s broken into parts. It's very emotional for me to share and it takes a lot of time to write it the way people can understand.
I am not writing this so that anyone feels bad for me.
I am not writing this so that people can criticize my family or my choices.
I am writing my story for the people who are secretly, or not so secretly suffering, with someone else’s addiction or their own.
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I pray that my story will give hope a chance to grow in your heart. Recovery (notice I said recovery and not recovered) is a miracle. I will get religious on you, if you aren’t comfortable with that, I am sorry. The miracle of the Atonement is why my life has changed. If you know me or my husband personally, I hope that knowing our struggles will make you love us more. But if not, that’s OK too.
I believe that EVERY.SINGLE. one of us have a story to tell. It's at times a devastatingly sad story. Other times it is wonderful, full of hope and light. I hope you will share yours with someone. It's in sharing that we find healing. Here’s ours.
My Real Life Story Part 1: Love At First Sight
“This is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance and this is my joy.
“And behold, when I see many of my brethren truly penitent, and coming to the Lord their God, then is my soul filled with joy; then do I remember what the Lord has done for me, yea, even that he hath heard my prayer; yea, then do I remember his merciful arm which he extended towards me”
Alma 29:9-10
My husband Courtney is the kindest person. He is so charismatic; people are just drawn to him. He is HILARIOUS and an all-around wonderful person. When addiction takes a hold of someone's life, they change. They become withdrawn and depressed. They are angry and deceitful. Addicts are manipulative and selfish. My husband, acting on his own accord is none of those things. I just wanted to make that crystal clear….moving on.
This guide is intended to be a workbook and reference for those attendingaddiction recovery support groups sponsored by LDS Family Services. It is based on gospel principles of recovery and healing. It can also be used by people seeking to improve their lives and especially by those willing to work one-on-one with a bishop or a professional counselor.
Overcoming Addiction: A Twelve-Step Companion Guideanswers the often asked question: How do I work the Church’s twelve steps? With exercises, meditations, scriptural examples, and real-life stories of recovery, Overcoming Addiction is designed to be used hand in hand with the Church’s inspired manual. This companion guide helps the addict to more completely experience the power and promises of thetwelve steps, and to apply the Savior’s atonement to achieve lasting sobriety.
