Jul 6, 2015

My 29th Sobriety Birthday Surprise

I just had the most awesome thing happen today and I have to share it! As most of you know from my previous post, I'm celebrating 29 years of sobriety today. I don't tell you this because I'm such a great person, because I'm not. I tell you this because I understand how awesome God is and how wonderful His grace is. He's the one that has kept me sober one day at a time.

The greatest treasure that I have in my life is my family and friends. If I call you my friend it means a lot to me because I only have a few, yet my friends are as close as family to me. On Valentine's Day this year I married my best friend Andre and well, there just aren't enough words in the world to tell you how much I love him.

Today Andre went to work and I went to my dad's. He had called and invited me out for early lunch for my sobriety birthday. Now, you have to understand something, my father never goes shopping. He goes in the store on a mission gets what he needs and leaves as fast as he can. Yet today, he and my stepmom (my other mother) Linda, had me go all over Owasso shopping for this and that after lunch. I thought it was a little strange but I went along with it because I enjoy spending time with them. When I took them home my dad announced that he was going to follow me to my house to work on a car he had there. I tried to talk him out of it because it was too hot and I didn't want him to get sick but he insisted. On the way home I spoke to Andre who asked me to stop at the store to pick up something for him before I got home that he needed when he got home from work. He insisted that I stop before I got home. I thought that was weird but agreed. When I turned off to go to the store my dad sped on by me. Again, I thought that was a little odd but I hurried and got what I needed and headed home.

Long story short, as I rounded the corner of my house I saw all of my family and friend's cars there. I knew  something was up. When I entered the house they all yelled surprise! Andre had orchestrated a surprise party for my sobriety birthday. We had a day of joy and celebration. It was better than I could ever have imagined. There stood all the ones I love. My awesome husband, my son and daughter, my granddaughters, my dad and stepmom, our friends Chris and Kristi and their son Josh and my friend Lindsey. The only thing that would have made it better would be if my mom, my friend Elaine and my sponsor Gail had been there, but I know they were there in spirit.

Last year, I was busy working and the chaos of life crept in and I didn't get a chip or celebrate my sobriety birthday. I said a prayer and thanked God and kept going. It bugged me inside that I hadn't taken the time to celebrate it but I just kept moving. This year I made a secret promise to myself and God that I would buy my medallion and celebrate my sobriety some way before the end of July. He obviously already had it figured out. Not only did my family and friends throw me a party, but they gave me my 29 year chip!!

God never ceases to amaze me with the plans He has for my life. Not only has He continued to bless me with the gift of sobriety one day at a time, but He's given me a beautiful life. I have a husband who loves and supports me and I have family and friends...all whom I love deeply. We are not perfect but we manage to weather the ups and downs of life together.

Thank you to everyone for giving me such a beautiful day today! Most especially, thank you to my sweet Andre for taking time out to stop for a day and give me an amazing party...today I will let you win the fight over who loves who more! ;-)

Above all...thank you God for my sobriety. Without it, I would not have the awesome life I have today.