JoEllen, this is such a beautiful story of how to find joy again in something that has become painful. I think that is one of the gifts recovery gives us - the ability not to get stuck in pain and to keep an open heart.
Before recovery, I was fixated in loss, and now when I think about things and people that are gone, the memories cause more joy and less pain. Of course, time helps lessen the pain a bit, but things have definitely shifted.
It sounds like you found a really special man.
Allison
: This was lovely to read, mosaic. I
: love the idea of focusing on
: wonderful new traditions rather
: than on what's no longer there.
: Your special treats and
: experiences sound wonderful.
: The year my sister died, I didn't
: want to put up a tree anymore,
: especially since all the ornaments
: were from our childhood. All the
: rest of my family was no longer
: alive, and it all just made me too
: sad. The man who is now my husband
: came over with a tree and lights,
: which we put up in the living
: room. We watched A Christmas
: Story, which I'd never seen but
: was one of his traditions. It made
: me laugh. Now each year we get a
: couple more special ornaments just
: for the two of us. Sure makes the
: tree easy to decorate!
: This year we're having Christmas Eve
: appetizers and desserts here at
: our house (I live somewhere
: different now). We live here
: because it's close to his parents
: and brothers and sisters, who all
: live within 5 miles. It's a close,
: loving family, such a joy to be
: with.
: I'm making crispy sweet potato nachos
: with black beans, avocado and 2
: kinds of cheese, dairy and
: nondairy. I'm also making salad,
: veggies and lemon dill hummus, and
: deviled eggs. That covers all the
: gluten free, sugar free and
: vegetarian people!
: So the new Christmas traditions are
: wonderful too. I've learned that
: what I call God will send me love
: from all kinds of people and
: situations if I keep my hands and
: heart open. And I thank God and
: Kathleen for this program that
: helps me do that.
: JoEllen
: Today I completed a table decoration
