Good Morning

I have been lurKing around the site for the last half hours reading journals and random posts. Today I am grateful that my self worth is measured by what I can do for others.Can you feel too much empathy This is humility and humbling Chris without the search for recovery what are you?

More step work during the night and this should probably be a journal entry I just can't go there right now. I feel less alone when I am with all of you

So I would like to start my introspective morning by sharing a gratitude list with all of you.
Today I am Grateful for:
1. My relationship with God
2. The oppurtunity to mod the EDS board (so I know all of you )
3. My mind and heart opening and being ready for recovery
4. My beautiful family
5. Movies that make me laugh and cry
6. Yoga
7. Bubble baths
8. OA meetings and sponsors
9. Fingernail polish
10. Flushy toliets
11. An abstinent food plan
12. Valentines Cards
13. All the colors of the rainbow
14. I can see, hear, smell, taste, and touch
15. I know what love is
16. The internet
17. Telephones
18. Ellis's sense of humor
19. Really good books and the people who write them
20. My education
21. My job
22. Comic Books and Stan Lee
23. My car runs for today
24. People who smile
25. Firemen, policemen, and solidiers
26. Freedom
27. Flowers
28. Art and music
29. That I have my health ( )
30. Bill W.
31. Shoes
32. Medical science
33. Imagination
34. Emotions
35. Hope

Is that enough, my brain is running out of steam. I am sure ya'll have some more to add to the list I know most of us enjoy these same blessings, how wonderful is that

Have a beautiful, blessed day!
Miss Chris

Good morning! Chris, I can't believe you beat me again!

Chris -- Congrats on those size 14's! Wow! You must feel like such a hottie. Did you have to show them off to your husband? I always have to do that when I go down a size. The man really appreciates it.

Thanks for the hug! I don't feel as vulnerable this morning, but I have to ask God to help me make a really tough decision so I don't end up in that situation again and again. It seems like either way I go with this issue, I'm going to end up disappointing some people.

Ellis -- Okay, your card only has one more stamp than necessary. Not enough for a collection after all! Have a wonderful day way up north.

Angi -- I read your step 1 share. Thanks! I could relate to a lot of what you wrote. By the way, would you mind to PM me sometime with your impressions of ThinWithin? I have the "trial" week; it is very similar to the WeighDown version I did several years ago. I had a lot of success, but some of the teachings went against my spiritual beliefs and I had to let it go. (I wasn't able to take what I needed and leave the rest at that time.) Anyway, if you get a chance, I'd like to hear from you about it.

Jennelle and Kat -- I hope you ladies are doing well.

Okay, crossing my fingers that this post doesn't go up in smoke...

Love you ladies,
Christy

Yikes...almost forgot!

I'm thankful for...
1. my beautiful daughters
2. my husband who loves me even when I'm flakey
3. God
4. financial security
5. warm sunshine
6. clean laundry
7. my third graders who need me
8. my job
9. my sisters I am growing closer to
10. my church family
11. my 3FC buddies
12. my sponsor
13. my health
14. cappuccino
15. egg beaters (the food...not the appliance)
16. my home
17. time to spend with my family
18. I am able to help others
19. pretty journals with good pens
20. All of my needs and most of my wants are fulfilled

Chris, enjoy your new jeans! That is SO exciting!!
You know, I thought "step work" was something like a step class. No, eh?

Christy, sending you hugs... Don't let anyone else affect how you feel about yourself. I know that's easy to say, but it's possible. If someone has "hurt you", it's THEIR problem, not yours. You don't have to accept what they're saying. Put up your shield, you beautiful, strong, intelligent woman!

Okay, I'm thankful for:

- My best friend. My husband.
- My two wonderful children.
- My psychiatrist. heh heh.
- Medication.
- My sister. She drives me nuts at times, but she's the love of my life.
- My computer.
- My ability to read and write.
- Books!
- God
- My darling old Dad, and my Mom, even though she puts me right over the edge.
- My big old house in this cozy city.
- My wonderful friends here. You give me so much.
- My coffee table. A big trunk on wheels that holds my books, my coffee, and my feet.
- My attic bedroom. Serenity.
- My hair. It's all I have left of the "old me". chortle.
- My first love. He's gone, but I'll always love him.
- Coffee.
- ME!! I LOVE ME!!

There's about a million others. Can I add to this later, because this is really good for me.

Good morning lovelies! Chris, size 14? I missed that! Wowie. I will feel like a ROCK STAR when I get back down to 14. That size is currently in a back closet, quickly going out of style. If too much empathy is a bad thing, then it's the best bad thing you can do . . .(not exactly a quotable, but I think it communicated!)

Christy - I don't have much to say about ThinWithin - we've never really given it a chance. (DH and I subscribe). We can't find the time to do the study/lessons and wiht my sugar addiction, I have a hard time just taking a little and stopping. The doctrine is a lot less condemning than Weigh Down - more Grace-based.

Sorry about your predicament with your tough decision. Hate that! Hugs!

Ellis, if step work is like a step class I'm running in the other direction! I never felt so free as the day I sold that step in a Garage sale! (I never have been much of an exerciser but I went through a 'no pain no gain' stage with step class. I have arthritis in my knees and really killed them.)

I am thankful for medication as well!

The baby stirs. . .pretty happy day because he let me sleep in! I'll add my grateful list later but you know he is at the top of it!

I promise to write more after work but wanted to say hi and share today's meditation:

February 11 "Inner Harvest"
Hazelden Meditation Series

Positive or negative--the choice is ours.

Every day we make a choice: we focus on the positive or on the
negative. Today, for instance, we can fix our attention on the cold
weather, or we can be thankful for the diversity of the seasons. We
can wake up grumbling about having to go to work, or we can wake in
gratitude that we are able to earn a living.

Some things will always concern us--paying the bills, raising the
children, fixing the roof, staying healthy, getting along with those
we love, planning for the future. But if this is all we think about,
we are missing the sense of deep appreciation that makes us feel full
and satisfied with life's gifts.

Let's take a moment today to begin to make a list of the positive,
starting with the fact that we're alive and abstinent.

*

May I remember today that life is a gift.

I'm here. Hangin' in I'll write more later.

Hi there!

The bginner online meeting is starting soon. I'm KatVW, if you're there when I'm there send me a PM.

http://www.starchat.net/chat.php?chan=12step4coes

I'm doing OK. DH is sick, so I'm playing a bit of mommy.

My gratitude list:

*HP
*DH
*my family and friends
*my cuddly cats
*The OA program and the 12 steps
*this wonderful group
*my f2f meetings
*my online meetings
*the internet
*sunny days
*weather in the 70s
*cool breezes
*a clean apartment
*a working car
*my job
*my students
*California - it's so beautiful here
*my sponsor
*Peter Gabriel (listening to him right now )

Have a great night!

Had my grateful list in a wordfile to keep from crashing here, and guess what? The word file is blank. Hmm. So, I'll compose here. If it crashes, I'm going to bed and starting over tomorrow!

I'm thankful for:

my loving, accepting Dh
our precious child
our sweet little dog (half daschund, half cocker - his name is Fabio!)
medical insurance
family
God's Grace
Music
Naptime
my job
our new coffee maker (bought it yesterday - keep burning them out)
Christmas
Baby Einstein videos
the internet
old friends
new friends (one's silver, the other's gold or some such analogy. . .)
free samples (diapers, formula, perfume - I love it if its free)
a balanced checkbook
a clean sink
(even better, a clean sink I had nothing to do with)
surprise packages in the mail
my birthday (my favorite holiday!)
giggles
the diaper shower Dh's work had for us in October - we haven't bought a diaper yet!
Truth
Saturday
central heating
adoption
fences
Mercy
bookstores
scrapbooking
finding forgotten money
acceptance
febreze
spell-check


how's that for stream of consciousness

I overslept today gals and I feel like I am running to keep up with the whole day Got out of bed in time to go to meeting

Today I shared about my fear of the physical recovery, like there are some things I appreciate so much like smaller pants and being able to see my toes and other nether regions, but it scares the crap out of me alot. I feel kinda like the rock star that moans he has too much money. I feel too blessed, this I will give over to God.

Angi- I hear you on the coffee pot thing, I finally had to break down and buy a good one (spending more than $10 on a coffee maker, outrageous ) I spent a little more and you totally get what you pay for.

Oh we need to send prayers out for Gina (Monkeybabies) as her 2 month old is in the hospital.

Kat- Peter Gabriel rocks I own at least 3-4 albulms and when Bastian was a baby he used to fall asleep to the albulm "So" vs. Jimi Hendrix which use to make him kick in me and out of me (Hey Joe ). Hope DH gets better

Ellis- I love you too! Loving yourself is awesome!!!!! Step class, yes knee and footwork Ellis (prayers and meetings)!

Christy- I haven't even seen DH long enough to show him my jeans. Don't forget you can't please all the people all the time. The best we can do is live God's plan for us and not worry about what others think

I got to journal, my day feels off kilter.
Miss Chris

Just went to an online OA meeting! I actually feel liberated by it and I didn't really share that much.