Serenity Sacs

I came. I came to. I came to believe.

2010-06-11T11:24:00.000-07:00

I came. I came to. I came to believe.
This pretty much sums it up for me. It was during my night in jail that I said my first honest prayer. I had no idea how my life had gotten in such horrible shape and I had nowhere to look but up. That was July 14, 2006. By the Grace of God I haven’t found it necessary to drink or drug since that day. I entered a 28 day treatment facility three days later and it was there that I learned about my disease and I learned of the Power of God.

On that plane ride to Florida, a man changed seats and came and set by me. His name was Henry from Alabama. Henry was a big, burly ole country guy. When he asked, “so what brings you to Florida little lady, business or pleasure”, and I responded with “drug treatment”, he nearly fell out of his seat. We talked a bit and when the drink cart neared our seats Henry asked what I would like to drink. I told him I was toying with a Jack and Diet. He said in his hearty country voice, “Not on my watch you don’t!” I’m like, “Henry, dude, I’ve known you like ten minutes!” He said he’d throw the biggest fit I’d ever seen on a plane if I ordered a drink. So when the cart got to us, I smiled and ordered a diet coke. It was at that moment that I realized God had placed Henry next to me. God doing for me what I could not do for myself.

When I completed my treatment program and was flying back home, I sat in that airport terminal knowing no one thinking ‘I could have a drink on the plane. No one would know.’ I boarded the plane and sat next to a professional looking woman. She asked, “so what brought you to Florida, business or pleasure?” I responded, “drug treatment.” She immediately took my hand and said, “I’m an inspirational speaker. Can I pray with you?” I remember this vividly. I remember me looking up and saying, “ok, ok!” God doing for me what I could not do for myself.

When I arrived home and jumped head first into AA, my eyes began to open even wider. I saw God working in other people’s lives and began to believe He would also be what saved me. It was very early in my sobriety that the obsession was removed. I know that it was not me who flipped that “off switch.”

I have worked diligently in my sobriety to improve my conscious contact. I begin each morning on my front porch in the quiet darkness with my coffee, a cigarette, and conversation with God. I thank him throughout each day for the little blessings that I’m finally able to see. I thank him again when I go to bed for another sober day and for the gifts He’s given me.

My biggest worry, as with most moms, is our 22 year old son, Anthony. He’s had his own journey with socially using and drinking. I’ve spent too many nights to count unable to sleep until I hear him pull in the driveway. A few months ago I heard a woman in a meeting saying how she no longer asks God to be with her children. Instead she thanks Him for being with them wherever they are. Thank goodness my ears were open that night. Since that night I’ve been thanking God for riding home with Anthony in the wee hours of the morning. He’s a gamer and he and his friends play all night. This simple little change in my prayer has changed my perspective and I haven’t laid awake for about two months now. It’s amazing. This simple little suggestion has given me more peace than anything else in the program. I use this prayer of thankfulness on most every situation and day by day my fear is diminishing. I’ve never been more grateful and aware of His presence in my life.

I was taught in treatment to turn things over to God by writing them down and putting them in my God Box. Somewhere along the road to happy destiny I had this idea to create God Bags (marketed as Serenity Sacs). There’s something about writing down my worries and putting them in God’s hands that brings me peace and increases my faith. I made them for my sponsees as Christmas gifts and had no intention of selling them. Here it is two years later and I’ve sold them online all over the United States and as far as the United Kingdom. Guess God had other plans for me. You can check out my sobriety-inspired creations at www.serenitysac.etsy.com.

Thank you God for bringing me to AA. Thank you AA for bringing me to God.

Closeout Sale!

2010-06-05T14:31:00.001-07:00

It's out with the old and in with the new. I'm cleaning out my sewing stash and having a Closeout Sale on my older versions so that I can focus all my attention on my newer creations.

They're still pretty, they're still effective tools for someone in recovery, they're still great gifts or gift bags, and they're now really affordable!

Come see me at the Serenity Shack!

$2.00 each for certain selections....

http://www.etsy.com/shop/serenitysac

Filling that old familiar Void

2010-04-07T04:11:00.001-07:00

I awoke this morning to a great sense of loss, loneliness and just general doom. This is a very famliar feeling. It's exactly the feelings I used to drink and drug over. On days like this when my heart felt empty, I'd call the dope boy first thing in the morning and hit the bar at lunch time.

When my mind takes me to this place, I have to say to myself "what would I tell my sponsees to do?"

So this morning I have prayed and prayed and prayed. I've written a gratitude list and I've written about it. The feeling is still here (7:13 am) but at least I know today that it will pass and that I don't have to drink or drug over it.

Still trying to figure out what has caused these feelings. Let's see: My mom didn't return my phone call as quickly as I would've liked, my husband isn't giving me the attention I need, I am missing my parents and siblings in Texas (they're all helping out with my brother in law's new business and I want to be part of it). Poor poor Rhonda.

My gratitude list: I am sober; My family is safe, healthy and reasonably happy; I have a job which I love and a boss and co-workers who love and support me; I have a relationship with my older sister (my best friend) which fills my heart on a daily basis; I have a boat load of sponsees who appreciate me and who I love very much; I have true friends today that are there for me at all times. I have a God in my life who I'm sure is up there shaking his head once again saying "Geez Woman, what else do you want!"

It sounds really stupid when you write it down. The evidence is overwhelming. I have so many blessings in my life and I need to focus on those.

I truly have the disease of more but I'm grateful that helping others MORE and talking to God MORE is also part of what keeps me sane and sober.

Have a great day.

Rhonda

Blog and get registered for a great giveaway!

2010-01-27T09:41:00.001-08:00

Go to my Favorite Blog list (left nav bar) and click on Sisters Crafty Creation and enter into the drawing.

Good luck guys!

Rhonda

OK, OK God. I see you!

2010-01-27T04:56:00.000-08:00

I don't know if it's because I'm a mom or because I'm a worry wart or because I'm a control freak but my biggest struggle over the past few months has been letting our 22 year old son run his own life and live with the consequences.

Every time I stop trusting God and think that "my way will make things better" I end up creating so much chaos in my household. My son gets ticked and I get hurt by his anger. The line "lather, rinse, repeat" comes to mind. Geez will I ever get it!?

Lately I've been doing a better job of giving him to God and staying the heck out of the way. Just this week Anthony started a new job, got good grades on his college papers, and met all of his responsibilites. And guess what, I did nothing to make this happen except to pray.

I try hard to remember that God has a journey already planned out for Anthony just as he had one for me. Maybe by writing it on paper and reminding myself of all the miracles I've already witnessed, I'll be able to continue on this path and fully trust. I pray so.

Powerlessness

2009-12-10T10:26:00.000-08:00

As many of you know, I'm an active member of a 12-Step Program and I sponsor many women. This past week has been a very tough one, one of gratitude for sure, but one of sadness too.

I encourage my "girls" to do as I do and therefore get what I've got (which is almost always a sense of peace and serenity). That seems so simple to me. That's what I did when I first arrived all broken and hopeless. Shoot, you get desperate enough and you'll do most anything.

- One new girl lasted about 2 weeks and is back out shooting heroin.
- Another who had almost 3 months (mom with 2 beautiful children) is back to lying and drinking her vodka.
- Another decided to find her relief in canned air. Yes, I said canned air! Has wrecked twice in two days from blacking out while huffing in her car.
- Another has pretty much stopped working her program and it's rumored that she's back to drinking again too.

You know, when I hear of these ladies going back to the life and the ugly hole we crawled out of, it just makes me sick.

- It makes me mad
- Makes me resent the disease of addiction
- Makes me angry at them for not following this simple program
- Makes me sorry for their families who once again have to experience this deep down miserable pain of watching the one they love kill themselves
- Makes me respect this disease that I battle each and every day...I know it's waiting for it's opportunity to crawl back into my head should I put myself in a vulnerable position
- Makes me sob because it's just so damn sad to watch

But most of all, it makes me grateful and makes me realize that I'm powerless over alcohol, drugs, and the choices people make.

By the Grace of God, I'm sober today, my family is relatively peaceful today, I'm a good employee, a good friend, a good Mom, a good wife, a good daughter and sister. I'm kinda liking myself today and I know that if I remain on task....Just For Today....God will see me through and allow me to help another of his children another day.

Thanks God.

The Pain of Growth

2009-11-29T03:49:00.000-08:00

I've had the most amazing Thanksgiving holiday. I've spent quality time with my husband and son, I've participated in a lot of AA meetings, I've worked hard on completing orders for Serenity Sacs. I am grateful for God's hand in my life.

The past couple of days, however, have presented me with a couple difficult and narrowminded people. One lady who saw my link on a friends facebook page wrote and said that the idea of writing things down and putting them in a bag was a "dumb" idea. After reading the bantering of she and my friend awhile, I wrote and told the story of how they came to be and the effectiveness of them. Found out later that this lady is an Aethiest and she finds the whole God thing pointless and stupid.

Yesterday I gave a lead (told my story) at a meeting. It went well and I received positive feedback from many in the room. However, one gentleman came to me and said "were you here to give a lead or to sell God Bags?" I just about hit the floor. I talked about recovery for 50 minutes and shared the story of my Serenity Sacs for less than two minutes. I find it very sad that what he took from that meeting was not a message of hope, but rather anger because I included the story of my little ministry in my story. My ego took a blow and I left there angry myself instead of uplifted like in the past.

I get very angry at myself for letting people get into my head and cause me anxiety. I've gone over those two situations in my head over and over so many darn times, but I had a revelation this morning. I'm going to pray for those two individuals whose narrowmindedness caused me upset and embarrassment. I pray that P be able to accept me for who I am and see the quality program I practice daily. I pray that M finds God in her life because there is so much peace to be had if you just open your heart and let him in.

As for me, I've grown because of these two individuals. I still believe that this little ministry was God driven. I never intended to sell these, they were just gifts for my sponsees last Christmas. I feel in my heart that God is who brought the sales to me so that I could create a spiritual tool to help others develop their relationship with Him. And dag gone it, I enjoy making them! I've had the opportunity to really look at my AA program and be grateful that God led me to AA. I've realized that I'm a garden variety drunk/drug addict who still has much work to do. I've realized that my dependence on others to make me feel worthy and ok is still a big problem. My dependence must be on a Higher Power.

So thank you God for putting M & P in my holiday weekend and for opening my eyes. Even though it was painful, growth occurred and for that I'm grateful.

Feeling SO Blessed

2009-11-27T02:45:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was my 4th sober Thanksgiving. It's only by the Grace of God that I can say this. He removed the obsession very early on for me and I only need to try to align my will with His and life just seems to move along peacefully.

We've had some very rocky times in our family. My husband has watched me go to the dark depths of my addiction and alcoholism, both of us watched our son take his own dark journey. Yesterday was the first time in about five years that the three of us woke up clean and sober, and rode to my family's Thanksgiving celebration. While sitting the back seat of the car, I began to cry......this time it was tears of gratitude.

Some may think it not a big deal to just be riding to Thanksgiving dinner with my family. But for us, this was a huge blessing. All I've ever wanted was to be a "normal" family. The only thing I've ever known about normal is that it is a setting on a washing machine!

I have no doubt that if I continue to do what I've been taught in the program, our family will become even closer and peace will continue.

Today, I think I'll just sit back and enjoy this new found peace and remember that I owe it all to GOD.

Rhonda

www.serenitysac.etsy.com

Filled with Gratitude!

2009-11-18T07:01:00.000-08:00

God has been so very good to me and my family lately. Or am I just finally noticing it?

As I look back over my life, I've realized that God has been the one carrying me and looking over me through all my struggles. The Footprints Prayer is very true for me.

My Etsy shop has been fairly busy these days in preparation for Christmas and my outside sales are skyrocketing. Sometimes I find it overwhelming because I work full time, I go home and catch a quick nap, prepare dinner, feed my family, do some laundry, then off to an AA meeting. My life is sometimes hectic as can be. This morning I decided I'd just be grateful:

1. For the opportunity to spread God's love by selling my Serenity Sacs
2. For having a fulfilling job which I'm good at
3. For having an understanding and supportive boss who is more like my brother than my boss
4. For the co-workers who support and love me even when I'm not so lovable
5. For my husband who works so hard to take care of our family but still finds the time and energy to show us how much we mean to him
6. For our son, Anthony, who has so much potential and who is striving to reach his goals these days
7. For my AA friends who loved me until I could love myself
8. For my mom, dad and siblings who never gave up on me
9. For the new friends I've met on Etsy. You women have become my friends and I'm blessed to have you in my life (especially the Christian Crafters Team!)
10. For a God of my understanding who has given me much more than I feel I deserve at times.
11. For having an extremely busy life that gives me the opportunity to touch others (both in and out of AA).
12. MOSTLY for having the wherewithall to be able to recognize my blessings and to be grateful for them. Yes my life is hectic, but my heart is full.

Yes, my friends, today I am blessed and I know it. I learned in AA that gratitude is an action word. You can feel and express thankfulness, but you need to show gratitude by helping others, offering a smile to a stranger, or just giving someone a hug when you see that they're not having the best of days. Today I intend to show my gratitude!

Hugs,
Rhonda

Perspective

2009-11-09T04:02:00.000-08:00

The words "God either is or he isn't" have never meant more to me.

My son, Anthony, has been down with the flu since last Tuesday. The poor thing really wants to get back to classes and his darn fever was back again this morning. I've been blessed to just be his "mom" this past week and give him the TLC that he needed and deserves. I try so hard to trust that God will take care of him and return him to good health, but there have been days (and tough nights) that I was filled with worry.

As I was on the porch talking to God this morning, my neighbor stopped by during her walk and asked me to pray for her grandson Ryan, 9 months old, who is having a blockage removed from his heart this morning. I instantly had a perspective change. Rather than worrying about Anthony, my heart and my prayers turned to little Ryan and to his family. The doctors were doing tests on Ryan last week so that they could surgically remove a cyst on his eye. When they couldn't find a good pulse from his foot to his hip, they did more testing and found that he had a blockage to his little heart. You talk about a God thing! This heart condition wouldn't have been diagnosed had he not had that little cyst on his eye.

I said to my neighbor, "don't worry. God's got him!" I gave her a couple of my Serenity Sacs (God Bags) for her and Ryan's mom which seemed to bring her a bit of peace. Before she left, I also quoted "God either is or he isn't Mary Ann."

You talk about a perspective change. I have compelling evidence of God working in my life and the life of my family and my friends in AA, but there are still those days or situations where I just can't trust (well, I just DON'T trust). Saying that to her this morning renewed my trust and I sat there with this amazing sense of peace.

It's amazing to me that in helping others, I receive help. God is so so good!

Have a blessed day and please keep Ryan in your prayers.

Hugs,
Rhonda

www.serenitysac.etsy.com

I've Realized

2009-11-07T04:37:00.000-08:00

My life is nothing without God right smack in the middle of it

My sobriety is the most priceless gift I've ever received

Miracles happen to my every single day and it's up to me to open my eyes and see them

God has carried me all my life, and when one of life's roadblocks is placed in front of me, I need to remember all my blessings.

God has given me a talent and a ministry and it's up to me to make the most of it

Helping others is my calling today.

I'm so very grateful!

Serenity Sacs

2009-11-03T08:18:00.000-08:00

Greetings all! This is my first attempt at blogging so bear with me.

My name is Rhonda and I live in Northern Kentucky. I'm a wife of 27 years and have a 22 year old son (the light of my life!).

A bit about Serenity Sacs......I have been clean and sober for 3+ years and am extremely active in a 12 step program. While in treatment, I learned of a God Box. We were told to write our problems, fears and anything else we were powerless over on a piece of paper and put it in our God Box. Some stuff you just have to trust God to take care of. This past Christmas, I wanted to make something for my sponsees. Somehow this idea popped into my head. I had no intention of ever selling them, but then a girl at work just "had" to have some. Here it is November and I'm still cranking. I feel this talent of mine (never sewed before in my life) is God given and that it's his way of letting me give back and help increase his childrens' reliance on him.

Not only are these a great gift idea for church groups, womens groups, card clubs, baby showers, brides to be, 12 step programs, friends and family, or anyone who is having a difficult time dealing with life, family, or illness......they are an effective tool for increasing ones reliance on a Higher Power and restoring a sense of peace. Write down your problems, place them in this sac, say a prayer and turn them over to God. You will be amazed at how effective and well received these are. Custom orders welcome. CHRISTMAS is just around the corner. These would make excellent stocking stuffers or gifts for teachers, caregivers, daycare providers, or for the family member or friend who has everything. How about giving them a little bit of serenity!?

"There's something about the action of writing my worries on paper and placing them in God's hands that just frees my mind and gives me peace. I love my Serenity Sac!" ....C.G., Cincinnati-

"My sunday school children love them. Each week I have them write a note to God and place it in their Serenity Sac. Seeing these children become reliant on God is such a blessing!" ....P.C. Covington, KY-

"Possibly the best gift I have ever given my Mom and Sisters. Great gift idea!" ....C.J., Cincinnati-

"Thank you for the Serenity Sac. Your (God's timing) is amazing. I was diagnosed with cancer a few days ago and was feeling pretty hopeless. You have no idea how much this simple little gift has helped me. Thank you, thank you, thank you." ....R.J., Cincinnati

Until next time, you can find me at the sewing machine!

Hugs,

Rhonda
www.serenitysac.etsy.com