December Determination ~ AF ~ Week 4

[dill]

Greetings! Here we go on week 4, although a day late getting started. Ooops!

Peace and strength and joy to all!

[cyntree]

December Determination ~ AF ~ Week 4

Thank you, Dill, for starting us on week 4. Congrats all (me too!) who woke up hangover free. And if you didn't, hang in here with us - I would never have made it without this beautiful thread - truly you are all the gift that keeps on giving!

I'm finding it a little hard to carve out much time to post - Mom is very happy that I'm here, and I'm responsible for the 'party' atmosphere. We were snowed in last night, and her church was cancelled, but I was able to get a webcast from the National Cathedral of their midnight service, and once I hooked the netbook up to speakers, we had our own little private service! It was pretty amazing, and definitely better than being out in 9 degree weather, 40 mile an hour winds, and 8 inches of snow at midnight. I think it's a tradition I would like to keep!

Today we will be baking together- Mom's traditional English Plum Puddings. She's made them every year for over 60 years, so that's a tradition I thought we should keep up. I also had fortunately purchased some of my favorite xmas DVDs: It's a Wonderful Life, Desk Set (Tracy and Hepburn), and Christmas in Connecticut (Barbara Stanwyck), so we have them here for our entertainment tonight and tomorrow.

Sheri - Bless you, thank you for finding the post that I had mentioned, and for putting it up again. It was good timing for me to read it. Dill - can we hold onto week 3 for a little - I'd like to print out a few things from last week, and I'm without a printer.

LBH - Luminarias are what we use in AZ - seems better than putting lights on a cactus! I could envision your frosty, glowy walk - it must have been beautiful.

Peace today to all!
Christmas wishes -
Cyn

[ladybirdheart]

December Determination ~ AF ~ Week 4

Greetings and it is great to be along for Week Four. I feel the countdown for the New Year beginning and this year I actually have first hand knowledge, not just hope, that personal growth and transformation is not only possible but likely. I am so glad you made it to your mom?s in the big giant storm, Cyn, and can now steam puddings, watch old movies, and use new technology to go to church. My late mother would have adored you. Hi, dear Dill, thanks for the launch. Love, Ladybird.

[Lavande]

December Determination ~ AF ~ Week 4

Thanks for remembering to change weeks Dill,

I just baked a poppyseed roll & a nut roll - smells wonderful......my Polish Mother would have been proud! A nice change for dessert after all the cookies the past few days!

Cyn, I know you are enjoying your time with your Mom, that's special!

Dill & LBH, can you believe we actually did it??? An AF Christmas...........what a wonder!!!
I'm going to reheat leftovers (believe it or not) for dinner. We had such a huge meal yesterday

Hope everyone is enjoying this marvelous day!

[Pamina]

December Determination ~ AF ~ Week 4

Merry Christmas everyone! Sounds like sober holidays all round - fantastic! I did have a glass of port but so far that's it and I'm about to jump into bed. I've never seen the luminarias but have a mental image now. I'll have to google them to see if it matches reality. We're snowed in here and I was petrified shuffling along to church yesterday on icy streets. My candles aren't in sand but in lanterns in the snow. Hope everyone's having a peaceful evening with plum pudding still left over for tomorrow.

[dill]

December Determination ~ AF ~ Week 4

Christmas Day is coming to an end. It was hectic and fun and full of laughter and good food. I hope everyone enjoyed their day. Christmas Day was AF here for the first time since....Oh, I don't think I can beat LBH's dragons reference! Let's just say in eons! Time for quiet and peace.

Peace.

[Lavande]

December Determination ~ AF ~ Week 4

Same here Dill - I'm happily exhausted, AF as can be

Wishing everyone a peaceful, restful night!

Lav

[ladybirdheart]

December Determination ~ AF ~ Week 4

Goodness, while I stayed on the alcohol free path, I am so relentlessly tired. I don?t have a single molecule of welcoming, visiting, feeding, charming, helping, diverting, calming, and cleaning left in my being. I loved hearing about your fire in the woods, Dill. I shall peacefully have that image tonight as my last conscious choice. Goodnight Lav, you broke free. Thank you Sheri, that quote has helped me a lot in the last couple of months objectify my addiction and gain an intellectual distance. You never what will ring true. Goodnight, Lil, Red, Cyn, Sooty and all who are around. Love, Ladybird.

[redhibiscus]

December Determination ~ AF ~ Week 4

The day after Christmas and I am already cooking again. My daughter and partner are coming today and we are celebrating another holiday. Whew! Last night we arrived at home about 8:30 p.m. and I was so tired. Lots of visiting and food make for exhaustion. However, I slept well, and feel peaceful and ready for the second round.

Dill, your Christmas Eve sounded beautiful. I am so happy for you, AF and having a lovely time. Thanks also for starting the week four thread.:h

Lavande, the nut roll and poppy seed roll are alot of work, but do taste great. My Eastern European relatives used to make that, too. I have the recipe but just not the energy this year. I loved hearing that you have the same ethnic background and recipes.

Cyntree, LBH, sounds like you also are enjoying your family and working hard to make the holidays joyful for all family members. Thanks for sharing.

LBH, I cannot think about New Year's yet, but want to make AF traditions. I have in the past and love to wake up on January 1st feeling 100%. IT is the rest of the year I have a problem with. We'll have to plan together.

[Lavande]

December Determination ~ AF ~ Week 4

Good morning Determinators!

Slept like a rock last night -- must have been all the extra food :H

I'm so happy to see that so many of us maintained our AF goals! Makes me feel even stronger & more determined to continue :goodjob:

Red, I made the poppyseed & nut rolls in lieu of perogies this year :H
My energy reserves are just naturally dwindling...... I wish I could do it all but just cannot anymore.

We're looking at rain all day today, temp. heading up to 50 degrees.........the snow is disappearing quickly.
Wishing everyone a great day, I'll check in later.

Lav

[mighty mouse]

December Determination ~ AF ~ Week 4

Good Morning Determinators, I've missed you all so much! But everyone of you were in my thoughts and prayers these past few days. Very busy with the family. Xmas eve as church and dinner and a few presents with my immediate family. and Christmas Day, more presents and then hosted dinner for 22. All went well. Did have a bit of AL, but not much and I'm glad it is over so I can get back to working on myself without so many stressers.

Lil, Not an empty nester. 2 kids in college but they are home alot and 1 in high school. My home is always very active with them and all of there friends. but I generally enjoy it. I know I only have a few more years till they may be gone so I'm trying to take it all in.

Cyn, Glad you made it to your moms. I missed my mom alot this Christmas, she past a year and 3 months ago. Things are different but that is life. It's always changing.

Dill, thanks for being the keeper of the post. Very happy you had a sucessful X-mas.

Lav, New you would do it!!!!

I need to go. Kids are getting up and they always track me down. Always want to know what I'm doing.

LBH, Sooty, Dave , Sherri, SD,TW, Red, CG, SG, Pam and everyone. Merry Christmas and may God Bless us everyone.

Much Love and Hugs, MM try to check in later

[lilmea]

December Determination ~ AF ~ Week 4

Happy day after Christmas everyone,

I have to join LHB and Dill with this being my first sober Christmas in a gazzilion years. Although there was some sadness to it, it was still one of the nicest I have had in a very long time.

All my company is gone. Asked Mr. Lil if he would mind taking down the outside lights while the weather was warm. The next thing I know, he's working on the tree. Long story short everything is cleaned up and put away. Not sure what I will do on New Years day as that is when I usually take down the decorations. What ever it is, I intend to do it af.

Hope everyone is having a peaceful and af day.

[dill]

December Determination ~ AF ~ Week 4

It's 11:00 in the morning here and I am sitting down for just a moment to collect myself. We have our last big wave of company coming at 1:00pm and I still have miles to go. Today is Mr. Dill's familly coming in, some to meet SIL for the first time. I must clean up from yesterday and prepare for today. Lav, I am like you, kind of winding down. I can't do it all like I used to, not enough energy in me. I have divided the work out as much as possible and have ordered from Kroger deli so food prep is minimized. We have sun today and that is cheering.

Lil, WOW! Mr. Lil really jumped to it! You will be able to relax on New Year's Day. I used to drink while I took down the tree. Not this time!!

LBH, the AF path was hard to follow at moments, but not entirely, eh? But I too was "relentlessly tired" from the activities and the extra effort. If drinking, I would have been too buzzed to know the difference. At least we knew we were tired!

Red, I'm curious what other holiday you are celebrating? Can you share?

Cyn, your mom is so lucky to have a daughter like you. You remind me of my own daughter when you say you are responsible for the 'party' atmosphere. My daughter brings that light into our lives as well.

MM and Pam, glad you checked in. It sounds like you both had very good Holidays.

OK, Miles to go before I sleep.

[sdlovespackers]

December Determination ~ AF ~ Week 4

Merry (a day late) Christmas!!

I'm so proud of all of you for reaching your holiday goals!! I knew you could do it!!! I continue to struggle with al and being around my family and the amount of al consumed by everyone....and what I mean struggle is saying "no" and being AF! I wish I had the strength or whatever?! This year I really stayed focused on myself and monitored my drinking very carefully...I know last year this was not the case at all! It is because of this place and all of you that I now would even think to do that. I sipped slowly, as being "present" for my son was my number one focus, not the buzz. This sounds horrible but when I go back over to my parents the next day I hear the stories of their "rough" mornings and just kind of silently chuckle!! I think it helps too that I live 4 blocks away and quietly bow out while they all continue to sit around and begin playing games. I guess this new "relationship" with my family is one I will continue to have to explore over the next year. I'm very excited for the holidays to be over and for things to get back to normal!!
Anyway....EXCELLENT JOB to ALL on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day!!!! :l:l You all are AMAZING WOMEN!!!!!!!!!! I wish I could have said the same (AF) thing...but I guess making gains from the year before is something--perhaps next year this conflict I have with my family won't even be an issue...I'll get stronger the more AF days I continue to accumulate this coming year!!
SD

[cyntree]

December Determination ~ AF ~ Week 4

Happy 2nd Day of Christmas all! I woke up this morning trying to think up a great rhyming scheme for us to put new words to 'the First Day of Christmas my true love gave to me....". All I could come up with was something for the last line ("and a Partridge in a Pear Tree.."), like: 'and a liiife of sobriii-eee-ty', or 'living bliiiss-ful and alcohol free'. Just a reminder of what a gift we've given ourselves this year.

Good luck to all who are still entertaining - hope it all went well, Dill and Red. MM - dinner for 22, wow. MM and SD - how great to hear your movement forward. Onwards and upwards to the light! Pamina - wonderful to hear from you, I am sharing your snowy day - still snowing and blowing here in NE. LBH - I hear everyone echoing your 'relentlessly tired' phrase...from my vantage point of being snowed in and not too much to do, I am still tired, and I haven't done a 10th of what you all are doing. I think this holiday demands too much of women; I hope you all are able to rest and catch up soon.
Lav - If I am correct, this is your Happy AF Anniversary Day, yes?! CONGRATS!!!

Love to all who are to come - I'm sure I have a lot of cross-posts, as this took me a long time to get written - so will check in again later.