Saturday 7/31/10 - "SUMMERTIME"

SIX WORD SATURDAY


"SUMMERTIME"

HAPPINESS -

A

REFRESHING

SIZZLING

SUMMERTIME

BARBECUE

Prayer Girl

(Photo credits:
Nature's Bounty by Plum Craze@deviantart.com
SWEET by Pat Seidler - Kodak picture of the day
Summer Fruit by Alison Greenwood - Kodak picture of the day
BBQ Chicken on the Grill3
Cherries
Peaches)

Friday 7/30/10 - "INCONSOLABLE"

FLASH FICTION FRIDAY 55

"INCONSOLABLE"

She was his first love, he her second.
They were inseparable. Love deepened.
He left for college a year before her.
Not one letter or call came. He dropped off the face of the earth.
She was inconsolable. What was wrong with her? She felt worthless!
Many years later she understood he was spineless, gutless.

Prayer Girl

(Photo credits:
Tears of Sorrow by JollyPen@deviantart.com
tears by thairia@deviantart.com)

Flash Fiction Friday is hosted by G-Man.

Thursday 7/29/10 - "THE GRACE OF GOD"

"THE GRACE OF GOD"

Yesterday the women's meeting topic was "The Grace of God". The chairperson picked this topic from a list of suggested meeting discussion subjects. The meeting was a blessing to everyone.

My first thought was, "God's Grace has allowed me to survive myself and continues to help me survive myself. My problems are centered in my mind and the root of most, if not all, of my problems is my thinking. Through God's Grace I am able to change my thinking.

It is through God's Grace that when I woke from my last drunk I was given the gift of sobriety AND I was able to reach out (feebly as it was) and grab hold of it. It has been through God's grace that I have NEVER let go.

It is through God's Grace that the program of Alcoholics Anonymous was given to Bill Wilson, has survived through the years and was there for the taking when I was ready to surrender. The twelve steps have made the impossible - possible. I have finally found a way to change my thinking and attitudes and "get over myself".

Some other things I heard at this meeting were:
I was reminded that God either "is or isn't". God is "all or nothing". When I forget I just remember my history, my experiences and then the choice is clear - GOD IS AND GOD IS ALL.

God gives me the courage to "Let Go".

Even the experiences that I consider "bad" can be turned to the good and benefit my spiritual growth. It is wise to give thanks for the good and the bad.

In AA I have learned to feel, deal, heal and move on.

The pain is in my resistance and grace is found in the "letting go".

God gives me the courage to "let go".

Love you all,
Prayer Girl

(Photo credit: deserted island by bigcbigc@deviantart.com)

Wednesday 7/28/10 - "ALL ABOUT RED AND WHITE"

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY


"ALL ABOUT RED AND WHITE"

Prayer Girl

(Photo credits:
Red Snow White by Scorpion Entity@deviantart.com
Red Racers by Alison Bickel - Kodak picture of the day
Jidai Festival in Kyoto by Jonathan Boyle - Kodak picture of the day
Ripe Raspberries by Amber Hopkins - Kodak picture of the day
Rocky in Yosemite by Jim Janck - Kodak picture of the day
The Angels teeball by SaMi - Kodak picture of the day)

Monday 7/26/10 - "UNDER THE BUS"

"UNDER THE BUS"

Sometimes love is thrown under the bus of ego.

Then it's time for a transfer to the "God" line.

Prayer Girl

(Photo credit:
Deserted by SaveMe620@deviantart.com
Deserted by happy bubbles@deviantart.com)

Sunday 7/25/10 - "SCARY MOVIE"

SUNDAY 160


"SCARY MOVIE"

"Paranormal Activity": a strange, odd, true?, weird, scary movie.
Awake often in the night I saw the seconds, minutes, hours ticking by.
Tonight: "Happy Feet".

Prayer Girl

Sunday 160 is hosted by Monkey Man.

Saturday 7/24/10 - "WATER"

SIX WORD SATURDAY


"WATER"

I

TOUCH

THE

SPIRIT

OF

WATER

Prayer Girl

(Photo credits:
After the Rain by Nebraskies@deviantart.com
Summer Rain by bypolar bear@deviantart.com
Stream by Nmidia@deviantart.com
Peace Prayer by phatpuppy@deviantart.com
Water by Rosaline Stock@deviantart.com
Lake by prudentia@deviantart.com)

Friday 7/23/10 - "PLEASE LISTEN"

FLASH FICTION FRIDAY 55

"PLEASE LISTEN"

She had received calls from three deeply troubled friends in just as many days.
Their despair sounded hopeless.
What to do? What to say?
She said a silent prayer then mostly listened as the conversations developed.
After an hour with each they all ended at the same exact place, the need for faith, for God.


Prayer Girl

(Photo credit: When no one is listening by Hanging Ghost@deviantart.com)

Flash Fiction Friday is hosted by G-Man.

Wednesday 7/21/10 - "MY PLACE OF PEACE IN A TROUBLED WORLD"

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY


"MY PLACE OF PEACE
IN A TROUBLED WORLD"

Prayer Girl

(Photo credits: Me)

Tuesday 7/20/10 - "GRATITUDE IS ON MY MIND"

"GRATITUDE IS ON MY MIND"

My mind is filled with thoughts of gratitude tonight. I haven't blogged about my gratefulness in a while. Today is the day.

I am grateful for:

My sensitive nature that allows me to, among other things, be filled with spirituality as I look at the picture I chose for this blog. I wrote a poem many years ago about a meadow full of flowers and this picture reminds me of it. I am filled with joy.

The realization I have that I am responsible for my feelings. If I am disturbed, upset, unhappy or feeling victimized, it is my responsibility to take whatever actions necessary, with God's help, to restore peace, serenity and calmness of spirit.

My Al-Anon sponsor and my many Al-Anon and Alcoholics Anonymous sponsees, all of whom are God in skin for me. I hear the many things God is trying to tell me from my sponsor and through my own voice as I speak with sponsees. They all guide, support and lift me up. My relationships with my sponsees challenge me to rely more and more on God.

My 25 years of sobriety and the Alcoholics Anonymous medallion that I received last Saturday at a Woman's Noon AA meeting.The meeting room was packed and I and two other friends received our yearly chips. One woman received a 4 year chip, one an 8 year chip, and I received my chip.

My daughter, her sobriety and the fact that she was the person who presented me with my chip. The three recipients and the women who presented the chips all spoke. It was a beautiful hour. Afterward many of us met at a local seafood restaurant for a celebration meal. My daughter, one of my loving sponsees, "L", and I broke bread with our friends. After the lunch, daughter, "L" and I had coffee at Starbucks. It doesn't get much better than that.

"Hope" that continues to reside within my soul "no matter what"......

Love that continues to grow in my heart.

That I am able to write a gratitude list.

That today I am able to accept the things I can't change more easily than in the past, I have more courage today to change the things that I can using the tools of my recovery programs and my sponsor and I can discern more often the difference between the things I can and can't change.

I love you all,
Prayer Girl

Sunday 7/18/10 - "DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES"

SUNDAY 160

DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES

What Alanon teaches me about difficult circumstances:
Pray.
Use my sponsor.
Mind my own business.
Take care of myself.
Set boundaries.
Keep the focus on myself.


Prayer Girl

(Photo credit: Simplicity by Nell Scudder - Kodak picture of the day)

Sunday 160 is hosted by Monkey Man.

Saturday 7/17/10 - "SPLASHES OF ORANGE"

SIX WORD SATURDAY


"SPLASHES OF ORANGE"

HEALING

WARMTH

CREATIVE

VIBRANCY

ENTHUSIASTIC

VITALITY

Prayer Girl

"He does most in God's great world who does his best in his own little world." - Thomas Jefferson


(Photo credits:
Contrast by Tommy Rhodes - Kodak picture of the day
Orange Butterfly by kuschelirmel@deviantart.com
Orange by Diane Photos@deviantart.com
Orange Mango by Emerald Depths@deviantart.com
The Stairs by K.B. Jothady - Kodak picture of the day)

Friday 7/16/10 - "PATIENCE GONE"

FLASH FICTION FRIDAY 55

"PATIENCE GONE"

Her patience was used up, not one iota left.

That is why she found herself walking the countryside with God as her sole companion.

She had come upon this long ago laid fencing and as she followed it she breathed in the meadows, forests, mountains, and clouds.

Her patience space became freer with each step.


Prayer Girl

(Photo credit: Zig-Zag by Michael Blanchette - Kodak picture of the day)

Flash Fiction Friday is hosted by G-Man.

Tuesday 7/13/10 - "FRUITS OF LIFE"

"FRUITS OF LIFE"

RASPBERRIES -
RADIANCE

STRAWBERRIES -
SWEETNESS

BLUEBERRIES -
BLISS

BANANAS -
BEAUTY

PEACHES -
PEACE

PINEAPPLE -
PATIENCE

Prayer Girl

(Photo credits:
Raspberries by positively@deviantart.com
Summer's Harvest by Josh Peterson-Kodak picture of the day
blueberries by icy blueberry@deviantart.com
on the bananas by BettyBlue34@deviantart.com
Peaches by Charlotte Nicole@deviantart.com
Pineapple by Alicess@deviantart.com)

Friday 7/9/10 - "THE WAVE"

FLASH FICTION FRIDAY 55

"THE WAVE"

She watched the sea of people.
The "wave" came as thousands in section one arose, raised their arms, cheered the upward motion.
Undulating movement swept through each section till she was standing, arms swinging up, shouting with joy.
Loud music accompanied each nation's flag as it was brought onstage.
The crowd roared; electric, magical, spiritual.




Prayer Girl

(Photo credits:
Waves by littlemewhatever@deviantart.com
Wave upon wave upon wave by ddefalco@deviantart.com
Waves by Nessa82@deviantart.com)

Flash Fiction Friday is hosted by G-Man.

Tuesday 7/6/10 - "I'M BACK"

(The convention center)

(Riverwalk)

"I'M BACK"

How do I begin to describe the 75th International Alcoholics Anonymous Convention? It's not an easy task for me, but like so many things, I find the way through a shift in perspective. The event was so large, so awesome, so bigger than life that it is in the description of the smaller moments and events that I can capture the experience.

The venue for the convention was perfect. The city of San Antonio, Texas is beautiful, quaint, historic and has a lovely energy. A river meanders right through the heart of the city and a "Riverwalk" has been built along its banks along which are nestled wonderful restaurants and shops. Touring boats carry visitors along the river continuously. Much of the dining is outdoor seating where 'people watching' is at its best.

Boudro's, a bistro on the Riverwalk, was recommended and it was a treat. We ate there the first night and went back again our last night to celebrate my 25th AA anniversary. These were meals I will not soon forget. I had a "Big Tails, Little Tails" the first night that had two baby lobster tails and shrimp with spicy crawfish tails over lemon, avocado and roasted tomato risotto. Fabulous! The second time we went I had their signature dish, "Blackened Prime Rib". I loved every bite. For dessert there was Toasted Nut Brittle Ice Cream in a pool of hot fudge one night and the other night was Creme Brulee. In case you haven't figured, I am a real food person. I love eating.

Now for the reason we were there. I was amazed that 65,000 people could all be in one place and I never saw anyone upset, angry or arguing over the 4 days I was there. People looked excited, enthusiastic, energetic, positive and very happy. It felt good.

There were meetings going on all the time. They were held in the Convention Center and the big hotels around the center. There were three large meetings for all participants that were held in the Alamodome, a gigantic closed stadium. The opening ceremony Friday night included a flag ceremony with someone from each of the 90+ nations represented entering the stage with their nation's flag. Very impressive. This was followed by three speakers. Saturday night was an "Old Timers" meeting with 12 "old timers" speaking for 5 minutes each. The old timers were all alcoholics with 40 or more years of sobriety. The last was the closing ceremony on Sunday morning with more speakers. It was a sea of recovering people. It was overwhelming to say the least. I felt "The Spirit" was everywhere and in everything.

There was also Al-anon participation with meetings held each day, all day, in one of the hotels near the convention center. The Al-anon meeting I attended was packed full by a quarter of the hour. The topic was "Check Your Motives". There was a 20 minute lead and then in a very orderly fashion attendees were able to share for two minutes each. I heard people share from all over the world and the universal message of Al-anon came through loud and clear. What did I take away from this meeting? If I am checking my motives, I will feel like I am on solid recovery ground if my motives are to do God's will.

Picture 65,000 people moving through the downtown streets of San Antonio almost as one unit as they head for the Alamodome. The city police were out in force to direct the gigantic crowds through the traffic. The city seemed to be ours. The city was so welcoming. This felt good.

I know many other thoughts will come to me after I publish this blog, but I end this post with my belief that the Higher Power of 65,000 people all in the same place for a common purpose is a very powerful thing to experience. There flowed through all the space a feeling of brotherly love, support, encouragement, recovery, peace and serenity. I thank God for this opportunity to have been a part of this celebration of life and recovery.

Prayer Girl