And I failed to mention...

My beloved alcoholic daughter is still sober. For nearly two and a half years now. She has astounded me at every step along the way.

She is now in a shelter for battered women. Oh, no, that is not what the mother of any other daughter would think is a step in the right direction, but they are not the mother chosen by God for this child.

But this is a long way from living with the creep she's been with for the last two years. I don't know the whole story, and I have learned I don't need to know the whole story. But she is getting help there to get on her feet - on her own. For the first time in her life. She has never lived alone. She is $200. away from her own apartment. Does it kill me to not just give her $200.? Yes. But I know it is the right thing to (not) do.

Recently when I was trying to sponsor a new woman (which MY sponsor told me I have no business doing any more because I just don't "get" that kind of chaos anymore), I called my daughter for advice. Amazing. She told me exactly what I needed to do with this new woman. I told my daughter that I didn't understand someone who is complaining about riding the bus when she has had so many DUIs, complaining about having to move when she hasn't paid the rent, complaining about the myriad people who were helping her move, etc. My daughter said "F*** that! she needs to be GRATEFUL!" Oh, yeah, you are right daughter, she does need to be grateful. I thought I was just being harsh - my daughter has outharshed me by miles. And it helps me to realize that there is a new generation in AA that is really doing the deal.

To have a sober daughter is a blessing beyond anything I could describe. I love this girl so much. She is the heart of my heart.

Thank God for the hard core AA members He put in her life when she had finally had enough.