Good morning!  My name is Lauren, and I'm a grateful, recovering alcoholic/addict.  This weekend I was talking to someone who talking me about things they weren't happy with, and I thought about how a lot of people want what they don't have.  People with curly hair want straight hair, and those with straight hair would love curly locks. Sometimes those that are too thin would like to gain a few pounds, while those that are overweight would like to lose a few. It's a never ending battle.  We always want what we don't have.  Why can't we just be grateful for what we DO have.  Someone with a small house wants one bigger. Someone with an old car wants a new one.  But there is also someone with no house that would grateful with a small house.  Or a person that would be grateful driving around that old beater.  Be grateful you are where you are and with what you have.  God has put you where in your life for a reason, it may be to grow, or someday help others with your situation.  But remember it could always be worse.  I am just so blessed to be alive and have people that love me and that I love surround me.  Material things come and go.  That's all I have for today.  God Bless!  

Good morning! My name is Lauren, and I'm a grateful, recovering alcoholic/addict.  I took this picture.  Taking photography is one thing I love to now now that I am clean and sober.  It is one thing that I have time to do now that I am clean and sober.  I love this word...Hope.  When I was drinking and using, I had no hope.  I was sad and depressed and hopeless.  I cared about nothing and no one.  I went through life day by day wishing for something to get better but I didn't change anything...so nothing changed.  I was miserable.  I don't miss those days.  I don't regret those days though either.  They made me who I am and got me to where I am today.  Today I have hope.  God has given me hope.  Only He gives me the strength to go through each day.  Only He gives me the courage to keep putting one foot in front of the other.  Only He gives me hope for a better tomorrow.  Thank you God!  That's all I have today.

Good morning!  My name is Lauren, and I'm a grateful, recovering alcoholic/addict.  This skit portrays my life.  It started out pretty good.  I was a good kid, going to church and doing the right thing.  I had Christ in my life when I was younger.  Then I decided I wanted to do what I wanted to do.  Those weren't always the best decisions.  People came and went.  God was always there with me keeping me from danger and saving me from myself.  I used to cut myself and was suicidal for a period too.  I thought my life was pointless.  God was still there.  I finally found my way back to him.  and He saved me from all I was going through.  Helped me get away from was I was dong and get clean and sober.  I bawled when I saw this video.  With no words it described my life.  Knowing I got myself to the bottom of the hole I had dug myself, God helped me out.  I didn't do it myself.  Thank you God!! That's all I have for today!  Don't forget to check out my store and donate if you feel obligated.  Thanks again!

Good morning!  My name is Lauren my name is Lauren and I'm a grateful recovering, alcoholic/addict.  Today I have a story for you.  We had our potluck last Friday, where we raise money to donate to a local food bank.  We grilled out hot dogs and hamburgers, and charged $5 a plate for the funds to go to our donation total.  At the end of the day there were some leftovers, some hamburgers and a couple hot dogs.  I asked around to see if anyone wanted any, and after anyone else that wanted some took some, I took the rest home.  I was supposed to be meeting a friend in Peoria that I hadn’t seen in a few years by the Civic Center so I told her I would park across the street and meet her there.  I did and I waited.  While I waited, I saw an older man with a half filled garbage bag walking around.  His face was dirt covered.  It looked like he hadn’t taken a showed in a while,  I watched him for a minute.  Then I saw him peer into the garbage can.  Then his whole head went in.  He must be looking for food.  My heart sank into my stomach. I had probably 9 hamburgers sitting to my right, while this man is searching through garbage cans for his dinner.  I gathered some courage and opened my car door and walked around the corner to find him looking in another garbage can.  At first my words didn’t want to come out, but then they did.
“Sir, you look hungry.  We had a potluck at work today, and I have some extra food in my car.  Would you like a hamburger?” 
“Yes, ma’am, that would be great!”  He said. 
He turned to follow me to my car.  I asked what his name was and he said Ray, even though the name on his coat said Matt.  I told him my name was Lauren.  He then proceeded to tell me he lived here on the streets.  I told him I would be praying for him.  We got to my car and I made him a double burger.  I apologized for not having any ketchup or mustard but he said it was ok.  Then I saw another man looking in the same garbage can.  I saw me giving Ray a burger so I waved him over.  He hurriedly walked over and I gave him a double too.  He didn’t stay long though.  But I told him God bless him and I would be praying for him.  After the men left I got back in my car and just thought of God’s timing.  That He let me take the food home, and had me get this parking spot, and gave me the courage to go talk to these men and offer them food.  Thank you God!  Proverbs 14:31 says, “Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy shows honor to God.”
if I would have been drinking and using, I would have never thought of anyone but myself. Today I care about other people.  And God puts people in my path for me to have the opportunity to help.  He give me courage to talk to them.  That's all I have for today!  Have a great one!

Good morning!  My name is Lauren, and I'm a grateful, recovering alcoholic/addict.  I can do anything I put my mind to.  Don't tell me I can't.  I will be an author.  I will be a photographer.  I will be a great mom. I will be a good wife.  I will do anything I want to, to the best of my ability. Don't tell me I can't do it.  I'm sure some people laughed when I said I was writing a book, but I kept doing it.  It didn't sell a million copies, but if it helped one person, it was worth it.  I love taking pictures, and if my photography made one person smile, that makes it worth it.  Some people didn't think I could ever get clean and sober, today I am clean and sober.  I am happy today.  Do something you don't think is possible, you may surprise yourself.  :)  That's all I have for today.  Have a great one!  Don't forget to check out my Patreon page.  www.patreon.com/lovethesoberlife.  You can help me continue to help others and donate my books, and keep this page going.  Thanks!  God Bless!

Good afternoon!  My name is Lauren, and I'm a grateful, recovering alcoholic/addict.  This quote really hit me today.  I didn't start drinking or using with the intent of becoming an addict.  I started because I liked the way it made me feel...or not feel.  Well both actually.  Drinking in the beginning was my "liquid courage."  I was outgoing, but it gave me courage to talk to guys. Looking back now, I see that wasn't the way to go about it.  Drinking and using didn't make me more sexy, it actually made me less attractive.  Once I continued this way of life, I began to not feel, or deal with life, and I liked that too.  I didn't have to deal with the feelings of disappointment or rejection, I just drank and used to not have to deal with it.  But not dealing with it, didn't make it go away.  Because when I got sober, I had a lot of things that were still there that I needed to deal with.  We need to find other ways of meeting our needs than with drugs or alcohol, and there are a lot of them out there.  :)  Today, I go to church, AA meetings, and have a good support system.  I talk about my problems, instead of running from them. That's all I have for today.  Have a great one!  

Good morning, my name is Lauren and I'm a grateful, recovering alcoholic/addict.  Sorry it has been a while since I posted.  I have been so busy, We just got back from vacation, and I have been painting about every room in our house.  So to apologize I am going to give away some books some people today!  I am drawing from those who have previously signed up.  And the winners are... thompson.audria@.......... and mollyludy1@...... If you have signed up and these are either of your emails you have won!  I will also email you,  Please reply back and choose one of my books. Congrats! God Bless!

Good afternoon!  My name is Lauren, and I'm a grateful, recovering alcoholic/addict.  Going through what I went through was definitely difficult.  But it has also given me the best days of my life.  Yeah, they were hard, but I have learned a lot, and with that I have had the best days of my life recently.  Tomorrow, we will be going on a little trip back to the treatment center that helped me get clean and sober.  It has been a little over 3 years now, and I have gone back every year now.  It reminds me where I was, how bad I was, and where I am today.  Now don't get me wrong, there are still bad days, hard days, but definitely not like they were before.  My worst day sober is always better than my best day drunk or high.  No doubt!  I don't ever want to go back to that life.  I am just blessed that I get the opportunity to show my family where I started my journey of sobriety, and spend a little time in the sun while I am at it.  :)  That's all I have for today.  Have a great one!  Don't forget to sign up for the book drawing.  And if you want to help out with the site and publication costs for my next book, go to the donation page. Thanks so much!

Good morning!  My name is Lauren, and I'm a grateful,recovering alcoholic/addict.  Are these extravagant promises?  We think not!  Today, I have had so many great things turn around in my life, and they don't have to be material things either.  It could be the relationships with my kids, my husband, my parents.  The freedom I get from not stressing about the past or the future but just dealing with today.  The happiness I make in my life.  The way I feel putting more effort into my job, instead of just doing whatever just get by.  That effort gives me opportunity, for advancement.  Today I know the definition of serenity.  I can find peace with myself.  My experiences can benefit other and help others.  Today, it is not all about me.  I want to give it away.  Well, that's all I have for today!  Have a great one!  Don't forget to check out my store, and check out my books and photography!  :)  Thanks!  God Bless!

[email protected] & [email protected]!  You each get to choose one of my books!  Friday I celebrated 3 years clean and sober and today I celebrate 36 years alive!  These are my gifts to you!  Ya gotta give it away to keep it!  Happy Valentine's Day everyone!